Oregon Blank Map

The state of Oregon is situated in the northeastern ends of the United States of America and is one of its constituent states. On February 14, 1859, the territory was admitted to the union and officially became the 33rd constituent state to be integrated as a part of the agreement.

The diversity in the physical landforms is well distributed and is on display in the form of moist rainforests, fertile valleys, high mountains and the harsh deserts. The landmass is known to share its boundaries with Washington to the north, Idaho to the east, Nevada and California to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

The state was christened as the Beaver State, owing to its streams being the source of beaver pelts. However, the name today has lost its significance due to the extinction of beaver species.

Salem forms the capital city and lies in the northeastern ends of the state. Taking into account the scenic coastal towns of Cannon Beach and Bandon as well as the exhilarating adventures near the Columbia River Gorge, the state is an ideal location that is sure to impress audiences of all ages.

History

The primary evidence of the presence of humans that has been found at the Fort Rock Caves and the Paisley Caves dates back to almost 15000 years ago. This has been evident through the finding of stone tools and fragments of teeth of camel and bison under a 15000 year old volcanic rock. There is further substantiation of the fact that settlements began to establish in the area by 8000 BC. The settlements were concentrated near the lower fertile regions adjacent to the Columbia River and around the coastal plains.

The earliest known human inhabitants of the land were the Paleo-Indians. It was these indigenous tribes who set up the societies that exist today, along with developing the trading networks as well as influencing the culture and traditions of the modern- day state. At the end of the 16th century, the population expanded and people from various tribes such as Banook, Klamath, Kalapuya, Molala and Taklema established a living on the landmass.

The Europeans were not far behind on their expeditions as the territory was first sighted in 1543 by the Spanish explorer, Juan Rodriguez Cabillo. Due to routined explorations, the coastal area became an important component of the trade route which facilitated the movement of goods to Asia. The coast was also mapped by the famous British explorer James Cook in 1778. Christian missionaries, such as Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, arrived in the state during the 1830s. French Canadians also visited the state and their influence is still visible in the christening of names of the scenic locations such as Malheur Lake, Deschutes River, and the La Grande city. The establishment of Fort Astoria in 1811 near the Columbia River was the first permanent European settlement established in the state. Following the War of 1812, the British established monopoly in terms of the fur trade that prospered along the coasts.

The ideas of exclusion still bred in the open as a black exclusion law was passed in December 1844, that denied entry to African-American population and those who already had settled in the country were arrested and forced to leave the state. The Oregon Territory was established with the support of the United States government on August 13, 1848. However, this did not eventually lead to prosperous times as the arising conflicts with the Native American tribes culminated into the Cayuse War and forced people to relocate out of their homes. The territory finally attained statehood and was admitted to the Union of States on 14 February, 1859.

Things did not go well post the attainment of statehood as the American Civil War broke out and forces were sent to Oregon to maintain peace and aid the population. This led to an economic crunch and there arose a need for uplifting domestic production. The focus on the timber, lumber and wheat market provided the much needed revenue that was utilized in the development of the state.

It was the construction of the Oregon and California Railroad that promoted speedy movement of goods and services and was the driving force towards the development of the area. The coming up of industrialization led to the setting up the Bonneville Dam which supplemented the factories and industries by meeting their energy needs through the generated hydroelectric power. The phase of the Second World War also aided in the growth of the state as the industrial production increased tenfold.

Culture

The cities of Portland and Eugene offer a center for the expression of the finest forms of visual arts through the presence of art galleries and museums. The state is also a host to various festivals such as the Portland Rose Festival, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and the Portland Jazz Festival. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival held in Asheville attracts authors and students from all over the country. The state is community-oriented, with an emphasis on a strong sense of neighborhood and taking pride in the small-town culture.

The field of literature has much emphasized on the need to protect and promote the indigenous identities of the native tribes who reside in the state. The key figures in this field include John Reed, H.L. Davis, William Stafford, and Edwin Markham. The works of H.L.Davis portrayed the realities of the Western culture instead of romanticizing the culture and portraying it as the ideal place to live in. Some of his popular books include Honey in the Horn (1935), Beulah Land (1949) and The Distant Music (1957). On the other hand, writers like John Reed wrote about the atrocities and the nature of society as well as the economy during the Second World War.

The music is reflective of the indigenous as well as the modern traditions and the prominent genres of this arena include rock and roll, country, rhythm and blues, jazz, pop, electronic music as well as hiphop. The musical symphonies of the state are complemented by a wide array of dance forms that comprise of styles like ballet, hip hop, salsa, latin dance, tap dance, folk dance as well as jazz dance.

In addition to this, the cuisine of the state is reflective of its coastal locations and a majority of the local dishes are ingrained with the presence of one or the other kind of seafood. The primary dishes and ingredients that are popular among the locals as well as the tourists include Cedar-Planked Salmon, Dungeness crabs, clams, doughnuts, and the Tillamook cheese. Thus, the culture of the state in its entirety is reflective of the historical past as well as its geographical location.

Language

The predominantly spoken language turns out to be English; however, in addition to this, efforts have also been made on the part of the government to preserve and promote Indigenous languages. The nine federally recognized Native tribes, which include Bannock, Cayuse, Chinook, Klamath, Molalla, Nez Perce, Sahapatin, Umatilla, and Warm Springs. These tribes have their own language, which reflects the distinct thread of diverse identity of the people of Oregon. Apart from this, the other languages that are spoken include Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, and German.

Geography

The topography is ideally divided into nine constituent landform regions that include the following: forest covered Coast Ranges, Klamath Mountains, Willamette valley, lava plateaus, Blue- Wallowa mountains, High Lava Plains, Columbia Plateau and Malheur-Owyhee Upland.

Climate ranges from coastal to continental types, varying from the coastal periphery boundaries to the areas lying at the interiors. The coastal areas experience higher rates of precipitation than the lowlands.Rivers and lakes are the major sources that provide adequate water supply for the domestic as well the commercial needs of the citizens of the country. These include the Columbia River, Owyhee River, John Day River, Deschutes River, Malheur River and Snake River.

From housing natural wonders such as the Oregon Cave National Monument, Crater Lake National Park,the snow capped mountain ranges and the central Oregon moon country, the region turns out to be an attraction for the nature enthusiasts as well as for the adventure enthusiasts.

Forests take up approximately 40% of the total land area of the state and are covered with varied species of trees, wildflowers and are inhabited by different species of animals. The ponderosa pine, vine maple, red alder, big leaf maple, large sagebrush and cascara are some of the species that preponderate the forests. The mountainous regions especially the Klamath and Cascade range are duly covered by Douglas fir trees which are native to the western parts of North America. Another species that is native to the Blue Mountains includes the mountain mahogany tree. On the other hand, the presence of fauna species rests on the climatic conditions of the landform in question. Bear and fox inhabit the mountain areas, whereas antelopes survive in the plateau regions along with deer and elk.

FAQs

Q1: What are some of the places that ought to be on the list of must-see attractions ?

Once in the state, the spots that are highly recommended to be explored include Crater Lake National Park, Cannon Beach, Columbia River Gorge, Portland Japanese Garden, and the Oregon Coast.

Q2: What is the best time to visit the state?

The best time to visit the Oregon Coast is during the months of July, August and September ,when the weather is warm and the majority of events and festivals are organized in the state.

Q3: What are some of the local dishes that can be tried out?

The famous dishes that can be tried out while visiting the Beaver state are marionberries, Dungeness crabs, albacore tuna, and rockfish.

Q4: What are the outdoor activities that can be carried out while in the state?

Some of the outdoor adventure activities include hiking, biking, skiing and exploring the wildlife.