Oregon, The Beaver State

[13] Culture Regions of the US

2007-11-02T17:52:00.001-07:00

Oregon is located in the "Northwest" culture region of the US; eastern Oregon is also considered part of the "Mountains" culture region.

Human settlement in this region relies on the natural resources of the area. In the last 200 years, human activities such as logging, mining, and fishing have impacted the land. Nowadays, this region is well known for its environmentalism. There has been an adoption of sustainable practices by resource-based industries and growing tourism to the region's beautiful forest areas.

Oregon is the first state to create the country's first recycling refund program and initiated a wide-scale preservation of its coastline for public use.

Recently they passed Measure 49 by an unexpected margin of 61%! It protects farm and forest lands, as well as water supplies by limiting large subdivisions and commercial and industrial development. Measure 49 also allows land-owners who only want to build a few homes on their rural property a simpler and fairer way to do so, providing the fairness that Measure 37 promised, but failed to deliver.

Portland is one of the most fountain-centric U.S. cities, with a well-regarded municipal water bureau that maintains 17 decorative outdoor fountains—as well as over 120 public drinking fountains. Many Portland water fountains are the winners of local and international design competitions; others were gifts and commissions to the city from prominent private citizens.

All fountains in the Portland area continuously recycle the water through low energy, high efficiency pumps. They are also chlorinated.Portland’s fountains are for admiring—not drinking.

Most of Portland’s decorative fountains run spring through fall from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The city’s drinking fountains also run on timers.

Keller Forecourt fountain

Salmon Street Springs fountain
As stated in the text, Portland is also known for its social tolerance, especially tolerance of new migrants into the area.

Sources
Environment Oregon
Portland Water Fountains

[12] Human Impact on the Environment

2007-11-02T17:51:00.002-07:00

Fires

According to Oregon.gov...
There are about 1,100 fires annually on the 16 million acres of private and public forestland protected by the Oregon Dept. of Forestry. On average, those fires burn about 12,000 total acres. The forestlands protected by the department include about 13 million acres of private and non-federal public lands, and about 3 million acres of Bureau of Land Management lands west of the Cascades.

About two-thirds of Oregon's wildfires are caused by people and one-third by lightning. At one time, forest operators were responsible for the majority of human-caused fires. But that has changed. Logging technology and methods have improved, sharply reducing the number of operator-caused fires. At the same time our population has grown, with more and more Oregonians living in or near the forest and recreating there. As a result, the public now accounts for half or more of all human-caused fires. Common causes include debris burns, gas-powered equipment use, campfires, off-road vehicle use and smoking. Practicing fire safety in the woods is crucial to prevent large fires that can damage the forest, destroy homes and even take lives.

Below is a chart on Oregon's most destructive fires in it's history.

Sources: Forest Log, National Interagency Coordination Center situation reports

Air Quality

Click on the image above for a closer look at the air quality in Oregon.

Color indicators:
blue = Best/Cleanest in the US
teal = low/mid
green = medium
yellow = mid/high
red = Worst/Dirtiest in the US

Counties in OREGON with the Greatest Reported Releases of Lead to Air:

1. KLAMATH @ 682 lbs
2. DOUGLAS @ 227 lbs
3. WASHINGTON @ 61 lbs
4. UNION @ 51 lbs
5. CLACKAMAS @ 4 lbs

The chart below shows grades for each type of emission, the overall ambient grade, and the resultant county grades. There are two county grades, "self" for the county as determined by its own emission and ambient grades, and "map" for the county as affected by neighboring counties.

The graph below shows how many days in a year the air is healthy around Multnomah County (Portland, OR)

Water Pollution

In some areas of Oregon, more groundwater has been drawn by wells than is replaced by rainfall and snow melt.

There are parts of the state that have widespread nitrate contamination of groundwater.

And, there are localized cases of leaks, spills, or dumping that have polluted the groundwater.

The WACKER SILTRONIC CORP in PORTLAND releases 1,074,401 lbs of water pollutants in the us, ranking 48 in the nation.

Animal Wastes

Oregon ranks #32 in producing 11,000,000 tons of animal waste pollution (1997).

Animal Waste Trends in MULTNOMAH County
Animal Type :: Percentage Change in Animal Waste

Hogs :: Decreased by 63% from 1987 to 1997
Cattle :: Increased by 101% from 1987 to 1997
Poultry :: Increased by 3% from 1987 to 1997
Sheep :: Decreased by 88% from 1987 to 1997

***Total Animal Increased by 91% from 1987 to 1997***

Sources
Creative Methods
Groundwater Stewardship in Oregon
Oregon.gov
Scorecard, the pollution info site

[11] Recreational Resources

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Oregon has various recreational activities available to its residents. Oregon is an environmentally friendly and conscious state, so there are many outdoor activities to engage in. One can mountainbike, windsurf, hike, camp, ski, swim, etc. Oregon is home to 222 beautiful waterfalls. Click on this link to locate them!

There are also many urban destinations. In the Portland metro area alone, recreational activities range from gardens, museums, waterfalls, outdoor markets, a zoo, parks, sports, and performing arts. Not far away is Mt Hood and the Columbia River Gorge.

