Changes

[[Image:Oregon_State_Flag_(Back).gif|thumb|right|The back of the state flag of Oregon.]]

[[Image:Oregon_State_Flag_(Back).gif|thumb|right|The back of the state flag of Oregon.]]

'''Oregon''' is a state in the western United States. Its capital is Salem and largest city is Portland. Oregon became the 33rd state on Feb. 14, 1859.

'''Oregon''' is a liberal, rainy state in the western United States. Its capital is Salem and largest city is Portland. Oregon became the 33rd state on Feb. 14, 1859.

 

Oregon was originally settled by many Native Americans before the [[Lewis and Clark]] expedition brought greater attention to the area from the United States and Britain.  The British had control of the majority of the territory until the Oregon Trail started in the 1840s and American settlers began moving in.  Eventually, the land was ceded to the United States in the resolution of a boundary dispute.

Oregon was originally settled by many Native Americans before the [[Lewis and Clark]] expedition brought greater attention to the area from the United States and Britain.  The British had control of the majority of the territory until the Oregon Trail started in the 1840s and American settlers began moving in.  Eventually, the land was ceded to the United States in the resolution of a boundary dispute.

 

The people in Oregon are concentrated in the fertile Willamette Valley from [[Portland]] to Eugene.  The Cascade mountains divide the state into wet and dry halves, much like neighboring Washington State, but Eastern Oregon lacks the irrigation works of the Columbia basin and much more resembles Nevada.  Oregon supports a significant [[logging]] industry, largely concentrated in the western half of the state.

The population is concentrated in the fertile Willamette Valley from [[Portland]] to Eugene.  The Cascade mountains divide the state into wet and dry halves, much like neighboring Washington State, but Eastern Oregon lacks the irrigation works of the Columbia basin and much more resembles Nevada.  Oregon supports a significant [[logging]] industry, largely concentrated in the western half of the state. Environmental restrictions have seveley hurt the industry, producing conservative opinions inland, but the liberal cities generally support environmentalism.

Since 2007, Oregon has offered [[domestic partnership]]s, which are similiar to [[same sex marriage]]<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/domestic-partnership-in-the-united-states Answers.com]</ref>

Since 2007, Oregon has offered [[domestic partnership]]s, which are similiar to [[same sex marriage]]<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/domestic-partnership-in-the-united-states Answers.com]</ref>