UO Home   |   Dept Index

Original

Watch this movie on YouTube

Founded by Eugene Skinner, a pioneer and explorer of the 1860s, the City of Eugene is a vibrant, progressive community that embraces its connection to the University of Oregon. Livability.com calls Eugene one of its Top 10 college towns. Eugene was named the number one green city in the U.S. for air quality, recycling, transportation, and green space in National Geographic’s "Green Guide" and as one of the ten most bicycle-friendly cities in the nation in Bicycling magazine. Eugene was included in Rolling Stone's list of "America’s Top 10 Campus Music Scenes That Rock," and Money magazine has ranked Eugene among the best six U.S. cities in which to live.

Here in Eugene, following your own path often means making sustainable choices like taking a bike path instead of driving, enjoying a wealth of cuisines from Thai and Moroccan to pizza and burgers, enjoying the crafts of the nation’s oldest weekly open-air market, or hiking the breathtaking forested trails right in town. It’s all part of a safe, accessible metropolitan area of just over 340,000, a community that values innovation, diversity, and artistry.

Eugene is a safe, friendly, and exciting city with a small town feel. You’ll find shops to explore, a thriving local art scene, theaters, and several music venues. The UO is located in a vast outdoor recreation area. Within one hour of Eugene, you’ll find the Pacific Ocean and the Cascade Mountains, which offer activities like surfing, skiing, snowboarding, river rafting, hiking, and rock climbing. The climate in Eugene is mild, with moderate winters (0 to 12 degrees C) and pleasant summers (15 to 32 degrees C). The annual rainfall is about 117 centimeters, with the heaviest rain during the winter months. Winters usually include a small snowfall.

Eugene’s weather is temperate, around 53 degrees (12 degrees Celsius) during the mild winters, with long spring and autumn seasons. In winter, the hills around Eugene are dusted with snow. Eugene’s total annual average rainfall is 46 inches, one inch less than New York City’s. And while there's no denying the gray winter months can be pretty wet, that just keeps the 3,000 trees of the campus arboretum green and lush.

As a UO student, you can use Lane Transit District's extensive local bus system for free, including the hybrid Emerald Express line. The Eugene Airport serves the area with domestic flights to cities in the Northwest, California, and Midwestern states, connecting you to international and east coast flights. Travel options such as Amtrak trains, Greyhound buses, and rental cars allow you to explore the amazing sights of the entire western United States.

Your new home is ready to welcome you. Just pronounce it “you-GENE” and not “YOU-gene,” and you’ll fit right in.

Learn more

Local Media

Local Sports and Athletics