87 Fun Facts Everyone Should Know About Oregon

Oregon, the Beaver State, or the Pacific Wonderland, houses some of the most incredible, weird, and wildly delightful natural and human wonders in America. The history is littered with both human and natural wonderment, along with delicious foods, and rich wildlife. Many folks know some of the most intriguing Oregon facts, while many others lie hidden beneath the soil. Let’s read all about these incredible facts about Oregon.

State Symbols of Oregon

• Oregon is the only state whose flag has different designs on either side. On one side, the escutcheon from the state seal rests. On the other side, a gold figure of a beaver sits.
• Oregon is the only state with an official state nut: the hazelnut or filbert. Oregon grows about 99 percent of the United States crop of hazelnuts each year.
• The fur trade helped make folks aware of the American beaver roaming the wilds of Oregon. But the beaver’s dynamic nature and architectural spirit gave this critter its rights as the official state animal of Oregon.

• The official state fruit of Oregon is not the cherry, as many might think. Instead, the state has chosen the pear as its fruity symbol. That means you’ll find loads of pear products all around, including pear cider and pear brandy.
• The most common tree you’ll see in Oregon is the Douglas tree. This also happens to be the official state tree.

Weird Laws in Oregon

• One weird law in the state: In Myrtle Creek, Oregon, it is illegal to box with a kangaroo.

• Because of the large number of woolly, gangly critters, the city of Sherwood holds an alpaca festival every year. Come get your socks, gloves, yarn, scarves, hats, and other alpaca wool goods!
• In Yamhill, Oregon, anyone caught practicing “occult arts” could be arrested.
• When going to Salem, Oregon, leave behind your bean shooters or slingshots. They’re illegal to use them here!
• Don’t dare juggle in Hood River, Oregon. The art is illegal unless you’ve got the proper license for it.
• If you’re eating a donut when you visit Marion, Oregon, please don’t walk backwards. You could get fined!
• Technically illegal in Portland, Oregon, a wedding at an ice skating rink could cause you some trouble.

Historical and Cultural Facts of Oregon

Indigenous History

• 10 Native American Tribes call Oregon home. Some include the Chinook, Klamath, Nez Perce, and Coquille.
• Oregon once served as the hub for western Indigenous cultures. Numerous Nations and Tribes called Oregon home, while many others came to trade and connect within the territory.

Explorations by the Colonialists

• Originally Spanish explorers discovered Oregon as the first non-Indigenous people in 1543. Interestingly, it was a Portuguese explorer named Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo who “claimed” the land for Spain.
• In the late 1700s, fur trappers, traders, and explorers began exploring the terrain we now know as Oregon. Some of the famous folks to explore here included Captain James Cook (credited with discovering Australia and several other lands, as well!) and Robert Gray, who found the Columbia River in 1792.
• Great Britain and the United States jointly occupied the land known as Oregon for a good many years until a deal was struck between them.
• In 1848, after much debate and negotiations between the United States and Britain, the Oregon Territory was formed. At the time, the territory included Washington, Idaho, and Oregon, as well as parts of Montana and Wyoming.
• Between 1805 and 1806, the Lewis and Clark expedition spent its time mapping out Oregon. The newly acquired territory, bought in the Louisiana Purchase, was unexplored and they were eager to understand the land. Their main camp during this time was at Fort Clatsop, near the Columbia River.
• A few years later, in 1811, the first official European settlement in Oregon began at Fort Astoria.

The Oregon Trail

• The route known as the Oregon Trail was considered for the first transcontinental railway back in 1869. However, it was ultimately decided that a southern route in California would be better for weather and other reasons.

Other Oregon History

• The largest flood in Oregon occurred from December 1861 to January 1862. The “Great Flood” as it became known, killed over 4,000 people in three states (Oregon, California, and Nevada).
• A coin toss decided the name of Portland. The contest came down to Portland or Boston. If the coin had gone the other way, now we’d know of two famous Bostons in the United States.
• Originally, Oregon City served as the state’s capital. In the early 1850s, though, lawmakers fought to make Corvallis the capital. Ultimately, however, Salem won out and became the capital, remaining such today.
• On July 25, 1850, along the Rogue River, Oregon, gold was discovered. Similar to the California Gold Rush of 1849, the quest for gold in the state produced a boom in population and crime for a time.

