Chapter NINE

Religion

Most Oregonians refer to themselves as Christian but do not list a denominational affiliation. About 27% are unaffiliated Christians

Oregon Religious Traditions, 2010

447,009	4,471	140,248	7,316	399,440	196,309	2,636,281
Evangelical Protestant	Black Protestant	Mainline Protestant	Orthodox	Catholic	Other	Unclaimed

Oregon is one of few states in the country with a large amount of their population claiming to be religiously-unaffiliated. The state that Oregon's religious trends most closely resemble are that of Washington. Seventeen percent of Oregon residents describe themselves as not being a part of a religion. That is more than twice as high as the country's percentage which averages 7%.

Oregon also has some of the least heard of religions present in the state. There is a small Neo-Pagan/Wiccan community that is active. The group is so small that it only makes up 0.1% of the state's population. This shows Oregon's high amount of religious tolerance in comparison to other states.


Sources:
Religious traditions graph
"Religion in Oregon." Religion in Oregon. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://www.adherents.com/loc/loc_oregon.html>.
"Reports." The Association of Religion Data Archives. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/s/41/rcms2010_41_state_name_2000_ON.asp>.

Chapter EIGHT

Agriculture

Oregon's vast amount of land and good soils easily lend themselves to agriculture. The state's agricultural products include inedible items such as Christmas trees, nursery plants and grass seed. Oregon is the leading producer of Christmas trees. 

All Christmas trees are grown on independent tree farms. Oregon's Clackamas County is where the majority of the state's Christmas trees are produced. This particular tree industry is estimated to be valued at $100 million annually. 

Christmas tree farm in Redland, Oregon.

Oregon State University uses the following image to show what percentage of each crop makes up the state's agriculture.

Out of the state's livestock products there is milk, beef, chicken eggs, and broilers. The most valuable are beef and milk. Oregon also produces a large potato crop and is known as a vegetable-producing state. Other vegetables include onions, sweet corn, sugar beets, hazelnuts, loganberries, blackberries, and marionberries. I had the opportunity to try marionberry jam while in Oregon and I HIGHLY recommend finding some fast! It was the best jam I have ever had in my life.

Oregon produces most of the country's seeds for ryegrass, orchardgrass, and crimson clover among others. It's no surprise since anywhere you go in Salem you are guaranteed to find large nurseries that employ most of the locals. They do work that varies from watering the plants to transplanting them. 

Sources:
Image 1
Image 2
"Keeping Oregon's Christmas Tree Industry on Top." Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/release/2007/12/keeping-oregons-christmas-tree-industry-top>.
 "Oregon Agriculture Produces Sales More than $4 Billion." Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/release/2006/04/oregon-agriculture-produces-sales-more-4-billion>.
"Oregon Department of Agriculture The History of Oregon Agriculture." Oregon Department of Agriculture The History of Oregon Agriculture. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/pages/do_history.aspx>.
"Oregon Economy." Economy of Oregon including Oregon Agriculture and Manufacturing from NETSTATE.COM. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2012. <http://www.netstate.com/economy/or_economy.htm>.
"Oregon's Diverse Farms and Agriculture." Welcome to the Oregon Explorer! N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2012. <http://oregonexplorer.info/farm/FarmsandAgriculture>.

Chapter SEVEN

Forestry

Oregon today maintains 91 percent of its original forests. The forests contribute to the economy and the state is the nation's number one supplier of lumber. 

Because Oregon's forests contribute to the state's income, Oregon has strict forest protection laws. The Oregon Forest Conservation Act was adopted in 1941. The act deals with reforestation and fire protection. All forest laws were developed by scientists, the general public, landowners, and elected officials working together. 

Thirty years after the adoption of the Oregon Forest Conservation Act came the Oregon Forest Practices Act (OFPA). Theses laws govern forest practices, making  Oregon the first state to implement such laws. The OFPA is not an outdated set of laws, the act is periodically updated. The updates are a result of new information and new operating technology and forestry practices. Changes made are meant to continue protecting forests in changing environmental and technological times.

Oregon's forests also serve as tourist spots. There are 350 camping grounds, over 3,000 hiking trails, caves, glaciers, and high peaks. The result is millions of dollars in annual tourism income. The forests provide approximately 76,000 living wage jobs.

According to Oregon Forest Resources Institute, the state's forests contribute greatly to its annual income, the forest 
sector makes about $12.7 billion dollars annually.




Oregon FOREST TOURS

Forests and other largely tree covered areas are not hard to find. While visiting Detroit Lake I noticed that the lake was surrounded with pines that were very hard to miss. Below are some pictures of Detroit Lake.

Sources:

Image
"Keeping Oregon Forests Working." Forest Sector Economy. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2012. <http://oregonforests.org/content/forest-sector-economy>.
"Planning and Protecting for the Future." Laws & Planning. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2012. <http://oregonforests.org/content/laws-planning>.

