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OREGON G@Y!!!
{{Redirect|State of Oregon|the state government|Government of Oregon|other uses|Oregon (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox U.S. state
|Name = Oregon
|Fullname = State of Oregon
|Flag = Flag_of_Oregon.svg
|Flaglink = [[Flag of Oregon|Flag]]
|Seal = Seal of Oregon.svg
|Map = Map_of_USA_OR.svg
|Nickname =Beaver State
|Motto = [[Alis volat propriis]] ([[Latin]])
|MottoEnglish = She flies with her own wings
|Former = Oregon Territory
|Capital = [[Salem, Oregon|Salem]]
|LargestCity = [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]]
|LargestMetro = [[Portland metropolitan area]]
|Demonym = Oregonian
|Governor = [[Ted Kulongoski]] (D)
|Lieutenant Governor = None<ref>In the event of a vacancy in the office of Governor, the [[Oregon Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] is first in line for succession.</ref><ref name=articlev/>
|Senators = [[Ron Wyden]] (D)<br />[[Jeff Merkley]] (D)
|Representative=4 Democrats, 1 Republican
|PostalAbbreviation = OR
|TradAbbreviation = Ore.
|BorderingStates = [[California]], [[Idaho]], [[Nevada]], <br /> [[Washington]]
|OfficialLang = '''[[De jure]]''': None<ref> {{cite web|url= http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2007/01/30/News/English.As.Oregons.Official.Language.It.Could.Happen-2685082.shtml|title=English as Oregon's official language? It could happen|author=Calvin Hall|publisher=[[Oregon Daily Emerald]]|date=2007-01-30|accessdate=2007-05-08}}</ref><br>'''[[De facto]]''': English
|AreaRank = 9th
|TotalAreaUS = 98,466
|TotalArea = 255,026
|LandAreaUS = 96,081
|LandArea = 248,849
|WaterAreaUS = 2,385
|WaterArea = 6,177
|PCWater = 2.4
|PopRank = 27th
|2000Pop (old) = 3,421,399
|2000Pop = 3,825,657 (2009 estimate)<ref name=09CenEst>{{cite web | title = Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2000, to July 1, 2009 | publisher = United States Census Bureau | accessdate = 2010-01-07 | url = http://www.census.gov/popest/states/tables/NST-EST2009-01.xls}}</ref> <br/>3,421,399 (2000 Census)
|DensityRank = 39th
|2000DensityUS = 35.6
|2000Density = 13.76
|AdmittanceOrder = 33rd
|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 = most of [[Malheur County, Oregon|Malheur County]]
|Latitude = 42° N to 46° 18′ N
|Longitude = 116° 28′ W to 124° 38′ W
|WidthUS = 260
|Width = 420
|LengthUS = 360
|Length = 580
|HighestPoint = [[Mount Hood]]<ref name=usgs/>
|HighestElevUS =11,249
|HighestElev = 3,425
|MeanElevUS = 3,297
|MeanElev = 1,005
|LowestPoint = [[Pacific Ocean]]<ref name=usgs/>
|LowestElevUS = 0
|LowestElev = 0
|ISOCode = US-OR
|Website = www.oregon.gov
}}
'''Oregon''' ({{pron-en|ˈɒrɨɡən|en-us-Oregon.ogg}} {{respell|ORR|i-gən}}) is a [[U.S. state|state]] in the [[Pacific Northwest]] region of the [[United States]]. It is located on the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] [[Oregon Coast|coast]], with [[Washington]] to the north, [[California]] to the south, [[Nevada]] on the southeast and [[Idaho]] to the east. The [[Columbia River|Columbia]] and [[Snake River|Snake]] rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern boundaries respectively. The area was inhabited by many indigenous tribes before the arrival of traders, explorers and settlers; the [[Oregon Territory]] was created in 1848, and Oregon became the 33rd state on February 14, 1859. [[Salem, Oregon|Salem]] is the state's capital and third-most-populous city; [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]] is the most populous. Portland is the 30th-largest U.S. city, with a population of 575,930 (2008 estimate) and a metro population of 2,175,133 (2007 estimate), the 23rd-largest U.S. metro area.

The [[Willamette Valley|valley of]] the [[Willamette River]] in western Oregon is the most densely populated and agriculturally productive region of the state, and is home to eight of the ten most populous cities. Oregon's 2000 population was about 3.5 million, a 20.3% increase over 1990; it is estimated to have reached 3.8 million by 2008.<ref name="CensusBureau">{{cite web | url =http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/41000.html | title=U.S. Census Bureau - State & County QuickFacts - Oregon | accessdate=2007-05-11}}</ref> Oregon's largest for-profit private employer is [[Intel Corporation|Intel]], located in the [[Silicon Forest]] area on Portland's west side. The state has 199 public school districts, with [[Portland Public Schools (Oregon)|Portland Public Schools]] as the largest. There are 17 community colleges, and seven publicly financed colleges in the [[Oregon University System]]. [[Oregon State University]] in [[Corvallis, Oregon|Corvallis]] and the [[University of Oregon]] in [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]] are the two flagship universities of the state, while [[Portland State University]] has the largest enrollment.<ref>http://www.ous.edu/news_and_information/news/111308.php</ref>

Major highways include [[Interstate 5 in Oregon|Interstate 5]] which runs the entire north-south length of the state, [[Interstate 84 in Oregon|Interstate 84]] that runs east-west, [[U.S. Route 97 in Oregon|U.S. Route 97]] that crosses the middle of the state, [[U.S. Route 101 in Oregon|U.S. Route 101]] that travels the entire coastline, and [[U.S. Route 20 in Oregon|U.S. Route 20]] and [[U.S. Route 26 in Oregon|U.S. Route 26]] that run east-west, among many other highways. [[Portland International Airport]] is the busiest commercial airport in the state and is operated as part of the [[Port of Portland (Oregon)|Port of Portland]], the state's busiest port. Rail service includes [[Union Pacific Railroad]] and [[BNSF Railway]] freight service, [[Amtrak]] passenger service, as well as light rail and street car routes in the Portland metro area.

Oregon enjoys a diverse landscape including a scenic and windswept [[Oregon Coast|Pacific coastline]], the volcanoes of a rugged and glaciated [[Cascade Range|Cascade Mountain Range]], [[temperate rainforest|dense evergreen forests]], and [[High Desert (Oregon)|high desert]] across much of the eastern portion of the state. The towering [[Douglas-fir|Douglas firs]] and [[Sequoia|redwoods]] along the rainy [[Western Oregon]] coast provide a dramatic contrast with the lower density and fire prone [[Pine|pine tree]] and [[Juniperus occidentalis|juniper]] forests covering portions of the [[Eastern Oregon|Eastern]] half of the state. The eastern portion of the state also includes semi-arid [[scrubland]]s, prairies, deserts, and meadows. These drier areas stretch east from [[Central Oregon]]. [[Mount Hood]] is the highest point in the state at {{convert|11249|ft|m}}. [[Crater Lake National Park]] is the only national park in Oregon. Oregon is the United States' leader in [[Wildfire|forest fires]]; in 2007 the state had over 1,000 of them.<ref>[http://kdrv.com/page/60433]</ref>

== History ==
{{Main|History of Oregon}}
{{USCensusPop
| 1850=12093
| 1860=52465
| 1870=90923
| 1880=174768
| 1890=317704
| 1900=413536
| 1910=672765
| 1920=783389
| 1930=953786
| 1940=1089684
| 1950=1521341
| 1960=1768687
| 1970=2091533
| 1980=2633156
| 1990=2842321
| 2000=3421399
| estyear=2009
| estimate=3825657
| footnote= U.S. Census Bureau<ref name=09CenEst/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/dmd/www/resapport/states/oregon.pdf|title=Oregon|date=December 27, 2000|work=Resident Population and Apportionment of the U.S. House of Representatives|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=2009-08-28}}</ref>
}}
Humans have inhabited the area that is now Oregon for at least 15,000 years. In recorded history, mentions of the land date to as early as the 16th century. During the 18th and 19th centuries European powers and later the United States quarreled over possession of the region until 1846 when the U.S. and Great Britain finalized the division of the region. Oregon became a state in 1859 and is now home to over 3.5 million residents.

===Earliest inhabitation===
[[Paleo-Indians|Human habitation]] of the [[Pacific Northwest]] began at least 15,000 years ago, with the oldest evidence of habitation in Oregon found at [[Fort Rock Cave]] and the [[Paisley Caves]] in [[Lake County, Oregon|Lake County]]. Archaeologist [[Luther Cressman]] dated material from Fort Rock to 13,200 years ago.<ref>{{cite book | first = William G. | last = Robbins | title = Oregon: This Storied Land | publisher = Oregon Historical Society Press | year = 2005 | isbn = 0987595-286-0}}</ref> By 8000 B.C. there were settlements throughout the state, with populations concentrated along the lower Columbia River, in the western valleys, and around coastal estuaries.

