{{Otheruses1|the U.S. State}}

{{US state

|Name = Oregon

|Fullname = State of Oregon

|Flag = Flag of Oregon.svg

|Flaglink = [[Flag of Oregon]] (front)

|Seal = Oregon state seal.png

|Map = Map of USA highlighting Oregon.png

|Nickname = Beaver State

|Motto = [[Alis volat propriis]]

|Capital = [[Salem, Oregon|Salem]]

|LargestCity = [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]]

|Governor = [[Ted Kulongoski]] (D)

|Senators = [[Ron Wyden]] (D)<br />[[Gordon Smith]] (R)

|PostalAbbreviation = OR

|TradAbbreviation = Ore.

|OfficialLang = ''None''

|AreaRank = 9^th

|TotalAreaUS = 98,466

|TotalArea = 255,026

|LandAreaUS = 96,081

|LandArea = 248,849

|WaterAreaUS = 2,385

|WaterArea = 6,177

|PCWater = 2.4

|PopRank = 28^th

|2000Pop = 3,421,399

|DensityRank = 39^th

|2000DensityUS = 35.6

|2000Density = 13.76

|AdmittanceOrder = 33^rd

|AdmittanceDate = [[February 14]], [[1859]]

|TimeZone = [[Pacific Time zone|Pacific]]: [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]-8/[[Daylight saving time|-7]]

|TZ1Where = most of state

|TimeZone2 = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain]]: [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]-7/[[Daylight saving time|-6]]

|TZ2Where = [[Malheur County, Oregon|Malheur County]]

|Latitude = 42°N to 46°15'N

|Longitude = 116°45'W to 124°30'W

|WidthUS = 260

|Width = 420

|LengthUS = 360

|Length = 580

|HighestPoint = [[Mount Hood]]

|HighestElevUS =11,239

|HighestElev = 3,425

|MeanElevUS = 3,297

|MeanElev = 1,005

|LowestElevUS = 0

|LowestElev = 0

|ISOCode = US-OR

|Website = www.oregon.gov}}

'''Oregon''' ([[International Phonetic Alphabet|pronounced]] {{IPA|[ˈo ɹɪ ɡən]}} (ORIgun)<ref>The pronunciation /ORIgone/ ({{IPA|[ˈo ɹɪ ɡɔn]}}), while common, is seen as incorrect by Oregonians, and is never used in the Pacific Northwest, only on the east coast.</ref>) is a [[U.S. state|state]] in the [[Pacific Northwest]] region of the [[United States]], bordering the [[Pacific Ocean]], [[California]], [[Washington]], [[Idaho]], and [[Nevada]]. Its northern border lies along the [[Columbia River]] and the eastern border lies along the [[Snake River]]. Two north-south mountain ranges—the [[Pacific Coast Ranges|Pacific Coast Range]] and the [[Cascade Range|Cascade Mountain Range]]—form the two boundaries of the [[Willamette Valley]], one of the most fertile and agriculturally productive regions in the world.

Oregon has one of the most diverse landscapes of any state in the US. It is well known for its tall, dense forests and its accessible, scenic Pacific coastline. Other areas include the semiarid scrublands, prairies, and deserts that cover approximately half the state in eastern and north-central Oregon. It is one of the few places in the [[Northern Hemisphere]] where lift-serviced [[alpine skiing]] is available year round.

Oregon's [[United States Census, 2000|population in 2000]] was 3,421,399, a 20.4% increase over 1990. The Census Bureau estimated Oregon's population to have reached 3,594,586 by 2004. <ref name="CensusBureau"> {{cite web | url =http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/41000.html | title=U.S. Census Bureau - State & County QuickFacts - Oregon | accessdate=2006-05-14}} </ref>

== History ==

Oregon's earliest residents were several [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribes, including the [[Bannock (tribe)|Bannock]], [[Chinookan|Chinook]], [[Klamath]], and [[Nez Perce]]. [[James Cook]] explored the coast in 1778 in search of the [[Northwest Passage]]. The [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]] traveled through the region during their expedition to explore the [[Louisiana Purchase]]. They built their winter fort at [[Fort Clatsop]], near the mouth of the Columbia River. Exploration by Lewis and Clark (1805&ndash;1806) and the United Kingdom's [[David Thompson (explorer)|David Thompson]] (1811) publicized the abundance of [[fur]] in the area. In 1811, New York financier [[John Jacob Astor]] established [[Fort Astoria]] at the mouth of the Columbia River with the intention of starting a chain of [[Pacific Fur Company]] trading posts along the river. Fort Astoria was the first permanent white settlement in Oregon. In the [[War of 1812]], the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|British]] gained control of all of the Pacific Fur Company posts.

By the [[1820s]] and [[1830s]], the British [[Hudson's Bay Company]] dominated the Pacific Northwest. [[John McLoughlin]], who was appointed the Company's Chief Factor of the Columbia District, built [[Fort Vancouver]] in 1825.