Portland's gardens include:
- The International Rose Test Garden : This is the most famous of Portland's gardens which has numerous roses in different colors and varieties. It was founded in 1917.
- The Japanese Garden : It is the most authentic garden found outside Japan. It includes a pond garden, a natural setting garden, a sand and stone garden, a flat garden and traditional tea garden.
-The Classical Chinese Garden : It was built as an authentic Suzhou-style garden
- The Peninsula Park Rose Garden
- Crystal Spring Rhododendron Gardens
- The Portland Memory Garden
- Leach Botanical Gardens
- Mill's End Park

Chinese Garden (Top) & Japanese Garden (Bottom)

Oregon has over 200 museums! The Oregon Museums Association has compiled a list of museums across the state and in which areas they could be found. The city of Portland, alone, has 14 musuems (34 total in the metro area ).

Portland Art Museum (Top) & Oregon Musuem of Science & Industry (Bottom)

Along Oregon's rivers, one can kayak, whitewater rafting, fish, or hike along its path. Along the coast, one can drive up and enjoy the scenery the coastline has to offer. Oregon is home to the Devil's Punchbowl (below), a state park open year round which has a unique rock formation that ocean waves churn in.

Oregon is famous for its many lighthouses along its coast. These are monuments to Oregon's maritime heritage and are accessable links to the past. They serve as excellent wildlife viewpoints, storm watching destinations, and posts for whale lookouts. The NPS registers 9 historic lighthouses and they are :

CAPE ARAGO (CAPE GREGORY) LIGHT (1934)
Location: Gregory Point/SW of Coos Bay entrance
Current Use: None

CAPE BLANCO LIGHT (1870)
Location: Southernmost Oregon Coast
Current Use: Active aid to navigation

CAPE MEARES LIGHT (1890)
Location: Southern entrance to Tillamook Bay
Current Use: State park/National Wildlife Refuge *top right*

COQUILLE RIVER (BANDON) LIGHT (1896)
Location: Entrance to Coquille River
Current Use: State park
*bottom right*

HECETA HEAD LIGHT (1894)
Location: North of Siuslaw River
Current Use: Active aid to navigation /Community College Program

TILLAMOOK ROCK LIGHT (1881)
Location: Off Tillamook Head
Current Use: Columbarium in National Wildlife Refuge

UMPQUA RIVER LIGHT (1894)
Location: Umpqua River above entrance to Winchester Bay
Current Use: Active aid to navigation /Museum

YAQUINA BAY LIGHT (OLD) (1871)
Location: Yaquina Bay State Park
Current Use: Museum in state park/Private aid to navigation

YAQUINA HEAD LIGHT (1873)
Location: 3 miles north of Yaquina Bay entrance
Current Use: Active aid to navigation

Oregon's National Forests are:

· Deschutes National Forest
· Fremont National Forest
· Malheur National Forest
· Mt. Hood National Forest
· Ochoco National Forest
· Rogue River National Forest
· Siskiyou National Forest
· Siuslaw National Forest
· Umatilla National Forest
· Umpqua National Forest
· Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
· Willamette National Forest
· Winema National Forest

Oregon has 6 National Natural Landmarks (from North to South). These are public and private biological and geological features protected through conservation.

-Crown Point

-Willamette Floodplain

-Lawrence Memorial Grassland Preserve

-Hoprse Ridge Natural Area

-Newberry Crater

-Fort Rock State Monument

If you want to visit a park in Oregon, here is a comprehensive list:
All state parks map

Sources
NPS
Oregon Museums Association
Oregon.com
Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept
Waterfalls in Oregon
National Forests of Oregon and Washington

[10] Neighborhoods

2007-11-02T17:50:00.002-07:00

Downtown Portland has its own set of "neighborhoods" or districts. Look at this downtown map of Portland, identifying its 8 seperate districts. The first two districts have a more detailed description.

- Northwest & Nob Hill
Portland's trendiest shopping is on ten blocks of Northwest 23rd Avenue between Burnside and NW Northrup streets. Some of the Portland's best dining spots are located here. 23rd is a browsers paradise with numerous shops ranging from clothing boutiques to book stores. Twenty-third is the place to go if you want to walk and people-watch and browse through a lot of shops. The Northwest is a well known entertainment center, too.

- Pearl District
This district is transitioning from an industrial warehousing area to one of the most desirable locations in the city. Renovations and adaptive use of historical and other structures have led to loft housing, row houses, condos, new restaurants, art and ceramic galleries, and a burst of new retail activity. A flurry of important new urban creative-commerce entrepreneurs, ranging from small internet firms to world-class advertising and multi-media companies, are staking out territory here.

- Lloyd District
- Old Town & Chinatown
- Downtown
- University District
- Central Eastside
- South Waterfront District & Johns Landing

Here is a Portland Neighborhood Map (Portland and the cities/neighborhoods surrounding it).

This is an alternative look to Portland neighborhoods.

