Dallas was settled in the 1840s on the north side of Rickreall Creek. It is a family-oriented community located in the heart of the scenic Willamette Valley, just 13 miles west of Salem. This quiet and charming town is the Polk County seat and the downtown is home to the historic Polk County Courthouse, City Hall and many other historic buildings. The Dallas area is surrounded by vineyards, world class wineries, abundant farmland and the coastal mountain
range.

The City of Dallas is a full service community that operates its own police department, fire department, ambulance service, municipal court, library and aquatic center.

The City has wonderful public schools with a great teaching staff that puts students first. Chemeketa Community College, whose main campus is located in Salem, offers a variety of technical and vocational programs and college transfer classes, and maintains a branch “outreach” campus co-located at Dallas High School. The Dallas campus offers a wide spectrum of daytime and evening classes. There are several other colleges and universities located within easy driving distance of the Dallas area, including Western

Oregon University in the neighboring community of Monmouth. 

The businesses and citizens of Dallas care deeply for their community. They have remarkable civic pride and volunteering spirit. Folks here are welcoming, neighborly, and caring of each other, creating an amazingly popular home town atmosphere. This is the kind of town that if you lose your dog or your wallet, you’re highly likely to get them back with your dog well-fed and your cash intact.