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Sherwood

Sherwood History

By 1853, Sherwood was being settled by farmers who had relocated via the Oregon Trail.   They built log houses for their families from the abundant forest which once covered the area.  The settlers were self-sufficient and grew the crops they needed for town to flourish.  They would only journey into Portland two to three times a year for staples like salt, sugar and syrup.

By 1870, many families had moved into the area of Old Town Sherwood.  In 1885, J.C Smock granted the railroad the right-of-way through his property.  By 1889, he and his wife had planned and named the streets surrounding the railroad tracks.  In the early 1890’s, Sherwood’s main industry was a brickyard which supplied building the materials for most of Portland’s growth.  The brickyard was closed in 1895, and a year later, a terrible fire destroyed most of the local business district.  In the early 1900’s, a new group of families relocated to the area starting a period of steady growth until its formal incorporation as a town on April 22, 1948.

Today, Sherwood’s population is over 16,000 residents and the city limits have expanded to four and a half square miles. Sherwood has experienced exponential growth over the past decade because of its highly rated schools, well planned neighborhoods,  and proximity to downtown Portland and high tech.  With growth comes thriving business and modern amenities amongst a bedroom community of charm and friendliness that defines Sherwood.

Sherwood Community
Sherwood is well-known for its many community activities and events.  Below are some of the annual events which make the city of Sherwood such a unique, desirable place to live.

Sherwood Parks

Sherwood has several parks across the city serving many purposes.  Below is a list highlighting their location and purpose:

Cinnamon Hills Park:  Located at 23143 SW Cinnamon Hills Place, this park is has mini-park/play lot which includes a swing, play structure, and benches along with ample green space to walk dogs

Langer Park – Located at 15990 Century Drive, this park is maintained by the Sherwood Village Homeowners Association and has an open park setting with ample space for any recreational games from flying kites to playing frisbee.  It also includes a walking and bicycle path which weaves through the park and greenway connecting with the playground.

Murdock Park:  Located at 22965 SW Upper Roy St, this park has a playground, structure and a picnic shelter to host events.  The park is well landscaped and provides an aesthetically pleasing spot go for a walk.

Veteran’s Park:  Located at 22547 SW Main St, this park is the centerpiece for many of Sherwood’s festivals including Cruisin’ Sherwood, and the Robin Hood Festival.  The park has large trees and offers benches and picnic tables for small group functions.

Oregon Trail Park:  Located at 20710 SW Settlement Dr, this park is a serene setting located in the Oregon Trail subdivision. The park has a play structure and open lawn area nestled away to provide a safe area for the neighborhood children to play.

Pioneer Park:  Located at 20720 SW Lynnly Way, this park has a play area, basketball courts, and a shelter for rainy days.  It also features bathroom facilities which are not common in a neighborhood park.

Stella Olsen Memorial Park:  Located at 22256 SW Washington St, this park has a playground, shelter and a pavilion.  There are multi-functional paths for pedestrians or bicyclists through the wetlands area.  It provides a peaceful, wooded setting for all activities and has a bathroom facility onsite  This park is home to “Music on the Green”  and “Movies In the Park” during the summer months.

Snyder Park:  Located at 15365 SW Sunset Blvd, this park is a has a playground, undercover picnic area, and water park.  It also acts as a state of the art youth sports facility with a baseball field and an artificial turf soccer field.

Woodhaven Park:  Located at 17375 Sunset Blvd, this park consists of a large playground area and structure which is maintained by the Woodhaven Homeowners Association.

Sherwood Saturday Market

The Sherwood Saturday Market is open every Saturday from 9am to 1pm from May through September.  Located on the sidewalks of downtown Sherwood near City Hall, this event pays homage to the deep rooted culture of farming in Sherwood.  The market is a place for local growers to offer fresh local produce, herbs, plants, flowers, food, and quality handcrafted merchandise to those in the community.  The vendors and musicians change weekly so there is always something new to discover. The goods available for sale also change seasonally, creating a wide range so remember to check back often for new produce and crafts!