Some general Portland Neighborhood info:

Downtown Portland
(Info above)

South Waterfront
This area is being redeveloped and will be the largest and most expensive redevelopment effort in Portland history which plans on transforming an abandoned industrial site along the Willamette River south of downtown into a high-rise neighborhood as dense as parts of Manhattan. Eventually, some 20 high-rise buildings will be built on the site. This includes medical offices and labs for Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU).

Southwest Portland
Bridlemile - Corbett-Terwilliger-Lair Hill - Hillsdale - Multnomah - Sylvan-Highlands

Residents in the area live here for the schools, hilly terrain, and the "safe neighborhoods" and parks. The area of Southwest Portland has many city attractions such as the International Rose Test Garden, Japanese Gardens, Hoyt Arboretum, Children's Museum, and Oregon Zoo.

West Hills
Arlington Heights - Council Crest - Forest Park - Hillside - Portland Heights

The West Hills are littered with historic homes and even a couple of castles. Common styles found in the hills include English Cottage, Foursquare, Colonial, Tudor, and Arts & Crafts. Most West Hills homes were built in the early part of the 20th Century. This area is home to many doctors, lawyers, VPs, managers, and small business owners.

Southeast Portland
Eastmoreland - Hosford-Abernethy - Mt. Tabor - Sellwood-Moreland - Sunnyside

This area has many industrial plants that provide thousands of jobs for Portlanders. The Hawthorne and nearby Belmont districts are filled with single-family homes and apartment buildings. Bakeries, coffeehouses, boutiques, music and bookstores, micro-pubs, and restaurants line the two streets. Hawthorne Boulevard supports a thriving district that is full of activity. Here, high-density housing meshes with retail activity, creating one of the city's more interesting shopping areas -- pedestrian friendly, lined with gift stores, period clothing shops, eateries, and espresso shops.

North Portland
Boise - Piedmont - University Park
2005 the average price of a home is $208,800.

Northeast Portland
Alameda - Beaumont-Wilshire - Concordia - Grant Park - Irvington - Laurelhurst

Optimal for urban living, checking out historic homes, seeing tree-lined streets, enjoying city parks and street shopping (instead of malls).
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Portland has 94 formally recognized neighborhoods, which doesn't include the outlying areas, ranging from little Fairfield Village to major cities such as Vancouver, Washington, which are considered part of the greater metropolitan area.

Want to get interactive? Check out the Portland Neighborhood map, in which you can click on a neighborhood and find some census data pertaining to that neighborhood.

You can also check out Individual Neighborhood Maps , which are very detailed.

Below are some graphs revealing social status indicators within Portland that give an idea of how the physical structure of the city might look like.

Sources
Moving to Portland
Portland Neighborhoods

[09] Cities

2007-11-02T17:50:00.001-07:00

For this section, I will include some quick points on cities in Oregon. I will focus mainly on Portland, which is Oregon's major metropolitan city.

Portland-Oregon is part of the group in the Northwest of unconnected, yet closesly spaced metropolitan districts that also include: Tacoma-Seattle-Bellingham (WA) and Vancouver (BC, Canada).

The Oregon portion of the metropolitan area is the state's largest urban center, with about 2 million people and about 550 to 600 sq. mi. of urbanized land area, and the state's hub for trade, transportation, and business. Most is under the jurisdiction of Metro, a directly-elected regional government which, among other things, is responsible for land use planning in the region.

According to the US Census stats of 2006, the Portland–Vancouver–Beaverton Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) ranks 23 of the 25 most populated areas in the US, with a population of 2,137,565 people. It consists of Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, and parts of Columbia and Yamhill counties in Oregon, as well as Clark County, Washington and Skamania County, Washington. The area includes Portland and the neighboring cities of Beaverton, Gresham, Hillsboro, Milwaukie, Lake Oswego, Oregon City, Fairview, Wood Village, Troutdale, Tualatin and Tigard, as well as Vancouver, Washington.

Races in Portland:
White Non-Hispanic (75.5%)
Hispanic (6.8%)
Black (6.6%)
Two or more races (4.1%)
Other race (3.5%)
American Indian (2.3%)
Vietnamese (2.0%)
Chinese (1.4%)
Other Asian (1.3%)
Filipino (0.5%)
Japanese (0.5%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Major Economic Trends Growing industries: hi-tech, metals, transport equipment, printing, retail and service sector Declining industries: lumber/wood, paper, food processing

Below I have included graphs regarding city demographics of Portland, OR.

The Portland-Salem CMSA 's population (Census 2006 est.) had increased since July 2000 because of net domestic migration (an annual average of about 11,975 more native-born residents arriving than leaving), natural change (an annual average of about 15,470 more births than deaths) and net international migration (about 12,860 more foreign-born residents arriving than leaving). Therefore, immigration was the second largest component of population increase, and it accounted directly for nearly one-third (32.9%) of the metro area’s increase over this period.

Sources
Census Bureau
City Data
FAIR: Metro Area Factsheet

[08] Connect Me Now!

2007-10-21T12:28:00.002-07:00

Freeways
The major interstate in OR is the I-5. This runs north and south in California and into Washington state.

