OREGON
- Origin of name: The origin of the state name is uncertain, but "Oregon" might have been derived from a 1715 French map which refers to the Wisconsin River as "Ouaricon-sint. Another opinion is that the name "Oregon" stems from an English army officer's proposal for a trip in 1765, in which he refers to "the River called by the Indians Ouragon."
- Capital: Salem
- Largest city: Portland
- Population: 3,899,353 (2012 est) Ranked 27th in the US
- Nicknames: Beaver state
- Highest point: Mount hood 11,249 ft
- Admission to union: February 14th,1859 (33rd)
- State motto: She Flies With Her Own Wings
- State song: Oregon, My Oregon
- State tree: Douglas fir
- State flower: Oregon grape
- State bird: Western meadowlark
- Area: 98,381 sq mi. Ranked 9th in the US.
Did you know……...
1) The first documented placement of a GPS-located cache took place on May 3, 2000, by Dave Ulmer of Beavercreek, Oregon. The location was posted on the Usenet newsgroup as 45°17.460′N 122°24.800′W. By May 6, 2000, it had been found twice and logged once (by Mike Teague of Vancouver, Washington). According to Dave Ulmer's message, this cache was a black plastic bucket that was partially buried and contained software, videos, books, food, money, and a slingshot. A geocache and plaque called the Original Stash Tribute Plaque now sit at the site.
2) Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States. It was formed more than 6,500 years ago. Its crystal-blue waters are world renowned.
3) Discovered in 1874 the caves located in Oregon Caves National Monument are carved within solid marble.
4) Haystack Rock off Cannon Beach is 235 feet high and is the third largest coastal monolith in the world.
5) Oregon has the only nickel smelter in the US