Small Town America #5 Vernonia, Oregon

About 45 minutes west of Portland, Oregon is a small town called Vernonia. This is a town of a little over 2000 residents that like to live away from it all.
Vernonia has a great little downtown and it is surrounded by nature. If you live in this small town you are almost at the midway point between Portland, Oregon, and the Oregon Coast.
Real estate is reasonable too.
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[@Dee.C]

Having worked in the restaurant industry for 40 years I want to say thank you for being kind to that waitress . We often work in deplorable conditions and get paid peanuts . To have someone kind like yourself show your appreciation and generosity makes the days bearable . I know she appreciated it .

[@MyMuseYourViews]

Here here to that

[@rosekinnison4724]

Yes thank you its hard work and underappreciated too. Tips are hard to come by and plus sometimes it 10% or less. Thanks for being kind to her.

[@3rdworldgarage450]

Agreed. I finally got out after 20+ years and it was thankless work in a dead end industry. I always tip well because I know how crappy it is to deal with the general public and all the entitled Karens out there.

[@lilsheba1]

I totally agree, although a restaurant that allows it's workers to possibly get heat stroke because they won't do air conditioning leaves a bad taste in my mouth and I won't support it.

[@twoheadedboypt2]

@@lilsheba1 no air conditioning work? The horror.

[@MyMuseYourViews]

I used to live there in 1990-1994. I remember the lovely Christian ladies that helped at Vacation Bible School at the Presbyterian Church. It is a ways out of shopping but scenic yes. I remember swimming in the dammed up river downtown and attending Baptist church and walking from home with my mom and 3 siblings to the Mill Pond. We would walk around it and pick blackberries off the trail in summer. Relaxing location, thanks for the memories 💖 God bless you Mr Briggs. ☦️

[@Landon-shadowboy2988]

I use to live in that town I was born there I miss all those old memories when I was a baby😢😢😢 glad you lived there to

[@moretoexplore6736]

I graduated from high school in very small town Washington State, my graduating class was 12 in 1976 and the population of that town hasn't grown much in recent years. A recent graduating class was 15 students. I love the drive out to Vernonia; regardless of the season I roll my windows down all the way when I get on the Nehalem Highway because the scent of pine in the air is like nowhere else in Washington or Oregon ❤

[@cherylh.6625]

Any recommendations in the Pacific Northwest, including NorCal?

[@naturalflow157]

Dear friend, I have lived in Oregon for a year, and it is truly amazing what you created here for us to enjoy or just get back some of the most amazing memories I created there. Nowadays, I struggle with a lot of stress due to much work, but this really brought me back in time and I feel much more uplifted. Thank you again for sharing and wishing you the best :)

[@magickgrl1]

I love Vernonia , lived here as a kid with my mom & Brother. My husband & I use visit Vernonia all the time. great biking , hiking. Washington Grade School Sadly flooded Also the OG high-school. The houses are beautiful here. I swam in that pool & was baptized as a kid in Rock Creek . Awesome town , wonderful people. Lots to do. Friendship Jamboree & the Ole football Stadium bring back so many great memories. There is a lot of history here. The older town locals have profound history & their stories are wonderful to hear. I love chatting up the locals & the small stores owners there. I wish we could have moved there. My husband's job relocated us out of my home state last year sadly . Miss this beautiful Town and my home State. There's more to see than just Bridge St. I love Brigestreet. Alot of hystory ! so much has changed since i was young. Most people commute to work or at least they did way back. The community is solid.They care for their town deeply & look out for one another. Next time ask the locals about Vernonia get some ideas of places to see . Beautiful properties here. Great biking , hiking, camping. So many things you did not see or know about in this video. Vernonia is #1 in small towns in Oregon in my book. You Definitely missed out on this one. My dream is to one day live here. I hope you go back someday & get some inside from the locals, listen to any older locals and your mind will be blown with great memories of this beautiful Town.

