Portal:Oregon/Selected article/171

Coos Bay is a city in Coos County, Oregon, where the Coos River enters Coos Bay on the Pacific Ocean. The city borders the city of North Bend, and together they are often referred to as one entity called either Coos Bay-North Bend or Oregon's Bay Area. Coos Bay's population as of the 2010 census was 15,967 residents, making it the largest city on the Oregon Coast. Oregon's Bay Area is estimated to be home to 32,107. The city was founded in 1853 as Marshfield after the Massachusetts hometown of its founder, but was renamed Coos Bay in 1944. The Port of Coos Bay is the largest deep-draft coastal harbor between San Francisco Bay and Puget Sound, and held the title of "world's largest lumber shipping port" during the mid-1900s. The city is also known for being the hometown of Olympic runner Steve Prefontaine. Nearby outdoor recreation opportunities include the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Sunset Bay State Park, Shore Acres State Park, Cape Arago State Park, and the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.