In 1841 the master trapper and entrepreneur [[Ewing Young]] died with considerable wealth, with no apparent heir, and no system to probate his estate. A meeting followed Young's funeral at which a probate government was proposed. Doctor [[Ira Babcock]] of [[Jason Lee (missionary)|Jason Lee]]'s [[Methodism|Methodist]] Mission was elected Supreme Judge. Babcock chaired two meetings in 1842 at [[Champoeg, Oregon|Champoeg]]—half way between Lee's mission and [[Oregon City, Oregon|Oregon City]]—to discuss [[wolves]] and other animals considered troublesome at the time. These meetings were precursors to an all-citizen meeting in 1843, which instituted a provisional government headed by an executive council made up of David Hill, Alanson Beers, and [[Joseph Gale]]. This government was first of several acting governments of the [[Oregon Country]] (also referred to as the Republic of Oregon) {{citeneeded}} prior to American [[annexation]].

The [[Oregon Trail]] infused the region with new settlers, starting in 1842&ndash;43, after the United States agreed to jointly settle the [[Oregon Country]] with the [[United Kingdom]]. The border was resolved in 1846 by the [[Oregon Treaty]] after a period during which it seemed that the United States and the United Kingdom would go to war for a third time in 75 years. Cooler heads prevailed, and the [[Oregon boundary dispute]] between the United States and [[British North America]] was set at the [[49th parallel north|49th parallel]]. The [[Oregon Territory]] was officially organized in 1848.

Settlement increased due to the [[Donation Land Claim Act|Donation Land Claim Act of 1850]], in conjunction with the forced relocation of the native population to [[List of Indian reservations in Oregon|Indian Reservations in Oregon]]. The state was admitted to the Union on [[February 14]], [[1859]].

At the outbreak of the [[American Civil War]], regular troops were withdrawn and sent east. Volunteer cavalry were recruited in California and were sent north to Oregon to keep peace and protect the populace. The [[First Oregon Cavalry]] served until June 1865.

In the [[1880s]], railroads enabled marketing of the state's [[timber|lumber]] and [[wheat]], as well as the more rapid growth of its cities.

Industrial expansion began in earnest following the construction of the [[Bonneville Dam]] in 1943 on the Columbia River. The power, food, and lumber provided by Oregon helped fuel the development of the west, although the periodic fluctuations in the nation's building industry have hurt the state's [[economics|economy]] on multiple occasions.

The state has a long history of polarizing conflicts: Native Americans vs. British fur trappers, British vs. settlers from the U.S., ranchers vs. farmers, wealthy growing cities vs. established but poor rural areas, loggers vs. [[environmentalism|environmentalists]], [[White supremacy|white supremacists]] vs. anti-racists, social [[communism]] vs. small-government [[conservatism]], supporters of [[social welfare|social spending]] vs. [[Oregon tax revolt|anti-tax activists]], and native Oregonians vs. Californians (or outsiders in general). Oregonians also have a long history of secessionist ideas, ranging from varying parts of the population on all sides of the political spectrum attempting to form other states and even other countries. (See: [[Jefferson (state)|State of Jefferson]], [[State of Klamath]], [[State of Shasta]] and [[Cascadia]].)

Oregon state ballots often include politically conservative proposals (e.g. anti-gay, pro-religious measures) side-by-side with politically liberal ones (e.g. [[Prohibition (drugs)|drug decriminalization]]), illustrating the wide spectrum of political thought in the state.

=== Naming ===

The origin of the state's name is something of a mystery. The earliest known use of this proper noun was in a 1765 petition by Major [[Robert Rogers (soldier)|Robert Rogers]] to the [[Kingdom of Great Britain]]. The petition referred to ''Ouragon'' and asked for money to finance an expedition in search of the Northwest Passage.

Why Rogers used the name has led to many theories, which include:

*During the time of the Hudson's Bay Company and the voyages of Robert Gray, some say the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest referred to the Columbia River as the great "Ouragon". Since the Columbia River is perhaps the most significant geographic feature of the region, it is plausible that the name was anglicized to Oregon and thence became known as such.

*Others derive the name as a corruption of the [[French language|French]] word ''ouragan'' (hurricane), referring to the tumultuous nature of the Columbia River.

*[[George R. Stewart]] argued in a 1944 article in ''American Speech'' that the name came from an engraver's error in a French map published in the early 1700s, naming the ''Ouisiconsink'' ([[Wisconsin River]]). This theory was endorsed in ''[[Oregon Geographic Names]]'' as "the most plausible explanation".

[[Image:Beaver.jpg|250px|thumb|left|An abundance of Beavers gave Oregon the nickname ''the [[American Beaver|Beaver]] State''.]]

*In 2001, archaeologist Scott Byram and David G. Lewis published an article in the ''Oregon Historical Quarterly'' arguing that the name '''Oregon''' came from the word ''oolighan'', referring to grease made from fish, which the Native Americans of the region traded in. Those trade routes brought the term eastward.

*In a 2004 article for the ''Oregon Historical Quarterly'', Professor Thomas Love and [[Smithsonian Institution|Smithsonian]] [[List of linguists|linguist]] Ives Goddard argue that Rogers chose the word based on exposure to either of the [[Algonquian languages|Algonquian]] words ''wauregan'' and ''olighin'', both meaning "good and beautiful".

Less supported theories are based on it having a Spanish etymology. The theory that it comes from ''oregano'', was dismissed years ago by Henry W. Scott, an early editor of ''[[The Oregonian]]''. He wrote that it was "a mere conjecture absolutely without support. More than this, it is completely disproved by all that is known of the name." Others have speculated that the name is related to the kingdom of [[Aragon]]: the major part of the Spanish soldiers that conquered the West Coast from California to [[Vancouver Island]] in the [[18th century]] were, in fact, from [[Catalonia]], a principate of the ancient [[Crown of Aragon]] in [[Spain]].

