Oregon
Beaver State · Capital: Salem · West (Pacific)
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Bordering states: California, Nevada, Idaho, Washington.
About Oregon
Oregon faces the Pacific between Washington, across the Columbia River, and California and Nevada, along the 42nd parallel; on the east the Snake River runs through Hells Canyon, the deepest river gorge in North America. The Cascade Range runs the length of the state and splits it into two climates: parts of the Coast Range take more than 100 inches of rain a year, while the Alvord Desert in the southeast gets about seven. Mount Hood, 11,249 feet, is the high point, and Crater Lake, 1,943 feet deep, fills the caldera left when Mount Mazama collapsed about 7,700 years ago. All 363 miles of coast are public.
For about eleven thousand years people fished and traded at Celilo Falls on the Columbia. Robert Gray sailed into the river in 1792, Lewis and Clark wintered at Fort Clatsop in 1805 and 1806, and Britain and the United States shared the region until the Oregon Treaty of 1846 set the border at the 49th parallel. The Oregon Trail brought about 900 settlers in 1843 alone. Oregon entered the Union on February 14, 1859 as the 33rd state, a free state whose constitution also barred free Black people from living there. Treaties and wars in the 1850s and in 1877 pushed tribes off much of their land.
The 2020 census counted 4,237,256 Oregonians, up 10.6% since 2010, and the state gained a sixth House seat. Salem is the capital and Portland the largest city. Timber built the twentieth century economy, Nike is based in Beaverton, and chip plants west of Portland form the Silicon Forest. Since 1902 voters have made law directly through the initiative and referendum, producing the country's first bottle deposit law in 1971 and all-mail elections in 1998. Notable Oregonians include the chemist Linus Pauling, winner of two unshared Nobel Prizes, and Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons.
4 fun facts about Oregon
- For decades Oregon banned self-service gas; since 2023, stations may let drivers pump at up to half their pumps.
- The state contains Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the US (1,943 feet).
- Nike is HQ'd in Beaverton, Oregon.
- Portland has one of the highest numbers of breweries per capita of any US city.
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Frequently asked questions about Oregon
Is Oregon a US state?
Yes, Oregon is one of the 50 US states. It was admitted to the Union in 1859, making it the 33rd state. Its capital is Salem and its largest city is Portland.
What is the capital of Oregon?
The capital of Oregon is Salem. Note that the largest city in Oregon is Portland, not the capital, a common point of confusion.
When did Oregon become a state?
Oregon became a US state in 1859. It is the 33rd state admitted to the Union.
What is the abbreviation for Oregon?
The 2-letter USPS abbreviation for Oregon is OR.
How big is Oregon?
Oregon ranks #9 of 50 US states by area. With 44.1 residents per square mile in 2020, it was the 39th most densely populated state.
What is the population of Oregon?
Oregon had 4,237,256 residents at the 2020 census, the 27th largest population of the 50 states, up 10.6% since 2010. That count gives it 6 seats in the US House of Representatives.
What region is Oregon in?
Oregon is in the West region of the United States, per the US Census Bureau.
What time zone is Oregon in?
Oregon observes Pacific Time (the state spans multiple time zones).
Learn more
How to learn the 50 states (full guide)
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