Explore a destination located in Oregon, United States
Oregon, located towards the northwest corner of the United States, has been a state of the republic since 1859. The state's capital is located in Salem, but the most commonly known city in Oregon is Portland.[3] The region has an extensive history, from Native American's[2] to being the birthplace of major companies such as Nike.[7] Its nature and natural landmarks usually draw those who choose to come to Oregon. The most popular attractions include Crater Lake, Cannon Beach, Mount Hood, Sea Lion Caves, and Painted Hills.[5] The region is notorious for the forest that covers over thirty million acres of the state.[8] The land has large amounts of wooded forest that drove Oregon's early economy. Lumber is still one of the three most significant contributors to the economy found in Oregon today.[2] The climate of Oregon changes with the seasons but is mostly acknowledged as rainy and cool with a fertile landscape.[3]
The state of Oregon, perhaps known for its natural beauty and landmarks, sits in the northwest corner of the United States. It has a population of 4,217,737 people, and its capital is the city of Salem.[1] The state was established as the thirty-third state in America and is acknowledged for the moist rainforests, mountains, fertile valleys, and for being naturally arid with harsh eastern deserts.[2] Oregon was first settled by John Jacob Astor, who was the head of the Pacific Fur Company. In 1811, he started occupying the new territory by establishing a trading post in Astoria.[2] The state earned the nickname of "Beaver State" for its early history of fur trading with beaver skins. The beaver later became the state's animal and now adorns the state flag.[3]
It's uncertain how the name Oregon came to be; there are a lot of speculations of the origin of the word. One of the most popular beliefs is that it is derived from the Portuguese word 'Ouve agua' which rounded down phonetically to Oragua, then to Or-a-gon, eventually becoming Oregon. The word translates to "hear the waters."[3] Another theory suggests that the name comes from the French Canadian word 'ouragan', which means storm or hurricane. The Shoshoni Indian words Ogwa and Pe-on, are also attributed to the founding of the name Oregon. Ogwa means river, and Peon means west, bringing the translation to the river of the west.[4]
The region of Oregon usually draws people through its diverse landscape, remote and rocky beaches, deserts in the east, and mountains. The state is home to the deepest lake in the United States and is one of the deepest in the world. It's known as Crater Lake, which reaches a maximum depth of 1,949 feet deep. Another well-known landmark of Oregon is the Alvord Desert; its terrain is unique to the area and unlike anything else in Oregon. The desert is seventy miles long and eight miles wide. Other notable landmarks in the state include the Oregon caves, Hells Canyon, Willamette Falls, Painted Hills, Haystack Rock, Oregon's tallest waterfall known as Multnomah Falls, the wreck of the Peter Iredale, and the Sea Lion Caves.[5]
The Wreck of the Peter Iredale is the most famous wreck on the Oregon coast, and only the steel hull remains of the original two hundred and seventy-five-foot ship from 1906. The vessel was blown around by strong winds, eventually hitting the beach so hard that three masts broke on impact. Another landmark found in Oregon is Mount Hood. The mountain is the tallest one in the state and is often subject to backpackers climbing its summit, skiers, and casual hikers.[5]
Oregon's economy has primarily been driven by the natural resources found in the state, significantly dependant on the forests and farms. Three-fifths of the state can produce commercial timber, but the woods are now protected under preservation laws to prevent severe damage through the logging industry. Since 1938 Oregon has been the leading contributor to the nation's lumber industry.[2] Nowadays, tourism is the third contributor to the state's economy, right behind lumber and agriculture. People have been drawn through the years to the natural scenery and activities the state offers. The state has also been identified as one of the least religious states in the United States, with thirty percent of the population identifying themselves as non-religious.[3]
The state's population is made up of 86.7% Caucasian, 2.2% African American, and 13.4% Hispanic as the primary races. Before the settlement of Europeans, about eighty Native American tribes were living in the state. The colonization of the area ultimately led to the displacement of the local native tribes.[3] The Tamastslikt Cultural Institute holds materials that connect to the early native people of the Columbia River Region, giving people a place and opportunity to learn the early history of the people of the land. Another unique aspect of Oregon is that it does not have a sales tax. Making it one of five states in the country that does not make its residents or guests pay sales taxes.[2]
