Oregon

Capital: Salem State abbreviation/Postal code: Ore./OR Governor: Ted Kulongoski, D (to Jan. 2011) Senators: Jeff Merkley, D (to Jan. 2015); Ron Wyden, D (to Jan. 2011) U.S. Representatives: 5 Historical biographies of Congressional members Organized as territory: Aug. 14, 1848 Entered Union (rank): Feb. 14, 1859 (33) Present constitution adopted: 1859 Motto: Alis volat Propriis (She flies with her own wings) (1987) State symbols: flower Oregon grape (1899) tree douglas fir (1939) animal beaver (1969) bird western meadowlark (1927) fish chinook salmon (1961) rock thunderegg (1965) colors navy blue and gold (1959) song “Oregon, My Oregon” (1927) insect swallowtail butterfly (1979) dance square dance (1977) nut hazelnut (1989) gemstone sunstone (1987) seashell Oregon hairy triton (1991) beverage milk (1997) mushroom Pacific golden chanterelle (1999) Nickname: Beaver State Origin of name: Unknown. However, it is generally accepted that the name, first used by Jonathan Carver in 1778, was taken from the writings of Maj. Robert Rogers, an English army officer. 10 largest cities (2005 est.): Portland, 533,427; Salem, 148,751; Eugene, 144,515; Gresham, 96,072; Beaverton, 85,775; Hillsboro, 84,533; Medford, 70,147; Bend, 67,152; Springfield, 55,641; Corvallis, 49,553 Land area: 95,997 sq mi. (248,632 sq km) Geographic center: In Crook Co., 25 mi. SSE of Prineville Number of counties: 36 Largest county by population and area: Multnomah, 672,906 (2005); Harney, 10,135 sq mi. State forests: 780,000 ac. State parks: 231 (95,462 ac.) Residents: Oregonian 2005 resident population est.: 3,641,056 2000 resident census population (rank): 3,421,399 (28). Male: 1,696,550 (49.6%); Female: 1,724,849 (50.4%). White: 2,961,623 (86.6%); Black: 55,662 (1.6%); American Indian: 45,211 (1.3%); Asian: 101,350 (3.0%); Other race: 144,832 (4.2%); Two or more races: 104,745 (3.1%); Hispanic/Latino: 275,314 (8.0%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 75.3; 65 and over: 12.8; median age: 36.3. See additional census data Area codes Tourism office

Map of Oregon

Spanish and English sailors are believed to have sighted the Oregon coast in the 1500s and 1600s. Capt. James Cook, seeking the Northwest Passage, charted some of the coastline in 1778. In 1792, Capt. Robert Gray, in the Columbia, discovered the river named after his ship and claimed the area for the U.S.

In 1805 the Lewis and Clark expedition explored the area. John Jacob Astor's fur depot, Astoria, was founded in 1811. Disputes for control of Oregon between American settlers and the Hudson Bay Company were finally resolved in the 1846 Oregon Treaty, in which Great Britain gave up claims to the region.

Oregon has a $3.3 billion lumber and wood products industry, and an $859 million paper and allied manufacturing industry. Its salmon-fishing industry is one of the world's largest.

In agriculture, the state leads in growing peppermint, cover seed crops, blackberries, boysenberries, loganberries, black raspberries, and hazelnuts. It is second in raising hops, red raspberries, prunes, snap beans, and onions.

With the low-cost electric power provided by dams, Oregon has developed steadily as a manufacturing state. Leading manufactured items are lumber and plywood, metalwork, machinery, aluminum, chemicals, paper, food packing, and electronic equipment.

Crater Lake National Park, Mount Hood, and Bonneville Dam on the Columbia are major tourist attractions. Other points of interest include the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Oregon Caves National Monument, Cape Perpetua in Siuslaw National Forest, Columbia River Gorge between The Dalles and Troutdale, Hells Canyon, Newberry Volcanic National Monument, and John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.

See more on Oregon:
Encyclopedia: Oregon
Encyclopedia: Geography
Encyclopedia: Economy
Encyclopedia: Government
Encyclopedia: History
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Selected famous natives and residents:

• James Beard food expert;

• Raymond Carver writer and poet;

• Homer C. Davenport political cartoonist;

• David Douglas botanist;

• Abigail Scott Duniway women's suffrage advocate;

• John E. Frohnmeyer former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts;

• Robert Gray sea captain and discoverer of Columbia River;

• Matt Groening cartoonist;

• Mark Hatfield senator;

• Donald P. Hodel secretary of the Interior;

• Chief Joseph Nez Percé chief;

• Dave Kingman baseball player;

• Ursula LeGuin writer;

• Edwin Markham poet;

• Phyllis McGinley author;

• Linus Pauling chemist;

• Jane Powell actress and singer;

• John Reed poet and author;

• Harvey W. Scott editor;

• Doc Severinsen band leader;

• Norton Simon business executive;

• Paul M. Simon Illinois senator;

• William E. Stafford poet;

• Sally Struthers actress.

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