The state's interstate freeway system performs a vital function in the movement of people and cargo, with I-5 serving as the backbone for West Coast travel and the I-5/I-405 loop staking claim as the single most important transportation system in the State. The loop functions as the heart of the region's transportation system, connecting major community centers and providing access to National and regional transportation routes. The loop also provides access to the downtown Portland area on both sides of the Willamette River, which is important because downtown Portland serves as the cultural and civic center for the region and is home to about 20 percent of area employers.

Some cities located along or near the I-5 include: Portland, Lake Oswego, Tigard, Salem, Albany, Corvallis, Eugene, Sutherlin, Rosenburg, Grants Pass, Medford, and Ashland.

The I-5 is the preferred transportation corridor for quick north-south travel through Oregon. It is intersected by I-84, which travels east-west along northern Oregon . The length of the I-5 in Oregon is around 312 miles in length, with an estimated driving time of 4 hrs. & 41 minutes.

PDX - Portland International Airport

Terminal Map
Oregon's largest airport is located in Multnomah County. PDX is approximately 9 miles northeast of Portland. PDX services 15 major airlines, with Alaska/Horizon Air offering the most flights. It accounts for 90% passenger travel and over 90% air cargo.

Location: 7000 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97218

The Port of Portland
The Port of Portland was created in 1891. It was created to dredge a shipping channel from Portland to the Pacific Ocean. It owns marine terminals, four airports (Portland International, Hillsboro, Mulino and Troutdale) and seven business parks. By operating the dredge Oregon, it maintains the 40-foot-deep navigation channel on the lower Columbia and Willamette rivers.

Funding is divided among general port operations and aviation. General port operations include marine and industrial development, navigation, engineering, and the administrative divisions. Aviation is comprised of Portland International Airport (PDX) and three general aviation reliever airports located at Hillsboro, Troutdale and Mulino.

Rail
Railroads in OR were built around the 1870s. It allowed the agricultural economy a way to transport products without direct water access.

Portland, OR's Union Station

One way to travel by rail is through Amtrak Cascades. They are European-style trains with service in the Pacific Northwest. Daily service is available from Eugene, Oregon to Vancouver, British Columbia, with three daily round trips between Seattle's King Street Station and Portland's Union Station.

TriMet
Public transportation by bus, streetcar and lightrail is available through TriMet, which encompasses the Portland metro area and includings most of Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties. The most popular bus lines run every 15 minutes or better daily. There is no charge to ride in TriMet's fare-free zone, which includes most of Portland City Center and the Lloyd District. All TriMet service is accessible to people with disabilities.

Live Conditions
To check current road conditions in any location in Oregon, visit Trip Check.

Sources
Amtrak Cascades
TriMet
I-5 ORregon
Port of Portland

[07] Industrial and Commercial Organization

2007-10-21T12:28:00.001-07:00

Lumber & Forestry
OR's major industries are in lumber, wood, timber, forest-product manufacturing. Around one-half the land area of the state is forested, with 40% production in commercial timber. Commercial forests are controlled by 60% public agencies and 40% private owners. The rest of the forest is under preservation, and recreational use.

Lumbering began in the Oregon Country in 1827 at Fort Vancouver. The first sawmill in the Willamette Valley was established by Ewing Young on Chehalem Creek in 1837. Young's mill supplied lumber for incoming settlers. In 1844 Henry Hunt established a mill above Astoria to make lumber for export to California. Later, the gold rush in California created a lucrative market for Oregon mills. By 1849 there were 37 sawmills in operation in the lower Willamette and Columbia region. The huge forest products industry continues to be a major part of Oregon's economy even after its downturn in the 1980s.

Since 1938, Oregon has ranked first in softwood lumber. By the late 20th century only 40% of the forest income was from lumber. Plywood accounts for 1/3rd of the value of forest products. Pulp, paper plants, hardboard, and particleboard plants contribute the remainder.

Fishing & Canning
Due to its situation near the ocean, it also has a large salmon fishing industry. Chinook, pink salmon and shellfish are valuable fishery products. Canning is also prominent in OR.

Commercial salmon fisheries developed in the 1860s, supporting early salmon-canning enterprises in Astoria, Tillamook Bay, Yaquina Bay, and Gold Beach. By the turn of the twentieth century commercial fishing was an important part of the economy of every major coastal town. Sportfishing later joined commercial fishing as an important part of the coastal economy and today it is a mainstay of the economies of Depoe Bay, Newport, Waldport, Florence, Winchester Bay, Gold Beach, and Brookings.

The Northwest salmon-canning industry got its start in 1866, when Hapgood, Hume & Co. built a cannery on the Columbia River at Eagle Cliff, on the Washington side.

By 1881 salmon canning was a major industry in the Pacific Northwest, and Astoria, by now the largest town on the Oregon coast, was its center. At the peak of the salmon canning industry there were thirty-nine canneries along the Columbia, and many others on Oregon's coastal rivers.

Locations of salmon canneries on the Columbia River and Oregon Coast
(click to enlarge)

Metals-related industries are conentrated in the Portland metropolitan area.

