Beaverton: where two rivers meet

Beaverton sits at the spot where the Tobacco and Cedar rivers come together — which is why the early settlers called it “Grand Forks.” Like most towns around here, it began with the lumber business: a Canadian lumber company, Ross & Sons, founded the town around 1890 and named it after their hometown of Beaverton, Ontario.

Today it’s a small, friendly city near the top of Wixom Lake, and it works as a gateway to the lakes and state forest to the north and east. Beaverton has its own school district and a walkable little downtown along M-18.

If you’re drawn to a quiet small town with quick access to the water and the woods, Beaverton fits the bill.