Oregon Information and Facts

Official Website: http://www.oregon.gov/

Income

The population of Oregon in 2002 was 3,520,355. Its rank was 27th in the nation. (The District of Columbia is included for ranking purposes.)

Per Capita Personal Income

In 2002 Oregon had a per capita personal income of $28,792. This per capita personal income ranked 30th in the United States and was 93 percent of the national average, $30,906. The 2002 per capita personal income reflected an increase of 1.0 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.2 percent. In 1992 the per capita personal income of Oregon was $19,235 and ranked 28th in the United States. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of per capita personal income was 4.1 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 4.0 percent.

Total Personal Income

In 2002 Oregon had a total personal income of $101,358,912. This total personal income ranked 28th in the United States. In 1992 the total personal income of Oregon was $57,546,997 and ranked 28th in the United States. The 2002 total personal income reflected an increase of 2.4 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 2.3 percent. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of total personal income was 5.8 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.2 percent.

Components of Personal Income

Total personal income includes net earnings by place of residence; dividends, interest, and rent; and total personal current transfer receipts received by the residents of Oregon. In 2002 net earnings accounted for 64.6 percent of total personal income (compared with 64.5 in 1992); dividends, interest, and rent were 19.6 percent (compared with 21.4 in 1992); and personal current transfer receipts were 15.7 percent (compared with 14.1 in 1992). From 2001 to 2002 net earnings increased 1.2 percent; dividends, interest, and rent increased 0.8 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased 9.6 percent. From 1992 to 2002 net earnings increased on average 5.8 percent each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 4.9 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased on average 7.0 percent.

Employment Earnings

Earnings of persons employed in Oregon increased from $75,761,005 in 2001 to $76,743,766 in 2002, an increase of 1.3 percent. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.5 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1992 estimate of $43,157,567 to the 2002 estimate was 5.9 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.3 percent.

Area - Oregon ranks tenth in size among the states, covering an area of 251,470 sq km (97,093 sq mi), including 2719 sq km (1050 sq mi) of inland water and 106 sq km (41 sq mi) of coastal water over which it has jurisdiction. The state has a roughly rectangular shape with a width from east to west of 669 km (416 mi) and a length from north to south of 476 km (296 mi). The mean elevation is about 1000 m (about 3300 ft).

Climate - The region from the coast to the Cascades has a temperate marine climate. Because of the moderating effect that nearby ocean water has on seasonal temperatures, summers are cool and winters are mild. The average temperature of the coldest month is well above freezing, and temperatures in the warmest month are generally below 21° C (70° F). The Cascade Range and the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon have a highland type of climate, with cool summers and severe winters. The average January temperature is below freezing, and there is usually a snow cover for many months of the year. Snow is most abundant on the western slopes of the northern Cascade Range, where as much as 15 m (50 ft) accumulates during the winter. Precipitation in the coastal areas, the Cascades, and the Blue Mountains is the highest in the state. It reaches its maximum on the western slopes of the northern Oregon Coast Range, where it may exceed 3800 mm (150 in) annually. All of the western slopes of the Oregon Coast Range, Klamath Mountains, and Cascade Range capture moisture from the winds off the Pacific and have at least 1300 mm (50 in) of precipitation yearly. The Willamette Valley and parts of the Blue Mountains have about 750 to 1300 mm (about 30 to 50 in) of precipitation. The eastern two-thirds of Oregon, including the Basin and Range province and most of the Columbia Plateau region except the Blue Mountains, has a semiarid mid-latitude climate. Summers are warm and winters are cold. Precipitation is about 250 to 500 mm (about 10 to 20 in) annually. There are within this large region a few deserts, or arid areas, with less than 250 mm (10 in) of precipitation yearly. One such area is found along the Columbia River, near Umatilla; another, in central Oregon just east of the Cascades; and a third, in the vicinity of Vale, near the state's eastern border.

State Flag

Oregon 2nd State Flag

State Flower - Oregon Grape

State Capitol - Salem
The original constitution of Oregon has been in effect since 1857, two years before statehood. It was not amended until 1902. Amendments may be proposed by initiative or by a majority of both houses of the legislature. Amendments must be approved by a majority of the voters. The constitution may also be amended by a constitutional convention, which can only be called if both the legislature and voters give approval.

Famous People

Cecil D. Andrus secretary of the interior, Hood River
Dave Kingman baseball player, Pendleton
David Kennerly photographer, Roseburg
Doc Severinsen band leader, Arlington
Douglas Engelbart inventor, Portland
Edwin Markham poet, Oregon City
Garner Ted Armstrong evangelist, Eugene
Homer Davenport political cartoonist, Silverton
James Beard food expert, Portland
Jane Powell actress, singer, Portland
John Reed poet, journalist, Portland
Joni Huntley track athlete, McMinnville
Linus Carl Pauling chemist, Portland
Matt Groening cartoonist, Portland
Norton Simon business executive, Portland
Pat Schroeder politician, Portland
Phyllis McGinley author, Ontario
Raymond Carver writer, poet, Clatskanie
Sally Stanford politician, Baker City
Sally Struthers actress, Portland
Steve Prefontaine track athlete, Coos Bay