Chapter FIVE

Manufacturing

Oregon's leading manufactured products are electronic equipment.
Its second most manufactured products are in the wood industry. 
he electronic equipment includes oscilloscopes, computer video display monitors, calculators, printer components, microprocessors and communication microchips. More recently Oregon has been able to recruit solar manufacturers. 
Oregon is also the nation's leading state in lumber production. 
While Oregon is not included in the Manufacturing Core or its transitional area, it is still considered a manufacturing state.  



The Oregon Economic & Community Development Department (OECDD) created a video that talked about the increasing number of solar manufacturing plants in the state and what it means to their economy. 

This video helps show Oregon's growing status as a manufacturing state.

The state's natural resources such as its forests allow for the state to manufacture a large amount of wood products such as plywood, veneer and particleboard.

This video shows some buncher logging taking place in Coos Bay, Oregon. It's meant to give you an idea of the amount of logging that takes place.

Minerals

Oregon receives some of its income from mining. The state is the leading producer of pumice stone. It mines diatomite, semiprecious gems, and gold. However, about 75 percent of the state's mining income is a result of sand and gravel mining for stone and roadbeds.

Some of the minerals found in Oregon include:

GOLD- Marion County

STILBITE- Goble

CHABAZITE- Benton County

CAVANSITE- Malheur County

State Rock

THUNDER EGG

Sources:

"MINERALS OF OREGON." MINERALS OF OREGON. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2012. <http://www.tigerminerals.com/or.htm>.

"Oregon Economy." Economy of Oregon including Oregon Agriculture and Manufacturing from NETSTATE.COM. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2012. <http://www.netstate.com/economy/or_economy.htm>.

"Oregon." Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108262.html>.

"Thundereggs and Agates from the USA." Thundereggs and Agates from the USA. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://rayerminerals.homestead.com/USA_agaten.html>.

PLACES TO VISIT

The video provides suggestions on what areas of Oregon to visit and also gives a view of the state's physical landscape.

I have been to Pittock Mansion and enjoyed learning its history. It was the home of the founder of the local newspaper The Oregonian. Everywhere I drove there were mailboxes with the newspaper's name on it and it was interesting to see where its founder lived. Below are some pictures that I took while touring the mansion, enjoy. 

Chapter FOUR

Urban vs. Rural

Two-thirds of the state's land is located east of the Cascades. That land is used for ranching and farming while the rest is covered in pine. The area is mostly rural and only contains approximately 14 percent of the state's population. People live mainly in cities. That means that the majority of the population can be found along the coast. 


State Flag: 

Front of flag

Back of Flag (State Nickname: BEAVER STATE)

  

Population

Anyone living in Oregon is an "Oregonian." In 2011 the population estimate for the state was 3,871,859 people. There are 36 counties in the state and the largest county as determined by population and land area is Multnomah. Multnomah has a population of about 735,334. Ten of those 36 counties are located in the Willamette Valley. The few times that I have visited Oregon I have noticed that the people you see depends on where you visit. There is a largely Latino workforce in Clackamas and other agricultural regions of the state. The largest mixture of people are in the state parks where diversity is more likely.

The 2011 Oregon census showed the population consisted of:

Male 49.5%
Female 50.5%
White 88.6%
Black 2.0%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.8%
Asian 3.9%
Two or more races 3.4%
Hispanic/Latino 12.0%
Under 18 years  22.3%
65 and over 14.3%


Sources:

"Cities with the Highest Population Density in Oregon." Zip Code, Area Code, City & State Profiles. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2012. <http://zipatlas.com/us/or/city-comparison/population-density.htm>.
"Oregon." Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108262.html>.
"Oregon QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau." Oregon QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2012. <http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/41000.html>.
"Rural Oregon Sending More High School Graduates to College, despite the Rougher Road." The Oregonian. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2012. <http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2011/03/rural_oregon_sending_more_high.html>.
Map
Flag

Chapter THREE

History

Oregon's native inhabitants included the Wasco, Wishram, Tenino, Cayuse, Umatilla, and Nez Perce. They were collectively referred to as Oregon's Plateau Indians. They lived from the Cascade Mountains to the Wallowas. Their locations included being near rivers or at high elevations.

The native inhabitants were very successful as traders of glass beads, cotton and clothing just before the arrival of American explorers. Those who lived in the Great Basin would travel with their extended family and would join with other groups to hunt. They were mainly hunters and migrated depending on the season as a result.

There is no record of the first encounter with settlers. It was common for the Spanish to make voyages in the North Pacific in an attempt to seek colonies, wealth, and mission fields, but there is no telling if they were the first to make contact with Oregon's native inhabitants. 

About 300 ships had passed the Northwest Coast by the end of the 18th century. Those ships were from about a dozen countries. Some of those vessels had passed by Oregon and its passengers had explored near the coastline. The ships were traveling in that direction as a result of the Enlightenment. 

The first American interest in the land was a result of the news of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It created interest among fur seekers.  