[@brucejohnson7944]

I live in a small town called Thermopolis Wyoming. population 2725. After living in Fort Collins Colorado for 40 years and working there it is wonderful to be in a small town.The small town you showed us today would be a marvelous place to live I do believe if your person that likes small towns.

[@michaelvandyke6715]

Beautiful area, been there many times...

[@johnbouwens2024]

I'm from Greybull Wyoming I've also lived in Gillette where my parents had a beacons moving in storage I drove truck through Wyoming Montana I love the 11 Western driving for my parents I live in Oregon now though and I miss home a lot when I retire I'm coming back probably live in Cody God bless you

[@UnchainedAmerica]

used to live in Cody and Powell during my Jr and High school years. Well, I went to school up in Montana, long story.

[@johnbouwens2024]

My mother was born in Lusk... my father was born in Douglas... and my little sister probably still lives in Gillette I can't stand gillette but I do love Graybull... I love Cody.... Or shell town in the foot hills of the big horn mountains i do miss home real bad ... I'll be back

[@johnbouwens2024]

My mother was born in Lusk... my father was born in Douglas... and my little sister probably still lives in Gillette I can't stand gillette but I do love Graybull... I love Cody.... Or shell town in the foot hills of the big horn mountains i do miss home real bad ... I'll be back

[@austinsandifer5006]

Love the scenery Briggs🌲🌳🌿🍃🔥💯!!!

[@edsteward7717]

Love how you keep giving subtle shout-outs to Will's channel. You practice what you preach. Being nice to each other.

[@Baja-Racer]

Well done Briggs! Keep these in person videos coming! Would love to see one on Astoria, Or. Lots of available content for you there.

[@WorldAccordingToBriggs]

Thanks!

[@TeeLeww81]

Astoria is where i want to retire..

[@catholicactionbibleonlyist1813]

One of my bucket list places to go to

[@kionnakelly2918]

I love it!

[@k7iq]

I spent the weekend in Vernonia, OR in the 1990s for a combination ham radio field day and star party at an old friend's place that has an observatory there. Nice and dark at night !

[@Rikrik1138]

I used to live up in Longview Washington and have been down to Vernonia a few times. Kind of a cute and quiet place with friendly locals. Great place.

[@willrobinson4976]

Well done, Briggs I like how you actually got out into the town to film, it looked really cool.

[@williamcochell9889]

Love these small town tours! thank you for sharing with us! Great to see small-town America still exist

[@WorldAccordingToBriggs]

Thank you for watching

[@deanfirnatine7814]

The real America is small town America

[@traveldreamer4616]

Cute town. I enjoy visiting small, rural areas.

[@NYCHFAN]

Loved every bit of this video. Charming little city. ♥️

[@AslanKyoya1776]

I have a relative that lives there, great town with such a magical setting!

[@TeeLeww81]

I love seeing the small northwest towns highlighted.. I lived in Portland for 40 years.. Vernonia is a quaint little place

[@roadtechatlarge891]

Enjoying the small town tours, TY.

[@amysprenkle9966]

It was very quaint. Kind of reminds me of where they would shoot a show like Northern Exposure. Very cute place.

[@LagunaRider1961]

Really love these small town videos! Please keep doing them! 🙏🙏

[@blasebaker]

Love your new series. Thank you!

[@WorldAccordingToBriggs]

You are so welcome!

[@denismcmahon6594]

Hi Briggs. I'm starting to think of these as "The Sunday night tour with Briggs. Have a great week and be safe.

[@WorldAccordingToBriggs]

Thanks. You too.

[@dreamlike-digital]

Never thought I’d see my tiny adopted home town on here :) I

[@jenniferryersejones9876]

Love the white daisies painted on the side of that one building! Thanks, Briggs!