In 1778, [[Jonathan Carver]] used '''Oregon''' to label the [[Great River of the West]] in his book ''Travels Through the Interior Parts of North America''. The poet [[William Cullen Bryant]] took the name from Carver's book and used it in his poem ''[[Thanatopsis]]'' to refer to the recent discoveries of the Lewis and Clark Expedition; this use helped establish it in modern use.

== Geography ==

{{ussm|oregon.png|or}}

{{seealso|List of counties in Oregon|Oregon Geographic Names|List of Oregon rivers|List of Oregon mountain ranges|List of Oregon state parks}}

Oregon's geography may be split roughly into six areas:

*the [[Pacific Coast Ranges|Coast Range]],

*the [[Willamette Valley]],

*the [[Cascade Range|Cascade Mountains]]

*the [[Klamath Mountains]],

*the [[Columbia River Plateau]], and

*the [[Great Basin|Basin and Range]] Region.

[[Image:Hood.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Mt. Hood as seen from the Mt. Hood Highway (Hwy-35)]] The state varies from [[rainforest]] in the Coast Range to barren desert in the southeast, which still meets the technical definition of a [[frontier]].

Oregon is 295 miles (475&nbsp;km) north to south at longest distance, and 395 miles (475&nbsp;km) east to west at longest distance. In terms of land and water area, Oregon is the ninth largest state, covering 97,073 square miles (254,418&nbsp;km²).

Its highest point is the summit of [[Mount Hood]], at 11,239 feet (3,428&nbsp;m). As a [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] state, its lowest point is [[sea level]]. Its mean elevation is 3,300 feet (1&nbsp;km).

[[Crater Lake National Park]] is the state's only [[national park]], and the site of [[Crater Lake]], the deepest lake in the U.S. at 1,943 feet. Similar federally-owned, protected recreation areas that are entirely in Oregon include: [[John Day Fossil Beds National Monument]], [[Newberry National Volcanic Monument]], and [[Oregon Caves National Monument]].

Areas that are partly in Oregon and partly in neighboring states include the [[California National Historic Trail]], [[Fort Vancouver National Historic Site]], the [[Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail]], the [[Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks]], the [[Nez Perce National Historical Park]], and the [[Oregon National Historic Trail]].

Oregon claims the [[D River]] is the shortest [[river]] in the world, though the American state of [[Montana]] makes the same claim of its [[Roe River]]. [[Guinness World Records]] officially declared that the two rivers are the same length and can both claim the honor. Oregon is also home to the smallest park in the world, [[Mill Ends Park]] in Portland.

== Law and government ==

The [[Oregon Country]] functioned as an independent [[republic]] {{citeneeded}}} with a 3-person executive office and a chief executive until [[August 13]][[1848]], when Oregon was [[annexed]] by the [[United States]], at which time a territorial government was established. Oregon maintained a territorial government until [[February 14]][[1859]], when it was granted [[statehood]]. <ref> {{cite web

|url=http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/echoes/history.html

|title=A Brief History of the Oregon Territorial Period

|author=Oregon Secretary of State

|accessdate=2006-08-09

|publisher=State of Oregon

}}</ref>

Oregon will have two vote-by-mail elections in 2006 (May and November). For information about candidates, districts, etc., see [[Oregon election, 2006]].

=== State government ===

[[Image:Oregon State Capitol.jpg|thumb|right|[[Oregon State Capitol]] ]]

Oregon state government has a [[separation of powers]] similar to the [[federal government of the United States|federal government]]. It has three branches, called departments by the [[Oregon Constitution|state's constitution]]:

*a [[legislature|legislative department]] (the [[bicameral]] [[Oregon Legislative Assembly]]),

*an [[Executive (government)|executive department]] which includes an "administrative department" and [[List of Governors of Oregon|Oregon's governor]] serving as [[chief executive]], and

*a [[Judiciary|judicial department]], headed by the [[Oregon Supreme Court]].

Governors in Oregon serve four-year terms and are term limited to two consecutive terms, but an unlimited number of total terms. The Secretary of State serves as Lieutenant Governor for statutory purposes. The other constitutional officers are Treasurer, Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction and Labor Commissioner. The [[Oregon Legislative Assembly]] consists of a thirty-member [[Oregon State Senate|State Senate]] and sixty-member [[Oregon House of Representatives|House]]. Senators serve four-year terms, and Representatives two. The state [[Oregon Supreme Court|supreme court]] has seven elected justices, including the only openly gay state supreme court justice in the nation, [[Rives Kistler]]. They choose one of their own to serve a six-year term as Chief Justice. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the [[United States Supreme Court]].

Oregon is one of the few states whose [[state legislature|legislature]] is [[biennial]]. The debate over whether to move to annual sessions is a long-standing battle in Oregon politics, but the voters have resisted the move from citizen legislators to professional lawmakers. Because Oregon's state budget is written in two year increments and, having no sales tax, its revenue is based largely on income taxes, it is often significantly over- or under-budget. Recent legislatures have had to be called into special session repeatedly to address revenue shortfalls resulting from economic downturns, bringing to a head the need for more frequent legislative sessions.

