Oregon
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.
| Capital | Salem |
|---|---|
| Nickname | The Beaver State |
| Official Language | English |
| Governor | Ted Kulongoski, D |
| Senator | Jeff Merkley, D (202) 224-3753 Contact |
| Senator | Ron Wyden, D (202) 224-5244 Contact |
| Ratification of Constitution/or statehood | February 14, 1859 (33rd) |
| Flag of Oregon | Motto: "She Flies with Her Own Wings" |
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History
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.
Population
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 of Portland and Eugene generally support environmentalism.
Since 2007, Oregon has offered domestic partnerships, which are similiar to same sex marriage[1]
Oregon is the birthplace of guitarist Eddie Vedder, author Lance Goldman, and quarterback Harry Sheilds.
Elected Officials
- Senator Gordon Smith
- Senator Ron Wyden
Further reading
- Abbott, Carl. Greater Portland: Urban Life and Landscape in the Pacific Northwest. (2001). 242 pp. by a leading historian
- Allan, Stuart; Buckley, Aileen R.; and Meacham,
James E. Atlas of Oregon. (1976). 301 pp.
- Bataille, Connie Hopkins. The Oregon Book: Information A to Z. (1998). 677 pp.
- Carlson, Laurie Winn. On Sidesaddles to Heaven: The Women of the Rocky Mountain Mission. (1998). 253 pp.
- Douthit, Nathan. A Guide to Oregon South Coast History: Traveling the Jedediah Smith Trail. (1999). 224 pp.
- Drukman, Mason. Wayne Morse: A Political Biography. (1997). 545 pp. liberal senator in 1950s
- Gilmore, Janet C. The World of the Oregon Fishboat: A Study in
Maritime Folklife. (1986). 271 pp.
- Haarsager, Sandra. Organized Womanhood: Cultural Politics in the Pacific Northwest, 1840-1920. (1997). 427 pp.
- Lang, William L. and Carriker, Robert C., eds. Great River of the West: Essays on the Columbia (1999). 181 pp.
- Murrell, Gary. Iron Pants: Oregon's Anti-New Deal Governor,
Charles Henry Martin. (2000). 228 pp.
- Robbins, William G. Landscapes of Promise: The Oregon Story, 1800-1940. (1997). 392 pp. history of the state
- Robinson, Thomas; Gifford, Benjamin and Terrill,
Steve, photographer. Oregon Then and Now. (2000). 192 pp. photo history
- Shirley, Gayle. More Than Petticoats: Remarkable Oregon Women. (1998). 139 pp., popular
References
See Also