High-technology industries are found in Portland and the Willamette Valley.

Nike Retail Servies
The company's beginnings was at the University of Oregon in Eugene. Co-founder Phil Knight attended school there and co-founder Bill Bowerman coached track there.The business partnership began in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports (BRS). In 1972, BRS introduced a new brand of athletic footwear called Nike, named for the Greek winged goddess of victory. The first track star to wear Nike shoes was Steve Prefontaine, who was a native of Coos Bay, Oregon, and ran for the University.

The world headquarters for Nike are in Washington County,Oregon. This is near Beaverton, a suburb of Portland. There are 16 buildings at world headquarters. istribution centers are also operated in Wilsonville, Oregon. Apparel and equipment products are shipped from distribution centers in Tigard, Oregon. Approximately 7,000 work in Oregon at world headquarters, off-campus buildings, the Wilsonville distribution center and various retail venues combined.

The first Niketown opened in Portland, Oregon, in 1990. They employ over 4,000 Nike retail associates in the US and stores have been in operation worldwide since 1984. As of May 31, 2004, Nike had 137 factories in the Americas (including the US).

Stock Symbol: NKE
- became public in Dec 1980
- traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Subsidiaries:
-Nike IHM, Inc. - Oregon based; makes AIR-SOLE cushioning components used in Nike footwear products and sells a low quantities of various plastic products to other manufacturers.
-Cole Haan Holdings, Inc.
-Bauer Hockey
-Hurley International LLC
-Converse, Inc.
-Exeter Brands Group LLC

Other Businesses
According to Oregon Business Magazine, they rated the top 100 businesses to work for in March 2007. In the top 5, most companies are communication-related industries. This list shows the top 5 (out of 100) surveyed large companies (those that have over 250 employees). The methodology used to determine the list are factors such as benefits and compensation, work environment, decision-making and trust, performance management, and career development and learning opportunites.

Company's location (city) and website.

US Cellular
Medford - http://www.uscellular.com/

Microsoft Corporation
Tigard - http://www.microsoft.com/

Qualcomm
Portland - http://www.qualcomm.com/

Carr Auto Group
Beaverton - http://www.carrauto.com/

Edge Wireless LLC
Bend - http://www.edgewireless.com/

Sources
Nike
OregonBusiness.com
Oregon History Project
Encyclopedia Britannica
Oregon Secretary of State Archives Division

[06] Agriculture and Related Industries

2007-10-21T12:27:00.002-07:00

According to the OR Dept of Ag, there are 6 major growing regions in the state.

1 - Coastal Oregon
2 - The Willamette Valley
3 - Southern Oregon
4 - Hood River Valley
5 - The Columbia Basin
6 - Southeast Oregon
Coastal Oregon
The Pacific Ocean provides many sea items like oysters, clams, salmon, bass, and scallops. Dairy farms found along the coast are well known for the cheese they produce. Dairy production is the largest near Tillamook on the north coast. Specialty crops in this region are cranberries and lily bulbs, which flourish due to the mild climate. Cranberries are produced along the south coast near Bandon and Port Orford. Easter Lilies (right)are found in abundance along the southern tip of the coast.

The Willamette Valley
This area runs from Eugene to Portland. This is a diverse area includes over 170 different items including grains, hays, nuts, berries, wines, Christmas trees, dairy, poultry and beef. Many sheep farms reside here, too. The capitol of OR, Salem, is located in this Valley; In the past, many pioneers settled here because of the fertile land. Lumber and farming became the first commercial enterprises as the farmers established saw and grist mills on Mill Creek. The mills were also relied on by neighbors to grind wheat and saw trees off lots.

Southern Oregon
In the hilly and mountainous areas of s. OR, sheep and cattle graze the land. Fruit, potatoes and livestock are also found here. Hood River Valley High quality tree fruits such as apples and pears are grown here. In The Dalles area to the east, there is a vast production of cherries.

The Columbia Basin
About 60% of the wheat production in the state takes place here. Farms here range from 4,000 acres or larger. Crops here include potatoes, alfalfa, wheat, watermelon, carrots, onions, field corn, etc.

Southeast Oregon
The livestock industry dominates this region where there is a low annual rainfall. Major crops include onions, potatoes, and sugar beets.

OR ranks first in production of...
Hazlenuts (filberts) (100% of U.S. production). [pic on right]
Fescue (100% of U.S. production).
Ryegrass (100% of U.S. production).
Blackberries (94% of U.S. production).

**National ranking highlights - 2004**

Sources
Stuff About States.com
Salem: Agricultural Overview
Agriculture in Oregon
ODA

[05] Let's Talk Politics

2007-10-21T12:27:00.001-07:00

OR State Capitol, Salem

State Governor
Theodore R. Kulongoski (D)
Elected in 2002 & reelected 2006
Term expires: January 2011

Senators (Congress)
Gordon Smith (R)
Ron Wyden (D)

House of Representatives (Congress):
Earl Blumenauer (D)
Peter DeFazio (D)
Darlene Hooley (D)
Greg Walden (R)
David Wu (D)

Electoral votes: 7

State Legislature
House: 60 seats
Senate: 30 seats

OR Capitol's House Chamber

Oregon has three branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial.