The state maintains formal relationships with the nine [[List of Native American Tribal Entities|federally-recognized]] tribal governments in Oregon:

*Burns [[Paiute#Northern Paiute|Paiute]] Tribe

*[[Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians]]

*[[Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon|Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde]]

*[[Confederated Tribes of Siletz]]

*Confederated Tribes of [[Warm Springs Indian Reservation|Warm Springs]]

*[[Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation]]

*[[Coquille (tribe)|Coquille Tribe]]

*[[Cow Creek]] Band of [[Umpqua (Native Americans)|Umpqua Indians]]

*[[Klamath Indian Tribe of Oregon]]

Oregon adopted many electoral reforms proposed during the [[Progressive Era]], due to the efforts of [[William S. U'Ren]] and his [[Direct Legislation League]]. Under his leadership, the state overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure in [[1902]] that created the [[initiative]] and [[referendum]] processes for citizens to directly introduce or approve proposed laws or amendments to the state constitution. In following years, the [[primary election]] to select party candidates was adopted in [[1904]], and in [[1908]] the [[Oregon Constitution]] was amended to include recall of public officials. More recent amendments include the nation's only doctor-assisted suicide law, called the [[Oregon Ballot Measure 16 (1994)|Death with Dignity law]] (which was challenged in 2005 by the [[George W. Bush administration|Bush administration]] in the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]]), legalization of medical marijuana, and among the nation's strongest anti-sprawl and pro-environment laws.

Of the [[List of Oregon ballot measures|measures placed on the ballot]] since 1902, the people have passed 99 of the 288 initiatives and 25 of the 61 referenda on the ballot, though not all of them survived challenges in courts (see ''[[Pierce v. Society of Sisters]]'', for example). During the same period, the legislature has referred 363 measures to the people, of which 206 have passed.

Oregon has been a pioneer in the use of [[vote-by-mail]]:

*[[1981]] The [[Oregon Legislative Assembly]] approves experimentation with vote-by-mail for local elections.

*[[1987]] Vote-by-mail becomes permanent, with the majority of Oregon's [[List of Oregon counties|counties]] making use of it.

*[[1995]] Oregon becomes the first state to conduct a [[Federal government of the United States|federal]] primary election totally by [[mail]].

*[[1996]] [[Ron Wyden]], [[Bob Packwood]]'s replacement, is elected by mail with a 66% turnout.

*[[1998]] Through a voter [[List of Oregon ballot measures#1998|initiative]], Oregonians confirm their overwhelming support for vote-by-mail.

*[[2000]] Oregon becomes the first state in the nation to conduct a [[U.S. presidential election#Voter turnout|presidential election]] entirely by mail. About 80% of registered voters participated.

Oregon is currently seen as a moderate Democratic-leaning state, which has voted for that party in every presidential election since [[1988]]. However, in 2000, Gore won only eight of Oregon's 36 counties, and in 2004, Kerry won just seven, losing in populous, traditionally Democratic [[Clackamas County]]. The politics of the state are largely similar to those of neighboring [[State of Washington|Washington]], and like Washington, are closely divided between metropolitan and rural areas.

Oregon is the only west coast state where it is still legal to purchase machine-guns, and licenses to carry concealed weapons are easily obtained. Although the state income tax is technically "progressive" the maximum rate is reached at such a low level it is, in effect, a flat tax. Oregon has a substantially higher minimum wage law than neighboring [[California]] but is an "at-will" state where the major employers routinely have mass layoffs - particularly for their contract employees which make up a substantial portion of the non-government work force. Oregon is also one of two states where self-serve gasoline stations are prohibited by law, the other being [[New Jersey]]. Most of the land in the state is ineligible for development which has led to an over-priced housing market. Many employees in the Portland metropolitan area live in the neighboring [[State of Washington|Washington state]] which has far more affordable housing.

Independent voters make up a significant portion of the electorate and do not vote along ideological lines. Although it may seem like a moderate Democratic-leaning state to casual outside observers, the electorate defies such an easy categorization. The Independent voters will continue to vote unpredictably and Oregon will remain a battle-ground state for the foreseeable future.

The [[Oregon Legislative Assembly|state legislature]] is split between the two parties, with Republicans dominating the [[Oregon House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] and Democrats controlling the [[Oregon State Senate|Senate]]. In the 2004 general election, the voters [[Oregon Ballot Measure 36 (2004)|banned gay marriage by a vote of 57 to 43 percent]], and weakened land use laws across the state. In 2002 the voters narrowly elected a Democratic govenor.

The distribution, sales and consumption of [[alcoholic beverage]]s are regulated in the state by the [[Oregon Liquor Control Commission]]. Thus, Oregon is an [[Alcoholic beverage control state]].

Entering the Union at a time when the status of "[[Negroes]]" was very much in question, and wishing to stay out of the looming conflict between the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] and [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] States, Oregon banned African Americans from moving into the state in the vote to adopt its Constitution ([[1858]]). This ban was not officially lifted until [[1925]]; in [[2002]], additional language now considered racist was struck from the [[Oregon Constitution]] by the voters of Oregon.

=== Federal government ===

[[Image:Flags-of-usa-and-oregon.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The flags of the [[Flag of the United States|United States]] and [[Flag of Oregon|Oregon]] flown side-by-side in downtown [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]]]]

Oregon is represented in the United States legislature by two [[United States Senate|Senators]] and five [[Oregon congressional district|Representatives]]. (See also the historical [[US Congressional Delegations from Oregon]].)

