Oregon

Oregon Facts, Map and State Symbols

Oregon was the 33^rd state in the USA; it became a state on February 14, 1859.

State Abbreviation - OR
State Capital - Salem
Largest City - Portland
Area - 98,386 square miles [Oregon is the 9th biggest state in the USA]
Population - 3,421,399 (as of 2000) [Oregon is the 28th most populous state in the USA]
Name for Residents - Oregonians
Major Industries - timber, paper products, farming (wheat, cattle), mining (coal), computer equipment, electronics

Major Rivers - Columbia River, Deschutes, Willamette River, John Day River, Snake River
Major Lakes - Upper Klamath Lake, Crater Lake
Highest Point - Mount Hood - 11,239 feet (3,426 m) above sea level
Number of Counties - 36
Bordering States - California, Idaho, Nevada, Washington
Bordering Body of Water - Pacific Ocean

Origin of the Name Oregon - The origin is unknown. It may have come from the French word Ouragan (which means Hurricane) and was a former name of the Columbia River.
State Nickname - Beaver State
State Motto - "She Flies With Her Own Wings" and "The Union"
State Song - Oregon, My Oregon 

Oregon State Symbols and Emblems:

State FlagOregon's official state flag was adopted in 1925. It is the only US state flag that still has a design on both sides. Both sides of the flag have a deep blue background and yellow designs. The reverse of the flag pictures a beaver (Oregon's state animal). The front of thg flag features the words "STATE OF OREGON" and the year "1859," the year Oregon became a state. Between these is a heart-shaped seal that pictures a landscape with mountains, trees, elk, a covered wagon, and a British warship leaving and an American steamship arriving. The ships symbolize the transfer of the Oregon Territory from the British to the US in 1846, when President James K. Polk signed a treaty with England giving this territory to the United States. The covered wagon represents the early Oregon pioneers who traveled on the Oregon Trail to settle in Oregon.

Animal Symbols:

State Bird Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)

State Animal American Beaver (Castor canadensis)

State Fish Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

State Insect Oregon Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio oregonius)

State ShellOregon hairy triton (Fusitriton oregonensis)

Plant Symbols:

State FlowerOregon grape Mahonia aquifolium)

State TreeDouglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)

State MushroomPacific golden chanterelle(Cantharellus formosus)

State NutHazelnut (Corylus avellana)

Earth Symbols:

State RockThunderegg (also called geode)

State GemstoneOregon sunstone

State SoilJory (unofficial)

Miscellaneous Symbols:

State Beverage Milk

State DanceFolk Dance

Related Pages:

Oregon: Map/Quiz PrintoutAnswer geography questions about Oregon using the map on this quiz. Answers	Oregon: Outline Map PrintoutAn outline map of Oregon state to print.	Oregon: US State Dot to Dot Mystery MapConnect the dots to draw the borders of a mystery state of the USA. Then use a globe or atlas to figure out which state you have drawn. You might want to give students clues, such as that it is on the west coast of the USA, that its capital is Salem, or that its name starts with "O." Answer: Oregon.	Oregon: Label Me! PrintoutLabel the major features of Oregon. Answers
Oregon's' Flag: Large Coloring PrintableA large black-and-white printable of the flag of Oregon.	Oregon's Flag Printout/QuizRead about and answer questions on the flag of Oregon.	Lewis and Clark: Follow the InstructionsColor the trail that Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery followed in their exploration of the Louisiana Purchase according to simple directions, such as, "They reached the Pacific Ocean in November, 1805, and built Fort Clatsop, where they spent a rainy winter. Color Oregon purple..." For beginning readers. Or go to the answers.	Lewis and Clark: Follow the Instructions #2Color the trail that Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery followed in their exploration of the Louisiana Purchase according to simple directions, such as, "In October of 1805, they reached the Columbia River, in what is now Oregon. Color Oregon purple." For fluent readers. Or go to the answers.

Your State: Draw and WriteDraw a map of the state that you live in (in the USA) and write about it.	US State - Find Related WordsFor a US state, write eight words related to the state, then use each word in a sentence.	US State Graphic OrganizerFor one US state, write the name of the state, draw a map of the state, then write the state capital, postal abbreviation, date of statehood, state bird (draw and write), state flower (draw and write), a major body of water in the state, two bordering states, and state nickname.	US State Report Graphic Organizer Printout #1This printout helps the student do a short report on a US state, prompting the student to draw a map of the state, locate it on a US map, draw the state's flag, and write its capital city, state nickname, area, population, date of statehood, and state bird.
US State Report Graphic Organizer Printout #2This printout helps the student do a short report on a US state, prompting the student to draw a map of the state, locate it on a US map, draw the state's flag, and write its capital city, state nickname, area, population, date of statehood, state bird, state flower, climate, and major industries.	US State Printable BookA short, printable book on a US state. To complete the book, the student must research a US state, draw its map, draw its flag, and answer simple questions about the state.	USA Map: Find Your StateFind and label your state in the USA, and label other important geography. Answers	USA Map: Where I LiveWrite your country, state, and city, and then find and label your state (and a few other geographical features).
Write Ten Things About Your StateA one-page printable worksheet. Write ten things about your state (plus one thing you would like to change).	US State WheelThis 2-page print-out makes a wheel about a single US state; the student fills out the information on the wheel. It consists of a base page together with a rear wheel that spins around. After putting the wheel together, the student follows the instructions on the front wheel (coloring in the state on a US map and drawing a small map of the state) and fills out the 12 sections of the wheel with information about one state. When you spin the wheel, facts about the US State appear, including: Biggest Cities, Capital, Flag, Bodies of Water, Postal Abbreviation, State Bird, Population (rank), Area (rank), Residents Called, Bordered by, Major Industries, and Entered Union (order).	US State - Find a Related Word for Each LetterFor a US state, see if you can think of and write down a word or phrase that is related to that state for each letter of the alphabet. Think of cities, famous people from the state, bodies of water, mountains, landmarks, and other features. Find words for as many letters as you can.	The CensusA census is an official count of the number of people in a region. The survey is done by a government, usually periodically. This page explains how and why censuses are taken.
Census:Printable Read-and-Answer WorksheetA printable worksheet on the census, with a short text to read, a map to color, and questions to answer. Or go to the answers. Or go to a pdf file with the worksheet and the answers.