OROregon Map
Oregon on the US map
Oregon sits in the West region of the United States — specifically the pacific subregion as defined by the US Census Bureau. With an area ranking of #9 of 50, Oregon is one of the largest US states by total area. The map above highlights Oregon in gold and color-codes the 49 other states by region.
Whether you're a student studying US geography, a traveler planning a road trip, a teacher building a lesson plan, or simply curious, the goal of this page is to give you a complete picture of where Oregon is and what surrounds it. Click any other state on the map above to navigate to its dedicated page.
Capital and largest city
The capital of Oregon is Salem. The largest city by population, however, is Portland — not Salem. This pattern (capital ≠ largest city) holds for about 33 of the 50 US states, including most of the famous mismatches like California (Sacramento, not LA), Florida (Tallahassee, not Miami), and New York (Albany, not NYC).
The historical reason for these mismatches dates to the late 18th and 19th centuries. When state founders chose capitals, they often deliberately picked smaller, more centrally located towns to avoid concentrating political and commercial power in the same place. They worried that a capital in a major port or commercial city would be too vulnerable to mob influence (a real concern at the time) and would skew political decisions toward commercial interests.
Borders and neighbors
Oregon shares land borders with 4 other US states: California, Nevada, Idaho, Washington. Each link goes to that state's dedicated page where you can see its own map, history, and facts.
Geographic features at a glance
- Total area rank: #9 of 50
- Population: 1 to 5 million
- Coastline: pacific
- Mountain ranges: cascades
- Time zone: Pacific (spans multiple)
- Region: West — pacific subregion
Major highways and transportation
Oregon is connected to the rest of the country by the federal Interstate Highway System (planned by President Eisenhower in the 1950s). Major airports serve Portland and Salem, with regional connections to the rest of the state. Amtrak rail service connects parts of Oregon to the national passenger rail network, though geographic isolation and population density vary.
Oregon notable firsts
- Oregon has a unique place among the 50 states — discoverable across its geography, history, and culture
🌟 Oregon trivia
- You can't pump your own gas in Oregon (with limited exceptions added in 2023). Attendants do it.
- The state contains Crater Lake — the deepest lake in the US (1,949 feet).
- Nike is HQ'd in Beaverton, Oregon.
- Portland, OR has more microbreweries per capita than any other US city.
Oregon vs similar states
How does Oregon compare with 3 other states in the same region and size category?
| State | Capital | Pop | Area rank | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | Salem | 1 to 5 million | #9 | 1859 |
| Alaska | Juneau | under 1 million | #1 | 1959 |
| Arizona | Phoenix | 5 to 10 million | #6 | 1912 |
| California | Sacramento | over 10 million | #3 | 1850 |
Bordering states (4)
Oregon shares borders with 4 other US states, listed alphabetically below. Each link goes to the dedicated state page.
Practice US geography daily — free
Statedoku is a 3×3 daily geography puzzle. Oregon appears as an answer or constraint clue on most days that match its region, borders, time zone, or quirks. Five minutes a day.
Play today's puzzle →Similar states to Oregon
If this page interested you, you may also want to explore states with similar geography, history, or culture. These states share Oregon's region (West) and similar size category: