Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region on the West Coast of the United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary along Washington state, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary along Idaho. The parallel 42° north delineates the southern boundary with California and Nevada. Oregon is one of only three states of the contiguous United States to have a coastline on the Pacific Ocean.

Oregon was inhabited by many indigenous tribes before Western traders, explorers, and settlers arrived. An autonomous government was formed in the Oregon Country in 1843 before the Oregon Territory was created in 1848. Oregon became the 33rd state on February 14, 1859. Today, at 98,000 square miles (250,000 km2), Oregon is the ninth largest and, with a population of 4 million, 27th most populous U.S. state. The capital, Salem, is the second most populous city in Oregon, with 164,549 residents. Portland, with 632,309 residents, is the most populous and ranks as the 26th most populous city in the United States. The Portland metropolitan area, which also includes the city of Vancouver, Washington, to the north, ranks the 23rd largest metro area in the nation, with a population of 2,389,228.

Oregon is one of the most geographically diverse states in the U.S., marked by volcanoes, abundant bodies of water, dense evergreen and mixed forests, as well as high deserts and semi-arid shrublands. At 11,249 feet (3,429 m), Mount Hood, a stratovolcano, is the state's highest point. Oregon's only national park, Crater Lake National Park, comprises the caldera surrounding Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the United States. The state is also home to the single largest organism in the world, Armillaria ostoyae, a fungus that runs beneath 2,200 acres (8.9 km2) of the Malheur National Forest.

Because of its diverse landscapes and waterways, Oregon's economy is largely powered by various forms of agriculture, fishing, and hydroelectric power. Oregon is also the top timber producer of the contiguous United States, and the timber industry dominated the state's economy in the 20th century. Technology is another one of Oregon's major economic forces, beginning in the 1970s with the establishment of the Silicon Forest and the expansion of Tektronix and Intel. Sportswear company Nike, Inc., headquartered in Beaverton, is the state's largest public corporation with an annual revenue of $30.6 billion.

Statehood	February 14th, 1859
Capital	Salem
Official Flag
Approximate Size	Total: 98,381 sq mi (255,026 km2) Width: 400 miles (640 km) Length: 360 miles (580 km) % Water: 2.4
Highest Point	Mt. Hood (11,239ft or 3,426m)
Counties	36
Population	3,899,353 (2012)
Electoral Votes	7
State Quarter Issued	June 6th, 2005
Official Motto	Alis volat propriis (She flies with her own wings)
Official Flower	Oregon Grape
Official Bird	Western Meadowlark
Nickname	Beaver State
Area Code(s)	458, 503, 541, 971
Sports	Oregon is home to three major professional sports teams: the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA, the Portland Thorns of the NWSL and the Portland Timbers of MLS. Until 2011, the only major professional sports team in Oregon was the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association. From the 1970s to the 1990s, the Blazers were one of the most successful teams in the NBA in terms of both win-loss record and attendance. In the early 21st century, 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 and LaMarcus Aldridge. The Blazers play in the Moda Center in Portland's Lloyd District, which also is home to the Portland Winterhawks of the junior Western Hockey League. The Portland Timbers play at Providence Park, just west of downtown Portland. The Timbers have a strong following, with the team regularly selling out its games. The Timbers repurposed the formerly multi-use stadium into a soccer-specific stadium in fall 2010, increasing the seating in the process. The Timbers operate Portland Thorns FC, a women's soccer team that has played in the National Women's Soccer League since the league's first season in 2013. The Thorns, who also play at Providence Park, have won two league championships, in the inaugural 2013 season and also in 2017, and have been by far the NWSL's attendance leader in each of the league's seasons. Eugene, Salem and Hillsboro have minor-league baseball teams: the Eugene Emeralds, the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, and the Hillsboro Hops all play in the Single-A Northwest League. Portland has had minor-league baseball teams in the past, including the Portland Beavers and Portland Rockies, who played most recently at Providence Park when it was known as PGE Park. The Oregon State Beavers and the University of Oregon Ducks football teams of the Pac-12 Conference meet annually in the Civil War. Both schools have had recent success in other sports as well: Oregon State won back-to-back college baseball championships in 2006 and 2007, winning a third in 2018; and the University of Oregon won back-to-back NCAA men's cross country championships in 2007 and 2008.
Area Facts	What is Oregon's state nut? Oregon's state nut is the Hazelnut. What is Oregon's largest mountain? The largest mountain in Oregon is Mount Hood. Why is the Oregon-Oregon state game called the civil war? Oregon State University and the University of Oregon are rivals and from the same state. It is an internal feud and there is fierce competition between the north and south, just like the Civil War. What is Oregon's state animal? The state animal of Oregon is the Beaver. What lakes are in Oregon? Oregon has many lakes that are popular for fishing and water sports; Crater Lake is the most well known, being one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Other large lakes include Diamond Lake, Crescent Lake, Wallowa Lake, Paulina Lake, East Lake, Odell Lake, and Timothy Lake. What is the largest lake in Oregon? The largest lake in Oregon is the Upper Klamath Lake, which is approximately 30 miles long and up to 8 miles wide -- about 65 square miles; it is the largest body of freshwater west of the Rocky Mountains. Crater Lake is the deepest, at 1943 feet; it is the deepest lake in the US, and the 7th deepest in the world.

Posted By Gremelin Posted on May 8th, 2014 · Updated on December 22nd, 2019

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