Quiet streets and a rural atmosphere in Sheridan
The South Yamhill River winds through the center of Sheridan, a small Oregon town with a history steeped in agriculture and logging. The area’s fertile soil makes it an ideal region for farming, with hundreds of acres of grain farmland just south of town and over a dozen wineries all close by. Less than 30 miles from Salem, the town provides access to Highway 18 and Oregon Route 22, with proximity to oceanfront cities and the scenic recreation areas of northern Oregon. “A lot of people that move to Sheridan come here to get away from the traffic and activity of the larger cities,” says Bobbie Jager, a local real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Professional Group. “We’re 30 minutes from the beach, Salem and McMinnville. It’s rural and we don’t have a lot going on, but that’s what people like about living here.”
A mixed housing market from fixer-uppers to modern builds
The housing market in Sheridan features a mix of old and new, with late 20th-century ranch-style homes bungalows that date back to the late 1800s and 21st-century subdivisions. Most homes sit close together on quarter-acre lots with fenced-in backyards are common. “I raised a large family here in Sheridan,” says Jager. “I moved here so my kids could have room to grow without the noise that I experienced when I lived in Salem.”
Manufactured homes and fixer-uppers range from $80,000 to around $350,000, while move-in-ready bungalows, ranch-style homes and modern traditional builds go for $260,000 to $575,000.
Dual enrollment offerings at Sheridan High
Faulconer-Chapman School serves local kindergarten through eighth-grade students and earns a C-minus overall grade from Niche. The C-rated Sheridan High School offers a wide range of applied arts courses, including concert choir, visual communication and music appreciation. It also partners with Chemeketa Community College for its dual enrollment offerings.
The Sheridan Public Library lies near the center of town and hosts community activities from craft workshops to movie viewings.
Local businesses and nearby vineyards
Bridge Street has a small selection of local businesses, including Riverside Cafe, which serves baked goods, breakfast fare and burgers. Lee’s Green Frog & Ramen Noodle House specializes in both American pub fare and authentic Japanese cuisine. Nearby, Hurricane Coffee offers drive-through espresso, smoothies and breakfast sandwiches. Red Lizard Resale has a wide variety of thrifted goods, from books and home decor to vintage clothing. For groceries and other essentials, shoppers can stop by Sheridan IGA. McMinnville is roughly 12 miles northeast of town and has a larger selection of shops and restaurants, including Albertsons and Roth’s Fresh Markets.
Sheridan lies just west of the Willamette Valley, one of the country’s most active viticulture regions, with numerous wineries within a short drive. J Wrigley Vineyards has a tasting room, event spaces and panoramic views of the area’s rolling hills. The family owned Art + Science Cider & Wine is open from May to October and hosts Sundown Concerts and Camp Outs, where visitors can set up on site and listen to musicians from across the country.
Community parks and art galleries in Sheridan
Sheridan City Park sits on the north side of town and has a playground, a baseball field, shaded picnic tables and a skate park. Southside Park has a playground, walking trails and a fishing pond. A short drive east, the Mason-Rivera Sculpture Garden & Art Gallery has two acres of landscaped gardens showcasing welded metal sculptures and natural stone carvings, along with an indoor gallery and an arboretum.
Take Highway 18 to the city or the coast
Highway 18 runs just south of town and spans around 38 miles to Lincoln City, a beach town along the Oregon coast known for its natural areas. Downtown Salem is around 28 miles southeast via Route 22 and Portland is roughly 55 miles north. There are a handful of Yamhill County Transit bus stops along Main Street, with service to McMinnville, Willamina and Grand Ronde. Portland International Airport is around 70 miles northeast.
Written By
Jillian Pillow
