Oregon Information
Oregon, abbreviation OR, is a state in the northwestern United States of America. The State borders the Pacific Ocean. Oregon’s nickname is “the Beaver State”. The state capital is Salem, but by far the largest city is Portland. See all cities in Oregon. Oregon is a state in which many different types of landscapes unite. Forests, valleys, coast and mountains; in Oregon you will find it all.. The city of Portland is known for its relaxed nature and greenery. Finally, you can of course also just enjoy yourself at the beach in this State.
Geography
Oregon is located on the Pacific coast of the United States and borders the states of Washington, Idaho, Nevada and California. The state measures a maximum of 600 kilometers from west to east and 480 kilometers from north to south. The state belongs to the Pacific Northwest region. The state has a very diverse landscape, with the spectacular coastline rising to the Coast Ranges, a relatively low and densely forested mountain range, beyond which lies the fertile Willamette Valley. Most of the state’s major cities are located here. To the south are the Klamath Mountains and the dividing line between western and eastern Oregon is the Cascade Range, a dominant mountain range with the 3,429-foot Mount Hood as its highest point. Crater Lake is also located in the Cascades, the deepest lake in the United States (592 meters).
Eastern Oregon is geographically a larger area than the west, occupying nearly two-thirds of the area. This is a much drier area, with deserts in the southeast and the Columbia Plateau at 500 to 700 meters dominating the northern part, and the larger High Desert in the south. In this area are several mountain ranges with peaks between 2,500 and 3,000 meters.
Oregon’s main river is the Columbia River, which largely forms the border with Washington state. Passing through a mighty canyon east of Portland, this wide river is one of the largest rivers in the United States, and the largest flowing into the Pacific Ocean. The narrower but more raging Snake River forms part of the border with Idaho and flows through Hells Canyon.
History
In 1792, the Columbia River was discovered by Captain Robert Gray, who entered the estuary with his ship. The Americans Lewis and Clark came overland and wintered there in 1805/1806. In 1811 the Americans, who derived their property rights from the two discoveries, established Fort Astoria as the center of the fur trade, but the fort had to be abandoned as early as 1813; it came into the hands of British trappers. However, despite increasing British influence, the United States did not want to give up their claims. In 1818 it was decided on a compromise: for the time being they would jointly occupy the area.
About 1840, however, a large migration of American settlers to this area began along the Oregon trial. In particular, many Protestant missionaries settled in Oregon (including such famous leaders as Jason Lee and Marcus Whitman, who was murdered by the Indians with his entire family in 1847), while the renowned Flemish missionary Father De Smet also worked here. In 1846, the US government succeeded in concluding a treaty with Great Britain, granting Oregon to the United States.
In 1848, the Oregon Territory was organized, which included the entire area between the Rocky Mountains and the sea and between 42° and 49° N. Br. In 1853, the Washington Territory was split off from this. Oregon was incorporated as a state into the Union in 1859. The rapid influx of immigrants caused numerous wars with the Native Americans; the last was that of the Nez Percés in 1877. Oregon has been at the forefront of political development in the early 20th century; it was the first state in America to implement all kinds of very democratic measures, collectively called the Oregon system.
Economy
Oregon is an average state in terms of income in the United States. Traditionally, agriculture has been dominant in the Willamette Valley, the primary reason for the state’s growth in the 19th century. Forestry is also common in the west, but farming in the east is limited to ranching due to low rainfall and rivers.
Tourism plays a significant role, especially the coast and the Cascades are popular with tourists. Oregon has relatively little industry, most of it related to agriculture. The city of Portland dominates the state economically. The state attracts many migrants from the other expensive coastal regions because it is cheaper than both California and the Seattle area.
| Abbreviation: | OR |
| Nickname: | Beaver State |
| Joined the US as the 33rd state on: | February 14, 1859 |
| Capital city: | Salem |
| Census: | 3.831.074 |
| Surface: | 255.026 km² |
| Geography: | Bordering Washington, Idaho, Nevada and California |
| Governor: | Katherine Brown |
| state motto: | She flies with her own wings |
| California official website: | oregon.gov |
