Oregon Details

Oregon is a state located in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. It is bordered by Washington to the north, Idaho to the east, Nevada and California to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west. This state has a total land area of 95,997 sq mi. (248,632 sq km) and an estimated total population of 3,421,399.

The origin of the name Oregon is still unknown. Some reports say that the term Oregon was first used by Jonathan Carver on 1778 and was originally taken from the writings of Major Robert Rogers, an English army officer who traveled through Columbia River. This state is also called the Beaver State. It became the 33rd member of the confederate in February 14, 1859.

History references claim that the Spanish and English sailors were the first to set foot in this state sometime in the 1500s and 1600s. This was followed by another group of explorers led by Capt. James Cook who were looking for the Northwest Passage. Capt. Cook’s team arrived in 1778 and claimed the area for the US.

Oregon boasts of $3.3 billion and wood products industry. It also has an extensive paper and allied manufacturing industry as well as salmon-fishing industry. It is also a leading provider of manufactured items such as lumber and plywood, metalwork, machinery, aluminum, chemicals, paper, food packing and electronic equipment. This state is a leading producer of peppermint, cover seed crops, blackberries and hazelnuts. It also supplies hops, red raspberries, prunes, snap beans and onions.

Major attractions in Oregon include Crater Lake National Park, Mount Hood, and Bonneville Dam on the Columbia. Other points of interest include the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Oregon Caves National Monument, Cape Perpetua in Siuslaw National Forest, Columbia River Gorge between The Dalles and Troutdale, Hells Canyon, Newberry Volcanic National Monument, and John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.

The state capital of Oregon is Salem which has an estimated population of 154,510 as of July 1, 2008. Its largest and most populated city is Portland which has a population of 575,930 (2008 estimate).

Residents of Oregon are called Oregonians. Its state animal is the beaver.