Geological Facts About Oregon

• Did you know that Oregon has volcanoes? Yes! In fact, Oregon has 61 named volcanoes, 5 of which are active.
• The topsoil of Oregon is prized for its incredible fertility that produces incredible hazelnuts, wine, and more. But the soil isn’t technically from Oregon. The soil washed into the Willamette Vallery from eastern Washington during the Missoula Floods at the end of the last ice age.

Geographical Oregon Facts

• The deepest lake in the United States calls Oregon home. Crater Lake, one of the most enjoyed tourist attractions in the state, was formed over 6,500 years ago after a volcano died, and sinks down to 1949 feet at its deepest.
• Not only does Oregon host the deepest lake in America, the Beaver State also hosts the deepest canyon in North America. You probably thought the Grand Canyon of Arizona wins this title, but it’s actually Hells Canyon, with the Snake River running through it that claims the title. The canyon dinks down to an amazing 7.913 feet at its deepest point, beating the Grand Canyon’s of “only” 6,000 feet.
• For various reasons, in 1957, an important Native American fishing site with thousands of years’ history, was flooded on the Columbia River. The flooding was intentional, as authorities deemed it the best spot to build the Dalles Dam in Washington State. The site? Celilo Falls.
• Crater Lake also holds the title of one of the three bluest lakes in the world. The strikingly blue coloration comes from mineral deposits and the isolated access to only direct rainwater and snow.
• While some mountains may be more well-known for some, Oregon’s Mount Hood actually holds the title as the “most climbed mountain” in country. The former volcano also happens to hold the highest peak in the state.
• Through Lincoln City, Oregon, one of the shortest, if not the shortest, rivers in the world flows. At only 121 feet, the tiny river finds itself in close competition with the Roe River near Great Falls. The two rivers once battled it our for the Guinness World Record, but eventually the record keepers stopped the record to avoid the controversy.

Flora and Fauna of Oregon Facts

• Thanks to the incredible fur trade once in Oregon, the state animal is the American beaver.
• Many intriguing animals call Oregon home. Some of the most exciting critters you might spot as you wander through the millions of acres of beautiful scenery include burrowing owls, gray wolves, Roosevelt elk, wolverines, anna’s hummingbirds, snowy plovers, sage grouse, osprey, western pond turtles, Oregon alligator lizards, and coastal tailed frogs.
• Oregon celebrates its own unique holiday: “Exploding Whale Day.” On November 12 each year, the state commemorates a 1970 incident that occurred in Florence. A deceased, beached whale was destroyed with explosives because nobody knew what to do with the carcass.
• The largest known living organism on earth calls Oregon home. The honey mushroom, or Armillaria ostoyae, covers over 2,300 acres of the Malhuer National Forest in eastern Oregon. The massive network of fungus underground penetrates through the roots of trees, feeding off them for support. This behavior has earned the mushroom the nickname of the “killer fungus.” You won’t see the giant towering overhead like a monolith, but you could see some of the mushroom sprouting up from the earth in autumn.

Famous Oregonians

• Clint Eastwood once lived in Oregon. He worked in Weyerhaeuser, a sawmill in Springfield for a few weeks. Soon after he began working here, he realized lumberjacking was dangerous and left the line of work for safer pastures.
• Several amazing bands and solo musicians began their reign in the pop world when they formed in Oregon. Some of the most famous include The Decemberists, Everclear, The Dandy Warhols, Elliot Smith, Pink Martini, and Esperanza Spalding, to name only a few.
• Many famous actors and actresses also began life or career in Oregon. Authors, models, and even figure skaters started here. Some of the most famous include: Lisa Rinna, Beverly Cleary, Edwin, Markham, Holly Madion, Tonya Harding, and Abigail Scott Duniway.
• Olympians have come and gone, as well, starting out in the Beaver State. One unique one was Dick Fosbury of Portland, Oregon, a high jumper who invented the “Fosbury Flop”, which is the flipping over the bar backwards move you’ve probably seen since.
• On September 22, 2001, Katie Harman of Portland, Oregon, was crowned as Miss America 2002.