===European exploration===
{{Expand section|date=December 2009}}
By the 16th century Oregon was home to many [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] groups, including the [[Bannock (tribe)|Bannock]], [[Shasta (tribe)|Chasta]], [[Chinookan|Chinook]], [[Kalapuya]], [[Klamath]], [[Molala|Molalla]], [[Nez Perce]], [[Takelma]], and [[Umpqua (tribe)|Umpqua]].<ref name="BBGreatBasin">{{cite web |title=Oregon History: Great Basin |work=Oregon Blue Book |publisher=Oregon State Archives |accessdate=2007-09-02 |url=http://bluebook.state.or.us/cultural/history/history04.htm}}</ref><ref name="BBNWCoast">{{cite web |title=Oregon History: Northwest Coast |work=Oregon Blue Book |publisher=Oregon State Archives |accessdate=2007-09-02 |url=http://bluebook.state.or.us/cultural/history/history02.htm}}</ref><ref name="CTGrandRonde">{{cite web |title=Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde: Culture |accessdate=2007-09-02 |url=http://www.grandronde.org/culture/}}</ref><ref name="BBColumbiaPlateau">{{cite web |title=Oregon History: Columbia Plateau |work=Oregon Blue Book |publisher=Oregon State Archives |accessdate=2007-09-02 |url=http://bluebook.state.or.us/cultural/history/history03.htm}}</ref>

The first European explorers were Spanish, during the late 17th century. Further exploration from Alta California took place during the 18th century. British [[James Cook]] explored the coast in 1778 in search of the [[Northwest Passage]].

===During U.S. westward expansion===
{{See also|History of the United States (1789–1849)|Oregon pioneer history}}
The [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]] traveled through the region also in search of the Northwest Passage. They built their winter fort at [[Fort Clatsop]], near the mouth of the [[Columbia River]]. Overland exploration was also conducted by British explorer [[David Thompson (explorer)|David Thompson]].

In 1811, David Thompson, of the [[North West Company]], became the first European to navigate the entire length of the Columbia River. Stopping on the way, at the junction of the [[Snake River]], he posted a claim to the region for Great Britain and the North West Company. Upon returning to [[Montreal]], he publicized the abundance of fur-bearing animals in the area.

Also in 1811, [[New York City|New Yorker]] [[John Jacob Astor]] financed the establishment of [[Fort Astoria]] at the mouth of the Columbia River as a western outpost to his [[Pacific Fur Company]];<ref name="Atlas">{{cite book | last = Loy | first = Willam G. | coauthors = Stuart Allan, Aileen R. Buckley, James E. Meecham | title = Atlas of Oregon | publisher = University of Oregon Press | year = 2001 | pages = 12–13 | isbn = 0-87114-102-7 }}</ref> this was the first permanent European settlement in Oregon.
[[File:Oregoncountry2.png|thumb|Map of [[Oregon Country]].]]
In the [[War of 1812]], the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|British]] gained control of all of the Pacific Fur Company posts. The [[Treaty of 1818]] established joint British and American occupancy of the region west of the [[Rocky Mountains]] to the [[Pacific Ocean]]. By the 1820s and 1830s, the [[Hudson's Bay Company]] dominated the Pacific Northwest from its [[Columbia District]] headquarters at [[Fort Vancouver]] (built in 1825 by the District's Chief Factor [[John McLoughlin]] across the Columbia from present-day Portland).

In 1841, the master trapper and entrepreneur [[Ewing Young]] died leaving considerable wealth and 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 [[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 [[Gray Wolf|wolves]] and other animals of contemporary concern. These meetings were precursors to an [[Champoeg Meetings|all-citizen meeting]] in 1843, which instituted a provisional government headed by an [[Executive Committee (Oregon Country)|executive committee]] made up of [[David Hill (Oregon politician)|David Hill]], [[Alanson Beers]], and [[Joseph Gale]]. This government was the first acting public government of the [[Oregon Country]] before annexation by the government of the United States.

Also in 1841, [[George Simpson (administrator)|Sir George Simpson]], Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, reversed the Hudson's Bay Company's longstanding policy of discouraging settlement because it interfered with the lucrative fur trade. He directed that some 200 [[Red River Colony]] settlers be relocated to HBC farms near Fort Vancouver, (the [[James Sinclair (fur trapper)|James Sinclair]] expedition), in an attempt to hold Columbia District.

Starting in 1842–1843, the [[Oregon Trail]] brought many new American settlers to Oregon Country. For some time, it seemed that Britain and the United States would go to war for a third time in 75 years (see [[Oregon boundary dispute]]), but the border was defined peacefully in 1846 by the [[Oregon Treaty]]. The border 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 because of the [[Donation Land Claim Act]] of 1850, in conjunction with the [[Population transfer|forced relocation]] of the native population to [[List of Indian reservations in Oregon|Indian reservations in Oregon]].

===After statehood===
The state was admitted to the Union on February 14, 1859. Founded as a refuge from the disputes over slavery that were tearing apart other places in the United States, such as Kansas, Oregon had a "whites only" clause in its state Constitution at the time of its admission; the only state thus admitted.<ref name="A Peculiar Paradise">{{cite book | last = McLagan | first = Elizabeth | title = A Peculiar Paradise | publisher = Georgian Press | year = 1980 | isbn = 0-96034-082-3 }}</ref>

At the outbreak of the [[American Civil War]], regular U.S. troops were withdrawn and sent east. Volunteer cavalry were recruited in California and sent north to Oregon to keep peace and protect the populace. The [[1st Oregon Cavalry|First Oregon Cavalry]] served until June 1865.

In the 1880s, the proliferation of railroads assisted in marketing of the state's [[lumber]] and [[wheat]], as well as the more rapid growth of its cities.

===20th and 21st centuries===
{{See also|State of Jefferson|Cascadia (independence movement)|Ecotopia}}
{{Expand section|date=December 2009}}
In 1902, Oregon introduced a system of [[Direct Legislation League|direct legislation]] by the state’s citizens by way of [[initiative]] and [[referendum]], known as the [[Direct Legislation League|Oregon System]]. Oregon state ballots often include politically conservative proposals side-by-side with politically liberal ones, illustrating the wide spectrum of political thought in the state.

Industrial expansion began in earnest following the construction of the [[Bonneville Dam]] in 1933–1937 on the Columbia River. [[Hydroelectricity|Hydroelectric power]], food, and lumber provided by Oregon helped fuel the development of the West, although the periodic fluctuations in the U.S. building industry have hurt the state's [[economics|economy]] on multiple occasions.

== Name ==
{{Main|Oregon (toponym)}}
[[File:Boise2008 061.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Oregon [[welcome sign]] at [[Hells Canyon]].]]
The origin of the name "Oregon" is unknown. One theory is that the name comes from the [[France|French]] word "ouragan" (hurricane). [[France|French]] explorers called the [[Columbia River]] "Hurricane River" (le fleuve aux ouragans), because of the strong winds of the Columbia Gorge. According to the [[Oregon Blue Book]], the source for the earliest written use of the word was Major Robert Rogers, an English army officer. In his 1765 proposal for a journey, Rogers wrote:<ref>[http://www.sos.state.or.us/bbook/misc/about/faq.htm#oregon Where does the name "Oregon" come from?] from the online edition of the [[Oregon Blue Book]]</ref>
<blockquote>
The rout . . . is from the Great Lakes towards the Head of the Mississippi, and from thence to the River called by the Indians Ouragon. . . .
</blockquote>

One account, endorsed as the "most plausible explanation" in the book ''[[Oregon Geographic Names]]'', was advanced by [[George R. Stewart]] in a 1944 article in ''[[American Speech]]''. According to Stewart, the name came from an engraver's error in a French map published in the early 1700s, on which the Ouisiconsink (Wisconsin) River was spelled "Ouaricon-sint", broken on two lines with the -sint below, so that there appeared to be a river flowing to the west named "Ouaricon".

According to the Oregon Tourism Commission (also known as Travel Oregon), present-day Oregonians ({{pronEng|ˌɒrɨˈɡoʊniɨnz}})<ref name=mw>{{cite web | url =http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/oregon| title=Oregon | accessdate=2006-09-14| publisher=Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary }}</ref> pronounce the state's name as "OR-UH-GUN never OR-EE-GONE".<ref>[http://traveloregon.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=23&item=33 Oregon Fast Facts]</ref>

After being drafted by the [[Detroit Lions]] in 2002, former [[Oregon Ducks]] quarterback [[Joey Harrington]] distributed "ORYGUN" stickers (sold by the University of Oregon Bookstore, which credits the spelling as a joke<ref>[http://uoduckstore.com/spiritduck/details.cfm?id=2348&section=55]</ref> "meant for Oregonians everywhere who get a kick out of this hilarious mispronunciation of our state.") to members of the media as a reminder of how to pronounce his home state.<ref>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/don_banks/news/2002/04/21/harrington_intro/ ''Harrington confident about Detroit QB challenge]''</ref><ref>[http://www.joeyharrington13.com/news_entry.cfm/id.efb3ab09-5668-1028-9832-3bb8ec748027/start.71 ''See no evil, hear no evil: Joey Harrington scoffs at criticism as he struggles to right the Lions]''</ref>