In the [[U.S. Electoral College]], Oregon casts seven votes. Oregon has supported Democratic candidates in the last five elections. Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry won the state in 2004 by a margin of four percentage points, with 51.4% of the popular vote. Urban Multnomah County's strong support of the Democratic candidate was slightly greater than the support for Republican candidate George W. Bush in the rest of the state.

The [[United States District Court for the District of Oregon]] hears Federal cases in Oregon. Oregon (among other western states and territories) is in the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit|9th judicial circuit]], which hears appeals from the District Court. See [[United States court of appeals]].

''See also : [[United States presidential election, 2004, in Oregon]]

==Economy==

[[Image:Grass seed warehouse.jpg|thumb|A warehouse in [[Halsey, Oregon|Halsey]] storing grass seed, one of the state's largest crops.]]

The Willamette Valley is very fertile and, coupled with Oregon's famous rain, gives the state a wealth of agricultural products, including [[cattle]], [[dairy]] products, [[potato]]es, [[peppermint]], and [[Apple (fruit)|apple]]s and other [[fruit]]s. Oregon is also one of four major world [[hazelnut]] growing regions, and produces 95% of the domestic hazelnuts in the United States. While the history of the [[wine]] production in Oregon can be traced to before [[Prohibition]], it became a significant industry beginning in the 1970s and Oregon is home to at least four [[American Viticultural Area|wine appellations]]. Due to regional similarities of climate and soil, the grapes planted in Oregon are often the same varieties found in the French region of [[Alsace wine|Alsace]].

Vast forests have historically made Oregon one of the nation's major [[timber]] production and [[logging]] states, but forest fires (such as the [[Tillamook Burn]]), over-harvesting, and lawsuits over the proper management of the extensive federal forest holdings have reduced the amount of timber produced. According to the [[Oregon Forest Resources Institute]], timber harvested from federal lands dropped some 96% from [[1989]] from 4,333 million to 173 million [[board foot|board feet]] (10,000,000 to 408,000 m³) in 2001. Even the shift in recent years towards finished goods such as paper and building materials has not slowed the decline of the timber industry. Examples include [[Weyerhaeuser]]'s acquisition of [[Willamette Industries]] in January, [[2002]], the announcement by [[Louisiana Pacific]] in September, [[2003]] that they will relocate their corporate headquarters from Portland to [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]], and the experiences of small lumber towns like [[Gilchrist, Oregon|Gilchrist]]. Despite these changes, Oregon still leads the United States in [[softwood]] lumber production; in 2001, according to the Oregon Forest Resources Institute, 6,056 million board feet (14,000,000 m³) was produced in Oregon, against 4,5257 mbf. in Washington, 2,731 in California, 2,413 in [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], and 2,327 in [[Mississippi]]. The effect of the forest industry crunch is still massive unemployment in rural Oregon and is a bone of contention between rural and urban Oregon.

Oregon has also contributed to the entertainment industry. Movies wholly or partially filmed in Oregon include ''[[The Goonies]]'', ''[[National Lampoon's Animal House]]'', ''[[Stand By Me]]'', ''[[Kindergarten Cop]]'', ''[[One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (film)|One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest]]'', ''[[Paint Your Wagon]]'', ''[[The Hunted]]'', ''[[Sometimes a Great Notion]]'', ''[[Elephant (movie)|Elephant]]'', ''[[Bandits]]'', ''[[The Ring 2]]'', ''[[Short Circuit]]'', ''[[Come See The Paradise]]'', ''[[The Shining]]'', ''[[Drugstore Cowboy]]'', ''[[My Own Private Idaho]]'' and ''[[The Postman]]''. Oregon native [[Matt Groening]], creator of [[The Simpsons]], has incorporated many references from his hometown of Portland into the series.

High technology industries and services have been a major employer since the [[1970s]]. [[Tektronix]] was the largest private employer in Oregon until the late [[1980s]]. [[Intel]]'s creation and expansion of several plants in eastern [[Washington County, Oregon|Washington County]] continued the growth that Tektronix had started. The spinoffs and startups that were produced by these two companies led to the establishment of the [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]] metropolitan area as the [[Silicon Forest]]. The recession and [[dot-com]] bust of [[2001]] in the [[Silicon Valley]] has led to similar results in the Silicon Forest; many high technology employers have either reduced the number of their employees or gone out of business. [[OSDL]] made news in 2004 when they hired [[Linus Torvalds]], developer of the Linux kernel. Oregon also is the home of non-technology-based companies such as shoemaker [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]], whose world headquarters is located in [[Beaverton, Oregon|Beaverton]]. [[Medford, Oregon|Medford]] is home to two of the largest mail order companies in the country: [[Bear Creek Corporation]] which sells gift items under several brands, and [[Musicians Friend|Musician's Friend]] an international catalog and Internet retailer of music gear.

Oregon had one of the largest [[salmon]]-fishing industries in the world, although ocean fisheries have reduced the river fisheries in recent years. [[Tourism]] is also strong in the state; Oregon's evergreen mountain forests, waterfalls, pristine lakes (including [[Crater Lake National Park]]), and scenic beaches draw visitors year round. The [[Oregon Shakespeare Festival]], held in [[Ashland, Oregon|Ashland]], is a tourist draw near its Californian border which complements the area's scenic beauty and opportunity for outdoor activities.