[@sirwack2084]

The building with the daisies is the Mexican bakery, I lived in vernonia for 5 years and it was owned by at least 4 different owners, the most recent, also have a food truck set up on the other side of the black iron grill and you can see their seating area in the video, by far my favourite place to eat, they had really good food and when I moved away recently it was the thing I missed the most

[@hyena805]

I grew up in Vernonia from the time I was 5 till I was 19. I love it there and visit there very often. As I know a lot of people that still live there. You should go back up the first weekend of August it’s when the whole town has a party it’s called jamboree. Also go back to the lake and go inside the old logging mill you’re allowed to do graffiti art inside of there it’s actually very cool. I could go on and on but I don’t wanna write an essay on here lol. But awesome video!!! Definitely took me back a few years to when I was in high school there class of 2014!

[@ahirschfeld1974]

I am watching this video for the first time from the Bear Creek Pub in Vernonia. First time here since I moved to Portland about a year and a half ago.

[@srice6231]

As a kid we would drive by the sign to Vernonia on our way to Rockaway. For some reason I wanted to move there...but never even went through the town. It was fun seeing it in your video.

[@oaklandmax]

Blue House Mediterranean Cafe has some really good food. Their lamb shawarma was so good I remember it years later. Cedar Side Inn Bar treated this out of towner warmly as well.

[@bradykusch8336]

Vernonia is my home town , we love our logging , beer and football .

[@bradykusch8336]

Btw it's called Mill pond , it's a long spill off for the lumber mill that used to be there

[@WillyFish]

Vernonia Lake is a great spot to take kids fishing. There’s 2 docks that are ADA compatable, and a nice trail around the lake for biking and running. Thanks for the shout out Briggs!!!

[@daintykeisha9787]

Thank you for this. It’s nice to see you out and about showing us around.

[@rkenzie5235]

The lake and the old mill was my favorite as a kid!!! Thinking about it now exploring an old mill is terrifying

[@UnchainedAmerica]

yah I seen that lady with the super long hair. Very cute. I have an affinity for long haired women. Glad you are good tipper. Seems to me every little town in Oregon does try hard to keep it clean.

[@KarenAlexandrite-aka-PinkRose]

I enjoyed that very much! And I really liked the music, too. Thanks, Briggs!

[@deanfirnatine7814]

I love Vernonia, I have an aunt and cousins there on my dad's side. Honestly I am surprised you were surprised that it has a gun store, this is the rural NW after all, the exact opposite of Portland, I often see little towns with a gas station/mini-mart that sell ammo so...

[@hlewis5847]

It’s why the crime rate is so low.

[@paulevans3261]

Got to LOVE these videos! World seems to run a little slower in places like this. Thank You Sir for the road trip.

[@deanhawk7260]

There’s a great bike trail that runs form Banks to Vernonia. We have ridden this several times. Ride out to Vernonia, have lunch, ride back. Highly recommended.

[@joshuatwhaley-novelist]

Hey Briggs, another good video about our area. As a writer who's lived in Lake Oswego since 2008, I have a lot of free time to go out and explore the area. Granted, I don't do it as much as I used to. But I am still waiting for you to take the trip to Newberg. In my humble opinion, probably the best of the small towns in the area. Keep up the great work!

[@MyMuseYourViews]

Yes I’d like to see Newberg, OR also. I’ve read it’s a foodie/cultured town.

[@rogermeyer3941]

Newberg and Sherwood are two great towns/communities. Not so small anymore though.

[@joshuatwhaley-novelist]

@@MyMuseYourViews, it is. and then you have Dundee just south of Newberg. If you're into wine, it's a great place to visit too.

[@joshuatwhaley-novelist]

@@rogermeyer3941, you are correct. But at least they still kind of have that small-town feel. Maybe a bit more in Newberg than Sherwood.

[@deanfirnatine7814]

@@MyMuseYourViews Not exactly a normal small town anymore just a playground for wealthy Portlanders

[@sirromja]

I'm enjoying these videos featuring off-the-beaten path towns. I see comments that suggest you go to places like Ashland, Dundee, Newberg, etc., but these videos featuring small towns that aren't tourist draws (Shakespeare Festival, wine country) are more interesting.

[@toddwesterback9052]

Dude I love your videos. I live in your area and would totally be up to tagging along for one of your small town visits. I love history and exploring new places. Looks like fun.

