Oregon History and Information
Oregon history starts with being first colonized by humans about 15,000 years ago. Ok, maybe that is too far back. So, what else is of interest in Oregon? Well.. try -
- No Sales Tax
- Oregon has more ghost towns than any other state.
- Oregon is the only state to have an official nut - the hazelnut, also known as the filbert.
- The nation's most photographed lighthouse is the Heceta Head Lighthouse in Lane County, one of 8 lighthouses on the Oregon Coast.
- Oregon and New Jersey are the only states without self-service gas stations.
- Sea Lion Caves on the south coast is known to be the largest sea cave in the world.
- The state's highest elevation is Mt. Hood at 11,239 feet.
- Oregon entered the United States on February 14, 1859, making it the 33rd state.
- Portland is the largest city in Oregon.
- The state capitol is Salem.
- The official state tree is the Douglas fir.
- The highest waterfall in the state is Multnomah Falls at 620 feet.
- The amazingly blue Crater Lake, in Crater Lake National Park, is 1,943 feet deep, making it the deepest lake in the country.
- Major Industries - timber, paper products, farming (wheat, cattle), mining (coal), computer equipment, electronics
- Major Rivers - Columbia River, Deschutes, Willamette River, John Day River, Snake River
- Major Lakes - Upper Klamath Lake, Crater Lake
- Bordering States - California, Idaho, Nevada, Washington
- Origin of the Name Oregon - The origin is unknown. It may have come from the French word Ouragan (which means Hurricane) and was a former name of the Columbia River.
- The state nickname is "the beaver state."
- State Motto - "She Flies With Her Own Wings" and "The Union"
- State Song - Oregon, My Oregon
- State Bird - Western Meadowlark
- State Flower - Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium)
- State Tree - Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
For more on Oregon, see
Map of Oregon
Oregon History
Native Americans of Oregon
Oregon Attraction
Oregon Air Quality Conditions & Forecasts