Brands, Industry, and Companies of Oregon

• Carolyn Davis, of Portland State University, created the Nike Swoosh symbol we all know. But the company was also started here, when undergraduate student, Phil Knight, and track coach, Bill Bowerman, started the brand under the name of Blue Ribbon Sports.
• On chilly nights, you might find yourself cuddled up under a Pendleton blanket. If you do, you’re snuggling up with an Oregon blanket based on traditional Native American designs and patterns. The Pendleton Woolen Mills, a Portland company, has been around since 1863 making these cozy comforters.
• Some 70 breweries alone exist in Portland, Oregon, but overall, the entire state contains more than 300 breweries. That means, for about every 10,000 people, 1 brewery exists. Only six other states in American have more breweries per capita than Oregon.
• One of the longest standing industries in Oregon, one that remains today, is logging. For many years, lumberjacking or other tree-cutting related business, was the primary source of income for most folks in the state.
• Initially, Oregon’s Native American leaders built incredible trade routes which they used extensively. These same routes became the main routes for westward expansion, trade across the country, and even international routing.
• During the 19th Century, the railroad revolutionized the world. Dramatically cutting back on travel and shipping times, these steam-powered machines also helped save lives. Interestingly, several railways out of Portland attempted to take advantage of this push but wound up quickly going out of business, never completing their lines.

City Life Oregon Facts

• Portland, Oregon, houses more breweries than any other single city in the world, with more than 70 breweries within its city limits.
• Powell’s Books, located in the Pearl District of Portland, is the largest independent bookstore in the world. The bookshop houses about 1 million books, spans 4 floors, and has a “Gold Room” for rare books.
• Speaking of rare books, Powell’s Books contains an 1814 copy of the Lewis & Clark Journal, including a map of Captain Lewis’ journey. It’ll only cost you $350,000 to bring this baby home.
• An underground tunnel system lies beneath downtown Portland. The old, extensive system, though, connects to numerous buildings like bars and restaurants. Why? Because the “Shanghai Tunnels” as they’re known, were once thought to be used for smuggling drunk bar-goers off for forced labor on ships.
• If craft beer is your thing, you’ll definitely want to make your way to Portland. The town is known jokingly as “Beervana,” thanks to its 70-plus breweries and the many pubs where its served.
• Portland is also known for its local and environmentally-friendly supplied breweries. Most of the 70-plus pubs focus on sustainable and renewable energy practices like composting and fair-trade ingredients.
• And if ghost towns are your thing, you’ll also want to head on over to Oregon. But be prepared to spend weeks exploring the state, because Oregon has more ghost towns than any other state in the Union. More than 200 ghost towns or nearly abandoned towns exist within the Beaver State.

Pop Culture Oregon Facts

• Beyond filming solely on location in Portland, Oregon, “Portlandia” also found its characters based on real-life Portland residents.
• “Sometimes a Great Notion” by Ken Kesey, explores Oregon’s culture and terrain in masterful beauty.
• Many artists and authors from Portland have gained world-wide acclaim. Some include Beverly Cleary, Gus Van Sant, Chuck Palahniuk, Stephan Malkmus, and Matt Groening.
• 1980s kids will know this one well: “The Goonies” was filmed in its named coastal town of Astoria, Oregon. A few cameos were also filmed in other coastal towns like Cannon Beach.
• “Animal House” of the National Lampoon’s franchise, was filmed entirely in Eugene, Oregon, during autumn 1977. The film has become one of the most beloved, classic American comedies of all time.
• Based and filmed in Salem, Oregon, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” took place where now the Museum of Mental Health stands.
• If you’re a fan of “The Shining” you’ll probably already know this. But the Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood served as the backdrop for the film.
• The Oregon Trail became more familiar to lots of folks growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, thanks to the old computer game of the same name.
• The real-life Oregon Trail has also inspired numerous television shows, novels, musicals, songs, movies, and commemorative coins, even.
• The internationally renowned stop motion animation studio Laika Studios calls Oregon home. If you’ve seen “Coraline,” “Kubo and the Two Strings” or “Missing Link,” you’ve seen their work.
• The town of Springfield in the Simpsons was based on the real Springfield, Oregon. The show’s creator decided he could do it easily, since so many cities in the country bear the same name.