[@vangiehossi]

beautiful trees and relaxing drive

[@rkenzie5235]

Yessss! The Mighty Loggers! I still have family living in Vernonia!

[@madelinerose5326]

Great walking tour. This looks so inviting, a place to just spend a few days to unwind. Wonder how well the roads are maintained in winter. How many offspring come back to visit parents and grandparents. A positive endorsement for a very small town.

[@deanfirnatine7814]

Snow is not bad in winter there, only need to worry about the rare big storm. My cousins were born there and most never left.

[@twoheadedboypt2]

Roads are usually plowed before normal commute time unless it's a big storm. I am 40, grew up there, moved to Portland around 17 and came back here in my mid 30s. A lot of people I grew up with moved back as well.

[@FilmFlam]

I was considering Vernonia. A checker at my local Fred Meyer said she lives there. Quite a commute if you ask me. The possibility of flooding is concerning.

[@MyMuseYourViews]

Right. It flooded in 1996/1997 and the town was almost forgotten/overlooked so I hear 😟

[@deanfirnatine7814]

That has been over 25 years, I do not think it is something you need to worry about anymore than most places, that year most of the Southern Willamette Valley was flooded.

[@hlewis5847]

500 year flood in ‘96 second 500 year flood in’07. We’re due for another... don’t come.

[@twoheadedboypt2]

We have hills.

[@curtislong1987]

The lake was actually the log pond for the old mill that once stood on the one side of it.

[@ssoma151]

its the cause of the town flooding all the time it backs up the river

[@michaelvandyke6715]

Wife's cousin lived north of there another 20 miles in the sticks... Nice area away from people, traffic and cities...👌👍

[@dawnbonome9056]

I like videos like this. If you can, do more walking tours around the Country. That would be really interesting.

[@everettbarham4922]

I’ve been to Vernonia many times. It’s a nice little town.

[@gpl422sda]

Memories! I used to drive my 1958 Chevy panel truck all over Oregon and I got to Vernonia too

[@loripaich923]

Thank you oh my goodness I live there! My husband is a logger and we love this little town there's fishing camping the people are nice everyone come visit vernonia Oregon! Good job on the video God bless

[@EricPS]

Hey, I know where Vernonia is at. We go by that turn off of the Sunset Highway quite a bit. There's a weird sign there with a finger pointing and it says, "Hey, it's this way to Vernonia". Or something like that. To be totally honest, I've only been there once. It was a while ago, when the Sunset Tunnel was closed and that was the detour.

[@This.Here.Channel]

I love going to the antique store in Vernonia, the owners are such nice people.

[@Sammykyt]

I like how you simply went to places you can easily drive to but showed a tour of the areas and explained them.

[@keithtimmons378]

Appeared to be a very decent little town and with the lower crime rate a town with decent people.

[@agentnuget]

My opinion is Vernonia is a great little town. It being 45 minutes from Portland makes it the perfect distance for someone to commute to and from work if needed, or to go have a day out. In my opinion though, you should try driving down Scappoose Vernonia Highway. As the name implies, its the highway between Vernonia and Scappoose (where I live) and it's a great drive. Then it's as simple as hopping down Saint Helens Highway to get to downtown, it takes a bit longer but it's got great scenery if all you're trying to do is enjoy a nice drive.

[@tinagarcia3571]

I love where the sidewalks end.

[@davidgrech4574]

Thank you for your video and hope you know how much I appreciate your channel 👍

[@mateoocampo3165]

Having lived in small towns most of my life, guns stores on main streets was the norm. Glad the tradition is still alive in places. This town is now definitely on my list of places to retire to.

[@CameraGirl65]

Love MY little town! Lived in Vernonia for 13 years. Love the wildlife. i always have deer and elk in my yard. what it lacks in amenities is made up by the awesome community we have!

[@bnorberg988]

There is an excellent 22 mile bike path from Banks to Vernonia (Banks/Vernonia Linear State Park) that can be used in conjunction with a few back roads (going thru Jewel and Mist) following the Nehalem river road all the way down to Manzanita on the Oregon coast.

