Oregon’s Population Has Doubled in 50 Years… Discover What’s Driving the Huge Growth

Home to the Oregon Trail, Crater Lake National Park, and Cannon Beach, Oregon has a gorgeous, diverse landscape. That’s part of why Oregon was the second most popular state to move to in 2022. But Oregon has always been a favored state for people to relocate to. In fact, in the past 50 years, Oregon’s population has doubled. Here are a few reasons why Oregon’s population is rising.

Oregon’s Population Growth

From 1970 to 2020, Oregon’s population doubled. That’s a gain of 2,145,871 people over 50 years. That’s almost the same number of people living in Houston, Texas!

Here is what Oregon’s population growth looked like each decade:

Decade With the Biggest Growth

From 1990 to 2000, Oregon experienced the biggest population growth. From 2,842,321 people in 1990 to 3,421,399 people in 2000, that decade gained 579,078 residents. That’s a 20 percent increase in population in just 10 years.

While Oregon has typically sustained a traditional timber industry, this changed in the 1990s. At that point, the state transitioned to a manufacturing and high-tech industry, significantly expanding Oregon’s economy. That is why there was such an uptick in population growth between 1990 and 2000 as people moved to Oregon for job opportunities.

Counties With the Highest Populations

Out of the 36 counties in Oregon, here are the five most populated counties according to 2020 census figures:

#1 Multnomah County

Multnomah, the most populated county in Oregon, encompasses Portland, the most-populated city in the state. The population of Portland is 635,067, accounting for 77 percent of Multnomah County’s population! Multnomah County attracts many residents because of its big industries, such as manufacturing, transportation, and tourism.

#2 Washington County

Washington County is the second-most populated county in Oregon. However, it’s the biggest county named “Washington” in the United States. Many people relocate to Washington County for work. Nike has headquarters in Washington County, and Oregon’s Silicon Forest, a nickname given to the cluster of high-tech companies in the area, is also in Washington County.

#3 Clackamas County

From 2010 to 2020, Clackamas County grew 11.2 percent. Agriculture, manufacturing, and timber are huge industries in the county, but its business districts have grown in recent years. Clackamas County is known for its quality communities as well as lower crime rates compared to the national average.

#4 Lane County

According to the 2019 County Health Rankings and Roadmap, Lane County ranks 11^th out of Oregon’s 35 counties. The survey evaluates health factors, health outcomes, and clinical care to evaluate a county’s health ranking. Lane County is also home to the University of Oregon and Northwest Christian University, which attracts many students to the county. It is the fourth most populated county in Oregon.

#5 Marion County

The capital of Oregon, Salem, is located in Marion County. Salem is the third most-populated city in Oregon, making Marion the fifth most-populated county. The state government is the top employer in the county, but Marion is also known for its vibrant agricultural and food processing industries. For instance, Kettle Foods, a huge manufacturer of potato chips, employs about 700 people in Salem. Marion County has many employment opportunities, which is why it is one of the top five largest counties.

How Oregon’s Population Ranks Overall

Even though Oregon ranks ninth largest among the 50 states by land area, it only ranks 27^th in population size. And, because of its land area and population of just over 4.2 million, Oregon ranks 38^th in population density. According to numbers in 2020, there are only 45.4 persons per square mile in the state.

Reasons Why Oregon Is Growing

According to an annual study by United Van Lines, here are some of the reasons people moved to Oregon in 2022:

• 51 percent of people moved to Oregon for work.
• 17 percent of people moved to be closer to family.
• 15 percent of people moved for lifestyle reasons.
• 14 percent of people moved to Oregon to retire.

The majority of the people moving to Oregon settled in the Portland and Eugene areas. Most of the people migrating to Oregon are from California. About 39,000 residents of California relocate to Oregon annually. Overall, more people are moving to Oregon than leaving, which is why Oregon’s population has doubled in the past 50 years.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.com