A fact about the state of Oregon for each letter of the alphabet.
OREGON FROM A TO Z
Click on highlighted word for more information.
APRIL 2009
A fact about the state of Oregon for each letter of the alphabet.
OREGON FROM A TO Z
Click on highlighted word for more information.
A IS FOR AGRICULTURE & ARCHEOLOGY
AGRICULTURE has been a part of the economy in Oregon for more than a century. Information about it is provided the
The Oregon Department of Agriculture The
State Soil is
Jory. The state leads in growing Christmas trees, peppermint, grass seeds, hazelnuts, & a variety of berries. It is the only state to have a State Nut - the
Hazelnut. It is 2nd in raising hops, red raspberries, prunes, snap beans, & onions. Milk is the State Beverage, pear is the State fruit, and the
Pacific Golden chanterelle is the State Mushroom. There is a
State Fair & many County Fairs.Oregon has
4-H Clubs and
Future Farmers of America groups. The
National Agriculture Statistic Service has agriculture information.
Oregon celebrates
ARCHEOLOGY Month. The state protects
archeological sites.. A recently discovered
site on the coast appears to be 10,000 years old. The
Limpy Creek archaeology site appears to be the remains of a small Indian village.
Oregon has many
BEACHES including historic beaches. Many of the
coastal beaches are monitored. A variety of items are found on the beaches including
shells, sand dollars, & fossils. The
Hairy Triton is the state shell.
Many species of
BIRDS are found throughout Oregon and
birdwatching is popular. The
State Bird is the Western Meadowlark. The village of Bickelton is filled with bluebird houses on the posts of every house. Some birds are
endangered.
Oregon has many
BRIDGES including
Historic Bridges and
Suspension Bridges. At one time Oregon had 500
Covered Bridges. Today 51 remain and there is a
Covered Bridge Festival in Stayton. Ten bridges span the river in Portland & it is sometimes called the "City of Bridges".
Salem is the
CAPITOL of Oregon. Earlier capitals include Oregon City and Corvallis.
Florence is known as the Rhododendron capital of the state. The
Hood River is called the Wind Surfing Capital of the world.
All forms of
COMMUNICATIONS are available throughout Oregon including newspapers, magazines, radio, television, telephone, and Internet. The state has several telephone
area codes. There are many
Web Cams , and
Internet service is available throughout the state.
Oregon has 36
COUNTIES. The largest county is
Harney & Multnomah is the smallest county.
Wheeler has the largest population &
Multnomah has the smallest. The term
county is the level of
local government below the state itself. The state govenment is modeled on the Federal government.
Oregon has many
DAMS including
hydroelectric dams. The
John Day Dam is one of the largest hydro projects in the country. The
Bonneville Lock & Dam spans the Columbia river linking Oregon and Washington. The
US Department of Reclamation and the
Army Corps of Engineers has Dam projects in Oregon, and the state has a
Dam Safety Program. Alternate forms of
energy are used including
Solar Power and
Wind Power.
The State DANCE of Oregon is the
Square Dance. The State Song is "Oregon, My Oregon".
Evidence of the DINOSAURS has been found in Oregon including the
Hadrosaur and
others. The State Fossil is
Eocene.The
JohnDay Fossil Beds National Monument protects 3 fossil fields.
EARTHQUAKES in Oregon are usually small in size but can cause considerable damage. In 1770 a big
earthquake and accomanying
tsunami hit the coast of Oregon. Information about
earthquakes in Oregon is provided by USGS.
The
Department of EDUCATION oversees public education in Oregon. It is provided free and is mandatory for any child age 7-18. The State also has
private schools that are required to comply with state standards and regulations. Information about schools is available from
GreatSchools and
SchoolBug.
A variety of
EVENTS and
festivals & celebrations are held throughout Oregon during the year. There are also
Arts & Crafts Shows. The state observes
State & Federal Holidays.
