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Oregon
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Origin of Name: 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 Oregon, or the River of the West, that falls into the
Pacific Ocean at the Straits of Annian." |
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Abbreviations |
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Altitudes |
Highest: Mt. Hood (11239')
Lowest: Pacific Ocean (sea level) |
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Animal, State
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The American Beaver (Castor canadensis) was named Oregon
state animal by the 1969 Legislature. Prized for its fur, the beaver was
overtrapped by early settlers and eliminated from much of its original
range. Through proper management and partial protection, the beaver has
been reestablished in watercourses throughout the state and remains an
important economic asset. The beaver has been referred to as "nature's
engineer," and its dam-building activities are important to natural
water flow and erosion control. Oregon is known as the "Beaver State"
and Oregon State University's athletic teams are called the "Beavers." |
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Awards (Nobel, Pulitzer)
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1934 - Medford Mail Tribune - Pulitzer, Journalism
1939 - Ronald Callvert, The Oregonian - Pulitzer, Editorial Writing
1954 - Linus Pauling - Nobel, Chemistry
1957 - Wallace Turner and William Lambert, The Oregonian - Pulitzer,
Reporting (No Edition Time)
1962 - Linus Pauling - Nobel, Peace |
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Bird, State
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The Western Meadowlark (Sturnella
neglecta) was chosen state bird in 1927 by Oregon's school children in
a poll sponsored by the Oregon Audubon Society. Native throughout western
North America, the bird has brown plumage with buff and black markings.
Its underside is bright yellow with a black crescent on the breast; its
outer tail feathers are mainly white and are easily visible when it flies.
The Western Meadowlark is known for its distinctive and beautiful song. |
| Borders and Boundaries |
Washington on north (1853)
California on south (1819)
Idaho on east (1863)
Pacific Ocean on west
Nevada on southeast |
| Counties, Total |
36 |
| Dance, State |
In 1977 the Legislature declared the
Square Dance to be the official state dance. The dance is a combination
of various steps and figures danced with four couples grouped in a square.
The pioneer origins of the dance and the characteristic dress are deemed
to reflect Oregon's heritage; the lively spirit of the dance exemplifies
the friendly, free nature and enthusiasm that are a part of the Oregon Character. |
Father of Oregon |
The 1957 Legislature bestowed
upon Dr. John McLoughlin the honorary title of "Father of Oregon"
in recognition of his great contributions to the early development of the
Oregon Country. Dr. McLoughlin originally came to the Northwest region in
1824 as a representative of the Hudson's Bay Company. |
Fish, State
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The Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), also known
as spring, king and tyee salmon, is the largest of the Pacific salmons and
the most highly prized for the fresh fish trade. Declared state fish by
the 1961 Oregon Legislature, the Chinook Salmon is found from southern California
to the Canadian Arctic. Record catches of 53 inches and 126 pounds have
been reported. |
Flag, State
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The Oregon state flag, adopted in 1925, is navy blue with
gold lettering and symbols. Blue and gold are the state colors. On the flag's
face the legend "STATE OF OREGON" is written above a shield which
is surrounded by 33 stars. Below the shield, which is part of the state
seal, is written "1859," the year of Oregon's admission to the
union as the 33rd state. The flag's reverse side depicts a beaver. Oregon
has the distinction of being the only state in the union whose flag has
a different pattern on the reverse side. The dress or parade flag has a
gold fringe, and the utility flag has a plain border. |
| Flower, State |
The Legislature designated the Oregon Grape (Berberis aquifolium)
as the Oregon state flower by resolution in 1899. A low growing plant, the
Oregon Grape is native to much of the Pacific Coast and is found sparsely
east of the Cascades. Its year-round foliage of pinnated, waxy green leaves
resembles holly. The plant bears dainty yellow flowers in early summer and
a dark blue berry that ripens late in the fall. The fruit can be used in
cooking. |
Gemstone, State
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The 1987 Legislature designated the
Oregon sunstone as the official state gemstone. Uncommon in its composition,
clarity, and colors, it is a large, brightly colored transparent gem in
the feldspar family. The Oregon sunstone attracts collectors and miners
and has been identified as a boon to tourism and economic development in
southeastern Oregon counties. |
Insect, State
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In 1979 the Legislature designated
the Oregon Swallowtail (Papilio oregonius) as Oregon's official insect.