Oregon Facts on Foods

• While you might expect Idaho to produce all potato related inventions in the United States, it’s actually Oregon that gets credit for the tater tot. Nephi and Golden Grigg wanted to expand their frozen corn business into the potato market. In the process, they created the tater tot!
• Along Highway 101 on the coast in Rockaway Beach, the first corndog found life. You can still hit up the original corndog stand if you like. You can’t miss the Pronto Pup stand with its giant corndog atop the building.
• Wisconsin and California lay claim to some of the most amazing cheese in the country. But Oregon actually won the world’s best cheese award for 2019 to 2020. 250 judges chose the Rogue River Blue as the Grand Champion that year, during the World Cheese Awards in Bergamo, Italy. This also happens to have been the first American cheese to earn the title.
• Speaking of Oregon cheese, the Tillamook Cheese Factory probably sounds familiar. This company came together over the course of almost 50 years as dairy farmers came together to perfect their cheese making skills and open the Tillamook Factory. The factory opened in 1909. It’s also the largest cheese factory in America.
• Thanks to Oregon State University’s Professor Ernest Wiegand, the whole world gets to enjoy maraschino cherries. The candied fruit came about as the professors work to help prevent spoiling of cherries.
• Another cherry on top the top of Oregon is the Bing cherry. These beauties came about because of horticulturalist Seth Lewelling settling in the area. He trekked along the Oregon Trail in 1875. He settled in what is now known as Milwaukie, Oregon, where he invented the hybrid and name the cherries for his Chinese foreman, Ah Bing.

Famous and Intriguing Landmarks

• The Historic Columbia River Highway, or the “King of Roads” in Oregon was the first scenic highway in the United States to earn designation as a National Historic Landmark.
• 53 covered bridges grace the waterways of Oregon. The first opened in Oregon City in 1851. But as a whole, the state houses over 7,000 bridges total.
• Oregon hosts over 250 state parks and 6 national Parks. Some of the most popular sites include Valley of the Rogue State Park, Harris Beach State Park, and Crater Lake National Park.
• Portland is home to the world’s smallest park. Mill Ends Park (mistakenly called Mill’s End Park), rests along the Willamette River near downtown. The park is only 452 square feet and was designated in 1948.
• Oregon is also host to 17 National Historic Landmarks, including wildlife refuges, a Chinese shop, a highway, fort, dam, lodges, and chateaux. Four National Historic Trails and 14 National Historic Districts also call Oregon home.
• Nine historic lighthouses and one light ship nestle along the Oregon coast.
• One of those famous lighthouses is the Heceta Head Lighthouse. This particular lighthouse is the most famous of the state, built in 1892.

Other Random Oregon Facts

• Nestled within Oregon’s wooded Hillsboro, a retired Boeing 757 was placed in 1999. This $100,000 project was converted into the home of a private individual. But every year, he opens his home for public tours and hosts several concerts on the wing.
• Approximately one-quarter of United States of America’s llama population call Oregon home. These, mixed with alpacas, primarily live all within one county, too (Clackamas), with Washington, Yamhill, and Marion counties competing for the new title.
• On October 8, 1898 in Pendleton, Oregon saw its hottest temperature. The mercury hit 119 degrees Fahrenheit that day. Conversely, in October of 1933, the coldest temperature hit in Seneca, at -54 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Though it’s not a “fun” fact, Oregon was the first state to legalize euthanasia or assisted suicide in 1994. Specific health conditions are required to be able to do this practice.
• 2020 saw some of the worst forest fires in history in Oregon. Over 1 million acres burned that summer.
• On April 1, 2022, the Portland government released a press statement about Sasquatch (or Bigfoot). He was sighted in the forest! The amazing April Fool’s joke helps to show the quirky town’s culture.