Many species of
FISH are found in lakes, rivers, & coastal waters of Oregon, and
fishing is a popular activity. The Oregon State Fish is the
Chinook Salmon. Oregon has many
Fish Hatcheries.
The Oregon
State FLAG is the only flag to have different design on each side. Some counties have a flag, and some
Native American Tribes have a flag. The
State Seal is a shield surrounded by the legend "State of Oregon 1859". The
State Motto is "She Flies With Her Own Wings.
Oregon has
FOOD Festivals, Shows, and events.
The timeline of Oregon food reflects its geography, people, and history. Oregon has several
edible state symbols The state produces 98% of the hazelnuts in the country.
Oregon Food Bank has a network of 915 hunger-relief agencies throughout Oregon and Clark County, Wash.
FORESTS cover more than 40% of the land in Oregon, and for many years it has been the largest producer of lumber in the country. The state has over a dozen
National Forests. Ocassionally there is a
Wildfire. The state has 35 species of broadleaf trees native to the state, and 30 species of confers. The largest
Sitka Spruce in the country is in Oregon. The
State Tree is the Douglas Fir. Oregon has both
State & National Champion Trees. The
World Forestry Center is in Portland. The
H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest is one of the largest long-term ecological research sites in the country.
The
GEOLOGY of Oregon is highly diverse with 9 geologic areas. The
US Geological Survey has programs in Oregon and provides information about geology in the state.
Haystack Rock off Cannon Beach is the third largest coastal monolith in the world. Several
minerals are mined in Oregon including gold, copper, zinc, nickle, sand, gravel, & crushed stone. Oregon has several gemstones including agate, obsidian, & hydrolite. The State gemstone is the
Oregon Sunstone, and the State Rock is the
Thunderegg. The
Oregon Department of Geology & Minerals Industry monitors the production of oil & gas in the state.
Oregon has more
GHOST TOWNS than any other state.
Andrews has 3 remaining buildings.
Boyd has a few abandoned buildings, some homes & a mill.
Condon has a population of over 600 and has several businesses.
Kent has a cemetary and a few buildings.
Mabel has many buildings.
Richmond has a few buildings.
The
GLOBAL POSITION of Oregon is approximately 42-46 degrees north and 116-124 degrees south. The state is located in the northwest corner of the contiguous
United States. The geographic center of Oregon is in Crook County. Southeast Oregon is part of the
Great Basin. NOAA provides information about the
topography of the state.
Geocaching is a popular game using a global positioning finder, and there are many
geocaches in Oregon.
Many
HISTORIC SITES in Oregon are on the National Register of Historic Places. The
National Trust helps protect historic places in the state. The state has
historic sites, parks, trails, & intrepretive centers
The
HISTORY of Oregon dates back thousands of years when the
Clovis Culture inhabited the Northwest. \
Recorded history began in the 1543. Oregon participates in
National History Day.
Oregon has a variety of
INDUSTRIES. The
salmon-fishing industry is one of the largest in the world. Nike shoes were developed in Oregon.
Oregon has many
ISLANDS both off the coast & in lakes.
Wizard Island is in Crater Lake.
Hayden Island is on the Columbia River.
JAZZ Festivals are held in several places throughout Oregon.
Jazz Clubs are located throughout the state. Many other
musical events are held each year. Many cities have
Opera Companies and
Bands & Orchestras.
Oregon has
KARST and caves. The state has 3
Show Caves. Seal Lion Caves is the largest sea cave in the world. The caves in Oregon Caves National Monument are carved within solid marble and have many rare animals. The
National Speleological Society has chapters in Oregon that provide information about caving. The National Park Service has a
Cave and Karst Program.
Many aspects of life in Oregon focus on KIDS, and the state has a
Kids Page. The Department of Fish & Wildlife has a
Kids Page about Oregon wildlife. NOAA has a
Kids Page about the weather. AG in the Classroom has a
Kids Page about agriculture in the state. Kids on wagon trains going to Oregon often made their own toys. One was a
pinwheel.
Oregon has many
LAKES and reservoirs.
Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the country and is formed in the remains of an ancient volcano.
Malheur Lake is the largest natural lake in the state tho its size varies because of evaporation & rainfall. The largest lake in the state is
Upper Klamath Lake. Some lakes in Oregon are salty and dry up in the summer.
Public, Academic, & Special
LIBRARIES are located throughout Oregon. Most of them have internet access & special programs, and some have bookmobiles. The
State Library is in Salem.
Oregon has at least 12
LIGHTHOUSES. Most are off the coast of Oregon & 1 is on the Columbia River. The first lighthouse was built at the point where the Umpqua River meets the Pacific Ocean. Some are designated historic monuments.
Heceta Head Lighthouse is the most photographed lighthouse in the country. The most important aspect of a
lighthouse is the light that comes from the tower.
Oregon has
MOUNTAINS and Mountain Ranges. The
Cascade Range cuts the state in two but roads thru passes link the western & eastern parts.
MUSEUMS are located throughout Oregon including
Art Museums and
Historical Museums. The Carousel Museum has the largest collection of carousel horses in the world. The
Paul Jensen Arctic Museum is the only museum on the west coast dedicated to arctic culture.
The first residents of Oregon were several NATIVE AMERICAN tribes including the Bannock, Chinook, Klamath, & Nez Perce. The state has 9 Federally recognized
Tribes and several
Reservations. Many Powwows are held during the year. There are several
Casinos and several tribes have their own license plates.
Oregon has 4
OBSERVATORIES. The
Pine Mountain Observatory has special events & materials for teachers & students. The observatory at
Sun River has star parties. The state also has 4
planetariums. Most offer classes as well as programs for the general public. Oregon also has several
astronomical societies. Many places observe
Astronomy Day.
Oregon is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west - the lowest point in the state. Idaho is to the east, California is to the south, & Washington is to the north. The USGS provides information about why the ocean is
Salty.
Oregon has a
POPULATION of nearly 4 million people and they are called Oregonians. Many
well-known people have called Oregon their home including
Beverly Cleary, author; Linus Pauling Nobel Prize winner, and
Chief Joseph, Native American Leader. To celebrate its Scandinavian heritage, downtown
Junction City is transformed into an old-world village every summer. German Americans & others enjoy
Octoberfest in Mount Angel & the Sauerkraut Festival in St. Helen's. Portland has a Greek Festival & an African Festival. An Asian celebration is held in Eugene.
There are several
PORTS along the coast of Oregon that operate shipping terminals, and build & operate marinas, docks, and recreational facilities. There are also ports along the
lower Columbia River.
A QUARTER was issued by the
U.S. Mint for each state according to its admission date. Oregon was admitted to the union in 1859
and a quarter was issued in its honor in 2005. The U.S. Mint has a special
Kids Page.
The governor of the Oregon has a special
QUIZ. Take a
map quiz about the state. Take a quiz about
little known places in Oregon
Oregon is home to many species of
REPTILES and amphibians including turtles, lizards, salamders, frogs & 15 species of snakes including the poisonous Western Rattlesnake.
Oregon has hundreds of
RIVERS and many tributaries. The
Columbia River forms most of the northern border between with Washington. The
Snake River forms over half of the eastern border with Idaho. Oregon has more
Wild & Scenic Rivers than any other state.
Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America. The
Willamette River is an American Heritage Designated River. The
Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area is a river canyon cutting the only sea-level route through the Cascade Mountain Range.
American Rivers is an organization that protects and restores river systems in the country.
A wide variety of
SEA LIFE is found off the coast of Oregon.
Tide pools have sea squirts, tube worms, anemones, urchins sea stars, sponges, & snails. Shellfish are abundant in coastal waters. In the spring gray whales travel up the Oregon coast to Alaska & in the fall travel they travel south. There are many
Whale Watching places.
Oregon offers a wide variety of SPORTS and has many
sports teams including college, high school, league, & professional. The state has over 200
Golf Courses. It also many
Race Tracks.