A true native of the Northwest, the Oregon Swallowtail is at home in the
lower sagebrush canyons of the Columbia River and its tributaries, including
the Snake River drainage. This strikingly beautiful butterfly, predominantly
yellow, is a wary, strong flier not easily captured. |
| Lake, Deepest |
Crater Lake - 1932' (deepest in U.S.) |
| Lakes, Total |
Approximately 1772 |
Lighthouses
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Cape Arago Lighthouse - Coos Bay
Cape Blanco Lighthouse - Port Orford
Cape Meares Lighthouse - Tillamook
Cleft of the Rock Lighthouse - Yachats (privately-owned, not open to the
public)
Coquille River Lighthouse - Bandon
Heceta Head Lighthouse - Florence
Tillamook Rock Lighthouse - Cannon Beach
Umpqua River Lighthouse - Reedsport
Yaquina Bay Lighthouse - Newport
Yacquina Head Lighthouse - Newport |
Mother of Oregon
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Honored by the 1987 Legislature as
Mother of Oregon, Tabitha Moffatt Brown "represents the distinctive
pioneer heritage and the charitable and compassionate nature of Oregon's
people." At 66 years of age, she financed her own wagon for the trip
from Missouri to Oregon. The boarding school for orphans that she established
later became known as Tualatin Academy and eventually was chartered as Pacific
University. |
Motto, State
More information about our motto. |
"She Flies With Her Own Wings" was adopted by the
1987 Legislature as the state motto. The phrase originated with Judge Jessie
Quinn Thornton and was pictured on the territorial seal in Latin: Alis Volat
Propiis. The new motto replaces "The Union," which was adopted
in 1957. |
| National Forests |
Deschutes, Fremont, Malheur, Mount
Hood, Ochoco, Rogue River, Siskiyou, Siuslaw, Umatilla, Umpqua, Wallowa-Whitman,
Willamette, Winema |
| National Park |
Crater Lake National Park |
| National Trail |
Historic - Oregon Trail:
Length: 2170 miles
From Independence, Missouri to the Willamette Valley, Oregon
States the trail passes through: Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho,
Oregon |
Native Americans
Click here to read more information about Indian tribes.
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9
federally-recognized tribes:
Burns Paiute Tribe
Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians
Coquille Indian Tribe
Cow Creak Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians
Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community
Klamath Tribes
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation |
| Nut, State |
The hazelnut (Corylus avellana) was named state
nut by the 1989 Legislature. Oregon grows 99 percent of the entire U.S.
commercial crop. The Oregon hazelnut, unlike wild varieties, grows on single-trunked
trees up to 30 or 40 feet tall. Adding a unique texture and flavor to recipes
and products, hazelnuts are preferred by chefs, bakers, confectioners, food
manufacturers and homemakers worldwide. |
| Precipitation, Record |
Maximum:
(24 hours, through 1998)
Measured at Elk River Fish Hatchery near Port Orford: 11.65", 11/19/96.
Average yearly precipitation at Salem: 39.16" |
Rock, State
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The Thunder-egg (geode)
was named state rock by the 1965 Legislature after rockhounds throughout
Oregon voted it first choice. Thundereggs range in diameter from less than
one inch to over four feet. Nondescript on the outside, they reveal exquisite
designs in a wide range of colors when cut and polished. They are found
chiefly in Crook, Jefferson, Malheur, Wasco and Wheeler counties.
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| Song, State |
J.A. Buchanan of Astoria
and Henry B. Murtagh of Portland wrote "Oregon, My Oregon," in
1920. With this song, Buchanan and Murtagh won a statewide competition sponsored
by the Society of Oregon Composers, gaining statewide recognition. The song
became the official state song in 1927. View state song (94k). |
Seal, State
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The state seal consists of an escutcheon, or shield,
supported by 33 stars and divided by an ordinary, or ribbon, with the inscription
"The Union". Above the ordinary are the mountains and forests
of Oregon, an elk with branching antlers, a covered wagon and ox team, the
Pacific Ocean with setting sun, a departing British man-of-war signifying
the departure of British influence in the region and an arriving American
merchant ship signifying the rise of American power. Below the ordinary
is a quartering with a sheaf of wheat, plow and pickax, which represent
Oregon's mining and agricultural resources. The crest is the American Eagle.
Around the perimeter of the seal is the legend "State of Oregon 1859".
A resolution adopted by the Constitutional Convention in session on September
17, 1857, authorized the president to appoint a committee of three--Benjamin
F. Burch, L.F. Grover and James K. Kelly--to report on a proper device for
the seal of the state of Oregon. Harvey Gordon created a draft, to which
the committee recommended certain additions that are all incorporated in
the state seal. |
Tree, State
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The Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga
menziesii), named for David Douglas, a 19th century Scottish botanist, was
designated state tree in 1939. Great strength, stiffness and moderate weight
make it an invaluable timber product said to be stronger than concrete.
Averaging up to 200' in height and six feet in diameter, heights of 325'
and diameters of 15' can also be found. |
| Waterfall, Highest |
Multnomah Falls - 620' |