== Geography ==
{{See also|List of counties in Oregon|List of cities and unincorporated communities in Oregon|Oregon Geographic Names|List of rivers in Oregon|List of Oregon mountain ranges|List of Oregon state parks|Oregon census statistical areas}}
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; clear:right; margin:0 0 0.5em 1em;"
|+ National parks and historic areas in Oregon
|-
! Entity !! Location
|-
| [[Crater Lake National Park]] || [[Southern Oregon]]
|-
| [[John Day Fossil Beds National Monument]] || [[Eastern Oregon]]
|-
| [[Newberry National Volcanic Monument]] || [[Central Oregon]]
|-
| [[Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument]] || Southern Oregon
|-
| [[Oregon Caves National Monument]] || Southern Oregon
|-
| [[California Trail]] || Southern Oregon, [[California]]
|-
| [[Fort Vancouver National Historic Site]] || [[Western Oregon]], [[Washington]]
|-
| [[Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail]] || [[Illinois|IL]], [[Missouri|MO]], [[Kansas|KS]], [[Iowa|IA]], [[Nebraska|NE]], [[South Dakota|SD]],<br /> [[North Dakota|ND]], [[Montana|MT]], [[Idaho|ID]], '''OR''', [[Washington|WA]]
|-
| [[Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks]] || Western Oregon, Washington
|-
| [[Nez Perce National Historical Park]] || [[Montana|MT]], [[Idaho|ID]], '''OR''', [[Washington|WA]]
|-
| [[Oregon Trail]] || [[Missouri|MO]], [[Kansas|KS]], [[Nebraska|NE]], [[Wyoming|WY]], [[Idaho|ID]], '''OR'''
|}
Oregon's geography may be split roughly into seven areas:
* [[Oregon Coast]]—west of the [[Oregon Coast Range|Coast Range]]
* [[Willamette Valley]]
* [[Rogue Valley]]
* [[Cascade Range|Cascade Mountains]]
* [[Klamath Mountains]]
* [[Columbia River Plateau]]
* [[Oregon Outback]]

The mountainous regions of western Oregon, home to four of the [[most prominent mountain peaks of the United States]] including [[Mount Hood]], were formed by the volcanic activity of [[Juan de Fuca Plate]], a [[plate tectonics|tectonic plate]] that poses a continued threat of [[volcano|volcanic]] activity and [[earthquake]]s in the region. The most recent major activity was the [[1700 Cascadia earthquake]]; [[Washington]]'s [[Mount St. Helens]] erupted in 1980, an event which was visible from Oregon.

The [[Columbia River]], which constitutes much of the northern border of Oregon, also played a major role in the region's geological evolution, as well as its economic and cultural development. The Columbia is one of [[North America]]'s largest rivers, and the only river to cut through the Cascades. About 15,000 years ago, the Columbia repeatedly flooded much of Oregon during the [[Missoula Floods]]; the modern fertility of the Willamette Valley is largely a result of those floods. Plentiful salmon made parts of the river, such as [[Celilo Falls]], hubs of economic activity for thousands of years. In the 20th century, numerous [[Hydroelectricity|hydroelectric dams]] were constructed along the Columbia, with major impacts on salmon, transportation and commerce, electric power, and flood control.

Today, Oregon's landscape varies from [[rainforest]] in the Coast Range to barren desert in the southeast, which still meets the technical definition of a [[frontier]].

Oregon is {{convert|295|mi|km|0}} north to south at longest distance, and {{convert|395|mi|km|0}} east to west at longest distance. In terms of land and water area, Oregon is the ninth largest state, covering {{convert|98381|sqmi|km2}}.<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=n&_lang=en&mt_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_GCTPH1R_US9S&format=US-9S&_box_head_nbr=GCT-PH1-R&ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&geo_id=01000US United States—States; and Puerto Rico: GCT-PH1-R. Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density.] U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on March 28, 2008.</ref> The highest point in Oregon is the summit of Mount Hood, at {{convert|11239|ft|m|0}}, and its lowest point is [[sea level]] of the [[Pacific Ocean]] along the Oregon coast.<ref name=usgs>{{cite web |date=29 April 2005 |url=http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html#Highest |title=Elevations and Distances in the United States |publisher=U.S Geological Survey |dateformat=mdy |accessdate=November 7, 2006 }}</ref> Its mean elevation is {{convert|3300|ft|m|0}}. [[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 {{convert|1943|ft|m|0}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Crater Lake National Park |publisher=[[U.S. National Park Service]] |url=http://www.nps.gov/crla |accessdate=2006-11-22 }}</ref> Oregon claims the [[D River]] is the shortest [[river]] in the world,<ref name="driver">{{cite web |url=http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_214.php |title=D River State Recreation Site |work=Oregon Parks and Recreation Department |accessdate=2007-05-11 }}</ref> though the American state of [[Montana]] makes the same claim of its [[Roe River]].<ref name="roeriver">{{cite web |url=http://montanakids.com/db_engine/presentations/presentation.asp?pid=192 |title=World's Shortest River |work=Travel Montana |accessdate=2007-05-11 }}</ref> Oregon is also home to [[Mill Ends Park]] (in Portland),<ref name="pp&r">{{cite web |url=http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?PropertyID=265&action=ViewPark |title=Mill Ends Park |work=Portland Parks and Recreation |accessdate=2007-05-11 }}</ref> the smallest park in the world at {{convert|452|sqin|m2|2}}.

Oregon is home to what is considered the largest single organism in the world, an ''[[Armillaria ostoyae]]'' fungus beneath the [[Malheur National Forest]] of [[eastern Oregon]].<ref>Beale, Bob. 10 April 2003. [http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/enviro/EnviroRepublish_828525.htm Humungous fungus: world's largest organism?] at Environment & Nature News, ABC Online. Accessed January 2, 2007.</ref>

<gallery caption="Images of Oregon" widths="150px">
Image:Trilliumlake.jpg|[[Mount Hood]], with [[Trillium Lake]] in the foreground.
Image:Crater lake oregon.jpg|An aerial view of [[Crater Lake]] in Oregon.
Image:OregonCoastEcola Edit.jpg|Southern view of the Oregon coast from Ecola State Park, with [[Haystack Rock]] in the distance.
File:Boise2008 164.JPG|Sunset over Malheur Butte, an extinct volcanic [[cinder cone]] near [[Ontario, Oregon]].
File:Portland panorama3.jpg|[[Portland, Oregon|Portland]].
File:Oregon population map 2000.png|Map of Oregon's population density.
File:Public-Lands-Western-US.png|Nearly half of Oregon's land is held by the [[United States Forest Service|U.S. Forest Service]] and the [[Bureau of Land Management]].<ref>[http://www.wildlandfire.com/docs/2007/western-states-data-public-land.htm Western States Data Public Land Acreage
File:Map of Oregon NA.png|A map of Oregon.<ref>[http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/pdf/reference/pagegen_or.pdf Map of Oregon]</ref>
</gallery>

=== Major cities ===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; clear:right; margin:0 0 0.5em 1em;"
|+[[List of cities and unincorporated communities in Oregon|Most Populous Cities]]<ref name="prc">{{cite web|url=http://www.pdx.edu/media/2/0/2008CertPopEstCitiesTwns_web.pdf|format=PDF|title=Certified Population Estimates for Oregon's Cities and Towns|date=December 15, 2008|work=Population Research Center|publisher=Portland State University|accessdate=2008-12-19}}</ref>
|-
![[City]] || Population <small>(2008)</small>
|-
|1. [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]]|| 575,930
|-
|2. [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]] || 154,620
|-
|3. [[Salem, Oregon|Salem]] || 154,510
|-
|4. [[Gresham, Oregon|Gresham]] || 100,655
|-
|5. [[Hillsboro, Oregon|Hillsboro]]|| 89,285
|-
|6. [[Beaverton, Oregon|Beaverton]]|| 86,205
|-
|7. [[Bend, Oregon|Bend]]|| 80,995
|-
|8. [[Medford, Oregon|Medford]]|| 76,850
|-
|9. [[Springfield, Oregon|Springfield]]|| 58,005
|-
|10. [[Corvallis, Oregon|Corvallis]]|| 54,880
|}
{{further|[[List of cities and unincorporated communities in Oregon]]}}
Oregon's population is largely concentrated in the [[Willamette Valley]], which stretches from [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]] in the south (home of the [[University of Oregon]], second largest city in Oregon) through [[Corvallis, Oregon|Corvallis]] (home of [[Oregon State University]]) and [[Salem, Oregon|Salem]] (the [[Capital (political)|capital]], third largest) to [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]] (Oregon's largest city).<ref name="prc"/>

[[Astoria, Oregon|Astoria]], at the mouth of the Columbia River, was the first permanent English-speaking settlement west of [[Rocky Mountains|Rockies]] in what is now the [[United States]]. [[Oregon City, Oregon|Oregon City]], at the end of the [[Oregon Trail]], was the [[Oregon Territory]]'s first incorporated city, and was its first capital from 1848 until 1852, when the capital was moved to Salem. [[Bend, Oregon|Bend]], near the geographic center of the state, is one of the ten fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States.<ref>[http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/009865.html 50 Fastest-Growing Metro Areas Concentrated in West and South.] U.S. Census Bureau 2005. Retrieved October 16, 2007.</ref> In the southern part of the state, [[Medford, Oregon|Medford]] is a rapidly growing metro area, which is home to The [[Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport]], the third-busiest airport in the state. Further to the south, near the California-Oregon border, is the community of [[Ashland, Oregon|Ashland]], home of the [[Tony Award]]-winning [[Oregon Shakespeare Festival]].