Fishing and
Skiing are popular sports. Pendleton has the biggest rodeos in the country. The Pendleton Roundup has bronco riding, horse races, calf roping, and Native American Culture. The
Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is in Portland, and many great
sports figures have come from the state.
Oregon has a
State TARTAN and participates in
National Tartan Day.
Highland Games and Scottish Festivals are held throughout the state. The
High Desert Celtic Festival is held in Redmond. Bend also has a Celtic Festival. Salem has a Scottish Heritage Festival.
Oregon has many types of
TRAILS and
celebrates
National Trails Day. The
Oregon Trail is the longest of the overland routes used in the westward expansion of the country. The state has many Scenic
Scenic Byways and
Roadside Attractions. Eugene is rated one of the top 10 cycling communities in the country.
Oregon has many forms of TRANSPORTATION. The
State Department of Transportation maintains highways, bridges, tunnels, and has an
Adopt-A-Highway Program. The Federal Highway Administration provides information on
traffic and road closures in Oregon. A variety of
license plates are available including a special one for the
Oregon Cultural Trust. Eugene was the first city to have one-way streets.
To celebrate its 50th birthday, Matchbox cars issued a car for each state in the order in which it was admitted into the union. The car for Oregon was the Dennis Sabre Fire Truck. Oregon is one of only 2 states without self-serve gas stations. The
Wildlife Protection Program helps wildlife in or near roads, waterways, & bridges.
Oregon has many public
UNIVERSITIES and Colleges. It also has
Community and Technical Colleges and
private colleges.
The
USS Oregon (BB-3) was built in 1896. It was the only battleship serving on the US Pacific seaboard.
Oregon has a variety of
VEGETATION including many plants that are considered
invasive.
The State Flower is the
Oregon Grape. The State Grass is
Bluebunch Wheatgrass. Oregon is the only state to have an Official State Nut - the
Hazelnut. The
International Rose Test Garden is in Portland
Nature Conservancy helps preserve the land in Oregon. The
Native Plant Society of Oregon works to preserve plants & vegetation. The state has a wide range of
Plant Zones
Oregon has many
VOLCANOES and is considered a
volcanic state due to its position at the edge of the North American crustal plate.
Newberry Volcano is one of the largest quaternary volcanoes in the country. Mount Hood is the tallest peak in the state & is a dormant volcano.
Pilot Butte, a cinder cone volcano, exists within the city limits of Bend. The
Columbia Plateau was formed by volcanic lava.
Federal Emergency Management Agency has information about volcanos.
Abundant rain and rugged terrain produce many
WATERFALLS in Oregon.
Multnomah is the highest waterfall in the state and the second highest in the country that falls year-round. The second highest waterfall in the state is
Salt Creek Falls. Silver Falls State Park has 10 waterfalls.
Oregon experiences a wide variety of
WEATHER. West of the Cascade Range the weather is mild & moist. East of the Cascades varies from very hot to very cold. The
Oregon Climate Service has hourly weather information. Weather Underground also provides information about current
weather conditions. The state has a temperate
climate with regional variations. The Environmental Protection Agency provides information about
Global Warming.
XMAS
is the common abbreviation for Christmas and it is celebrated in Oregon much like the rest of the
country and around the
world. The
National Christmas Tree Association has information about Christmas trees.
Because of its proximity to the International Date Line, Oregon was one of the last states to enter
Y2Kand the 21st century.
YMCA organizations are located throughout Oregon.
There are several
YOUTH HOSTELS in Oregon. The state also has
Elder Hostels.
The use of
ZIP CODES began in 1963.
Zip codes in Oregon all start with the number 9.
Oregon is in the
Pacific Time ZONE
U.S. Department of Agriculture lists Oregon in
zones 5-8 for plant hardiness.
Oregon has
ZOOS,
2 aquariums and a Marine Science Center. At
Wildlife Safari animals can be viewed in their natural habitat. The Seaside Aquarium was the first facility in the world to successfully breed harbor seals in capitivity.
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