Oregon is home to a [[List of Oregon breweries|number of smaller breweries]].

Oregon's [[gross state product]] is $145.35 billion as of 2005.

== Demographics ==

{| class="toccolours" align="right" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin:0 0 1em 1em; font-size: 95%;"

|-

! colspan=2 bgcolor="#ccccff" align="center"| Historical populations

|-

! align="center"| Census<br>year !! align="right"| Population

|-

| colspan=2|<hr>

|-

| align="center"| 1850 || align="right"| 12,093

|-

| align="center"| 1860 || align="right"| 52,465

|-

| align="center"| 1870 || align="right"| 90,923

|-

| align="center"| 1880 || align="right"| 174,768

|-

| align="center"| 1890 || align="right"| 317,704

|-

| align="center"| 1900 || align="right"| 413,536

|-

| align="center"| 1910 || align="right"| 672,765

|-

| align="center"| 1920 || align="right"| 783,389

|-

| align="center"| 1930 || align="right"| 953,786

|-

| align="center"| 1940 || align="right"| 1,089,684

|-

| align="center"| 1950 || align="right"| 1,521,341

|-

| align="center"| 1960 || align="right"| 1,768,687

|-

| align="center"| 1970 || align="right"| 2,091,385

|-

| align="center"| 1980 || align="right"| 2,633,105

|-

| align="center"| 1990 || align="right"| 2,842,321

|-

| align="center"| [[United States 2000 Census|2000]] || align="right"| 3,421,399

|}

{|

|-

|[[Image:Oregon_population_map.png|thumb|Oregon Population Density Map]]

As of 2005, Oregon has an estimated population of 3,641,056, which is an increase of 49,693, or 1.4%, from the prior year and an increase of 219,620, or 6.4%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 75,196 people (that is 236,557 births minus 161,361 deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 150,084 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 72,263 people, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 77,821 people.

As of 2004, Oregon's population included 309,700 foreign-born (accounting for 8.7% of the state population) and an estimated 90,000 illegal aliens (2.5% of the state population).

===Race and ancestry===

The racial/ethnic makeup of the state:

*83.5% [[Whites|White]], not of Hispanic origin

*8.0% [[Hispanics|Hispanic]] of any race

*1.6% [[Blacks|Black]]

*3.0% [[Asians|Asian]]

*1.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)]]

*3.1% [[Mixed race]]

|}

The largest reported ancestry groups in Oregon are: [[German-American|German]] (20.5%), [[British-American|English]] (13.2%), [[Irish American|Irish]] (11.9%), [[American ancestry|American]] (6.2%), and [[Mexican American|Mexican]] (5.5%).

Most Oregon counties are inhabited principally by residents of European ancestry. Concentrations of Mexican-Americans are highest in [[Malheur County, Oregon|Malheur]] and [[Jefferson County, Oregon|Jefferson]] counties.

6.5% of Oregon's population were reported as under 5, 24.7% under 18, and 12.8% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 50.4% of the population.

{{seealso|List of people from Oregon|List of Portlanders|Oregon locations by per capita income}}

===Religion===

The religious affiliations of the people of Oregon are:

*[[Christianity|Christian]] &ndash; 75%

**[[Protestantism|Protestant]] &ndash; 55%

***[[Baptist]] &ndash; 6%

***[[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] &ndash; 6%

***[[Methodism|Methodist]] &ndash; 4%

***[[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]] &ndash; 3%

***[[Episcopal]] &ndash; 2%

***[[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]] &ndash; 2%

***[[Church of Christ]] &ndash; 2%

***Other Protestant or general Protestant &ndash; 30%

**[[Roman Catholicism in the United States|Roman Catholic]] &ndash; 15%

**[[Mormon]] &ndash; 5%

**Other Christian &ndash; 1%

*Other Religions &ndash; 1%

*Non-Religious &ndash; 24%

Although most people from Oregon still identify themselves (at least nominally) as Christians, Oregon has the lowest church membership of all 50 states. While some parts of the USA have [[church]] membership rates as high as 80%, it runs only about 12% in Oregon.{{fact}} Nearly one in four Oregonians identify themselves as non-religious, giving Oregon one of the highest percentages of non-religious people in the nation. "Non-religious" is an [[umbrella term]] which is sometimes synonymous with or includes elements of [[atheism]], [[agnosticism]], [[skepticism]], [[freethought]], [[humanism]], [[secular humanism]], [[heresy]], [[logical positivism]], and even [[apathy]].

=== 2000-2003 population trends ===

Estimates released [[as of 2004|September 2004]] show double-digit growth in Latino and Asian American populations since the 2000 Census. About 60% of the 138,197 new residents come from ethnic and racial minorities. Asian growth is located mostly in the metropolitan areas of Portland, Salem, and Eugene; Hispanic population growth is across the state.

== Major cities and towns ==

[[Image:SW Portland new.jpg|thumb|300px|Portland]]

{{further|[[List of cities in Oregon]]}}

The capital is [[Salem, Oregon|Salem]] and the largest city is [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]]. [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]], home of the [[University of Oregon]], is technically the third largest city, with [[Salem, Oregon|Salem]] being second largest. However, the metropolitan area of Greater Eugene is larger than that of the Salem area.