[@twoheadedboypt2]

Also one from vernonia to scappoose. Not paved, though.

[@bnorberg988]

@@twoheadedboypt2 Oh thank you. I did not know that.

[@BeyondtheRailz]

To quote The Rascals: Groovin On A Sunday Afternoon with Briggs. 😁☺😄😊

[@WorldAccordingToBriggs]

Classic

[@rkenzie5235]

Ohhhh it’s weird seeing Washington grade school demolished!!! I lived in Vernonia 1998-2000…it’s such an small town in the middle of nowhere.

[@reesnaza9110]

We went to Veronia about 18 months ago to the great antiques stores. We too ate where you ate. Black Grill Diner. Was great. It was one of the first places we went during lol the craziness during those recent times. Also a beautiful drive. Thanks for sharing

[@rebeccaketner816]

I was just there! Beautiful place, and going into a 'Wineries and Art Show' sort of direction in future growth. Blue House had really great food also. I think it's a good investment, as far as real estate in NW Oregon.

[@anthonycollora2817]

Please do a video on Sisters, OR during winter!

[@chrisdaughters4431]

Visit Aberdeen! I know it's probably too big for this series, but I'd love to see you do a tour and hear your thoughts

[@UnchainedAmerica]

I graduated from a class of 6 (one classmate had to graduate remotely). The low school size actually affected me through my social skill life.

[@e.Pacifico]

Love ya, Briggs!!

[@cat-mum-Jules]

I'm fairly new to the channel and I'm loving it. I'm going to start working through this series. This is the first one and I think I'd love to live here 😊

[@williamelkins1613]

Absolutely loved the in person touch. Really nice video.

[@WorldAccordingToBriggs]

Thank you

[@HistorydnClarity]

Oregon my type of place if I had a car, Portland to party and explore city life🕺😎🍻, and those rural small towns to unwind,live and relax🙇‍♂️😇

[@kevinx9225]

I have several coworkers and a few friends that live in Vernonia. Most on acreage which is no longer affordable. One friend lived on 20 acres. It's a friendly, self sustaining town that doesn't "need" tourist but are still polite when you come through. Police presence is low but I feel bad for anyone coming through town with bad intentions. Ambulance response is going to take a while. Everyone has a gun there and I've also heard full automatic fire as well.

[@WorldAccordingToBriggs]

Towns that don’t “need” tourists don’t have antique shops. In my experience all small towns need tourists. Maybe not locals that have jobs outside of town or retired but the local government and shop owners do.

[@deanfirnatine7814]

They have an ambulance service. Yes land has shot way up with its proximity to Portland and people moving out of the city.

[@deanfirnatine7814]

@@WorldAccordingToBriggs It is not a major component of the local economy, not everyone needs Portland.

[@hlewis5847]

The antique shops are on line. This is the 21st century... we don’t need tourists.

[@FilmFlam]

These recent walking tours are great. A step up from the stock photos/statistics vids.

[@virgoessence1233]

I love these drives , if I can’t get out there myself I watch these . 🥰

[@paule9328]

Great video! Really enjoyed it. Very informative and well put together 😃

[@City-of-Hong-Kong]

Loved the way you presented the whole video. 👍 And subscribed.

[@johnwillard9677]

Spent a lot of time in Vernonia as a kid my aunt and uncles live there my uncle Orrin weed had a large farm and also did a lot of logging

[@انت-صلي-عالنبي-بس]

nerve-relaxing journey 💟 and cooooool music 🎵💕 Thank you 🙏🏻

[@teejay6063]

WOW "No fear deer" apparently. We have a shitload here (CT), and see em all the time, but they immediately book away from people like we're chasing them with machetes while screaming.

[@jenniferryersejones9876]

Best way for them to react to people!

