Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It borders the Pacific Ocean on the west, Washington on the north, Idaho on the east, and California and Nevada on the south. The Columbia and Snake Rivers form, respectively, much of its northern and eastern borders. Between two north-south mountain ranges in western Oregon—the Oregon Coast Range and the Cascade Mountain Range—lies the Willamette Valley, the most densely populated and agriculturally productive region of the state.
Oregon has one of the most diverse landscapes of any state in the U.S. It is well known for its tall, dense forests; its accessible and scenic Pacific coastline; and its rugged, glaciated Cascade volcanoes. Other areas include semiarid scrublands, prairies, and deserts that cover approximately half the state in eastern and north-central Oregon.
Oregon's population in 2000 was about 3.5 million, a 20.3% increase over 1990. It is estimated to have reached 3.7 million by 2006. Oregon's population is largely concentrated in the Willamette Valley, which stretches from Eugene through Salem and Corvallis to Portland, Oregon's largest city.
The origin of the name Oregon is unknown. One account, advanced by George R. Stewart in a 1944 article in American Speech, was endorsed as the "most plausible explanation" in the book Oregon Geographic Names. According to Stewart, the name came from an engraver's error in a French map published in the early 1700s, on which the Ouisiconsink (Wisconsin) River was spelled "Ouaricon-sint", broken on two lines with the -sint below, so that there appeared to be a river flowing to the west named "Ouaricon".
Gus Van Sant Jr. (born July 24, 1952) is an American Academy Award nominated film director, photographer, musician, and author. Born in Kentucky, the family moved around with Van Sant living in a variety of cities, but graduated from The Catlin Gabel School in Portland, Oregon before attending the Rhode Island School of Design in 1970. He started as a painter, but later changed his major to cinema. After school he went to Europe and then Los Angeles where in 1976 he got a job working for Ken Shapiro. His expierences in LA led to a 1981 film he filmed titled Alice in Hollywood which was never released. He would move to New York and work in advertising for a time, using the money he earned for film projects. Van Sant would return to Portland where he would work as an independent film maker and produce films such as Drugstore Cowboy. Later works include Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, My Own Private Idaho, Good Will Hunting, and Finding Forrester. As an actor, Van Sant has appeared in a cameo on screen in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back playing himself. He has written the screenplays for most of his early movies, and has written one novel, Pink. Van As a musician, Van Sant has released two albums: Gus Van Sant and 18 Songs About Golf. The openly gay writer, director, and musician lives in Portland.
- February 4, 1999 near Coos Bay the New Carissa ran aground during a storm on the Pacific Ocean.
- February 5, 1846 the first edition of the Oregon Spectator is published, becoming first American newspaper to be published west of the Rocky Mountains.
- February 8, 1851 the city of Portland is incorporated.
- February 14, 1859 Oregon becomes the 33rd state of the Union.
- February 14, 1917 the Interstate Bridge is opened over the Columbia River linking Portland to Vancouver, Washington.
- February 14, 1994 architect Pietro Belluschi dies.
- February 25, 1880 the Chemawa Indian School opened in Forest Grove.
- February 27, 1993 the Spruce Goose arrives in McMinnville where it will be housed in a museum.
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The Provisional Legislature of Oregon was the single-chamber legislative body of the Provisional Government of Oregon. It served the Oregon Country of the Pacific Northwest of North America from 1843 until early 1849 at a time when no country had sovereignty over the region. This democratically elected legislature became the Oregon Territorial Legislature when the territorial authorities arrived after the creation of the Oregon Territory by the United States in 1848. The body was first termed the Legislative Committee and later renamed the House of Representatives. Over the course of its six-year history the legislature passed laws, including taxation and liquor regulation, and created an army to deal with conflicts with Native Americans. Many of the legislators would become prominent figures during the territorial years of Oregon. At first a small committee of nine, the group was altered when the Organic Laws of Oregon were revised in 1845 and became the Oregon House of Representatives with a minimum of 13 members. Once the government was dissolved, all the laws remained in effect, except for the one that authorized the minting of coins. Governor Joseph Lane nullified that law ending production of the Beaver Coins.
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I also want to applaud you for helping the people of Oregon fight a misguided minority that would legalize marijuana. That would be the worst possible message to send to our young people.
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- Current Featured Article (or other Featured content) candidates:
- Undergoing Peer review:
- To Improve to Featured Standard: Oregon, Portland, Oregon State University, List of Oregon State University alumni, List of Oregon State University faculty and staff, Governor of Oregon
- Current Good Article Nominees: Little Butte Creek (Rogue River)
- To Improve and Nominate at WP:GOOD: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (novel), Reed College, Mount Mazama
- To Expand: History of Oregon, Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition, Samuel Hill, Oregon Sports Hall of Fame, Victor G. Atiyeh, Oregon Ballot Measure 37 (2004) (add info about Measure 49 of 2007), A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village, Oregon Coast Aquarium, Oregon State Fair, History of Portland, Government of Oregon, Land use in Oregon, Portland Hempstalk Festival
- To Clean Up: WikiProject Oregon Cleanup listing, List of Portlanders, Eugene, University of Oregon, List of counties in Oregon, Pendleton Woolen Mills, Hells Canyon, Transportation in Portland, Oregon, Oregon State Hospital, Maywood Park, Oregon – interesting article, needs sources, Tom Potter
- Review Recent Changes: See WikiProject Oregon recent changes list
- To Merge: See Wikipedia:WikiProject Deletion sorting/Oregon#Merge proposals
- To Split: Oregon Health & Science University (split off hospital from school)
- To Destub: Oregon Republican Party, Oregon Centennial, Politics of Oregon, OGA Golf Course, Hatfield Marine Science Center
- To Deorphan:
- To Create: Geography of Oregon, Climate of Oregon, Wascopam Mission, High priority list, Oregon Sesquicentennial, Gladys McCoy [1]
- To Create from Redirects: See Category:Redirect-Class Oregon articles
- To De-Redlink: Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
- Lists to De-Redlink: List of Registered Historic Places in Oregon, List of highway route numbers in Oregon, List of named state highways in Oregon, List of canals in Oregon, Eagle Creek (Oregon), Lost Lake (Oregon)
- Lists to Complete: List of cities and unincorporated communities in Oregon
- Wanted Pics/Graphics: Kam Wah Chung & Co. Museum (interior), Fort Rock Cave (the Fort Rock sandals), regional image requests, other requests
- Wanted New Pics: Siskiyou Mountains, Oregon hairy triton, Gill Coliseum, Portland Rose Festival (Grand Floral Parade, CHAMP car race), Portland Saturday Market
Coordinates: 44°00′N 120°30′W / 44°N 120.5°W / 44; -120.5
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