===Climate===
Oregon's climate—especially in the western part of the state—is heavily influenced by the [[Pacific Ocean]]. The climate is generally mild, but periods of extreme hot and cold can affect parts of the state. [[Precipitation (meteorology)|Precipitation]] in the state varies widely: the deserts of eastern Oregon, such as the [[Alvord Desert]] (in the [[rain shadow]] of [[Steens Mountain]]), get as little as 200&nbsp;mm (8&nbsp;inches) annually, while some western coastal slopes approach 5000&nbsp;mm (200&nbsp;inches) annually. Oregon's population centers, which lie mostly in the western part of the state, are generally moist and mild, while the lightly populated [[High Desert (Oregon)|high deserts]] of Central and Eastern Oregon are much drier.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Monthly Normal High and Low Temperatures(°F) For Various Oregon Cities<ref>[http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USOR0275?from=36hr_bottomnav_undeclared Portland, OR monthly averages.] US Travel Weather.com. Retrieved October 16, 2007.</ref>
! width=10% | City || width=6% | Jan || width=6% | Feb || width=6% | Mar || width=6% | Apr || width=6% | May || width=6% | Jun || width=6% | Jul || width=6% | Aug || width=6% | Sep || width=6% | Oct || width=6% | Nov || width=6% | Dec || width=10% | Annual<br>Precipitation
|-
| [[Astoria, Oregon|Astoria]] || 48/37 || 51/38 || 53/39 || 56/41 || 60/45 || 64/50 || 67/53 || 68/53 || 68/50 || 61/44 || 53/40 || 48/37 || {{convert|67.1|in|mm}}
|-
| [[Bend, Oregon|Bend]] || 40/23 || 44/25 || 51/27 || 57/30 || 65/36 || 73/41 || 81/46 || 81/46 || 72/39 || 62/32 || 46/28 || 40/23 || {{convert|11.7|in|mm}}
|-
| [[Brookings, Oregon|Brookings]] || 55/42 || 56/42 || 58/42 || 60/44 || 63/47 || 67/50 || 68/52 || 68/53 || 68/51 || 65/48 || 58/45 || 55/41 || {{convert|73.4|in|mm}}
|-
| [[Burns, Oregon|Burns]] || 35/14 || 40/19 || 49/25 || 57/29 || 66/36 || 75/41 || 85/46 || 84/44 || 75/35 || 62/26 || 45/21 || 35/15 || {{convert|10.5|in|mm}}
|-
| [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]] || 46/33 || 51/35 || 56/37 || 61/39 || 67/43 || 73/47 || 82/51 || 82/51 || 77/47 || 65/40 || 52/37 || 46/33 || {{convert|50.9|in|mm}}
|-
| [[Medford, Oregon|Medford]] || 47/31 || 54/33 || 58/36 || 64/39 || 72/44 || 81/50 || 90/55 || 90/55 || 84/48 || 70/40 || 53/35 || 45/31 || {{convert|21.1|in|mm}}
|-
| [[Pendleton, Oregon|Pendleton]] || 40/27 || 46/31 || 55/35 || 62/40 || 70/46 || 79/52 || 88/58 || 87/57 || 77/50 || 64/41 || 48/34 || 40/28 || {{convert|13.9|in|mm}}
|-
| [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]] || 46/37 || 50/39 || 56/41 || 61/44 || 67/49 || 73/53 | 79/57 || 79/58 || 74/55 || 63/48 || 51/42 || 46/37 || || {{convert|43.1|in|mm}}
|-
| [[Salem, Oregon|Salem]] || 47/34 || 51/35 || 56/37 || 61/39 || 68/44 || 74/48 || 82/52 || 82/52 || 77/48 || 64/41 || 52/38 || 46/34 || {{convert|40|in|mm}}
|}

== Law and government ==
[[File:Flags-of-usa-and-oregon.jpg|thumb|The flags of the [[Flag of the United States|United States]] and [[Flag of Oregon|Oregon]] flown side-by-side in [[downtown Portland]].]]
The [[Oregon Country]] functioned as an independent [[republic]]{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}} with a three-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 [[U.S. state|statehood]].<ref> {{cite web | author=Oregon Secretary of State |title=A Brief History of the Oregon Territorial Period | publisher = State of Oregon | url=http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/echoes/history.html |accessdate=2006-08-09}}</ref>

=== State government ===
{{See also|Government of Oregon}}
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 [[Governor of Oregon|Oregon's governor]] serving as chief executive, and
*a [[Judiciary|judicial department]], headed by the Chief Justice of the [[Oregon Supreme Court]].

Governors in Oregon serve four year terms and are limited to two consecutive terms, but an unlimited number of total terms. Oregon has no [[Lieutenant governor (United States)|lieutenant governor]]; in the event that the office of governor is vacated, Article V, Section 8a of the [[Oregon Constitution]] specifies that the [[Oregon Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] is first in line for succession.<ref name=articlev>{{cite web|title=Constitution of Oregon (Article V)|year=2007|work=Oregon Blue Book|publisher=State of Oregon|url=http://bluebook.state.or.us/state/constitution/constitution05.htm|accessdate=2008-03-12}}</ref> The other statewide officers are [[Oregon State Treasurer|Treasurer]], [[Oregon Attorney General|Attorney General]], [[Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction|Superintendent]], and [[Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries|Labor Commissioner]]. The [[wikt:Biennial|biennial]] Oregon Legislative Assembly consists of a thirty-member [[Oregon State Senate|Senate]] and a sixty-member [[Oregon House of Representatives|House]]. The state supreme court has seven elected justices, currently including the only two openly gay state supreme court justices in the nation. 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 [[Supreme Court of the United States]].

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.<!--State legislators are personally liable for any deficit.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} This just can't be right! Can it??! -->

[[File:Oregon State Capitol 1.jpg|thumb|right|Oregon State Capitol]]
[[File:Oregon voter reg 1950-2006.png|thumb|right|Party registration in Oregon, 1950–2006.
{{legend|purple|total}}
{{legend|red|Democratic Party}}
{{legend|yellow|Republican Party}}
{{legend|green|non-affiliated and minor parties}}
]]
The state maintains formal relationships with the nine [[federally recognized tribes]] in Oregon:
*[[Burns Paiute Tribe]]
*[[Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians]]
*[[Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde]]
*[[Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians]]
*[[Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs]]
*[[Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation]]
*[[Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians]]
*[[Klamath Tribes]]
*[[Coquille Indian Tribe]]

Oregonians have voted for the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] Presidential candidate in every election since 1988. In 2004 and 2006, Democrats won control of the state Senate and then the House. Since the late 1990s, Oregon has been represented by four Democrats and one [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] in the U.S. House of Representatives, and, until 2009, by one U.S. Senator from each party. In 2009, Democrat [[Jeff Merkley]] became the second Democratic senator, joining [[Ron Wyden]]. Democratic Governor [[Ted Kulongoski]] defeated Republicans in 2002 and 2006, defeating conservative [[Kevin Mannix]] and the more moderate [[Ron Saxton]] respectively.

The base of Democratic support is largely concentrated in the urban centers of the [[Willamette Valley]]. In both 2000 and 2004, the Democratic Presidential candidate won Oregon, but did so with majorities in only eight of Oregon's 36 counties. The eastern two-thirds of the state beyond the Cascade Mountains often votes Republican; in 2000 and 2004, [[George W. Bush]] carried every county east of the Cascades. However, the region's sparse population means that the more populous counties in the Willamette Valley usually carry the day in statewide elections.

Oregon's politics are largely similar to those of neighboring [[Washington]], for instance in the contrast between urban and rural issues.

In the 2004 general election, Oregon voters passed ballot measures [[Oregon Ballot Measure 36 (2004)|banning same-sex marriage]], and [[Oregon Ballot Measure 37 (2004)|restricting land use regulation]]. In the [[Oregon's statewide elections, 2006|2006 general election]], voters restricted the use of [[Oregon Ballot Measure 39 (2006)|eminent domain]] and extended the state's discount prescription drug coverage.<ref>See [[List of Oregon ballot measures#Successful measures|Summary of 2006 ballot measures]]</ref>

The distribution, sales and consumption of [[Alcoholic beverages in Oregon|alcoholic beverages are regulated in the state]] by the [[Oregon Liquor Control Commission]]. Thus, Oregon is an [[Alcoholic beverage control state]]. While wine and beer are available in most grocery stores, comparatively few stores sell hard liquor.

=== Federal government ===
Like all [[U.S. state]]s, Oregon is represented by two [[United States Senate|U.S. Senators]]. Since the [[1980 United States Census|1980 census]] Oregon has had five [[Oregon's congressional districts|Congressional districts]].

