State symbols of Oregon
Dance	Square dance
Bird	Western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
Fish	Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
Flower	Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium)
Tree	Douglas-fir
Insect	Oregon swallowtail (Papilio oregonius)

Oregon (pronounced orr-IH-ghən) is a state in the Pacific Northwest part of the United States. It's in the Western U.S.. The Columbia River forms much of its northern border with Washington. The Snake River forms much of its eastern border with Idaho. To the south, Oregon borders California and Nevada. The Pacific Ocean is its western border.

Native American groups have lived in Oregon for thousands of years. European explorers and traders first visited Oregon's coast in the 1500s. The Lewis and Clark Expedition explored Oregon in the early 1800s. The first permanent European settlements were started by fur traders. In 1843, a local government was formed. Oregon became the 33rd state of the U.S. on February 14, 1859.

Today, Oregon has about 4.2 million people. It is the ninth largest state by area and the 27th most populous. The capital city is Salem. Portland is the largest city. Oregon has many different landscapes. These include volcanoes, rivers, thick forests, and dry deserts. Mount Hood is the state's highest point. Crater Lake National Park is home to Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the U.S. Oregon is also home to the world's largest known organism, a huge fungus living underground in the Malheur National Forest.

Oregon's economy has always relied on farming, fishing, logging, and water power. It is the top lumber producer in the lower 48 states. Technology is also a big part of Oregon's economy. This started in the 1970s with the growth of the Silicon Forest area. Nike, Inc., a sportswear company, has its headquarters in Beaverton. It is Oregon's largest public company.

Understanding the Name "Oregon"
Oregon's Past: A Journey Through Time
Oregon's Diverse Geography
How Oregon is Governed
- Oregon's Federal Representatives
People and Population in Oregon
- Languages Spoken in Oregon
- Religious and Non-Religious Groups
Oregon's Economy and Jobs
Education in Oregon
- Schools: Elementary, Middle, and High School
- Colleges and Universities in Oregon
Sports in Oregon
Sister Regions
Related pages
Images for kids
See also

Understanding the Name "Oregon"

Oregon border welcome sign at Denio, Nevada

The exact origin of Oregon's name is not fully known. One early idea comes from the Spanish word "orejón." This means "big ear." It was used in a 1598 Spanish record to describe the area around the Columbia River. The "j" sound in Spanish might have changed to a "g" sound over time.

Another idea is that the name comes from the Spanish word "oregano." This is a plant that grows in the southern part of the region. Some also think it might be named after a stream in Spain called "Arroyo del Oregón."

Major Robert Rogers used the spelling Ouragon in 1765. He was talking about the Columbia River, which was then called the "River of the West." By 1778, the spelling became Oregon.

One theory suggests the name comes from the French word ouragan. This means "windstorm" or "hurricane." It might have been used because Native Americans told stories of strong winds on the lower Columbia River.

Another idea, thought to be very likely, is that the name came from a mistake on an early French map. The Ouisiconsink River was spelled in a way that looked like "Ouaricon."

Most people in Oregon today say the state's name as "or-uh-gun." They do not say "or-ee-gone."

Oregon's Past: A Journey Through Time

People have lived in the area that is now Oregon for at least 15,000 years. Written records about the land go back to the 1500s. For many years, European countries and later the United States argued over who owned the region. This ended in 1846 when the U.S. and Great Britain divided the land. Oregon officially became a state on February 14, 1859.

First People of Oregon

Paul Shoaway, a Native of the Umatilla tribe in the Columbia Plateau region, 1899

The oldest signs of people living in Oregon were found at Fort Rock Cave and the Paisley Caves. Scientists believe people lived there at least 15,000 years ago. By 8000 BC, there were settlements all over the state. Many people lived near the lower Columbia River, in the western valleys, and by the coast.

Long ago, during the last ice age, huge floods filled the Willamette Valley with water. These floods happened when glacial dams in Montana broke. This is why the valley's soil is so rich today.

By the 1500s, many Native American groups lived in Oregon. These included the Chinook, Coquille, Bannock, Chasta, Kalapuya, Klamath, Klickitat, Molalla, Nez Perce, Takelma, Tillamook, Umatilla, and Umpqua.

European Explorers and Early Settlers

The first Europeans to see Oregon were Spanish explorers in 1543. They sailed along the southern Oregon coast. In 1579, Francis Drake also explored the coast for England. Later, in 1774, Spanish ships returned to explore more. The Oregon coast became an important route for trading with Asia.