Oregon is also known to be the home of the Tillamook Cheese Factory, the largest cheese factory in the world. The factory produces 171,000 pounds of cheese each day; visitors are welcome to come and tour the factory and taste the factory's cheeses.[6] One of the most popular companies in America, and even the world, is Nike, created in Eugene, Oregon. The company was founded by Phil Knight, who ran track and field at the University of Oregon, and his coach Bill Bowerman.[7] Other notable companies that started in this state include Fred Meyer, Legacy Health, and Les Schwab Tire Centers. One of the most well-known areas in Oregon is the city of Portland. The city began in 1843 when two business partners filed a claim to the land; the name was chosen from a coin toss. The city has continued to grow throughout the years into the most populated city in the state.[3]
Oregon sits along the west coast of the ocean and is bordered by Washington, Idaho, Nevada, and California. The total squared area of the state is 98,379 miles, with its highest point reaching 11,239 feet on top of Mount Hood that is located 50 miles to the southeast side of Portland. The state is known for its diversity in terrain varying from mountain ranges, lakes, evergreen woods to deserts. Thirty million acres (48.51%) of the Oregon region are made up of forest, which is green and lush. The state also has a total of 3,764 mountains altogether, making up about 50 total mountain ranges.[8]
Scenic beaches are found all across the Oregon coast. The most famous beach is called Cannon Beach, which spans the shore for four miles. The beach is known most for the beauty of the surrounding woodlands. Cannon Beach is also home to the well-known landmark, Haystack Rock, which stands 200 feet tall.[9]
The average high temperature of Oregon is 67 degrees Fahrenheit, with an average low of 38.3 degrees Fahrenheit. Rainfall is widespread in the region and should be expected to have rainy days during January-March, November, and December. The state produces an average precipitation of up to 75-90 inches a year. August is the hottest month of the year, but the heat is not unbearable for those who visit Oregon during the summer. Tourism is consistent throughout the year as each season highlights different natural aspects of the state. Summer is the warmest and driest months, providing more ideal conditions for outdoor activities such as hiking and surfing. Spring is known for the new growth in the area, from blooming wildflowers to the foliage of the forests. Winter is an excellent time for storm watchers and those who like winter sports such as skiing.[11]
Oregon has many different types of wildlife such as elk, beavers, black bears, mountain lions, otters, hoary bats, brush rabbits, pacific shrew, deer, raccoons, and coyotes.[12] Six wildlife preserves are located across the state, aiding in the preservation of the fauna. Hunting is legal in Oregon; anyone twelve and older who owns a resident hunting license is permitted to hunt game such as deer and elk if they have a tag for that species. Indigenous plants to Oregon are the red alder, bigleaf maple, Oregon white oak, and Pacific madron.[13]
Oregon has had people living in its regions for thousands of years now; its first inhabitants were Native Americans such as the Nez Perce, Paiute, Molalla, Chinook, and the Klamath tribes. During the early days of its history, many people passed through Oregon exploring the land, but it wasn't until John Jacob Astor that a settlement was established. He was the head of the Pacific Fur Company, which led him to establish a trading post in Astoria. The creation of the trading post marked the first roots of European settlement and paved the way for more to migrate their way to the west coast.[2]
Before Oregon was a state, people traveled to the region through the Oregon Trail, known for its brutal journey. The trail was 2,710 miles long, connecting the valleys of Oregon with the Missouri River.[3] The trail was eventually abandoned due to the first transcontinental railroad that was completed in 1869. The region was first recognized as a territory in 1846 but officially gained its statehood on February 14, 1859, marking it the thirty-third state to join the nation. Statehood was accomplished through the Oregon Treaty of 1846. Shortly after, in 1883, conflicts with U.S. settlers resulted in the relocation of Native American's onto reservations.[2]
Oregon was looked to as a land of promise for settlers coming from the other side of the country, and the addition of the railroad made it even easier to claim that promise. The lumber and wheat industry saw a significant increase in business with the assistance of railroads and the rapid growth of cities.[3] Oregon played a considerable role in the development of the west. During modern history, Tom McCall made a documentary that opened people's eyes to the industrial pollution in the state. The documentary sparked the burgeoning green movement within the state.[14]
The state now has a growing population of 4,217,737 people, an 11.4% growth since the 2010 census. White people are the most prominent population due to the early settling of European people within the region. Only 1.8% of the population is Native American, descendants of land's original peoples.[1] Oregon is also one of the most liberal and least religious states in America. One of the other well-known facts about Oregon is that it is home to a multinational corporation known as Nike. The business was created on January 25, 1964, in Eugene, Oregon.[7]
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