[[Oregon City, Oregon|Oregon City]] was the first incorporated city west of the [[Rocky Mountains|Rockies]] and later, the first capital of the [[Oregon Territory]], from [[1848]] to [[1852]], when the territorial [[capital]] was moved to [[Salem, Oregon]]. It was also the end of the [[Oregon Trail]] and the site of the first public library established west of the [[Rocky Mountains]], stocked with only 300 volumes.

== Education ==

=== Colleges and universities ===

[[Image:Oregon State University clock tower.jpg|thumb|210px|OSU's Bell Tower.]]

The [[Oregon University System]] supports seven public universities and one affiliate in the state. The [[University of Oregon]] in Eugene is Oregon's flagship liberal arts institution, while [[Oregon State University]] in Corvallis is the flagship agricultural school. The State also has three regional universities: [[Western Oregon University]] in Monmouth, [[Southern Oregon University]] in Ashland, and [[Eastern Oregon University]] in La Grande. [[Portland State University]] is Oregon's largest and serves as the State's urban school in the Portland Metropolitan Area. The [[Oregon Institute of Technology]] has its campus in Klamath Falls. The affiliate [[Oregon Health and Science University]] (OHSU) comprises a medical, dental, and nursing school in Portland and a science and engineering school in Beaverton (both graduate-only).

[[Willamette University]] is the state's oldest university, dating to the pre-American era.

Oregon has historically struggled to fund higher education. Recently, Oregon has cut its higher education budget over the last 5 years and now Oregon ranks 46th in the country in state spending per student.

Oregon is home to a wide variety of private colleges, especially in the Portland area. The [[University of Portland]] is Oregon's Catholic university. [[Concordia University (Portland, Oregon)|Concordia University]], [[Lewis & Clark College]], [[Marylhurst University]], [[Reed College]], and [[Warner Pacific College]] are also in Portland. [[Pacific University]] is in the suburb of Forest Grove.

There are also private colleges further south in the Willamette Valley. McMinnville has [[Linfield College]], while nearby Newberg is home to [[George Fox University]]. Salem is home to two private schools, [[Willamette University]] and [[Corban College]]. In addition to the University of Oregon, Eugene is home to the campuses of [[Northwest Christian College]] and [[Eugene Bible College]].

=== Community colleges ===

The state supports seventeen regional community colleges around the state. They offer community education as well as two-year degrees. Colleges belonging to the state are:

*[[Blue Mountain Community College]] in Pendleton

*[[Central Oregon Community College]] in Bend

*[[Chemeketa Community College]] in Salem

*[[Clackamas Community College]] in Oregon City

*[[Clatsop Community College]] in Astoria

*[[Columbia Gorge Community College]] in The Dalles

*[[Klamath Community College]] in Klamath Falls

*[[Lane Community College]] in Eugene

*[[Linn-Benton Community College]] in Albany

*[[Mount Hood Community College]] in Gresham

*[[Oregon Coast Community College]] in Newport

*[[Portland Community College]] in Portland

*[[Rogue Community College]] in Grants Pass

*[[Southwestern Oregon Community College]] in Coos Bay

*[[Tillamook Bay Community College]] in Bay City

*[[Treasure Valley Community College]] in Ontario

*[[Umpqua Community College]] in Roseburg

== Professional sports teams ==

[[Image:RoseGardenArena.jpg|250px|thumb|The [[Rose Garden Arena|Rose Garden]], home of the [[Portland Trail Blazers]]]]

The only major professional sports team in Oregon is the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] of the [[National Basketball Association]]. Traditionally, they have been one of the most successful teams in the NBA in terms of both win-loss record and attendance. However, the team has run into personnel and financial issues in recent seasons, and the team's popularity has taken a hit. The Blazers play in the [[Rose Garden Arena|Rose Garden]] in downtown Portland. The Rose Garden's other tenants include the [[Portland Winter Hawks]], a longstanding and popular [[Western Hockey League]] team, and the [[Portland Lumberjax]], an expansion [[National Lacrosse League]] team.

In addition to the Winter Hawks and Lumberjax, Portland has two more minor-league sports teams who play at [[PGE Park]]. The [[Portland Timbers]] of the [[USL First Division]] are a very popular soccer team, and the [[Portland Beavers]] of the [[Pacific Coast League]] are the Triple-A club of the [[San Diego Padres]]. There has been recent talk of Portland trying to get their own [[Major League Baseball]] team.

Eugene and Salem also have minor-league baseball teams. The [[Eugene Emeralds]] and the [[Salem-Keizer Volcanoes]] both play in the Single-A [[Northwest League]]. Oregon also has four teams in the fledgling [[International Basketball League (2005-)|International Basketball League]]: the [[Portland Chinooks]], [[Central Oregon Hotshots]], [[Salem Stampede]], and the [[Eugene Chargers]].

Even with all of these professional options available, the state's two major college teams, the [[Oregon Ducks]] and [[Oregon State Beavers]] remain the most popular sports entities in the state.

==State symbols==

[[Image:Mahonia aquifolium.jpg|400px|thumb|right|The [[Oregon-grape]], Oregon's state flower.]]