In 1778, British captain James Cook also explored the coast. French Canadian fur trappers and missionaries arrived in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Many of them were part of the Lewis and Clark expedition or the Astor expeditions. Some stayed in Oregon. You can still see French names in Oregon today, like Malheur Lake and the Deschutes River.

Fort Astoria, as established by John Jacob Astor in 1813.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition traveled through northern Oregon in 1805. They were looking for a water route to the Pacific Ocean. They built their winter fort, Fort Clatsop, near the mouth of the Columbia River. They stayed there from December 1805 to March 1806.

In 1811, British explorer David Thompson was the first European to travel the entire Columbia River. He claimed the region for Great Britain. Also in 1811, John Jacob Astor started Fort Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River. This was the first lasting European settlement in Oregon.

Map of Oregon Country, 1818–46.

During the War of 1812, the British took control of the fur trading posts. The Treaty of 1818 allowed both Britain and the U.S. to share the region. By the 1820s and 1830s, the Hudson's Bay Company controlled the fur trade from Fort Vancouver.

Starting in 1842, the Oregon Trail brought many American settlers to Oregon. The Oregon Territory was officially set up in 1848. More settlers arrived after 1850. Native American populations were moved to reservations.

Becoming a State

In 1844, Oregon passed a law that made it difficult for African Americans to live in the territory. Oregon became a state on February 14, 1859. When the American Civil War began, U.S. troops left Oregon. Local volunteers helped keep peace and protect people.

Oregon After the Civil War

In the 1880s, railroads helped Oregon's lumber, wheat, and farm markets grow. Cities grew quickly. Portland became a major center for the lumber industry. It quickly became the state's largest city.

On May 5, 1945, six people were killed by a Japanese bomb near Bly. This was during World War II. It was the only time a foreign army caused deaths on the U.S. mainland since 1848. The bombing site is now a memorial.

After 1933, the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River helped Oregon's industries grow. Water power, food, and lumber from Oregon helped the western U.S. develop.

Oregon's Diverse Geography

Crater Lake during winter.

Oregon is about 295 miles (475 km) from north to south. It is about 395 miles (636 km) from east to west. It is the ninth largest state in land and water area. Oregon's highest point is Mount Hood, at 11,249 feet (3,429 m). Its lowest point is the Pacific Ocean, at sea level.

Crater Lake National Park has Crater Lake, which is the deepest lake in the U.S. at 1,943 feet (592 m). Oregon also claims the D River as the shortest river in the world. Portland is home to Mill Ends Park, the smallest park in the world.

Oregon has eight main geographical areas. In western Oregon, there is the Oregon Coast, the Willamette Valley, Rogue Valley, Cascade Range, and Klamath Mountains. In central and eastern Oregon, there is the Columbia Plateau, the High Desert, and the Blue Mountains.

Most of Oregon is in the Pacific Time Zone. However, most of Malheur County in the east is in the Mountain Time Zone.

Geology and Landforms

Mount Hood is the highest peak in Oregon.

The mountains in western Oregon were formed by volcanoes. This area is still at risk of volcanic activity and earthquakes. The 1700 Cascadia earthquake was a major event. Mount St. Helens in Washington erupted in 1980. This eruption was seen from northern Oregon and affected some areas there.

The Columbia River is very important to Oregon's geology and history. It is one of North America's largest rivers. About 15,000 years ago, the Columbia River caused huge floods across Oregon. These floods helped make the Willamette Valley very fertile. The river was also a center for trade for thousands of years because of its many salmon.

Oregon's landscape changes a lot. It goes from rain forests in the Coast Range to dry deserts in the southeast. Oregon's geographical center is further west than any other state in the lower 48. Central Oregon has high deserts and volcanic rock formations.

Plants and Animals in Oregon

Oregon has many unique plants and animals. About 46% of the state is covered in forests. Most of these are west of the Cascade Range. Oregon is the top producer of timber in the lower 48 states.

Common trees include the Douglas fir, which is the state tree. Other trees are redwood, ponderosa pine, western red cedar, and hemlock. Ponderosa pines are more common in eastern Oregon, while firs are common in the west.

Pronghorn antelope in Fort Rock.