Religion

The largest religion in the state is Christianity. About 75 to 79 percent of the states residents identify Christianity as their religious preference. However, the largest religious bodies are the Catholic Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Oregon is one of the state's with the largest amount of self-identified "nonreligious" residents. About 17 percent of Oregon's residents identify themselves as having no religion. The U.S. average for people identifying themselves as nonreligious is seven percent.  Oregon is also known for being a religion-tolerant state. Some of its residents also practice Wicca.


Sources:

History
 "Oregon Blue Book: Oregon History: An Inhabited Land." Oregon Blue Book: Oregon History: An Inhabited Land. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2012. <http://www.bluebook.state.or.us/cultural/history/history01.htm>.
Religion
"Religion in Oregon." Religion in Oregon. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2012. <http://www.adherents.com/loc/loc_oregon.html>.

Chapter TWO

Topography

Oregon has 3,928 mountain peaks. Oregon's Pacific shoreline is bordered by sandy beaches and coastal plains. The Coast Range serves as the western wall of the Willamette Valley. The Coastal Range rises to 4,000 ft. Salem, the state's capital lies southward in the valley and is surrounded by the Calapooya Mts.

East of the Willamette Valley are the volcanic peaks of the Cascade Range. The Cascade Range is a rugged mountain chain that runs from north to south about 100 miles inland of the state. Mount Hood has the state's highest elevation (11,235 ft). 

Oregon's physical features are characterized by mountain slopes and treeless basins, valleys, rivers and wastelands. The state's mountain slopes are heavily forested. They are almost entirely covered by pine trees. Which is not unusual given that the state is the main source of the nation's Christmas trees. The state tree is the Douglas Fir which is also known as Oregon Pine.

Oregon also has 231 state parks. Its large amount of natural space helps the state receive income from tourism. I contributed to that income this summer and visited Silver Falls in the South Falls Historic District.
Below are some pictures I took while there.

Climate


The most important factor in Oregon's climate is the Pacific Ocean. It is the state's western border. The winter's lowest temperature and summer's highest temperatures occurring in the western portion of the state are moderate. Because the western area of the state receives a lot of moisture from the ocean, it provides abundant rainfall for the western portion of the state as well as rainfall in eastern high elevations.

Another influences geographic factor is the Coast Range. This mountain range also aids in the large amount of rainfall received in the western part of the state. The Cascade Range also affects the state's weather. It is in the Cascades that the state receives its heaviest snowfall. The annual average snowfall ranges from 300 to 550 inches. The largest amount of snowfall was officially recorded at Crater Lake National Park headquarters  with a maximum annual snowfall of 829 inches and a snow depth of 242 inches.

While there is a large amount of annual snowfall near the mountain ranges, there is hardly any snow along the coast. The average annual snowfall along the coast is about one to three inches. The inland valleys receive between 10 to 15 inches of snow annually. However, that snow does not last on the ground for more than three days on average. 

In EXTREME cases, some parts of the state can have heavy snowstorms that could produce up to 25 inches of snow in 24 hours.

Sources:
TOPOGRAPHY
"Geography." Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2012. <http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/us/A0860156.html>.
"Oregon." Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 7 Oct. 2012. <http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108262.html>.

CLIMATE
"Climate of Oregon." N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Oct. 2012. <http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/narratives/OREGON.htm>.
Image 1 
Image 2

Chapter ONE

Industrialization

The United States has the highest volume of manufacturing output is unmatched by any other country in the world. Oregon is a manufacturing state because of the large amount of dams in the state, there is low-cost electric power. 

Leading manufactured items are lumber and plywood, metalwork, machinery, aluminum, paper, chemicals, electronic equipment, and food packing. Oregon leads the states in lumber production.The most important processed foods include baked goods, beverages, canned good and frozen fruits and vegetables. 

Other manufactured products are electronic equipment. Those manufactured products include calculators, microprocessors and communication microchips, computer video display monitors, oscilloscopes, and printer components. 

Environmental Impact

Oregon slowly became a manufacturing state, however, manufacturing and urbanization has not dramatically impacted the state's natural environment. The state's forests total approximately 780,000 acres and it still has about 91 percent of its original forests. The state of Oregon is also the nation's main source of Christmas trees allowing for a large amount of the state's land to remain green and taken care of year-round.
I have been to Salem and Portland, Oregon in the past few years and it's overwhelming to see so much green around you. Our freeways are surrounded by trash and concrete and the freeways in Oregon look like highways with endless grass on either side. 


Sources: 
"Oregon Economy." Economy of Oregon including Oregon Agriculture and Manufacturing from NETSTATE.COM. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Oct. 2012. <http://www.netstate.com/economy/or_economy.htm>.
"Oregon." Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 7 Oct. 2012. <http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108262.html>.

"Oregon Department of Forestry Criterion 1 Indicator 1."

 Oregon Department of Forestry Criterion 1Indicator 1. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://www.oregon.gov/odf/pages/state_forests/frp/crt1ind1.aspx>

Image- http://www.pv-magazine.com/typo3temp/pics/Oregon_welcome_sign_Image_Wikipedia_Staplegunther_86d8438954.jpg