After Oregon was admitted to the Union, it began with a single member in the House of Representatives ([[La Fayette Grover]], who served in the [[35th United States Congress]] for less than a month). [[United States congressional apportionment|Congressional apportionment]] led to the addition of new members following the censuses of [[1890 United States Census|1890]], [[1910 United States Census|1910]], [[1940 United States Census|1940]], and 1980. A [[United States congressional delegations from Oregon|detailed list of the past and present Congressional delegations from Oregon]] is available.

The [[United States District Court for the District of Oregon]] hears Federal cases in the state. The court has courthouses in [[Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse|Portland]], [[Wayne L. Morse United States Courthouse|Eugene]], Medford, and Pendleton. Also in Portland is the federal bankruptcy court, with a second branch in Eugene.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.orb.uscourts.gov/|title=United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Oregon |publisher=U.S. Courts|accessdate=2008-12-14}}</ref> Oregon (among other western states and territories) is in the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit|9th Court of Appeals]]. One of the court's meeting places is at the [[Pioneer Courthouse]] in downtown Portland, a National Historic Landmark built in 1869.

===Politics===
{| align="right" border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 79%;"
|+ '''Presidential elections results'''
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
|bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[U.S. presidential election, 2008|2008]]
|bgcolor="#fff3f3"|40.40% ''738,475''
|bgcolor="#f0f0ff"| '''56.75%''' ''1,037,291''
|-
|bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[U.S. presidential election, 2004|2004]]
|bgcolor="#fff3f3"|47.19% ''866,831''
|bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''51.35%''' ''943,163''
|-
|bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[U.S. presidential election, 2000|2000]]
|bgcolor="#fff3f3"|46.46% ''713,577''
|bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''47.01%''' ''720,342''
|-
|bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[U.S. presidential election, 1996|1996]]
|bgcolor="#fff3f3"|39.06% ''538,152''
|bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''47.15%''' ''649,641''
|-
|bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[U.S. presidential election, 1992|1992]]
|bgcolor="#fff3f3"| 32.53% ''475,757''
|bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''42.48%''' ''621,314''
|-
|bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[U.S. presidential election, 1988|1988]]
|bgcolor="#fff3f3"| 46.61% ''560,126''
|bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''51.28%''' ''616,206''
|}
The state has been thought of as politically split by the [[Cascade Range]], with western Oregon being [[Liberalism in the United States|liberal]] and [[Eastern Oregon]] being [[conservatism in the United States|conservative]]. In a 2008 analysis of the [[United States presidential election, 2004|2004 presidential election]], political analyst found that according to the application of a [[Likert scale]], Oregon boasted both the most liberal voters and the most conservative voters, making it the most politically polarized state in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/05/oregon-swing-state-or-latte-drinking.html|agency=FiveThirtyEight.com|first=Nate|last=Silver|title=Oregon: Swing State or latte-drinking, Prius-driving lesbian commune?|date=May 17, 2008}}</ref> The two current U.S senators from Oregon are [[Ron Wyden]] (D), and [[Jeff Merkley]] (D). The office of governorship is held by [[Ted Kulongoski]] (D) who was re-elected to a second term.

During Oregon's history it has adopted many electoral reforms proposed during the [[Progressive Era]], through the efforts of [[William Simon U'Ren|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, making Oregon the first state to adopt such a system. Today, roughly half of U.S. states do so.<ref> {{cite web | url = http://www.iandrinstitute.org/statewide_i&r.htm | publisher = State Initiative & Referendum Institute at USC | title = State Initiative and Referendum Summary | accessdate = 2006-11-27}}</ref>
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 first [[Assisted suicide|doctor-assisted suicide]] law,<ref>{{cite web | title = Eighth Annual Report on Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act | publisher = Oregon Department of Human Services | date = March 9, 2006 | url = http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/pas/docs/year8.pdf | format = [[PDF]] | accessdate = 2007-06-11}}</ref> called the [[Oregon Death with Dignity Act|Death with Dignity law]] (which was challenged, unsuccessfully, in 2005 by the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]] in a case heard by the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]]), [[Oregon Medical Marijuana Act|legalization]] of [[medical cannabis]], and among the nation's strongest [[Smart growth|anti]]-[[urban sprawl]] and pro-environment laws. More recently, [[Oregon Ballot Measure 37 (2004)|2004's Measure 37]] reflects a backlash against such land use laws. However, a further ballot measure in 2007, [[Oregon Ballot Measure 37 (2004)#Measure 49|Measure 49]], curtailed many of the provisions of 37.

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 referendums on the ballot, though not all of them survived challenges in courts (see ''[[Pierce v. Society of Sisters]]'', for an example). During the same period, the legislature has referred 363 measures to the people, of which 206 have passed.

Oregon pioneered the American use of [[postal voting]], beginning with experimentation authorized by the [[Oregon Legislative Assembly]] in 1981 and culminating with a [[Oregon Ballot Measure 60 (1998)|1998 ballot measure]] mandating that all counties conduct elections by mail. It remains the only state where [[Absentee ballot|voting by mail]] is the only method of voting.<ref>http://www.co.multnomah.or.us/dbcs/elections/election_information/voting_in_oregon.shtml</ref>

In the [[Electoral College (United States)|U.S. Electoral College]], Oregon casts seven votes. Oregon has supported Democratic candidates in the last six elections. Democrat [[Barack Obama]] won the state in 2008 by a margin of sixteen percentage points, with over 56% of the popular vote.

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Oregon}}
{{Refimprove|date=March 2007}}
[[File:Grass seed warehouse.jpg|thumb|A [[grain elevator]] in [[Halsey, Oregon|Halsey]] storing grass seed, one of the state's largest crops]]
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Oregon in 2008 was $161.6 billion, it is United States's 26th wealthiest state by GDP. The states per capita personal income in 2008 was $38801.<ref>http://www.bea.gov/regional/gsp/</ref>
Land in the Willamette Valley owes its fertility to the [[Missoula Floods]], which deposited lake sediment from [[Glacial Lake Missoula]] in western Montana onto the valley floor.<ref name=chapter24>{{cite book |last=McNab |first=W. Henry |coauthors=Peter E. Avers |title=Ecological Subregions of the United States |url=http://www.fs.fed.us/land/pubs/ecoregions/ |publisher=U.S. Forest Service and Dept. of Agriculture |chapter=[http://www.fs.fed.us/land/pubs/ecoregions/ch24.html Pacific Lowland Mixed Forest] (chapter 24) |month=July | year=1994}}</ref> This soil is the source of a wealth of agricultural products, including [[potato]]es, [[peppermint]], [[hops]], [[apple]]s and other [[fruit]]s.{{Citation needed|date=October 2007}}

Oregon is also one of four major world [[Corylus avellana|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 [[Oregon wine|significant industry]] beginning in the 1970s. In 2005, Oregon ranked third among U.S. states with 303 wineries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Industry Facts |publisher = Oregon Winegrowers Association |url=http://oregonwine.org/press/StateWineFacts2005.pdf |format=[[PDF]] |accessdate=2006-11-23}}</ref> Due to regional similarities in climate and soil, the grapes planted in Oregon are often the same varieties found in the French regions of [[Alsace wine|Alsace]] and [[Burgundy wine|Burgundy]]. In the northeastern region of the state, particularly around [[Pendleton, Oregon|Pendleton]], both irrigated and dry land [[wheat]] is grown. Oregon farmers and ranchers also produce [[cattle]], sheep, [[dairy]] products, eggs and poultry.

Vast forests have historically made Oregon one of the nation's major [[Lumber|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]], between 1989 and 2001 the amount of timber harvested from federal lands dropped some 96%, from 4,333&nbsp;million to 173&nbsp;million [[board foot|board feet]] (10,000,000 to 408,000&nbsp;m<sup>3</sup>), although harvest levels on private land have remained relatively constant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oregonforests.org/factbook/Harvest_History(24).html |title=Oregon Forest Facts: 25-Year Harvest History |publisher=Oregon Forest Resources Institute |accessdate=2007-03-07}}</ref> Even the shift in recent years towards finished goods such as paper and building materials has not slowed the decline of the timber industry in the state. The effects of this decline have included [[Weyerhaeuser]]'s acquisition of Portland-based [[Willamette Industries]] in January 2002, the relocation of [[Louisiana-Pacific]]'s corporate headquarters from Portland to [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]], and the decline of former lumber [[company town]]s such as [[Gilchrist, Oregon|Gilchrist]]. Despite these changes, Oregon still leads the United States in [[softwood]] lumber production; in 2001, 6,056&nbsp;million&nbsp;board feet (14,000,000 m<sup>3</sup>) was produced in Oregon, compared to 4,257&nbsp;million board feet (10,050,000 m<sup>3</sup>) in Washington, 2,731 million board feet (6,444,000 m<sup>3</sup>) in California, 2,413 million board feet (5,694,000 m<sup>3</sup>) in [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], and 2,327 million board feet (5,491,000 m<sup>3</sup>) in [[Mississippi]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Forest Economics and Employment |publisher=Oregon Forest Resources Institute |url=http://www.oregonforests.org/factbook/economics(29_30).html |accessdate=2007-03-08}}</ref> The effect of the forest industry crunch is still extensive unemployment in rural Oregon and is a bone of contention between rural and urban Oregon.{{Citation needed|date=March 2007}}