Many mammals live in Oregon. These include opossums, shrews, moles, various mice and rats, bats, rabbits, pikas, mountain beavers, chipmunks, western gray squirrels, yellow-bellied marmots, beavers, porcupines, coyotes, wolves, red foxes, black bears, raccoons, badgers, skunks, antelopes, cougars, bobcats, lynxes, deer, elk, and moose.

Important birds include American widgeons, mallard ducks, great blue herons, bald eagles, golden eagles, and the western meadowlark (the state bird). You can also find barn owls, great horned owls, rufous hummingbirds, pileated woodpeckers, wrens, towhees, sparrows, and buntings.

Moose arrived in Oregon in the 1960s. There are now about 60 moose in the Wallowa Valley. Gray wolves disappeared from Oregon around 1930 but have returned. There are now two wolf packs in the state.

Oregon is home to the world's largest single organism. It is an Armillaria solidipes fungus. It grows under the Malheur National Forest in eastern Oregon.

Oregon's Climate and Weather

Oregon's climate is generally mild. West of the Cascade Range, the climate is like an ocean climate. This area has thick evergreen forests. East of the Cascades, it is a dry desert. Southwestern Oregon, especially the Rogue Valley, has a Mediterranean climate. This means drier, sunnier winters and hotter summers.

Northeastern Oregon has a steppe climate. High mountain areas have a subarctic climate. Oregon has milder winters for its location than places like the Midwest or New England.

The Pacific Ocean greatly affects western Oregon's climate. Western Oregon is very wet in winter. It is moderately wet in spring and fall, and dry in summer. Eastern Oregon usually has low humidity all year.

Eastern Oregon has cold, snowy winters and very dry summers. Much of it is semi-dry or dry, like the rest of the Great Basin. However, the Blue Mountains are wet enough to have large forests. Most of the state gets a lot of snow. But the Willamette Valley, where most people live, has milder winters and usually only light snowfall.

How Oregon is Governed

Golden Pioneer atop the Oregon State Capitol

Oregon's state government is set up like the U.S. federal government. It has three main parts:

The legislative branch: This is the Oregon Legislative Assembly. It has two parts: the Oregon State Senate and the Oregon House of Representatives.
The executive branch: This includes the Governor, who is the chief leader.
The judicial branch: This is led by the Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court.

Governors in Oregon serve four-year terms. They can serve two terms in a row. Oregon does not have a lieutenant governor. If the governor's office becomes empty, the Secretary of State takes over first. Other statewide leaders include the Treasurer, Attorney General, and Labor Commissioner.

The Oregon Legislative Assembly meets every two years. It has 30 members in the Senate and 60 members in the House. There is often a discussion about whether they should meet every year. But voters have preferred to keep citizen lawmakers rather than full-time politicians.

The state supreme court has seven elected judges. They choose one of themselves to be the Chief Justice for a six-year term.

Federally recognized tribes in Oregon
Burns Paiute Tribe Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians Klamath Tribes Coquille Indian Tribe

Oregon's Federal Representatives

Like all U.S. states, Oregon has two senators. After the 2020 census, Oregon gained a sixth seat in the House of Representatives. This means Oregon now has six members in the House.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon handles federal legal cases in the state. It has courthouses in Portland, Eugene, Medford, and Pendleton. Oregon is part of the 9th Court of Appeals. One of its meeting places is the Pioneer Courthouse in Portland.

People and Population in Oregon

Graph of Oregon's population growth from 1850 to 2010

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	12,093	—
1860	52,465	333.8%
1870	90,923	73.3%
1880	174,768	92.2%
1890	317,704	81.8%
1900	413,536	30.2%
1910	672,765	62.7%
1920	783,389	16.4%
1930	953,786	21.8%
1940	1,089,684	14.2%
1950	1,521,341	39.6%
1960	1,768,687	16.3%
1970	2,091,385	18.2%
1980	2,633,105	25.9%
1990	2,842,321	7.9%
2000	3,421,399	20.4%
2010	3,831,074	12.0%
2020	4,237,256	10.6%
2023 (est.)	4,233,358	10.5%
Sources: 1910–2020

Ethnic origins in Oregon

Oregon population by county using 2012 estimates

In 2020, Oregon's population was 4,237,256. This was a 10.60% increase from 2010. Oregon was a very popular place to move to in 2013 and 2014. More families moved into the state than out of it.

In 2020, about 49.5% of the population was male and 50.5% was female. About 20.5% of people were under 18 years old. Most people (60.8%) were between 18 and 64. About 18.8% were 65 or older.