[@HistorydnClarity]

7:22 bro the scenery with nature sounds and piano is so relaxing 🌲🍃🎼👍👍😇 ( I could see and or hear that on a loop)

[@bonniegreatorex72]

I love these videos how you walk around the towns in the cities. I always look for evidence of mud flood. You can usually tell by looking at the buildings if there is a window that's half underground you can bet that is a mud flood building. Have you ever watched around Astoria oregon? I don't know why but I just love that little town. 💜

[@keturahspencer]

I lived in Vernonia when I was little. My first memories are there. I really do need to go back and visit.

[@lisabritt4284]

We were camping in Vernonia for two weeks last July. I really enjoyed it, but don’t know if I could actually live there. I do want to get back to Oregon though, living on the sun right now…Tucson. Hate it here. Hate. Thanks for the video.

[@e28powerm30]

Just got back today from 2 days of camping in Vernonia, nice little town.

[@geebrewer8186]

Growing up in WA state, all my life I have seen roads like that and similar small towns. Come do Westport WA.

[@kristensorensen2219]

#1.1k👍😀More pictures of the store fronts and some inside too please! Some drone shots would be cool!

[@skawalker35]

I live in Vernonia. Quick 35 min trip to Hillsboro for work. Escape back to quiet and deer in my yard after. It's not fancy, and that's exactly the point.

[@Mediumdoo]

Nothing seems busy. Tired and quiet

[@michaelvandyke6715]

As it should be 👌

[@skawalker35]

Oh yea, and Green Day also made a music video here. I like the piano touch to your video. Very nice. 8:26 is your Axe Man.

[@reedwest638]

Great video! Your next one should be on my town of KALAMA Washington)) Your Viewers will love the history going back to Lewis and Clark, plus we have a much smaller and picturesque town to cruse through)) and our back country is breathtakingly beautiful with mountain views down the Columbia River all the way to Portland! So come check it out) Ill be happy to give you a grand tour! RW.

[@arthurleino]

This is a interesting video. Dad and I use go fishing there. Had a good lunch there. I graduated from Banks HI in 71.

[@GreggBB]

If it had a decent medical facity or one witin 30-40 minutes, I'd live there!! Just the kind of place for me. Not a lot of people, safe and quiet...very quiet. Thanks for this one Briggs

[@deanfirnatine7814]

They do, it is less time than that to St Helens the county seat

[@GreggBB]

@@deanfirnatine7814 cool! This would be a wonderful place for me then. Quiet, safe, not too expensive, not hot in the summers, not a ton of snow or ice in the winter.

[@brettcostley3083]

There is a Adventist health clinic in Vernonia and you can get to St Vincent's in Portland and the Kaiser and Tuality hospitals in Hillsboro in about 40 minutes.

[@hlewis5847]

It is not cheap. Many folks come and last barely a winter with the highest electric rates in the state. The other utilities are much higher than surrounding communities as well. Do your homework.

[@willowleaf11]

I have worked in Vernonia for the last year, it’s nice to see a lot of the familiar sights.

[@tiktokfever2517]

This is great. I wish we could get more of these.

[@MotoTouringWorldWide]

My wife and I watch all your videos. I love them and have been watching them for over a year...... We will be moving to Europe soon (Spain or Austria). We currently live in crapy Seattle (Renton to be exact)... In this video, I noticed the super IDIOT in the pickup truck on the left land at 0:44. Camping is for the mountains, not the left lane. I wish a cop would have ticked the village idiot for failing to "keep right". Keep up, the great work. Warmest Regards, Michael.

[@kenwin5845]

I was in Vernonia this summer. Good rockhounding in the area.

[@lorelailaval7676]

You should do Mt Angel, love it, and Silverton.

[@williamcochell9889]

There’s another really really interesting town you might want to visit called Ashland Oregon! famous for the Shakespearean festival the whole town has been built around. Very artistic environment! homes really unique beautiful central park called Lithia! Would make a really fascinating video!

[@twoheadedboypt2]

Smells of patchuli

[@clintcoop5717]

It's not a small town it's a small city

[@ttfweb1]

I like the small town tours. I grew up out by Damascus - lots of things similar.

[@colleennicholson546]

Thank you for these videos! Love it I live in camas 😊👍🏻