Oregon occasionally hosts [[Principal photography|film shoots]]. Movies wholly or partially filmed in Oregon include: ''[[Rooster Cogburn]]'',''[[The Goonies]]'', ''[[National Lampoon's Animal House]]'', ''[[Stand by Me (film)|Stand By Me]]'', ''[[Kindergarten Cop]]'', ''[[Overboard (film)|Overboard]]'', ''[[The River Wild]]'', ''[[One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (film)|One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest]]'', ''[[Paint Your Wagon (film)|Paint Your Wagon]]'', ''[[The Hunted (2003 film)|The Hunted]]'', ''[[Sometimes a Great Notion (film)|Sometimes a Great Notion]]'', ''[[Elephant (film)|Elephant]]'', ''[[Bandits]]'', ''[[The Ring (2002 film)|The Ring]]'', ''[[The Ring Two]]'', ''[[Quarterback Princess]]'', ''[[The General (1927 film)|The General]]'', ''[[Mr. Brooks]]'', ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III]]'', ''[[Short Circuit]]'', ''[[Come See the Paradise]]'', ''[[The Shining (film)|The Shining]]'', ''[[Drugstore Cowboy]]'', ''[[My Own Private Idaho]]'', ''[[The Postman (film)|The Postman]]'', ''[[Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey|Homeward Bound]]'', ''[[Free Willy]]'', ''[[Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home]]'', ''[[1941 (film)|1941]]'', ''[[Swordfish (film)|Swordfish]]'', ''[[Twilight (2008 film)|Twilight]]'', ''[[Untraceable]]'', and ''[[Wendy and Lucy]]''. Oregon native [[Matt Groening]], creator of ''[[The Simpsons]]'', has incorporated many references from his hometown of Portland into the TV series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=12392 |title=Matt Groening’s Portland |author=Don Hamilton |publisher=''The Portland Tribune'' |date=2002-07-19 |accessdate=2007-03-07}}</ref> Oregon's scenic coastal and mountain highways are frequently seen in automobile commercials.{{Citation needed|date=March 2007}}

In late 2008, [[Hells Canyon]] and Oregon's badlands were a set location for an episode of [[Man vs. Wild]].<ref>http://beargrylls.blogspot.com/2008/11/man-vs-wildborn-survivor-complete.html#links</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; clear:right; margin:0 0 0.5em 1em;"
|+Largest [[Public company|Public Corporations]] Headquartered in Oregon<ref>{{cite news | title = Bright Spots amid the Turmoil | publisher = [[The Oregonian]] | page= D3 | date = January 1, 2008 | url = http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1199161505105830.xml&coll=7 | accessdate = 2007-01-01}}</ref>
|-
![[Corporation]] || Headquarters || [[Market capitalization|Market cap]] (million)
|-
|1. [[Nike, Inc.]]||near [[Beaverton, Oregon|Beaverton]]||$32,039
|-
|2. [[Precision Castparts Corp.]] ||[[Portland, Oregon|Portland]]||$16,158
|-
|3. [[FLIR Systems]]||[[Wilsonville, Oregon|Wilsonville]]||$4,250
|-
|4. [[StanCorp Financial Group]]||Portland||$2,495
|-
|5. [[Schnitzer Steel Industries]]||Portland||$1,974
|-
|6. [[Portland General Electric]]||Portland||$1,737
|-
|7. [[Columbia Sportswear]]||near Beaverton||$1,593
|-
|8. [[NW Natural|Northwest Natural Gas]]||Portland||$1,287
|-
|9. [[Mentor Graphics]]||Wilsonville||$976
|-
|10. [[TriQuint Semiconductor]]||[[Hillsboro, Oregon|Hillsboro]]||$938
|}
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 Corporation|Intel]]'s creation and expansion of several facilities in eastern [[Washington County, Oregon|Washington County]] continued the growth that Tektronix had started. Intel, the state's largest for-profit private employer, operates four large facilities, with Ronler Acres, Jones Farm and Hawthorn Farm all located in [[Hillsboro, Oregon|Hillsboro]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/01/intel_profits_slide_company_un.html|title=Intel profits slide, company uncertain about outlook|last=Rogoway|first=Mike|date=January 15, 2009|work=The Oregonian|accessdate=2009-01-16}}</ref> The spinoffs and startups that were produced by these two companies led to the establishment in that area of the so-called [[Silicon Forest]]. The recession and [[Dot-com bubble|dot-com bust of 2001]] hit the region hard; many high technology employers reduced the number of their employees or went out of business. [[Open Source Development Labs]] made news in 2004 when they hired [[Linus Torvalds]], developer of the [[Linux kernel]]. Recently, [[biotechnology]] giant [[Genentech]] purchased several acres of land in Hillsboro in an effort to expand its production capabilities.<ref>{{cite web | title = Genentech Selects Hillsboro | publisher = Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce | url = http://www.hillchamber.org/memberservices/in_the_news.asp#Genentech | accessdate = 2007-03-21 }}</ref>

Oregon is also the home of large corporations in other industries. The world headquarters of [[Nike, Inc.]] are located near [[Beaverton, Oregon|Beaverton]]. [[Medford, Oregon|Medford]] is home to two of the largest mail order companies in the country: [[Harry and David Operations Corp.]] which sells gift items under several brands, and [[Musician's Friend]], an international catalog and Internet retailer of [[musical instrument]]s and related products. Medford is also home to the national headquarters of the [[Fortune 1000]] company, [[Lithia Motors]]. Portland is home to one of the West's largest trade book [[publishing]] houses, [[Graphic Arts Center Publishing]].

Oregon has 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 which complements the southern region of the state's scenic beauty and opportunity for outdoor activities.

[[File:Craft Breweries Per Capita (US).png|thumb|200px|Oregon ranks 4th nationally in craft breweries per capita.]]
Oregon is home to [[Oregon breweries|many breweries]] and Portland has the largest number of breweries of any city in the world.<ref> {{cite web | title = Oregon's Beer Week gets under way. | publisher = Knight-Ridder Tribune News Service | url = http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0198-242714/Oregon-s-Beer-Week-gets.html | date = 2005-07-05 | accessdate = 2007-10-22}}</ref>

Portland reportedly has more strip clubs per capita than Las Vegas or San Francisco.<ref> {{cite web | last = Moore | first = Adam S. | coauthors = Beck, Byron | title = Bump and Grind | publisher = [[Willamette Week]] | date = November 8, 2004 | url = http://www.wweek.com/story.php?story=6093 | accessdate = 2007-02-01}}</ref>

Oregon's [[gross state product]] is $132.66 billion as of 2006, making it the 27th largest GSP in the nation.<ref>{{cite web | title = Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by State, 2006 | publisher = Bureau of Economic Analysis - U.S. Department of Commerce | url = http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/regional/gdp_state/gsp_newsrelease.htm | accessdate = 2007-06-10}}</ref>

=== Taxes and budgets ===
Oregon's [[wikt:Biennial|biennial]] state budget, $42.4 billion as of 2007, comprises General Funds, Federal Funds, Lottery Funds, and Other Funds. Personal [[income tax]]es account for 88% of the General Fund's projected funds.<ref>{{cite web |title=Government Finance: State Government |url=http://bluebook.state.or.us/state/govtfinance/govtfinance01.htm |work=[[Oregon Blue Book]] |accessdate=2007-06-20}}</ref> The Lottery Fund, which has grown steadily since the lottery was approved in 1984, exceeded expectations in the 2007 fiscal years, at $604 million.<ref>{{cite news |last=Har |first=Janie |title=Your loss is state's record game |url=http://0-docs.newsbank.com.catalog.multcolib.org/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:ORGB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=119E94A840D2FBB8&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D10F2CADB4B24C0 |work=[[The Oregonian]] |date=2007-06-20 |accessdate= 2007-06-20}}</ref>

Oregon is one of [[Sales taxes in the United States|only five states]] that have no [[sales tax]].<ref> {{cite web | url = http://www.taxadmin.org/FTA/rate/sales.html
| title = State Sales Tax Rates | publisher = Federation of Tax Administrators | date = 2008-01-01 | accessdate = 2008-04-02}}</ref> Oregon voters have been resolute in their opposition to a sales tax, voting proposals down each of the nine times they have been presented.<ref>{{cite web | title = 25th Anniversary Issue: 1993 | publisher = [[Willamette Week]] | url = http://www.wweek.com/html/25-1993.html | accessdate = 2007-06-11}}</ref> The last vote, for 1993's Measure 1, was defeated by a 72–24% margin.<ref>{{cite web | title = Initiative, Referendum and Recall: 1988–1995 | publisher = State of Oregon | work = Oregon Blue Book | url = http://bluebook.state.or.us/state/elections/elections21.htm | accessdate = 2007-06-11}}</ref>