In 2022, there were about 17,959 people experiencing homelessness in Oregon.

Oregon racial composition
Racial composition	1970	1990	2000	2010	2020
White including White Hispanics	97.2%	92.8%	86.6%	83.6%	74.8%
Black or African American	1.3%	1.6%	1.6%	1.8%	2%
American Indian and Alaska Native	0.6%	1.4%	1.3%	1.4%	1.5%
Asian	0.7%	2.4%	3.0%	3.7%	4.6%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	–	–	0.2%	0.3%	0.5%
Other race	0.2%	1.8%	4.2%	5.3%	6.3%
Two or more races	–	–	3.1%	3.8%	10.5%
Non-Hispanic White	95.8%	-	-	-	71.7%

In 2020, 13.9% of Oregon's population was of Hispanic or Latino origin. About 71.7% were non-Hispanic White. Other groups included African American (2.0%), Native American (1.5%), Asian (4.6%), and Pacific Islander (1.5%). About 10.5% were of two or more races.

The largest ancestry groups for White Oregonians are German, Irish, and English. The number of non-Hispanic White people has decreased as a percentage of the total population since 1970.

In 2011, about 38.7% of babies born in Oregon had at least one parent who was not a non-Hispanic White.

The center of Oregon's population is in Linn County, near the city of Lyons. About 60% of Oregon's people live in the Portland metropolitan area.

In 2009, Oregon had over 361,000 foreign-born residents. Most of these came from Latin America, Asia, and Europe. The top countries of origin for immigrants in 2018 were Mexico, Vietnam, China, India, and the Philippines.

The Roma first came to Oregon in the 1890s. There is a large Roma population in the Willamette Valley and around Portland. Most of Oregon's population is of white (European) background and born in America.

Languages Spoken in Oregon

Speakers with limited English proficiency by language, 2022
Rank	Language	Number of Speakers
1	Spanish	128,303
2	Vietnamese	16,292
3	Chinese	15,816
4	Russian	8,559
5	Korean	4,903
6	Ukrainian	2,534
7	Arabic	1,480
8	Tagalog	447
9	Marshallese	336
10	Japanese	333
11	Thai	169
12	French	142
13	German	139

Religious and Non-Religious Groups

Religious self-identification in Oregon, per PRRI American Values Atlas (2022) Unaffiliated (42%) Protestantism (35%) Catholicism (14%) Mormonism (2%) Judaism (2%) New Age (2%) Jehovah's Witness (1%) Buddhist (1%)

Oregon often has a smaller percentage of religious people than other U.S. states. In 2009, Oregon and Vermont were called the two "least religious" states.

In that same poll, 69% of Oregonians said they were Christian. The largest Christian groups in Oregon in 2010 were the Roman Catholic Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Assemblies of God. Oregon also has the largest community of Russian Old Believers in the U.S.

Judaism is the largest non-Christian religion in Oregon, with over 50,000 followers. Most of them live in the Portland area. There are also an estimated 6,000 to 10,000 Muslims in Oregon, mostly in Portland.

Many people in Oregon say they have no religious affiliation. In 2008, 24% of Oregon residents identified as "non-religious."

Oregon's Economy and Jobs

In 2015, Oregon ranked 17th in the U.S. for median household income. This means the middle income for households was $60,834. Oregon's total economic output (GDP) in 2013 was $219.6 billion. This made it the 25th wealthiest state by GDP.

Oregon's unemployment rate was 5.5% in September 2016. Oregon has the third highest number of people using food stamps in the nation.

Farming and Agriculture

Teenagers harvesting berries in Boring, 1946

Oregon's varied landscapes are great for different kinds of farming. The rich soil in the Willamette Valley comes from ancient floods. In 2016, this region produced over 100 million pounds of blueberries.

Oregon is also one of the world's main hazelnut growing areas. It produces 95% of the hazelnuts in the United States. Wine production has been important since the 1970s. In 2005, Oregon had 303 wineries. By 2014, 71 new wineries opened, bringing the total to 676.

On the southern Oregon coast, cranberry farms produce about 7% of U.S. cranberries. This farming uses about 27,000 acres (109 km²) around Bandon. In northeastern Oregon, especially near Pendleton, farmers grow wheat. Oregon farmers also raise cattle, sheep, and produce dairy, eggs, and poultry.

