ABOUT Oregon
Capital: Salem
State abbreviation/Postal code: Ore./OR
Nickname: Beaver State
Briefs on Oregon:
Oregon is the land of scenic diversity. From dense forests, calm rivers, crystal clear beaches, rugged mountains and roaring waterfalls, Oregon has it all. The enticement of the state is enhanced with wonderful sites such as Oregon's Scenic Byways, Oregon Dunes, Portland Classical Chinese Garden, Japanese Gardens, Multnomah Falls, Portland's children's museum, the Astoria Column, Crater Lake etc. and thrilling activities like whale watching, wild life safari, kayaking, skiing, playing golf, and so forth. Moreover the state's vibrant cultural festivals and events act as timeless attractions to it.
Oregon is not just abundant in beauty and exciting activities but also in land area. With an area of 255, 026 square kilometers, Oregon is the ninth largest state in the union. The population of the state is 3, 421, 399 approximately. Oregon shares its borders with the Pacific Ocean, California, Washington, Idaho and Nevada, the state of Oregon located in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.
The largest city of the state is Portland. Besides the beauty and culture of the city, Portland is recognized for various family resorts and amusement joints. For instance the Portland Classical Chinese Garden, Portland's Pittock Mansion etc.
The capital of the state is Salem. The city of Salem is set in a beautiful valley that is recognized to be Oregon's best wine producing regions. Salem is the hub for major political and economic activities of the state.
Various sites in Oregon cities speak the tale of the state's past. According to historians the state was first inhabited by some Native American tribes such as the Bannock, Chinook, Klamath etc. in 1778 James Cook visited and explored the coast. This was a part of his search of the Northwest Passage. The state also witnessed the Lewis and Clark expedition during the time of Louisiana Purchase.
The result of the Lewis and Clark exploration as well as the Britain's David Thompson exploration following it was the increment in the fur and fur trade in the region. The winter fort at Fort Clatsop is also an emblem of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
But the first permanent white settlement in the region occurred only after the New York financer, John Jacob Astor founded Fort Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River. The post was established with the purpose of advancement in fur trading. Soon the War of 1812 transferred the control of all the Pacific Fur Company Posts in the hands of the British.
Around 1842 the Oregon region witnessed the influx of new settlers. This was due to the Oregon Trail that was one of the major overland migration routes through which the pioneers traveled across the North American continent to settle new parts of the United States of America.
At this time the government of United States made up its mind to settle the Oregon Country (the land near the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean) with the help of the government of United Kingdom. The Oregon boundary dispute was settled at the 49th parallel and in 1848 the Oregon Territory was officially recognized.
On 14th February 1859 the state of Oregon was admitted to the Union. Over the years, the state has developed to great extent and has scaled new heights in various sectors.
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