The Executive branch is composed of six statewide elected officials that administer and manage state agencies. The officials are the Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Attorney General, Commissioner of Labor and Industries, and Superintendent of Public Instruction. The Governor is responsible for submitting a budget to the Legislature covering all state agencies every two years.

The Legislature's main functions are to finance state government, enact laws and provide an area for discussion of public issues. It reviews and revises the proposed budget and passes tax laws to provide revenue. The laws enacted by the Legislature establish state policies that, along with the adopted budget, direct all state agency activity.

The Judicial branch's function is to interpret the actions of the Legislature and state agencies as they relate to the Oregon Constitution. They also deliberate on civil, criminal and governance issues.

Voting Time...
Total Voter Registration, Nov. 2004: 2,141,249
Democratic 829,197 (38.72%)
Republican 761,717 (35.57%)
Non Affiliated 477,682 (22.31%)
Others 72,653 (3.39%)

Oregon has lead a vote-by-mail process. It experimented vote-by-mail in 1981 and became permanent in 1987. It was the first state to hold a Federal primary totally by mail in 1995. In 2000, Oregon was the first state to conduct a presidential election by mail with 80% of the registered voters participating.

36 counties
5 largest counties: Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Lane, Marion.

240 incorp. cities.
5 largest cities: Portland, Eugene, Salem, Gresham, Beaverton.

Counties of OR

Oregon's main political parties are the Democratic and Republican parties. Its minor state parties include the Constitution, Libertarian, and Pacific Green parties.

There are slightly more Democrats registered in OR as of 2000. In the Presidential election of 2004, OR's electoral vote went to Democrat candidate John Kerry.

Below is a breakdown of voter registration (by major political party lines) from 1910 to 2000.

Below is a breakdown of Democat and Republican registered voters by county.

Sources
U.S. Census Bureau
Oregon Secretary of State
Oregon
Welcome to Oregon

[04] Population Factoids Since 1950

2007-09-12T14:03:00.002-07:00

Most people live in the Portland area and Willamette Valley area, especially around Salem and Eugene. The city of Portland had an estimated 539,438 residents in 2002 and the estimated population of Salem was 140,977; Eugene's was 140,395.

Population Trends
1980: 2,633,105
1990: 2,842,321
2000: 3,421,399
2004 estimate: 3,594,586

Percent change, 1990–2000: 20.4%

U.S. rank in 2004: 27th

Percent of residents born in state: 45.3% (2000)

Density: 35.6 people per square mile (2000)

Between 1970 and 1980, the state's net gain from migration was about 341,000; from 1980 to 1983, however, the state suffered a net loss of about 37,000, and from 1985 to 1990, the net migration gain was 123,500. Between 1990 and 1998, Oregon had net gains of 260,000 in domestic migration and 58,000 in international migration. In 1998, 5,909 foreign immigrants arrived in Oregon; of these, the greatest number, 1,879, came from Mexico. The state's overall population increased 15.5% between 1990 and 1998, making it one of the fastest growing states in the nation. In the period 1995–2000, 399,328 people moved into the state and 324,663 moved out, for a net gain of 74,665, many of whom came from California.

Racial and Ethnic Characteristics (2000)
White: 2,961,623
Black or African American: 55,662
American Indian and Alaska Native: 45,211
Asian: 101,350
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 7,976
Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 275,314
Other: 144,832

About 55,662 blacks were estimated to live in Oregon in 2000, up from 46,000 in 1990; most blacks reside in the Portland area. In 2000, Hispanics and Latinos numbered about 275,314, or 8% of the state total population, up from 113,000 in 1990. In the same year Asians numbered 101,350. There were 20,930 Chinese, 12,131 Japanese, 12,387 Koreans, 10,627 Filipinos, 18,890 Vietnamese (up from 8,130 in 1990), 9,575 Asian Indians (more than triple the 1990 population of 2,726), and 4,392 Laotians. Pacific Islanders numbered 7,976.

Age Characteristics (2000)
Population under 5 years old: 223,005
Population 5 to 19 years old: 720,999
Percent of population 65 years and over: 12.8%
Median age: 36.3 years (2000)

Vital Statistics
Total number of births (2003): 45,911
Total number of deaths (2003): 30,973 (infant deaths, 270)

Religion
Oregon has a high proportion of religiously-unaffiliated and self-identified "nonreligious" residents. 1.2% of Oregonians describe themselves as and 17% of Oregonians classify themselves as "nonreligious". The largest religion in OR is Christianity. Most people are part of the Catcholic Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Sources
http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-West/Oregon.html

[03] Who Settled in OR pre-1950?