Forestry and Fishing Industries

Fish ladder at Bonneville Dam, Multnomah County

Historic Lumber Sled at Camp 18 in Elsie

Oregon's huge forests have made it a major timber and logging state. However, forest fires and changes in how federal forests are managed have reduced timber production. Between 1989 and 2011, timber harvested from federal lands dropped by about 90%.

Even with these changes, Oregon still leads the U.S. in softwood lumber production. In 2011, Oregon produced 4.1 billion board feet of lumber. This was more than Washington, Georgia, or Mississippi. The slowdown in the timber industry has led to high unemployment in rural areas.

Oregon has one of the largest salmon-fishing industries in the world. However, ocean fishing has reduced the amount of fish in rivers. Because of its many waterways, Oregon is also a big producer of hydroelectric energy.

Tourism and Entertainment

Elizabethan stage at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland

Hells Canyon is one of the largest canyons in the United States.

Tourism is a strong industry in Oregon. People visit for the state's natural beauty. This includes mountains, forests, waterfalls, rivers, beaches, and lakes. Popular spots are Crater Lake National Park, Multnomah Falls, the Painted Hills, and the Oregon Caves. Mount Hood and Mount Bachelor attract visitors year-round for skiing and other snow activities.

Oceanarium at the Oregon Coast Aquarium

Portland has the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, the Portland Art Museum, and the Oregon Zoo. The zoo is the oldest west of the Mississippi River. The International Rose Test Garden is another popular place in Portland. Portland is also known for its street food. Oregon has many breweries, and Portland has the most breweries of any city in the world.

The Oregon coast also attracts many tourists. The Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport is one of the top aquariums in North America. Fort Clatsop in Warrenton has a copy of Lewis and Clark's camp. The Sea Lion Caves in Florence are the largest sea caves in the U.S.

In Southern Oregon, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland is a big draw. The Oregon Vortex and the Wolf Creek Inn State Heritage Site also attract visitors.

Oregon has been a popular place for filming movies because of its varied landscapes. Many movies have been filmed in Oregon, including The Goonies and Kindergarten Cop. Matt Groening, who created The Simpsons, is from Portland. He has included many references to his hometown in the show. Several TV shows like Portlandia and Grimm have also been filmed in Oregon. The Oregon Film Museum is in Astoria. The last remaining Blockbuster store is in Bend.

Technology and Innovation

High-tech industries in the Silicon Forest have been a major source of jobs since the 1970s. Tektronix was once Oregon's largest private employer. Intel built and expanded many facilities in Washington County. This continued the growth that Tektronix started. Intel is now the state's largest for-profit private employer. It has four large facilities in Hillsboro.

Many new companies started from these two businesses, creating the Silicon Forest. The economic downturn in 2001 affected the region. Many tech companies reduced staff or closed. In 2004, Open Source Development Labs hired Linus Torvalds, who created the Linux kernel. In 2010, biotechnology company Genentech opened a large facility in Hillsboro.

Oregon is home to several large data centers. They benefit from cheap power and a cool climate, which helps reduce cooling costs. Google has a large data center in The Dalles. Facebook built a large data center near Prineville in 2010. Amazon opened a data center near Boardman in 2011.

Major Company Headquarters

Nike headquarters near Beaverton

Oregon is also home to large companies in other industries. The world headquarters of Nike is near Beaverton. Harry and David, which sells gift items, is based in Medford. Medford is also home to Lithia Motors. Portland has one of the largest book publishing houses in the West, Graphic Arts Center Publishing. Mentor Graphics Corporation, a leader in electronic design, is in Wilsonville.

Adidas Corporations American Headquarters is in Portland. Nike's headquarters in Beaverton is a top employer in the Portland area. Intel has been a top employer in Oregon since 1974.

Largest Public Corporations Headquartered in Oregon (December 2016)
#	Corporation	Headquarters	Market cap (billions US$)
1.	Nike	Beaverton	91.35
2.	FLIR Systems	Wilsonville	4.77
3.	Portland General Electric	Portland	4.05
4.	Columbia Sportswear	Beaverton	4.03
5.	Umpqua Holdings Corporation	Portland	3.68
6.	Lithia Motors	Medford	2.06
7.	Northwest Natural Gas	Portland	1.7
8.	The Greenbrier Companies	Lake Oswego	1.25

The U.S. Federal Government and Providence Health systems are also major employers in Oregon.

In 2015, seven Oregon-based companies were on the Fortune 1000 list. These included Nike, Precision Castparts Corp., and Columbia Sportswear.

