Oregon
The Beaver State
Quick Stats
Map
Seal & Motto
"Alis Volat Propriis"
Additional Information
Latin for "She flies with her own wings."
Adopted 1987.
Population Growth
Overview
Oregon, the 'Beaver State,' is a land of breathtaking geographic diversity — Pacific beaches meeting towering coastal ranges, lush Willamette Valley vineyards stretching to volcanic Cascade peaks, and high desert plateaus dropping into spectacular river canyons. Portland's globally celebrated food and sustainability culture reflects a state that prizes independence and innovation.
Historical Significance
Oregon officially joined the Union on February 14, 1859 — Valentine's Day — as the 33rd state. Its story begins with the epic Oregon Trail that brought 400,000 settlers overland between 1843 and 1869, traces through the Lewis and Clark Expedition's winter at Fort Clatsop in 1805, and culminates in the creation of a progressive tech economy centered on Portland's Silicon Forest.
Top Cities & Hubs
Portland
Population: ~650,000The state's largest city, a globally celebrated hub for food, craft beer, and progressive culture, famous for its 145 city parks, extensive bike paths, and the Powell's Books independent bookstore covering a full city block.
Salem
Population: ~175,000The state capital in the heart of the fertile Willamette Valley, a center for government and agriculture surrounded by world-class Pinot Noir vineyards and historic Mission Mill heritage.
Eugene
Population: ~175,000Home to the University of Oregon, the birthplace of Nike and modern distance running, a vibrant outdoor culture city with deep roots in environmental activism and the arts.
Gresham
Population: ~115,000A major residential and commercial city at the foot of Mount Hood, offering access to world-class skiing and hiking while serving as an eastern gateway to the Portland metro area.
Hillsboro
Population: ~105,000The heart of Oregon's Silicon Forest, home to Intel's largest global campus and dozens of semiconductor companies, driving Oregon's transformation into a high-tech manufacturing powerhouse.
Key Landmarks & Economy
Did You Know?
- Oregon is the only state with a two-sided flag, featuring the state seal on the front and a golden beaver on the reverse — the only state flag to have two different designs.
- Mill Ends Park in Portland, measuring just 452 square inches in the median of SW Naito Parkway, is officially the world's smallest park, designated on St. Patrick's Day 1948.
- Oregon has more ghost towns than any other state — over 200 abandoned settlements remain from the gold rush and homesteading eras, more than the current number of incorporated cities.