Oregon Fast Facts

Whether it’s your first or tenth trip to Oregon, here are some quick tidbits to help you get to know our spectacular state a little better.

Quick Statewide Stats:

Oregon is pronounced OR-UH-GUN, never OR-EE-GONE.
Oregon has no sales tax—so it feels like everything’s always on sale.
Oregon joined the Union on February 14, 1859, making it the 33^rd state.
Oregon is the ninth-largest state in the U.S., spanning 98,380 square miles and home to more than 4.3 million residents.
Oregon is bordered by Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California and the Pacific Ocean.
Oregon’s motto, “She Flies With Her Own Wings,” is a nod to the state’s independent, self-reliant spirit.

Natural “Superlatives” and Iconic Landscapes:

Crater Lake, at 1,943 feet deep, is the deepest lake in the United States (and one of the deepest in the world). The literal shade of blue will take your breathe away.
At 7,913 feet deep, Hells Canyon is the deepest river-carved gorge in North America.
The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument preserves one of the richest and most scientifically significant fossil records in North America, documenting ecosystems from roughly 44 million to 7 million years ago.
The Klamath Basin is famous for hosting the largest wintering concentration of bald eagles in the Lower 48, with peak numbers typically in January–February.
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is one of the largest expanses of temperate coastal sand dunes in the world and was the inspiration behind Frank Herbert’s Dune.
Oregon is home to the largest known single organism on Earth — a massive honey fungus spanning thousands of acres in Malheur National Forest.

History and Heritage

Oregon is home to nine federally recognized tribes.
Oregon has 14 National Historic Districts and four National Historic Trails, including our namesake the Oregon Trail.
The Historic Columbia River Highway also known as the “King of Roads” was designated the first scenic highway in the U.S. and is a National Historic Landmark.
Oregon has more than 7,000 bridges, including 53 covered bridges. One of Portland’s many nicknames is Bridge City.
Nine historic lighthouses and one light ship dot the Oregon Coast.
In 1845, a coin toss decided that Portland, Oregon would be named Portland rather than Boston.
Oregon’s nickname, “The Beaver State,” traces back to the early 1800s, when the beaver fur trade played a major role in the region’s economy and identity.

Outdoor Recreation and Public Lands

Oregon is a state of contrasts, with snow-dusted mountains, dramatic river canyons, lush valleys, rugged coast, arid plains and fertile fields. In fact, Oregon offers some example of every geographic terrain on the planet within its borders.

All 363 miles of Oregon’s Coastline is publicly accessible thanks to the 1967 Beach Bill, which extended public access to dry sand and prevented privatization. This established “The People’s Coast” for free and interrupted use for all.
The highest elevation point is Mt. Hood at 11,239 feet, and the lowest is at sea level.
There are more than 6,000 lakes and 112,000 miles of rivers and streams.
Nearly half of Oregon’s total area is forested – close to 30 million acres. Which, clearly increases your odds of finding Bigfoot.
Oregon has 11 national forests, 21 national wildlife refuges, 361 state parks, a National Scenic Area and a national grassland
There more than 50 known hot springs in Oregon, found primarily in the Cascade Range and high desert climates.
Oregon was the first state to establish the Scenic Bikeway program in the nation and has a total of 18 Scenic Bikeways.
The state’s landscapes include four of Earth’s five major biomes — aquatic, grassland, forest and desert.
Oregon recently became the first state to earn an “Accessibility Verified” status from Wheel the World, a global platform for accessible travel.

Pop Culture and Creative Scene

“Portlandia.” We still put a bird on it.
Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood served as the scenic backdrop for the movie, “The Shining.” Timberline Lodge & Ski Area is also the only ski area in North America that operates year-round.
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” was based and filmed in Salem (Oregon’s capital), which is now home to the Oregon State Hospital Museum of Mental Health.
National Lampoon’s “Animal House,” one of the most successful American film comedies of all time, was filmed in the Eugene area in the fall of 1977.
The movie “Wild” has story lines in Minnesota, California and Oregon. However, all but seven of the movie’s scenes were filmed in Oregon, and only two of them were on the Pacific Crest Trail.
“The Goonies” was filmed mostly in Astoria, with iconic shots (Haystack Rock) from other coastal towns like Cannon Beach.
Portland’s music reputation took off nationally in the 1960s with breakout acts like The Kingsmen (“Louie Louie”) helping define the Northwest’s garage-rock sound. Today, the city still exports major talent — from indie staples The Decemberists to arena-tested Portugal. The Man and Blind Pilot, alongside contemporary Oregon standouts like Portland’s Aminé and Grammy-winning Portland native Esperanza Spalding.
Ken Kesey’s masterful “Sometimes a Great Notion” explores the relationship between Oregon’s landscapes and its psyche.
Portland’s artists are varied and inspiring: Gus Van Sant, Matt Groening, Chuck Palahniuk, Beverly Cleary, Stephen Malkmus.

Food, Farms and Drink

There are more than 1,500 vineyards in Oregon and 80 varietals grown in Oregon. It’s not just about Pinot Noir anymore.
The Oregon hazelnut is the state’s official nut, and Oregon grows 99 percent of the entire U.S. commercial crop.
The pear is Oregon’s state fruit, and we make a mean pear cider and brandy.
In 1953, Oregon brothers Nephi and Golden Grigg, founders of Ore-Ida, created the Tater Tot by cleverly repurposing leftover potato scraps into a new snack food.