Taxes and State Budget

Oregon's state budget, which is planned every two years, was $2.6 billion in 2017. It comes from different sources like general funds, federal funds, and lottery funds.

Oregon is one of only five states that do not have a sales tax. Oregon voters have voted against sales tax proposals nine times. The last time was in 1993.

The state also has a very low minimum corporate tax of $150 per year. Because of this, the state relies on property and income taxes for its money. Oregon has the fifth highest personal income tax in the nation.

Some local governments do charge sales taxes on services. For example, the city of Ashland collects a 5% sales tax on prepared food.

The City of Portland has an Arts Education and Access Income Tax. This is a $35 tax for residents over 18 who earn more than $1,000 per year and live in a household above the poverty line. This tax helps fund Portland schools and art groups.

Oregon also allows transit districts to charge an income tax on employers and self-employed people.

Oregon is one of six states with a revenue limit. The "kicker law" says that if income tax collections are more than 2% higher than expected, the extra money must be given back to taxpayers. This has happened seven times since 1979.

Federal payments to counties, which replaced timber revenue, have been uncertain. This affects the money available for services in rural counties.

About 55% of state money is spent on public education. 23% goes to human services, and 17% to public safety.

Since 2018, Oregon has had a $15 tax on new bicycles costing over $200. Oregon is the only state with a bicycle tax.

Healthcare in Oregon

Oregon Health & Science University in Portland is a medical school that runs two hospitals and clinics. The Oregon Health Plan is the state's Medicaid managed care program. It is known for its new ideas in healthcare.

Education in Oregon

Schools: Elementary, Middle, and High School

In the 2013–2014 school year, Oregon had 567,000 students in public schools. There were 197 public school districts.

In 2016, the largest school districts were Portland Public Schools, Salem-Keizer School District, and Beaverton School District.

About 90.5% of Oregon high school students graduate. This is better than the national average of 88.3%.

On May 8, 2019, teachers across Oregon protested. They asked for smaller class sizes, more support staff like counselors and nurses, and more art, music, and physical education classes. These protests caused many schools to close for a day.

Colleges and Universities in Oregon

The Memorial Union at Oregon State University

Oregon has faced challenges in funding higher education. Since 1990, the state has cut its budget for universities. Oregon now ranks 46th in the country for state spending per student.

Oregon has seven public universities and one affiliate. It has three public research universities: the University of Oregon (UO) in Eugene, Oregon State University (OSU) in Corvallis, and Portland State University.

Johnson Hall at the University of Oregon

UO is the state's highest-ranked public university by U.S. News & World Report. OSU is the state's only land-grant university. It has the largest student enrollment and receives the most research funding. Portland State University is the second largest.

Oregon also has three regional universities: Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Southern Oregon University in Ashland, and Eastern Oregon University in La Grande. The Oregon Institute of Technology is in Klamath Falls. The Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) has medical, dental, and nursing schools in Portland. The state also supports 17 community colleges.

Eliot Hall at Reed College

Oregon has many private colleges. Most are in the Portland area. These include the University of Portland, Reed College, Lewis & Clark College, and Multnomah University. Pacific University is in Forest Grove. Other private colleges are Linfield College in McMinnville and George Fox University in Newberg. Salem has Willamette University (the state's oldest) and Corban University.

Sports in Oregon

The Moda Center (formerly the Rose Garden) during a Portland Trail Blazers game

Oregon has three major professional sports teams. These are the Portland Trail Blazers (NBA basketball), the Portland Thorns FC (NWSL women's soccer), and the Portland Timbers (MLS men's soccer).

The Portland Trail Blazers have been a successful NBA team for many years. They play at the Moda Center in Portland. The Moda Center is also home to the Portland Winterhawks junior ice hockey team.

The Portland Timbers play at Providence Park in Portland. They have many dedicated fans. The Timbers changed their stadium to be just for soccer in 2010. The Timbers also own Portland Thorns FC, a women's soccer team. The Thorns have won two league championships and have the highest attendance in their league.

Providence Park during a Portland Thorns FC match

Eugene and Hillsboro have minor-league baseball teams: the Eugene Emeralds and the Hillsboro Hops.

The Oregon State Beavers and the University of Oregon Ducks football teams play each other every year. Both schools have also done well in other sports. Oregon State won college baseball championships in 2006, 2007, and 2018. The University of Oregon won NCAA men's cross country championships in 2007 and 2008.