Oregonians Say This Town Captures the State’s Spirit Better Than Any Other

In a recent survey of 3,012 respondents seeking to pinpoint each state’s ‘spirit town,’ Astoria was voted as Oregon’s most representative town, followed by Cottage Grove and Klamath Falls.

Astoria: Oregon’s Cultural Heart

Mondly, a language learning platform, set out to define a state by its accent, its quirks, its food, its humor, and the way it moves —the place that locals say feels like home. It wasn’t found in the biggest cities- distinctive towns best represented the state’s cultural identity.

After the polling for what could be called each state’s “spirit town” – the place that speaks your language, cooks your comfort food, and lives by the rhythms that shaped you was concluded, the survey showed Oregonians’ top 3 choices were:

#1 Astoria: Founded where the Columbia River meets the sea, Astoria blends old maritime grit with indie film vibes. Unpredictable weather and historic buildings reflect the local mix of fishermen, artists, and people who left Portland for peace. Oregon’s iconic ‘The Goonies’- recently earmarked for a long-awaited sequel, was filmed in this American town.

Cottage Grove

The postcard-perfect look of Cottage Grove, with its covered bridges and vintage car parades, gives the town a distinctly Oregon feel. In their souls, there’s a mix of hippie and homesteader, with a lot of love for the land.

Somewhere between rural and suburban, Cottage Grove offers pure Willamette Valley charm.

Klamath Falls

The rugged and outdoorsy people of Klamath Falls lend the town a frontier feel and a we’ll-handle-it-ourselves attitude. With snow-capped peaks, logging trucks, and a slight libertarian edge, Klamath Falls fits the state’s tougher half perfectly.

Mondly’s infographic showing each state’s most representative town also indicates choices from other states, such as:

• Florida: Brooksville
• New Jersey: Bayonne
• Tennessee: Cookeville
• West Virginia: Bluefield