Entered Union February 14, 1859 (33rd state)
Oregon (4,237,279), Salem (175,472), Portland (652,518)
The marble capitol was originally completed in 1938 using the designs of Trowbridge and Livingston. It is located on State Street at Summer Street. Interstate Highway 5 is 25 blocks east of the capitol. The Capitol is designed in Art Deco style. It is being remodeled in 2024. The Supreme Court and Court of Appeals building in Salem is the only supporting structure. The state was officially created as the 33rd state on February 14, 1859 from Native American lands and the Oregon Territory. Salem has served as capital since 1855 with Oregon City as the territorial capital. The state is named for the Spanish for the local mountains. Salem is named by missionaries for “peace.” Portland is named for Portland, Maine after a contest with Boston, Massachusetts. Mount Hood on the border of Hood River and Clackamas counties is the highest point and the lowest point is sea level at the Pacific Ocean.
Oregon government, in the Executive, consists of a Governor, a Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Labor Commissioner. There are 30 Senators and 60 Representatives in the Legislature. Seven Supreme Court Justices and Thirteen Court of Criminal Appeals Justices serve Oregon in the Judicial. Oregon is located in the northwest part of the United States on the Pacific Ocean. The geographic center is in Crook County 29 miles southeast of Prineville. The state is surrounded clockwise by Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California, and the Pacific Ocean.
The area is 98379 square miles. It is 9th largest state in the country. It is the 27th most populated state in the country. It has a density of 43.1 persons per square mile making it 38th in the country. Its major rivers are the Columbia, the John Day, the Willamette, the Yamhill, Salmon River, the Hood River, the Deschutes, and the Snake. Salem is located in the northeast quarter of the state. Portland is located in northeast quarter of the state on the border with Washington.
Click here to link to the Oregon county slideshow
Click below to link to an Oregon county page