Lane County Communities
Lane County runs from the Pacific at Florence, across the Willamette Valley, into the high Cascades. It's one of only two Oregon counties that reach from the ocean to the mountains, with Eugene and Springfield in the middle.
About 380,000 people live here, most of them in Eugene and Springfield. The rest of its 4,500-plus square miles is small towns, farm valleys, forest and coastline.
Lane County. Eugene is the county seat and the county's largest city, and Springfield, just across Interstate 5, is in Lane County too. The county was created in 1851 and named for Joseph Lane, the first governor of the Oregon Territory.
Eugene is home to the University of Oregon and Hayward Field, with Spencer Butte and the Ridgeline Trail on its south edge and paved paths along the Willamette. Homes for sale in Eugene range from older houses near campus to newer ones in the north and in the south hills.
Springfield has its own downtown, with restaurants and shops along Main Street, and the McKenzie River runs along its northern edge. It's also home to the area's two main hospitals, PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend and McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center. See homes for sale in Springfield.
Lane County has 12 incorporated cities. Eugene and Springfield are the two largest, and here are the other ten. Smaller communities like Pleasant Hill, Marcola, Mapleton and Lorane fill in around them. For a closer comparison, see the small towns near Eugene.
The coast is a little over an hour from Eugene, with dunes and beaches around Florence. East of Springfield, the McKenzie River draws people for fly fishing and kayaking. Farther up in the Cascades, Salt Creek Falls drops 286 feet beside Highway 58, and Waldo Lake is known for its remarkably clear water.
Closer to town, the county has about 20 historic covered bridges, many of them around Cottage Grove. Our guide covers more things to do in Lane County.
Lane County sits at the south end of Oregon's Willamette Valley wine region, with tasting rooms in the hills around town. Start with our guide to Eugene wineries.
Our Moving to Eugene guide is a good place to start. Our team works from Eugene across Lane County, and we're glad to compare towns with you. Connect with us whenever you're ready.