Oregon has a total of 19 official state symbols. <ref name="Symbols"> {{cite web | url =http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/186.html | title=Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 186 | accessdate=2006-05-14}} </ref> They are:

:[[State flower]]: [[Oregon-grape]] (since 1899)

:[[List of U.S. state songs|State song]]: "[[Oregon, My Oregon]]" (written in 1920 and adopted in 1927)

:[[List of U.S. state birds|State bird]]: [[Western Meadowlark]] (chosen by the state's children in 1927)

:[[State tree]]: [[Douglas-fir]] (since 1939)

:[[List of U.S. state fish|State fish]]: [[Chinook salmon]] (since 1961)

:[[List of U.S. state minerals, rocks, stones and gemstones|State rock]]: [[Thunderegg]] (like a [[geode]] but formed in a [[Rhyolite|rhyolitic]] [[lava flow]]; since 1965)

:[[List of U.S. state mammals|State animal]]: [[American Beaver]] (since 1969)

:[[List of U.S. state dances|State dance]]: [[Square dance]] (Adopted in 1977)

:[[List of U.S. state insects|State insect]]: Oregon [[Swallowtail butterfly]] (''Papilio oregonius''; since 1979)

:[[State fossil]]: [[Metasequoia]] (since 2005)

:[[List of U.S. state minerals, rocks, stones and gemstones|State gemstone]]: [[Oregon sunstone]], a type of [[feldspar]] (since 1987)

:State nut: [[Hazelnut]] (since 1989)

:State seashell: [[Oregon hairy triton]] (''Fusitriton oregonensis'', a [[gastropod]] in the [[cymatiidae]] family; since 1991)

:State mushroom: Pacific Golden [[Chanterelle]] (since 1999)

:[[State beverage]]: [[Milk]] (since 1997)

:[[List of U.S. state fruit|State fruit]]: [[Pear]] (since 2005)

:[[List of U.S. state mottos|State motto]]: ''[[Alis volat propriis|Alis Volat Propriis]]'', [[Latin]] for “She Flies With Her Own Wings” (since 1987; This was the original motto of Oregon, but had been changed to “The Union” in 1957.[http://www.leg.state.or.us/history/motto.htm])

:State hostess: [[Miss Oregon]] (since 1969)

:State team: [[Portland Trail Blazers]] of 1990–1991 (since 1991)

[[Image:Vistahouse.jpg|325px|thumb|Columbia River Gorge near [[Crown Point, Oregon]], looking upstream into the gorge, past the Vista House, from Portland Women's Forum Viewpoint ([[Chanticleer Point]])]]

== See also ==

* [[wikitravel:Oregon|Wikitravel Entry: Oregon]]

* [[Music of Oregon]]

* [[Scouting in Oregon]]

* ''[[The Begum's Millions]]'', a [[Jules Verne]] utopian fantasy set in Oregon

==Notes and references==

<references />

==External links==

{{sisterlinks|Oregon}}

*[http://www.oregon.gov/ State of Oregon website]

*[http://bluebook.state.or.us/ Oregon Blue Book], the online version of the [[Oregon Blue Book|state's official directory and fact book]]

*[http://www.ohs.org/ Oregon Historical Society]

*[http://www.ohs.org/education/oregonhistory/ Oregon History Project]

*[http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/41000.html U.S. Census Bureau]

*[http://www.usnewspapers.org/state/oregon Oregon Newspapers]

*[http://oregonmag.com/OrHistArticle.htm Oregon or the Grave]

*[http://www.ecanned.com/indsum/level1/OR/index.html Oregon Employment] State and County Data

*[http://www.econ.state.or.us/facts.htm Oregon Economic Community & Development Department]

*[http://www.yansa.net/schmecken/index.php?title=Oregon_placenames_for_Californians www.yansa.net] Pronunciation of Oregon places

*[http://www.countymapsoregon.com County Maps Oregon] Full color county maps. List of cities, towns, county seats

*[http://www.ers.usda.gov/StateFacts/OR.htm Oregon State Facts]

{{Oregon}}

{{United_States}}

[[Category:1859 establishments]]

[[Category:Oregon| ]]

[[ang:Oregon]]

[[ar:أوريغون]]

[[bn:অরেগন]]

[[bg:Орегон]]

[[ca:Oregon]]

[[cs:Oregon]]

[[da:Oregon]]

[[de:Oregon]]

[[et:Oregon]]

[[es:Oregón]]

[[eo:Oregono]]

[[eu:Oregon]]

[[fr:Oregon]]

[[gd:Oregon]]

[[gl:Oregon]]

[[ko:오리건 주]]

[[io:Oregon]]

[[id:Oregon]]

[[os:Орегон]]

[[is:Oregon]]

[[it:Oregon]]

[[he:אורגון]]

[[ka:ორეგონი]]

[[kw:Oregon]]

[[lv:Oregona]]

[[lt:Oregonas]]

[[jbo:OR,egyn]]

[[hu:Oregon]]

[[mk:Орегон]]

[[nl:Oregon]]

[[ja:オレゴン州]]

[[no:Oregon]]

[[nn:Oregon]]

[[oc:Oregon]]

[[ug:ئورېگون شىتاتى]]

[[nds:Oregon]]

[[pl:Oregon]]

[[pt:Oregon]]

[[ro:Oregon (stat SUA)]]

[[ru:Орегон]]

[[sq:Oregon]]

[[simple:Oregon]]

[[sl:Oregon]]

[[sr:Орегон]]

[[fi:Oregon]]

[[sv:Oregon]]

[[th:มลรัฐออริกอน]]

[[tr:Oregon]]

[[uk:Ореґон]]

[[zh:俄勒冈州]]