The state also has a minimum corporate tax of only $10 per year, amounting to 5.6% of the General Fund in the 2005–2007 biennium; data about which businesses pay the minimum is not available to the public.<ref>{{cite news |last-Sheketoff |first=Charles |title=As Maryland Goes, So Should Oregon |url=http://salem-news.com/articles/march272007/oregon_mrlnd_32707.php |work=Salem News |date=2007-03-27 |accessdate=2007-06-10}}</ref> As a result, the state relies almost entirely on [[property tax|property]] and income taxes for its revenue. Oregon has the fifth highest personal income tax per person in the nation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Oregon ranked 41st out of the 50 states in taxes per person in 2005.<ref name=percapita>{{cite web | title = Oregon ranks 41st in taxes per capita | publisher = [[Portland Business Journal]] | url = http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2006/03/27/daily28.html | date=2006-03-31 | accessdate = 2007-06-10}}</ref> The average paid of $1,791.45 is higher than only nine other states.<ref name=percapita/>

Some local governments levy sales taxes on services: the city of [[Ashland, Oregon|Ashland]], for example, collects a 5% sales tax on prepared food.<ref>{{cite web | title = Food and Beverage Tax | publisher = City of Ashland | url = http://www.ashland.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=9180 | accessdate = 2007-06-10}}</ref>

Oregon is one of six states with a revenue limit.<ref>{{cite web | title = Oregon's 2% Kicker | Oregon State Leglislative Review Office | url = http://www.leg.state.or.us/comm/lro/rr02-07.pdf | format = [[PDF]] | accessdate = 2007-06-10}}</ref> The "[[Kicker (Oregon tax rebate)|kicker law]]" stipulates that when income tax collections exceed state economists' estimates by 2 percent or more, all of the excess must be returned to taxpayers.<ref>{{cite web | first = Brad | last = Cain | title = Kicker tax rebate eyed to help school and state budgets | publisher = KATU.com | date = March 2, 2006 | url = http://www.katu.com/news/3617476.html | accessdate = 2006-06-10}}</ref> Since the inception of the law in 1979, refunds have been issued for seven of the eleven biennia.<ref>{{cite web | title = 2 Percent Surplus Refund (Kicker) History | publisher = State of Oregon | url = http://www.oregon.gov/DOR/NEWS/docs/kicker.pdf | format = [[PDF]] | accessdate = 2007-06-10}}</ref> In 2000, Ballot Measure 86 converted the "kicker" law from statute to the [[Oregon Constitution]], and changed some of its provisions.

Federal payments to county governments, which were granted to replace timber revenue when logging in National Forests was restricted in the 1990s, have been under threat of suspension for several years. This issue dominates the future revenue of rural counties, which have come to rely on the payments in providing essential services.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cooper |first=Matt |title=County may scrub income tax |publisher = ''[[The Register-Guard]]'' |url=http://www.registerguard.com/news/2007/03/09/a1.incometax.0309.p1.php?section=cityregion |date=2007-03-09 |accessdate=2007-03-09}}</ref>

55% of state revenues are spent on public education, 23% on human services (child protective services, Medicaid, and senior services), 17% on public safety, and 5% on other services.<ref> [http://www.oregon.gov/DOR/PERTAX/docs/2006Forms/101-043-06.pdf 2006 Oregon full-year resident tax form instructions]</ref>

== Demographics ==
[[File:Oregon county pop 2007.png|thumb|Source: Population Research Center<ref>{{ cite web |url=http://www.pdx.edu/prc/annualorpopulation.html |title=Annual Population Estimates |publisher=[[Portland State University]] Population Research Center |accessdate=2008-03-03}}</ref>]]
[[File:Oregoncartogram.gif|thumb|County population cartogram of Oregon.]]
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 to the United States|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.

The [[center of population]] of Oregon is located in [[Linn County, Oregon|Linn County]], in the city of [[Lyons, Oregon|Lyons]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Population and Population Centers by State: 2000 | publisher = [[U.S. Census Bureau]] | url = http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cenpop/statecenters.txt | accessdate = 2006-11-23}}</ref> More than 42% of the state's population lives in the [[Portland metropolitan area]].

As of 2004, Oregon's population included 309,700 foreign-born residents (accounting for 8.7% of the state population)
[[File:Oregon population 1850 2000.png|thumb|Oregon population by decade, 1850–2000 (source: Census data)]]
[[File:Oregon Population Growth by County.png|thumb|Population Growth by County, 2000–2007. Green counties grew faster than the national average, while purple counties grew more slowly or, in a few cases, lost population.]]
{{US Demographics}}
The largest reported ancestry groups in Oregon are: German (20.5%), English (13.2%), Irish (11.9%), American (6.2%), and Mexican (5.5%). Most Oregon counties are inhabited principally by residents of European ancestry. Concentrations of [[Mexican American]]s are highest in [[Malheur County, Oregon|Malheur]] and [[Jefferson County, Oregon|Jefferson]] counties.

The majority of the diversity in Oregon is in the Portland metropolitan area.

Oregon ranks 16th highest for population that is "white alone," with 86.1% in 2006.<ref name="acs2006-white-alone">[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GRTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-_box_head_nbr=R0201&-ds_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_&-redoLog=false&-format=US-30&-mt_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_R0205_US30 R0201. Percent of the Total Population Who Are White Alone: 2006] Accessed 8 March 2008.</ref> Over two-thirds of Oregon's African-American population lives in [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]].

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

{{See also|List of people from Oregon|List of people from Portland, Oregon|Oregon locations by per capita income}}

===Religious and Secular Communities===
The largest denominations by number of adherents in 2000 were the [[Roman Catholic Church]] with 348,239; [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] with 104,312 (144,808 year-end 2007); and the [[Assemblies of God]] with 49,357.<ref>http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/reports/state/41_2000.asp</ref>

The 2008 American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) placed Oregon as tied with Nevada in fifth place of U.S. states having the highest percentage of residents identifying themselves as "non-religious", at 24 percent.<ref>http://www.americanreligionsurvey-aris.org/reports/ARIS_Report_2008.pdf Retrieved 2009-12-23</ref><ref>http://www.americanreligionsurvey-aris.org/reports/NONES_08.pdf Retrieved 2009-12-23</ref> Secular organizations include the Center For Inquiry (CFI), the Humanists of Greater Portland (HGP), and the United States Atheists (USA).

However, in a [[Gallup]] poll, 69% of Oregonians identify themselves as being Christian.<ref>http://www.gallup.com/poll/122075/Religious-Identity-States-Differ-Widely.aspx#2 Retrieved 2009-12-23</ref> During much of the 1990s a group of conservative Christians formed the [[Oregon Citizens Alliance]], and unsuccessfully tried to pass legislation to prevent "gay sensitivity training" in public schools and legal benefits for homosexual couples.<ref>Wentz, Patty. [http://wweek.com/html/cover021198.html He’s Back.] [[Willamette Week]], February 11, 1998. Retrieved on March 14, 2008.</ref>

Oregon also contains the largest community of Russian [[Old Believers]] to be found in the United States.<ref>Binus, Joshua. [http://www.ohs.org/education/oregonhistory/historical_records/dspDocument.cfm?doc_ID=764E6BED-FFC4-C034-9A5563F41CE37080 The Oregon History Project: Russian Old Believers.] [[Oregon Historical Society]]. Retrieved on March 14, 2008.</ref> Additionally, Oregon, particularly the Portland metropolitan area, has become known as a center of non-mainstream spirituality.{{Citation needed|date=February 2008}} The Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association, reported to be the largest such institution of its kind,{{Citation needed|date=February 2008}} is headquartered in Portland, and the popular [[New Age]] film ''[[What the Bleep Do We Know!?]]'' was filmed and had its premiere in Portland. There are an estimated 6 to 10 thousand Muslims of various ethnic backgrounds in Oregon.<ref>[http://www.metpdx.org/resources/ Islam in Oregon and America—The Facts]</ref>

{{See also|Religion in the United States|Category:Religious culture of the Pacific Northwest}}

=== 2000–2003 population trends ===
Estimates released {{As of|2004|alt=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, Medford and Eugene; Hispanic population growth is across the state.

== Education ==
=== Primary and secondary ===
As of 2005, the state had 559,215 students in public primary and secondary schools.<ref name=facts>[http://bluebook.state.or.us/facts/almanac/almanac05 Oregon Blue Book: Oregon Almanac: Native Americans to Shoes, Oldest.] Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved on March 28, 2008.</ref> There were 199 public school districts at that time, served by 20 [[Educational service district|education service districts]].<ref name=facts/> The five largest school districts as of 2007 were: [[Portland Public Schools (Oregon)|Portland Public Schools]] (46,262 students), [[Salem-Keizer School District]] (40,106), [[Beaverton School District]] (37,821), [[Hillsboro School District]] (20,401), and [[Eugene School District]] (18,025).<ref>[http://www.ode.state.or.us/news/releases/?yr=0000&kw=&rid=610 Oregon Public School Enrollment Increases during 2007-08.] Oregon Department of Education. Retrieved on March 28, 2008.</ref>

=== Colleges and universities ===
{{See also|List of colleges and universities in Oregon|Oregon University System|List of community colleges in Oregon}}
[[File:Oregon State University clock tower.jpg|thumb|OSU's Bell Tower.]]

