Week 3 Work - Oregon

Oregon

Facts:

• Became a state in 1859.
• Population - 3.9 million (as of 2013).
• Capital - Salem, population of 160,000.
• Largest City - Portland, population of 603,000
• Ninth biggest state in the USA.
• 22% of population come from German descent.
• Oregon's state flag pictures a beaver on its reverse side. It is the only state flag to carry two separate designs.
• State nickname - Beaver State
• State motto - "She Flies With Her Own Wings" and "The Union".
• Between 1841 and 1869, hundreds of thousands of people travelled westward on the Oregon Trail.
• The Columbia River forms most of the northern border between Oregon and Washington. The Snake River forms over half of the eastern boundary with Idaho.
• Silver Falls State Park is the Oregon's largest state park.
• Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and is formed in the remains of an ancient volcano.

Typical Inhabitants:

From research, it seems as if the general stereotypes are that of young, friendly, environmentally conscious, healthy eating, liberal, "hipsters". All pretty positive stereotypes in my eyes. The idea that the people care about the environment potentially comes from the fact that the area they inhabit is so grand and visually captivating, as well as it holding many natural resources. Oregon has many state parks within to exemplify this. Research also suggests that many people are well educated and actually complete university. This again could point to why they care so much about the environment as they are well endowed with information as to why they should, as well as healthy eating, Portland is listed by PETA as the second most vegan-friendly city in the nation (even having a vegan strip-club). However, this is a stereotype of the 80% of White-Americans in Oregon. The state is not very racially diverse. This initially stems from its history. Oregon outlawed slavery, but then banned blacks from moving there.