On behalf of the City of Ontario, Oregon, and all its citizens, greetings and welcome!
If you are reading this, you may already know or have heard about how unique and distinctive Ontario is, but allow me to share some of our many attributes.
Ontario’s history begins with the famous Oregon Trail of the 19th Century, the most heavily used route in the nation’s resettlement of western North America, and we still maintain a strong pioneering spirit. We are located at the juncture of the Snake and Malheur rivers alongside Interstate Highway 84 on the Idaho border, and are about halfway between Portland, Oregon, and Salt Lake City, Utah. Ontario is known as a tourist center because of the naturally rugged canyon terrain and the skiing, hunting, river rafting, fishing, geocaching and rock hounding that accompanies it.
In addition to several food-processing industries, our agriculture industry contributes greatly to our economy with crops such as onions, potatoes, sugar beets and corn. We are the gateway to Oregon’s cattle country and have a large presence of cattle and buffalo ranchers.
Our city is proud of its heritage and diversity that is a mix of Native American, Basque, Japanese, African, German, Hawaiian and Hispanic cultures. There are many festivals and events highlighting the lifestyles of our community. Annual events include America’s Global Village Festival, Basque Festival Days, Japanese Obon Festival and Mexican Cinco De Mayo Festival. Our Four Rivers Cultural Center features a cultural museum, a performing arts theater, an expansive conference center and a welcoming gift shop.
Our downtown shopping area houses a wonderful collection of locally owned restaurants, boutiques and antique and craft shops that will meet all of your home, office and business needs. You also have a selection of many national big-box fast food and lodging businesses.
If you are looking for a new location for your home, office or business or just want a charming community to visit, you will definitely enjoy our “Home-Town Ontario” where you will always feel at home!
Hope to see you soon,
Mayor Ronald Verini