There is a great deal to discover and enjoy at the Sherwood Saturday Market.  Local farmers offered fresh produce like walnuts, filberts, salad greens, cherries, tomato plants, and fresh berries.  There are outdoor vendors offering bird feeders, unique plants, and peonies, while skilled entrepreneurs sell their quality handcrafted soap, jewelry, ceramics, cards, toys and original art.  There is always great food, drinks, and a Master Gardener on hand who can answer gardening questions.  The Sherwood Saturday Market is also family friendly so you can bring children, friends, and your dog if you choose.  More information can be found at http://sherwoodmarket.blogspot.com.

Cruisin’ Sherwood

The Sherwood Chamber of Commerce hosts the Cruisin’ Sherwood event every summer June.  This annual show is one of the largest car shows in the Northwest with an estimated 20,000 spectators and over 500 classic and custom cars.  The entire downtown area of Sherwood is blocked off and converted to a pedestrian parade of fancy cars and activities including, coloring contests, kid zones, games, and food.  For more information go to http://cruisinsherwood.com.

Robin Hood Festival

Since 1952, he city of Sherwood has held the annual Robin Hood Festival on the third weekend of July.  The Robin Hood Festival is a celebration like few others.  Downtown Sherwood converts to a medieval wonderland where Robin Hood and his Merry Men stroll the streets of Sherwood to visit and entertain the local residents.  The festivities include a parade, knighting ceremony, the crowning of a “Maid Marian”, food, arts and crafts, live entertainment and family activities.  Fore more information about the festival go to http://robinhoodfestival.com.

Great Onion Festival

Every October the Sherwood Chamber of Commerce presents the Great Onion Festival at  Archer Glen Elementary School.  This Sherwood tradition began as a way to celebrate the onion harvest from the farms which were once located on what is now the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge.  During the 1890’s and early 1900’s farmers heading west from the East Coast settled in Sherwood to grow onions.  At one time Sherwood was the west coast’s largest distributor of onions.  Farmers are still cultivating the flavorful vegetable and help provide the festival with fresh, home-grown onions.
The Onion Festival features the Sherwood Firemen’s famous barbecue chicken dinner accompanied by a baked onion, beans and cole slaw.  This event attracts many locals who rave about the good food and company.  Onion lovers and chefs also can compete for the illustrious title of the “Best Dang Onion Dish in Sherwood”, a contest open to anyone who wishes to enter an onion dish.

Sherwood Winter Festival

Every year the first week of December, Sherwood hosts the Robin Hood Winter Festival in downtown Sherwood.  The event includes special performances by the Sherwood High School Choir and the Middleton Musicmakers.  Santa and Mrs. Claus are on hand every year to emcee and countdown the lighting of the Sherwood Christmas tree.  The Winter Festival offers hot dogs, hot chocolate, crafts for kids, and live nativity scene to entertain while waiting in line to see Santa Claus himself.

Sherwood Relay For Life

Every August, the Relay for Life of Sherwood hosts there annual fund raiser to benefit cancer research.  This event is dedicated to eradicating cancer and honoring our local cancer survivors in the City of Sherwood.  It is open to the public and offers wonderful music, silent auction, food and activities while cheering on the local teams.

The Relay kicks off on Saturday morning with the Survivor Lap at the Sherwood High School track and concludes Sunday morning.  Teams collect sponsorships from businesses and individuals who pledge dollars for the number of laps they complete over a 24 hour period.  During the relay there are several activities including Movies In The Field and a Tent Decoration Contest.

The event boasts a DJ, local musicians, and a catered lunch from Sweet Tomatoes for cancer survivors, and line dancing.  The most moving part of the event is the evening Luminaria Ceremony which starts after dark.  Participants purchase bags which are lit and placed along the entire track as to honor and remember those who have lost their battle with cancer.

Sherwood – In The News