Geography and Climate of Oregon
Oregon is one of the less dense states in the union, with a population of roughly 3.5 million spread out over 98,466 square miles of land in the Pacific Northwest. Oregon is located on the western coast of the United States. It borders Washington to the north, California to the south and Idaho to the east.
Oregon has a coastal border with the Pacific Ocean, which generally leads to cool, moderate climates. There is wide variation of rainfall in the state. The eastern desert region experiences very little rain, however, the coast can have pretty heavy showers.
History of Oregon
Before European Americans arrived, a variety of Native American tribes populated the land, including the Banate, Chinook, Molele and Umpqua. Lewis and Clark explored the area as part of their famous expedition and made note of the fur-trading opportunities.
In 1811, John Jacob Astor established Fort Astoria in Oregon for his Pacific Fur Company. The British won a claim to a good portion of the Oregon country during the War of 1812, keeping the territory’s ownership in dispute for over 30 years. During the period of Western expansion in the 1840s, more Americans settled in Oregon, although at this time the Americans and the British still shared the claim to the territory.
While after the 1844 election of James Polk, it seemed that the British and Americans would again go to war, this time over Oregon, cooler heads ultimately prevailed. In 1846, a treaty split Oregon at the 49th parallel between American and the British, with the British portion in what is now British Columbia, Canada. Oregon then gained admittance to the Union as the 33rd state in 1859.
Demographics of Oregon
Oregon is a heavily Caucasian state, with 93 percent of the residents reported from this ethnic group in 2005. Most residents are of European ancestry, although about 10 percent of the population is Hispanic.
Oregon has the distinction of being one of the most secular states in the Union, along with Washington, Vermont and Colorado. However, around three-quarters of residents identify themselves as Christian and many Oregonians are quite conservative socially. There is a small but steadily growing Asian segment of the Oregon population.
Economy of Oregon
Oregon has very fertile soil and much of the economy thrives on agriculture, particularly apples and potatoes. One of the unique products of Oregon is the hazelnut, and Oregon is responsible for nearly all the domestic hazelnut production in the country.
Oregon has a significant wine industry -- third in the United States with over 300 wineries. Oregon is also a heavily forested land, making timber production and logging major industries in Oregon. Additionally, Oregon is home of the Nike shoe company and is one of only five states with no sales tax.
Another big part of the Oregon economy is provided by computer chip giant Intel, which can be found in Portland, on the west side in the area referred to as “Silicon Forest.” Intel is the largest private employer in Oregon. Tech jobs represent a large portion of Oregon employment, with 58,000 people employed in 2008. Other tech companies with offices in Oregon include IBM, NEC, Network Associates and Sharp.
Oregon Law and Government
The Governor of Oregon is Democrat Ted Kulongoski who is in the middle of his second term. Unlike other states, Oregon has no Lieutenant Governor, and the Oregon Secretary of State would take over in the event that the Governor was suddenly unable to serve.
Oregon tends to be heavily Democratic. Four out of its five U.S. Congressional Representatives are Democrats. The Oregon State Supreme Court consists of seven members, two of whom are openly gay, the only Supreme Court in the country about which this can be said.
The Oregon Constitution contains the country’s only doctor-assisted suicide law. African Americans were prohibited by law from migrating to Oregon until as late as 1925, which may be part of the explanation for its heavily White populace.
Oregon Transportation
Portland has a comprehensive bus system run by TriMet and a light rail system connecting the city with the suburbs (“MAX”). Highways traversing Oregon and connecting Oregon with other states include I-5 running north to south through the state and I-84 going east to west. The main airport in Portland is Portland International Airport, 40 miles northeast of downtown Portland. The Union Pacific Railroad and the Amtrak train system also service Oregon.
Major Cities and Towns of Oregon
The biggest cities in Oregon are Portland, Eugene and Salem, which are all concentrated in the same general area in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Portland is home to about 568,000 people and is the most populated city in Oregon. It is also renowned as one of the greenest cities in the world.
Portland has its own professional basketball team and is famous for its breweries and coffeehouses. At about 153,690 people, Eugene is the second largest city in Oregon, home to the University of Oregon and, as “Track Town, USA,” the location of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials.
Salem is the capital of Oregon and a close third in population, with around 152,290 residents. Salem is famous for its agricultural products, in particular its cherries.
Oregon Educational System
Oregon has over half a million students in primary and secondary schools in 199 public school districts. When it comes to a commitment to education, Oregon places 46th in the union for state spending per student.
Oregon has a number of public universities including Portland State University, the University of Oregon and Oregon State University. Among the private institutions of higher learning in Oregon are the University of Portland, Lewis and Clark College and Reed College.
Oregon Sports Teams and Recreational Activities
Oregon has one major sports team, the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA. The team has performed admirably in the past, winning the NBA Championship in 1977 and falling in the Championship series to the Detroit Pistons in 1990 and Chicago Bulls in 1992. Microsoft Billionaire Paul Allen owns the Trail Blazers.
Due to its remote location, Oregon has rarely been a good market for major professional sports. However, college sports are alive and well in Oregon. The University of Oregon Ducks hold their own in football in the challenging Pac-10 conference and posting impressive numbers in track and field as well.
Eugene is a bastion of track and field action, and has the nickname “Track Town, USA.” The trials for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team took place in Eugene.
Oregon has a handful of minor league baseball teams, including the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League and the Eugene Emeralds and Salem-Keizer Volcanoes of the Northwest League.
Oregon is rife with mountains and forests, and popular recreational activities in Oregon include camping, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, hiking and mountain climbing. State parks that provide recreational activities in Oregon include the Elijah Bristow State Park, Washburne State Wayside, the Detroit Lake State Park and the North Santiam State Recreation Area.
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