Oregon State Facts - Oregon History Firsts

Catch up on your state trivia with these Oregon history firsts and interesting fun facts about the state.

Official Name Oregon
Capital Salem
Location
Region		 44.92450 N, 123.02205 W
Pacific Northwest
Constitution Ratified 1859
Statehood February 14, 1859
33rd State
Number of Counties 36 Counties in Oregon
Largest Counties
(by population)		 Multnomah
660,486
435 sq. mi.

Oregon History Firsts & State Facts

  • 1792 - The Willamette River was discovered.
  • 1805 and 1806 - Fort Clapsop National Memorial contains a replica of Lewis and Clark's 1805-1806 winter outpost.
  • 1819 - A treaty between the United States and Spain established the current southern border between Oregon and California. The treaty was signed in 1819.
  • 1820 - During the 1820s Englishman John McLoughlin presided over a vast beaver trapping network centered at Fort Vancouver near the Columbia River.
  • 1858 - Richest gold find in the Cascade Mountains was discovered in the Bohemia Mining District at Sharp's Creek near Cottage Grove.
  • 1859 - Find out more the Oregon State Great seal
  • 1874 - Discovered in 1874 the caves located in Oregon Caves National Monument are carved within solid marble.
  • 1876 - University of Oregon opened in Eugene. Deady Hall was the first building on campus and still exists.
  • 1880 - A sea cave was discovered near what is now known as Florence. Sea Lion Caves is known to be the largest sea cave in the world.
  • 1880 - Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, built in 1880, is currently used as the site of the final resting place of up to 467,000 cremated individuals.
  • 1899 - The Oregon Legislature designated the Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium) as the Oregon state flower by resolution in 1899.
  • 1900 - Ries-Thompson House is the oldest remaining residence in Parkdale. Built circa 1900 the home and area offer a commanding view of Mount Hood.
  • 1905 - Largest log cabin in the world was built in honor of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
  • 1917 - High above the city of Portland the International Rose Test Garden features more than 500 varieties of roses cultivated continuously since 1917.
  • 1925 - Find out more about the Oregon State Flag
  • 1927 -
  • 1939 - The Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is designated as the Oregon State Tree
  • 1948 - Mill Ends Park in Portland, the world's smallest official park, measures two feet across. It was created in 1948 for the leprechauns, and a place to hold snail races on St. Patrick's Day.
  • 1957 - Dr. John McLoughlin is the selected as the Father of Oregon
  • 1959 - The colors: Navy blue and gold are designated as Oregon State Colors
  • 1961 - The Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) was selected as Oregon State Fish
  • 1965 - The Thunderegg (Geode) was selected as Oregon State Rock
  • 1969 -
  • 1971 - Oregon became the first state to ban the use of non-returnable bottles and cans.
  • 1977 - Square dance becomes Oregon State Dance
  • 1979 - The Oregon Swallowtail (Papilio oregonius) is designated as the Oregon State Insect
  • 1987 -
  • 1989 -
  • 1991 - The Portland Trail Blazers is Oregon State Team
  • 1997 - Milk is designated as Oregon State Beverage
  • 1999 - Pacific golden chanterelle (Cantharellus formosus)  was designated as Oregon State Mushroom
  • 2005 -
  • 2009 - The Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister) was designated as the Oregon State Crustacean
  • 2011 -
    • Happy Canyon Indian Pageant and Wild West Show designated as the Oregon State Outdoor pageant and wild west show
    • Reedsport named as Oregon State Chainsaw carving capital
    • Jory soil  was designated as the Oregon State Soil
  • 2013 - Saccharomyces cerevisiae was selected as the Oregon State Microbe

