Oregon
- Just the Facts
- Encyclopedias & Almanacs
- State Links
- Did You Know
- State's Famous People
| Abbreviation | OR Source: United States Postal Service - Abbreviations |
|---|---|
| Capital | Salem |
| Population | 3,831,074 Source: Resident Population Data - 2010 Census |
| Governor | John Kitzhaber (Democrat, to January 2015) |
| Entered the Union | February 14, 1859 as the 33rd state |
| Motto | Alis volat Propriis ( She flies with her own wings) |
| Nickname | The Beaver State |
| Flower | Oregon grape |
| Bird | Western meadowlark |
| Song | Oregon, My Oregon |
| Professional Sports Teams | Portland Trail Blazers (Men's Basketball); Portland Timbers (Soccer) (sports listing policy) |
| Origin of Name | Unknown. However, it is generally accepted that the name, first used by Jonathan Carver in 1778, was taken from the writings of Maj. Robert Rogers, an English army officer |
| Historical Sites | The Oregon Trail |
| Points of Interest | Crater Lake National Park, Mount Hood, and Bonneville Dam on the Columbia |
| Bordering States | Oregon borders Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California, and the Pacific Ocean. |
| Flag |  |
Follow these links to read articles about Oregon from Encyclopedias and Almanacs:
Official State Links
- Oregon.gov
http://www.oregon.gov/
This is the official website for the State of Oregon. - Oregon State Library
http://oregon.gov/OSL/
Here is the homepage for the Oregon State Library. - Oregon Historical Society
http://www.ohs.org/
Here is the homepage for the Oregon State Historical Society. - Oregon History Center
http://www.ohs.org/exhibits/index.cfm
Here is the homepage for the Oregon State Historical Society Museum. - University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History
http://natural-history.uoregon.edu/
Here is the homepage for the Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History. - Oregon State Archives
http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/
Here is the homepage for the Oregon State Archives. - Oregon Parks & Recreation Department
http://egov.oregon.gov/OPRD/index.shtml
Here is the homepage for Oregon State Parks. - Travel Oregon
http://www.traveloregon.com/
Here is the official state travel and tourism website for Oregon. - Oregon Legislative Kids Page
http://www.leg.state.or.us/kids/
Here is an Oregon state site just for kids, offered by Oregon Legislative Information Systems.
Other State Links
- 50states.com: Oregon
http://www.50states.com/oregon.htm
The site provides a wealth of information about Oregon. It includes everything from the highest point to county profile to climate. - Things To Do in Oregon
http://www.thingstodo.com/states/OR/
ThingsToDo.com is an online guide to information about Oregon's entertainment, recreation, and travel, and includes the state's interesting facts, famous people, and special events. - Roadside America: Oregon Attractions
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/map/or.html
Roadside America describes itself as an online guide to offbeat attractions. This site offers reviews of "weird sites along the highway" in Oregon. - End of the Oregon Trail Home Page
http://www.historicoregoncity.org/HOC/index.php/end-of-the-oregon-trail-history
This site covers the famous Oregon Trail, offering biographies, frequently asked questions, and other notes of history and facts about the famous road to Oregon. - Links to The Oregon Trail
http://www.over-land.com/trore.html
This online directory offers links to dozens of Oregon Trail websites. - FedStats: MapStat: United States: Oregon
http://www.fedstats.gov/qf/states/41000.html
Fast access to statistics from more than 100 federal agencies on "economic and population trends, crime, education, health care, aviation safety, energy use, farm production and more" in Oregon.
- In agriculture, the state leads in growing peppermint, cover seed crops, blackberries, boysenberries, loganberries, black raspberries, and hazelnuts.
- Oregon has the only nickel smelter in the United States.
- Two mammals are unique to Oregon - the Camas pocket gopher and the Ashland shrew.
- Columbia River, which forms 3/4ths of the northern boundary of the state, was first explored by an American, Robert Gray, in 1792.
Some Famous People from this State
- Doc Severinsen (1927- ), band leader and jazz trumpet player. He was the band leader for the Tonight Show when Johnny Carson hosted it.
- Abigail Scott Duniway (1834-1915), journalist and woman-suffrage leader. (v. 21)
- Matt Groening (1954- ), cartoonist. He is the creator of the animated show, The Simpsons.
- Ursula LeGuin (1929- ), author. She has written science fiction and fantasy novels and short stories, including The Wizard of Earthsea trilogy and The Left Hand of Darkness.
- Lindsay Wagner, actress. She starred in the TV series, The Bionic Woman.