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Natives
The first peoples to inhabit the area were nomadic hunter-gatherers that lived in small bands. Native tribes that settled in Oregon include the Chinook (pic to right), Tillamooks, and Nez Perce (to name some familiar ones). The ones on the coast took part in fishing activities where food was stored and harvested in summer and fall. The Chinookans carved canoes and made wooden spirit figures at grave sites. The Tututni and Chetco of the south coast bartered for raw materials. Western Oregon Indians had connections of trade and commerce reaching into northern California and to coastal Washington and British Columbia. They were involved in the flow of dentalium shells, elk hide armor, slaves, and surplus foods. Their lifeways echoed the strong traditions of art, ceremony, social class distinction, emphasis on wealth that ran for hundreds of miles along the North Pacific Coast.

The people living between the Cascades and Rocky Mountains fished, gathered fruit, and hunted deer and elk. They had to rely on seasonal migration between rivers and upland areas. Their environment included summers that were hot and windy and winters that were cold and windy. Women picked berries in the nearby mountains and men ran down deer in the snow to secure meat and hides for clothing and moccasins. They dipped, clubbed, netted, and speared salmon and wind-dried them in curing sheds along the river.

The peoples of the Great Basin traveled in extended family groups or as bands for communal hunts. Great Basin residents had a mixed economy. They hunted, fished, trapped, dug, and picked food resources. They moved based on the seasons to search for subsistence.

Nez Perce Tribe

The first official recorded visit of the Oregon coast is in 1792 by Robert Gray. He was an American trading captain who came upon the Columbia River. His find was further investigated by William Broughton, a British Army lieutenant. He sailed up the Columbia River George. Eventually, a fur trade grew in the area between American and British entrepreneurs and native peoples. Such things they traded were beaver and sea-otter pelts, tools, weapons, and cloth.

By 1805, Lewis and Clark explored the area and found the site of present day Astoria. After their journey, many white pioneers (fur trappers and traders) came to claim the land for the US. Around the 1840s, many people began to pour into OR. Pioneers came from the east coast Border States and merchants came by ship lead to the population explosion that lead to the development of the OR Territory in 1848 and eventually statehood.

The British Hudson's Bay Company, led by Dr. John McLoughlin, became the dominant force in the economy. This fur-trading company directed activities throughout the region and built the original capital of the Oregon Territory in Oregon City at the northern end of the Willamette Valley. In 1846, the British renounced claims in the area when signing the Oregon Treaty.

A major migration into the area happened in 1843 when pioneers traveled the Oregon Trail to settle in the Wullamette Valley. They depended on agriculture to make a living and wheat became a staple. In 1851, US surveyors divided the land into townships. This land measures 6 miles on each side, divded up into 36 sections, and each section had 640 acres.

In the 1870s, railroads were extended into the state. Waterway use became ineffective because of the availability of transport over the land. When automobiles were manufactured, the urban growth of the state began. Because of Oregon’s lush forestry, the logging industry came and the majority of logging activities take place in the state to provide for the rest of the country.

Sources
History of Oregon
Oregon Blue Book
General Oregon State History
Travel Guide: Fodor's Pacific Northwest

[02] Physical Landscape

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Physiography
There are 6 major areas in OR: the Coast Range, the Willamette Lowland, the Cascade Mountains, the Klamath Mountains, the Columbia Plateau, and the Basin and Range Region.

The Coast Range runs from north to south along the Pacific Ocean. Oregon has over 400 miles of public coastline. Its terrain varies from cliffs to forests to sharah-like dunes and sandy beaches. There are many lighthouses, coastal lakes, & state parks loacted on the coast. The mountains are covered with spruce, fir and hemlock. The average mountaintop in the Coast Range rises less than 2,000 feet above sea level. Along the coast, cliffs rise almost 1,000 feet high over the Pacific Ocean.

**About 1/10 of the nation's timber resides in the state of Oregon and it leads in lumber production in the states.

The Willamette Lowlands are a narrow strip of land to the east of the Coast Range along the Willamette River. The Willamette River flows north into the Columbia River. The soil is rich in the Willamette Lowlands and the climate is mild.

To the east of the Willamette Lowlands, the Cascade Mountains rise 11,239 feet above sea level (Mount Hood). Many of the nation's highest peaks can be found here. Other high peaks include Mt. Jefferson at 10,497 feet above sea level, Three Sisters, over 10,000 feet above sea level, and Mount McLoughlin, 9,495 feet high. Many lakes can be found in the Cascade Mountains, such as Crater Lake (Pic on right).

The Klamath Mountains (pic below) are located in the southwest and they are covered by dense forests.

Most of eastern Oregon is the Columbia Plateau. The Columbia Plateau (pic on right) was formed by lava flowing from cracks in the earth's crust. Many wheat farms are found here. Much of the Columbia Plateau is quite rugged, and mountains such as the Blue Mountains and the Wallowa Mountains rise in the northeast. On the Oregon/Idaho border the Snake River has cut Hells Canyon deep into the earth. The average depth of this gorge, located between the Wallowa Mountains and the Seven Devils Mountains in Idaho, is 5,500 feet.

The Basin and Range region is located in southeastern Oregon, marked by high basins and a few steep mountains. It is mainly characterized by semi-desert conditions.

Above info provided by NETSTATE.