More Oregon History Firsts & State Facts

  • Deepest Lake in the US: Crater Lake, located in Klamath County. Depth of 1,932 feet.
  • The Klamath Mountains in southwestern Oregon are composed of volcanic rocks, which originally erupted under the ocean.
  • Highest Waterfall is Multnomah Falls at 620 feet. It is located in Multnomah County.
  • Oregon's state flag pictures a beaver on its reverse side. It is the only state flag to carry two separate designs.
  • Eugene was the first city to have one-way streets, and is quoted by "Bicycling Magazine" as one of the top ten cycling communities in the United States.
  • The Carousel Museum contains the world's largest collection of carousel horses.
  • At 8,000 feet deep, Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America.
  • Oregon residents own one-fourth of the country's total llama population.
  • Oregon has more ghost towns than any other state.
  • Formed more than 6,500 years ago, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States. It is the only lake to be formed in the remains of a volcano and its crystal-blue waters are known around the world.
  • The Tillamook Cheese Factory is the largest cheese factory in the world.;
  • Oregon's state flag is the only state flag to carry two separate designs, with a beaver on its reverse side.
  • The Columbia River gorge is considered by many to be the best place in the world for windsurfing.
  • Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and is formed in the remains of an ancient volcano.
  • Oregon and New Jersey are the only states without self-serve gas stations.
  • Eugene was the first city to have one-way streets.
  • Pilot Butte, a cinder cone volcano, exists within the city limits of Bend.
  • At 329 feet the Coast Douglas-Fir in Oregon is considered the tallest tree in the state.
  • Hells CanyonAt 8,000 feet deep Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America, encompasses a vast and remote region with dramatic changes in elevation, terrain, climate and vegetation. Carved by the great Snake River, Hells Canyon plunges more than a mile below Oregon's west rim, and 8,000 feet below snowcapped He Devil Peak of Idaho's Seven Devils Mountains. There are no roads across Hells Canyon's 10-mile wide expanse, and only three roads that lead to the Snake River between Hells Canyon Dam and the Oregon-Washington boundary.
  • The hazelnut is Oregon's official state nut. Oregon is the only state that has an official state nut. The hazelnut is also known as the filbert.
  • Oregon's state birthday is on February 14, Valentine's Day.
  • The "Oregon Pioneer" statue that tops the capitol building is a work by Ulric Ellerhusen. This heroic figure represents the spirit of Oregon's early settlers.
  • The state park system has 159 yurts located in 19 parks. Yurts are a circular domed tent suitable for camping.
  • Navy blue and gold are Oregon's official state colors.
  • The Chinook salmon is Oregon's official state fish.
  • Dorris Ranch in Springfield became the first commercial filbert orchard in the state.
  • The nation's most photographed lighthouse is the Heceta Head Lighthouse located in Lane County.
  • Darlingtonia Wayside is Oregon's only rare plant sanctuary.
  • Oregon's second highest waterfall is Salt Creek Falls in the Cascade Mountain range. It drops 286 feet.
  • The H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest is one of the largest long-term ecological research sites in the United States.
  • Eugene is rated by "Bicycling Magazine" as one of the top ten cycling communities in the United States.
  • There are nine lighthouses standing along the coastline. Five are still being used; the others are designated historic monuments.
  • Portland is considered an example of outstanding urban planning. The city is known as The City of Roses.
  • At 11,239 feet Mount Hood stands as the tallest peak in Oregon. Mount Hood is a dormant volcano.
  • Silver Falls State Park is the Oregon's largest state park. It features 10 waterfalls and contains a wide variety of forested hiking trails.
  • Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States. It was formed more than 6,500 years ago. Its crystal-blue waters are world renowned.
  • The world's largest rosary collection is exhibited at The Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center. A local resident collected the exhibit.
  • The Carousel Museum contains the world's largest and most comprehensive collection of carousel horses.
  • The small village of Bickelton is filled with bluebird houses seen on the posts of every house.
  • The Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area is a spectacular river canyon cutting the only sea-level route through the Cascade Mountain Range.
  • Tillamook is home to Oregon's largest cheese factory.
  • Florence is known as Oregon's rhododendron capital.
  • Oregon's capitol building is located in Salem. Earlier capitals include the cities of Oregon City and Corvallis.
  • The Columbia River forms most of the northern border between Oregon and Washington. The Snake River forms over half of the eastern boundary with Idaho.
  • The Oregon Trail is the longest of the overland routes used in the westward expansion of the United States.
  • The Tillamook Naval Air Museum is housed in the world's largest wooden clear-span building.
  • Haystack Rock off Cannon Beach is 235 feet high and is the third largest coastal monolith in the world.
  • The Seaside Aquarium was the first facility in the world to successfully breed harbor seals in captivity.
County Information and County History

Baker,  Benton,  Clackamas,  Clatsop,  Columbia,  Coos,  Crook,  Curry,  Deschutes,  Douglas,  Gilliam,  Grant,  Harney,  Hood River,  Jackson,  Jefferson,  Josephine,  Klamath,  Lake,  Lane,  Lincoln,  Linn,  Malheur,  Marion,  Morrow,  Multnomah,  Polk,  Sherman,  Tillamook,  Umatilla,  Union,  Wallowa,  Wasco,  Washington,  Wheeler,  Yamhill

State Facts & History Firsts
State Fun Facts - History Firsts