Oregon
State of Oregon
Flag of Oregon
Seal
Nickname(s): Beaver State
Motto(s): Alis volat propriis (Latin)
Official
language(s)
De jure: None[1]
De facto: English
Demonym
Oregonian
Capital
Salem
Largest city
Portland
Largest metro
area
Portland Metro Region
Area
Ranked 9th in the US
- Total
98,466 sq mi
(255,026 km²)
- Width
260 miles (420 km)
- Length
360 miles (580 km)
- % water
2.4
- Latitude
42° N to 46°18′ N
- Longitude
116°28′ W to 124°38′ W
Population
Ranked 27th in the US
- Total
3,790,060 (2008 est.)[2]
- Density
35.6/sq mi (13.76/km²)
Ranked 39th in the US
Elevation
- Highest point
Mount Hood[3]
11,239 ft (3,425 m)
- Mean
3,297 ft (1,005 m)
- Lowest point
Pacific Ocean[3]
0 ft (0 m)
Admission to
Union
February 14, 1859
(33rd)
Governor
Ted Kulongoski (D)
Lieutenant
Governor
None[4][5]
U.S. Senators
Ron Wyden (D)
Jeff Merkley (D)
U.S. House
delegation
4 Democrats, 1
Republican (list)
Time zones
- most of state
Pacific: UTC-8/-7
- most of Malheur
County
Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Abbreviations
OR Ore. US-OR
Website
www.oregon.gov
Oregon (
/ˈɒrɨɡən/ , OR-i-gən) is a state in
the Pacific Northwest region of the United
States. The area was inhabited by many indi-
genous tribes before the arrival of traders,
explorers and settlers. The Oregon Territory
was created in 1848 after American settle-
ment began in earnest in the 1840s. Oregon
became the 33rd state on February 14, 1859.
Oregon is
located on the Pacific coast
between Washington to the north, California
to the south, Nevada on the southeast and
Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake
rivers delineate much of Oregon’s northern
and eastern boundaries respectively. Salem
is the state’s third most populous city and the
state capital, with Portland the most popu-
lous. Portland is currently the 30th largest
U.S. city with a population of 575,930 (2008
estimate)
and a metro population
of
2,175,133 (2007 estimate), 23rd largest U.S.
metro area.
The valley of the Willamette River in west-
ern Oregon is the most densely populated
and agriculturally productive region