Climate
States in the Paficic Northwest have a reputation for quickly changing weather patterns. Oregon's is known for having rainy conditions, especially during the winter. However, that is not always the case during the other parts of the year.

Oregon's average yearly precipitation, from 1961 to 1990, is detailed by Oregon State University. (click to enlarge)

Western Oregon experiences mild winters due to moist, mild ocean winds. Its summers are also mild, with the west and central area cooler than the rest of the state. Summers are usually mild and warm. Precipitation various throughout the state. Normally, the southeast is dry and the west gets rains.

Much of the state is considered a desert, and the area west of the Cascades gets the most rain. Beginning on the east end, Oregon begins as a high, sage-scented desert plateau that covers 2/3rds of the state. Moving west, Oregon's landscape rises to alpine peaks, meadows, and lakes; plunges to fertile farmland and forest; then ends up at the cold Pacific Ocean.

Mean temperatures average 38 degrees in January, near 67 degrees in July. Cooler summer temperatures are common in the east and southeast, and in the Cascade Mountains. It's a bit warmer than normal in the southwestern corner of the state. (World Atlas.com)

Average highs and lows for selected OR cities

http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-oregon/

Precipitation amounts vary from 8 inches annually in the drier plateau regions east of the Cascades, to as much as 200 inches in the higher elevations of the Coast Range mountains. Snow amounts approach 350 to 550 inches annually in the Cascades. (World Atlas.com)

Check out current weather conditions in:

For a more detailed report on OR's climate, visit Oregon Climate Service.

[01] About the Beaver State

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Outline of the state of OR
395 miles wide (east to west at widest point)295 miles in length (north to south at longest distance)

Capital
Salem

Largest City
Portland (City of Roses)

Statehood
February 14, 1859 (33rd state)
**notice something peculiar about the date? Valentine's Day!**

Timezone
Pacific Standard/Daylight Time

Flag
Oregon is the only state with a double-sided flag. Its colors are navy gold and blue, representative of Oregon's state colors. The 33 stars on the front of the flag represent the number of states at the time of statehood admission. Ships are representative of trade and the eagle is a symbol of the United States. The back has a beaver, which is Oregon's state animal.

State Name Origin:
The exact name origins of Oregon are unknown, but there are several beliefs on how it came to be.

It is believed to come from the French Canadian word "ouragan" meaning "storm" or hurricane" or possibly the Spanish word "orejon" meaning "big-ear" or the Spanish word "oregano" for the wild sage that grows in the eastern part of the state.

... According to SHG Resources ...

The first written record of the name "Oregon" comes to us from a 1765 proposal for a journey written by Major Robert Rogers, an English army officer. It reads, "The rout... is from the Great Lakes towards the Head of the Mississippi, and from thence to the River called by the Indians Ouragon. ..." His proposal rejected, Rogers reapplied in 1772, using the spelling "Ourigan."

The first printed use of the current spelling appeared in Captain Jonathan Carver's 1778 book, "Travels Through the Interior Parts of North America 1766, 1767 and 1768." He listed the four great rivers of the continent, including "the River of Oregon, or the River of the West, that falls into the Pacific Ocean at the Straits of Annian."

Historians say Oregon was most likely named after one of two rivers. The Columbia River, which forms a coastline along the northern border, was at one time called the Oregon or Ouragan, which is French for hurricane. Others believe the name was derived from a mapmaker's error in the 1700s. The Wisconsin River was named the Ouisconsink and was picked up by travelers referring to the country west of the Great Lakes as Ourigan.

Population
2006 estimate: 3,700,758 (US Census)

Size
Land area: approx. 95,997 sq miles

Location
Coordinates: 44.924N, 123.022W

Geographic Center: approx 25 miles to the southeast of Prineville, in Crook County

Highest Point: Mount Hood @ 11,239 ft.
Lowest Point: Sea Level on Pacific Coast

# of Counties: 36

Deepest Lake in the US: Crater Lake (Klamath County). Depth of 1,932 feet.

State...
Motto: "She flies with her own wings."

Animal: Beaver

Fish: Chinook salmon

The State Quarter

Oregon was the 3rd quarter to be released in 2005. The coin shows off Crater Lake, and it includes Wizard Island and Watchman and Hillman Peaks on the lake’s rim and conifers.

Other Interesting Facts
1. Oregon has more ghost towns than any other state.

2. Oregon and New Jersey are the only states without self-serve gas stations.

3. Eugene was the first city to have one-way streets.

4. At 329 feet, the Coast Douglas-Fir in Oregon is considered the tallest tree in the state.

5. At 8,000 feet deep, Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America.

6. The hazelnut is Oregon's official state nut. Oregon is the only state that has an official state nut. The hazelnut is also known as the filbert.

7. The nation's most photographed lighthouse is the Heceta Head Lighthouse located in Lane County.

8. Tillamook is home to Oregon's largest cheese factory.

9. The Columbia River forms most of the northern border between Oregon and Washington. The Snake River forms over half of the eastern boundary with Idaho.

More facts can be found at 50 States Facts