Oregon joined the United States on
Feb 14, 1859 as the 33rd state.
Oregon lies on the Pacific coast,
with Washington state to the north,
California and
Nevada to the south,
and Idaho to the east.
The Columbia and Snake rivers define most of the north and east borders.
Oregon has a diverse and rugged landscape,
from scenic ocean coastline to glaciated volcanoes.
Dense rain~forests stretch one third of the way across the state in the
north and halfway across the state in the south.
Dry scrublands, prairies, and deserts cover approximately
half the state in the east and north.
Oregon
has about 3.7 million people living in
an area of 98466 mi² (255026 km²).
WEATHER
Oregon's weather and climate are
affected by large~scale circulation in the atmosphere,
involving the Pacific Ocean,
the shoreline, and the interior.
Local conditions are influenced by distance from the coast,
altitude, and topography. A lot can depend on what side of
the mountain you're on and which direction the land slopes.
The north~south orientation of the coastline is almost directly
perpendicular to the prevailing atmospheric flow at upper levels.
The steep and rugged topography leaps from the sea nearly
everywhere except at the mouths of major rivers.
This combination on moisture~laden air produces lots of rain.
The wettest months are the November~March period.
Precipitation is highest near the coast and in higher elevations,
and increasingly lower as one moves eastward.
Oregon is quite cloudy near the coast throughout the year,
and cloudy statewide during winter.
July is consistently the driest month throughout Oregon.
Snow is relatively rare along the immediate coastline in Oregon.
As one moves inland, upward, or northward, the amount of snowfall
per year increases steadily.
The Coast Mountain Range,
at 3600 feet above sea level,
averages 110 inches of snow per year.
Several times a year, winds exceeding hurricane strength
strike Oregon, especially along the coast.
Local winds in Oregon are dominated by large~scale pressure patterns
over the North Pacific and onshore.
Frequent cyclonic storms reach the area from the west,
especially during winter.
Thunderstorms occur only about 5 times per year
The presence of the Pacific Ocean, combined with generally mild temperatures,
causes average relative humidity along the coast to be quite high,
especially during the cool season.
As one moves inland, humidities decrease.
ECONOMY
The Oregon Chamber of Commerce
is an association of chambers of commerce,
dedicated to preserving the competitive enterprise
system of business by creating a better
understanding and appreciation of the
importance of a strong economy while
contributing to the growth and professionalism
of the industry.
The Chamber elevates the prominence and image of
local chambers and provides a forum for
sharing of ideas, management processes
and new technology.
Oregon is 1 of 5 American states with no sales tax.
Oregon's rich natural resources
fueled the state's economy for a long time.
Forests, farms & ranches,
retail trade, and tourism are significant elements of
the state's economic profile.
Oregon is 1 of 4 major world hazelnut growers.
It produces 95% of the domestic hazelnuts in the United States.
Oregon farmers
and ranchers also produce cattle, sheep, dairy products,
eggs, poultry, wine & grapes.
Large numbers of manufacturing jobs outside
the Portland area are in the lumber and wood products field,
making them dependent on the health of the construction industry.
State efforts at diversification have been very effective.
Oregon has made great
progress in the transition from a resource~based economy to
more mixed manufacturing and marketing,
with an emphasis on high~tech.
In recent years, high technology has assumed the leading role previously
played by forest products.
Computer and electronics firms
now constitute the fastest growing manufacturing sector.
White~collar and service jobs have increased,
while agriculture and manufacturing represent a declining share of
the civilian labor force.
Tourism related businesses growing out of partnerships
between the Oregon government are on the rise.
Evergreen mountain forests, towering waterfalls, glacier lakes, and ocean beaches draw visitors year round.
Although not a major industry,
mining for precious metals has continued here from the early days
of settlement up to the present.
The aluminum industry is also active in Oregon.
Other minerals produced include sand, gravel, stone,
nickel, pumice, perlite, diatomite, zeolites, and talc.
Oregon has one of the largest salmon~fishing industries in the world,
but this has decreased in recent years.
Portland has the largest number of breweries of any city in the world.
SCHOOLS
The Oregon Department of Education acts as a liaison and monitors
implementation for a variety of state and federal programs,
including the 'No Child Left Behind Act'.
The Department is responsible for all elementary and secondary students
in Oregon's public schools and education service districts,
statewide curriculum and instruction programs, school improvement efforts,
and Oregon's statewide assessment testing system.
Leadership also extends to public preschool programs,
the state Schools for the Blind and the Deaf,
regional programs for children with disabilities and
education programs in Oregon youth corrections facilities.
The state has over 500 thousand students in public primary and secondary schools.
The Oregon University System
consists of 7 public,
4~year universities administered by
a Chancellor, who is appointed by
the Oregon State Board of Higher Education.
There is a wide range of
experiences and environments which offer
degree programs and higher education courses.
The Oregon State Board of Higher Education
is the statutory
governing board for the Oregon University System.
The board is composed of 11 members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon State Senate.
Anywhere you are in Oregon,
there is a campus, college or educational center
available to meet a student's specific learning needs.
For more details please contact the
Oregon State Department of Education.
HOSPITALITY
In Oregon, there’s always something to do.
Play world~class golf, cycle along hundreds of miles of designated
bike lanes, take road~trips to wine country,
hunt for fossils or discover a Shakespeare Festival.
There’s plenty to see. Pristine public beaches,
high~desert country, painted hills and wine~producing valleys
Oregon is home to Hells Canyon {North America’s deepest river Gorge} and
Crater Lake {the country's deepest lake}.
Mt.Hood offers North America’s only year~round ski season.
Whatever your passion, there's a smorgasbord of unbelievable outdoor adventure.
Explore 13 national forests, more than 200 Oregon State Parks, nearly 400 miles of Pacific Coast,
and 1000s of trails - from short hikes and easy bike rides at sea~level to exhausting assaults on 10000~foot peaks.
With Oregon’s natural beauty and amenities,
you can create unique and
authentic travel experiences,
while catering to your individual interests.
Oregon has some of the most diverse landscapes ranging from
desert to coast, valley to mountains, countryside to big city.
The state is divided into 7 regions:
• the Coast
• Portland Metro
• Mt.Hood/Columbia River Gorge
• Willamette Valley
• Southern Oregon
• Central Oregon
• Eastern Oregon
Discover the unique bounty in each of
Oregon’s 7 Regions
to create your own Oregon Dream.
Scattered at key transportation entry points around the State,
Oregon Welcome Centers are full~service information points
operated by helpful and knowledgeable staff, well informed on Oregon.
For more details please contact
Oregon State Tourism.
NEWS
Oregon State 
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