==== Public ====
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,<ref>{{cite news |last=Wood |first=Shelby Oppel |title=UO weighs new diversity plan amid simmering racial tensions |work=The Oregonian |date=2006-05-01}}</ref> and was the state's only nationally ranked university by ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]''.<ref>[http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/t1natudoc_brief.php USNews.com: America's Best Colleges 2008: National Universities: Top Schools<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> [[Oregon State University]] is located in Corvallis and holds the distinction of being the state's flagship in science, engineering and agricultural research and academics. The university is also the state's highest ranking university/college in a world survey of academic merit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ed.sjtu.edu.cn/ranking.htm|title=Top 500 World Universities|accessdate=2007-10-18}}</ref>

The State 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. The [[Oregon Institute of Technology]] has its campus in Klamath Falls. The affiliate [[Oregon Health & Science University]] (OHSU) comprises a medical, dental, and nursing school in Portland and a science and engineering school in Hillsboro.

Oregon has historically struggled to fund higher education. Recently, Oregon has cut its higher education budget over 2002–2006 and now Oregon ranks 46th in the country in state spending per student. However, 2007 legislation forced tuition increases to cap at 3% per year, and funded the OUS far beyond the requested governor's budget.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2007/06/29/News/Higher.Education.Gets.Higher.Priority-2919794.shtml |title=Higher Education Get Higher Priority |accessdate=2007-07-08}}</ref>

The state also supports [[List of community colleges in Oregon|17 community colleges]].

==== Private ====
Oregon is home to a wide variety of private colleges. The [[University of Portland]] and [[Marylhurst University]] are Catholic institutions in the Portland area. [[Reed College]], [[Concordia University (Portland, Oregon)|Concordia University]], [[Lewis & Clark College]], [[Multnomah University|Multnomah Bible College]], [[Portland Bible College]], [[Warner Pacific College]], [[Cascade College]], the [[National College of Natural Medicine]] and [[Western Seminary]], a theological graduate school, are also in Portland. [[Pacific University]] is in the Portland suburb of [[Forest Grove, Oregon|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]] (the state's oldest, established during the provisional period) and [[Corban College]]. Also located near Salem is [[Mount Angel Abbey|Mount Angel Seminary]], one of America's largest Roman Catholic seminaries. Eugene is home to three private colleges: [[Northwest Christian University]], [[Eugene Bible College]], and [[Gutenberg College]].

== Sports ==
{{See also|Sports in Portland, Oregon}}
[[File:RoseGardenArena.jpg|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]]. From the 1970s to the 1990s, the team was one of the most successful teams in the NBA in terms of both win-loss record and attendance. In the early 2000s, the team's popularity declined due to personnel and financial issues, but revived after the departure of controversial players and the acquisition of new players such as [[Brandon Roy]], [[LaMarcus Aldridge]], and [[Greg Oden]].<ref name=samsmith>{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15321476/|title=Blazers stalled until bad apples go|last=Smith|first=Sam|date=October 18, 2006|accessdate=2008-01-15|publisher=MSNBC.com}}</ref><ref name=mejia>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/sportsline/main10406427.shtml|title=Oden's loss hurts, but team in good hands|accessdate=2008-01-15|publisher=CBSNews.com|last=Mejia|first=Tony|date=October 13, 2007}}</ref>

The Blazers play in the [[Rose Garden (arena)|Rose Garden]] in Portland's Lloyd District, which is also home to the [[Portland LumberJax]] of the [[National Lacrosse League]] and the [[Portland Winterhawks]] of the junior-league [[Western Hockey League]].<ref name=rosequarter>{{cite web|url=http://www.rosequarter.com/RoseQuarter/Venues/tabid/84/Default.aspx|title=Rose Quarter Venues|accessdate=2008-01-15|publisher=RoseQuarter.com}}</ref>

Portland has two minor-league sports teams who play at [[PGE Park]]: The [[Portland Timbers (USL)|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 affiliate of the [[San Diego Padres]].<ref name=pgepark>{{cite web|url=http://www.pgepark.com/stadium/events/|title=PGE Park Teams and Events|accessdate=2008-01-15|publisher=PGEPark.com}}</ref> Portland has actively pursued a [[Major League Baseball]] team.<ref name=osc>{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonstadiumcampaign.com/|publisher=Oregon Stadium Campaign|title=Oregon Stadium Campaign|accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> It was announced in March 2009 that the Portland Timbers will begin MLS play starting in 2011. This will make them the second major professional sports team in the state.<ref>http://portlandtimbers.com/newsroom/headlines/index.html?article_id=1108</ref>

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]].<ref name=nwl>{{cite web|url=http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=l126|title=Northwest League|accessdate=2008-01-15}}</ref> Oregon also has four teams in the fledgling [[International Basketball League]]: the [[Portland Chinooks]], [[Central Oregon Hotshots]], [[Salem Stampede]], and the [[Eugene Chargers]].<ref name=ibl>{{cite web|url=http://www.iblhoopsonline.com/|title=International Basketball League|accessdate=2008-01-15}}</ref>

The [[Oregon State Beavers]] and the University of [[Oregon Ducks]] football teams of the [[Pacific-10 Conference]] meet annually in the [[Civil War (college football game)|Civil War]], one of the oldest [[List of NCAA college football rivalry games|college football rivalries]] in the United States, dating back to 1894. Both schools have had recent success in other sports as well: Oregon State won back-to-back [[College World Series|college baseball championships]] in 2006 and 2007, and the University of Oregon won back-to-back [[NCAA Men's Cross Country Championship|NCAA men's cross country championships]] in 2007 and 2008.

==State symbols==
{{Main|List of Oregon state symbols}}

== Sister states ==
* {{PRC}}, [[Fujian|Fujian Province]] - 1984<ref name=legbrief>{{cite web | url =http://www.leg.state.or.us/comm/commsrvs/background_briefs2008/briefs/EconomyBusinessLabor/InternationalTrade.pdf | title =Background Brief on International Trade | accessdate=2008-07-21|format=PDF}}</ref>
* {{ROC}}, [[Taiwan Province]] - 1985<ref name=legbrief/>
* {{JPN}}, [[Toyama Prefecture]] - 1991<ref name=legbrief/><ref name=sisters>{{cite web|url=http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/governors/Kitzhaber/web_pages/governor/press/p951024.htm|title= Governor's Mission To Asia Will Stress Trade And Cultural Ties|date=1995-10-24|publisher=Oregon Secretary of State|accessdate=2008-04-02}}</ref>
* {{ROK}}, [[Jeollanam-do|Jeollanam-do Province]] - 1996<ref name=legbrief/><ref name=sisters/>

==See also==
{{Oregon portal}}
{{Main|Outline of Oregon|Index of Oregon-related articles}}
{{clear}}

==References ==
{{reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
*[http://www.secstate.wa.gov/history/publications%5Fdetail.aspx?p=33 ''Excursion to the Oregon'' by John Kirk Townsend]
*[http://www.secstate.wa.gov/history/maps_detail.aspx?m=14 ''New map of Texas, Oregon and California with the regions adjoining, compiled from the more recent authorities'' by Samuel Augustus Mitchell]
*[http://www.secstate.wa.gov/history/publications%5Fdetail.aspx?p=26 ''Accompaniment to Mitchell's New map of Texas, Oregon, and California, with the regions adjoining'' by Samuel Augustus Mitchell]
{{refend}}
* O'Hara, E. (1911). [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11288a.htm Oregon]. In the ''Catholic Encyclopedia''. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved July 25, 2009, from New Advent.

==External links==
{{sisterlinks}}
*[http://www.oregon.gov/ State of Oregon] (official 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.TravelOregon.com/ TravelOregon.com] an official website of the [[Oregon Tourism Commission]]
*[http://www.ohs.org/ Oregon Historical Society]
*[http://wikis.ala.org/godort/index.php/Oregon Oregon State Databases], an annotated list, in wiki form, of searchable databases produced by Oregon state agencies and compiled by the Government Documents Roundtable of the [[American Library Association]]
*[http://www.usgs.gov/state/state.asp?State=OR Real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Oregon] from the [[United States Geological Survey]]
*[http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/41000.html Oregon Quickfacts] from the [[United States Census Bureau]]
*[http://www.ers.usda.gov/StateFacts/OR.htm Oregon State Facts] from the [[United States Department of Agriculture]]
*{{dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Oregon}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre = Oregon
|North = [[Washington]]
|Northeast =
|East = [[Idaho]]
|Southeast =
|South = [[California]] / [[Nevada]]
|Southwest =
|West = [[Pacific Ocean]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Oregon|expand}}
{{United States}}
{{succession
| preceded = [[Minnesota]]
| office = [[List of U.S. states by date of statehood]]
| years = Admitted on February 14, 1859 (33rd)
| succeeded = [[Kansas]]
}}

{{Coord|display=title|44|N|120.5|W|region:US-OR_type:adm1st_scale:5000000}}
{{United States topics}}

[[Category:Oregon| ]]
[[Category:Pacific Northwest]]
[[Category:States of the United States]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1859]]
[[Category:West Coast of the United States]]

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[[zh:俄勒冈州]]

Revision as of 11:55, 9 January 2010

OREGON G@Y!!!

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