Laurel is an unincorporated community in Washington County, Oregon, United States.
Settled in 1872, the community is located between Hillsboro and Newberg, in the southern portion of the Tualatin Valley in the foothills of the Chehalem Mountains.
When Euro-American settlers came to what is now Washington County, the area was inhabited by the Atfalati Native American group.
[4] Laurel received its name in the spring of 1879 when a number of citizens in the surrounding area met at the Union Schoolhouse, which was located a quarter mile east of the crossroads, to petition for a post office.
[6] The Laurel Valley Store was opened in 1893 by Gus, Maud, and Jacob Messinger.
The first building, a small one-room schoolhouse was built in 1858 and was located north of the Laurel intersection.
The purpose of the hall was "to promote sociability and friendship amongst its members and all people of the community."
[4] In 1876, community members started a congregation at Mountain Top with W.C. Kantner as preacher.
[9] A Baptist church was also started that year by the Brown, Steventon, Shamly, and Messinger families.
[9] The community has several agricultural farms and plant nurseries, although most of its residents commute to Portland, Hillsboro, or Beaverton for work.
[7] At the northwest corner of the main intersection in Laurel is the largest contiguous walnut orchard in Oregon's Washington County.
[citation needed] Laurel Valley Store is located at the same intersection and has been in operation since 1893.