Corvallis, Oregon: The ‘Heart of the Valley’ by Name and Nature

Corvallis (pop. ~60,000) takes its name from Latin:

• cor = heart
• vallis = valley

→ “Heart of the Valley.”

Named in 1853 by founder Joseph C. Avery, it perfectly describes the city’s location at the geographic center of the fertile Willamette Valley, where the Marys River meets the Willamette. Today, Corvallis is home to Oregon State University, a thriving farm-to-table scene, and easy access to Coast Range and Cascade trails—still the heart of it all.