History of 1000 Friends of Oregon

1000 Friends of Oregon was founded in 1975 by Governor Tom McCall and Henry Richmond as the citizens’ voice for sound land use planning. Their goal was to protect Oregon’s quality of life from the effects of uncontrolled growth, using the tools of Senate Bill 100, passed in 1973.

In the early days, 1000 Friends served as the “big stick” of enforcement, suing towns and counties to complete a Comprehensive Plan, as required by Senate Bill 100. Later, we assumed the “watchdog” role, helping citizens make sure their elected officials followed the rules, threatening to sue when they didn’t. During this period, hundreds of people became land use activists, testifying before county commissioners, appealing cases to the Land Use Board of Appeals, with some support and assistance from 1000 Friends.

But, 1973 was a generation ago. Over half the people living in Oregon today weren’t here in 1973. People realize things look different here, but may not understand that our land use laws are a big reason why.

Today, 1000 Friends staff focus on education and advocacy, to engage Oregonians in a fresh conversation about Oregon’s future, and how to make sure it’s a future we all want. We seek to enhance the quality of life we enjoy in Oregon, with beautiful natural areas, the family-owned farms and woodlots that comprise our working landscapes, and vibrant, livable communities for urban and rural residents alike.