Oregon Fast Facts:
Location, Location, Location…: Oregon is located in the Northwest region of the United States. On the Pacific coast, the Columbia and Snake rivers define much of Oregon’s northern and eastern boundaries respectively. The Willamette River Valley in the west is the most densely populated and agriculturally productive region of the state; it is home to eight of the ten largest cities.
Cities: Salem is the state’s capital, while Portland is the most populous city and one of the largest industry centers in the nation.
Behind the Name: The state is often nicknamed the “Beaver State” because of the association of beaver furs with the early history of the state.
A Closer Look: Oregon is typically the nation’s leader in forest fires, with over 1,000 of such fires in 2007.
Did You Know? Still waters run deep: Oregon is home to the deepest lake in America, Crater Lake, with a depth of 1,932 feet. Ed. Note: What does the expression “still waters run deep” mean, you ask? According to Yahoo Answers: “As the depth of a stream increases, the disturbance on the surface decreases. Conversely, if stream is shallow, the water on the surface will be turbulent and frothy. In a way of speaking, people with a lot of experience or history tend to keep their calm more than people who are less experienced or immature. And behind their calmness lie unfathomable secrets or experiences which cannot be dug up because the secrets lie so deep within and they have seen so much of life. So sometimes while a discussion or an argument is going on, the most silent person in a room can be the person who will know the most about the topic (not always the case, but sometimes this is true). They will make sure that the spotlight is not on them.”
Oregon Careers and Employment:
Population: 3,790,060 (10.8% increase since 2000) - 50.3% Female, 49.7% Male (2008 U.S. Census Bureau).
Business Environment: Ranked 16th in Forbes Magazine’s “Best States for Business,” 2008.
Top Industries: In terms of paid employees, according to a 2008 U.S. Census Bureau study: (1) manufacturing; (2) retail trade; (3) health care and social assistance; (4) accommodation and food services; and (5) construction.
Taxes: Income Tax, 5.0 to 9.0% and No Sales Tax (Federation of Tax Administrators).
Cost of Living: 114.3 in relation to the “National Average” of 100 (Federal Cost of Living Index).
Quality of Life: Ranked 22nd of 50 states by CNBC, 2009.
Weather: Average Temperature (In °F) – Jan: 32.63; Apr: 43.35; July: 66.03; Oct: 49.24 (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
K-12: Ranked 23rd of 50 states in “Academic Achievement” by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2009.
Oregon Economics:
In General: Oregon has historically depended on the state's breadth of natural resources to provide economic prosperity, but careers in the manufacturing and service sectors have also become significant in recent times.
Service Industry: The community, business and personal services group accounts for the greatest income in the services industry.
Agriculture: In terms of revenue generated Oregon’s top five agricultural products are greenhouse and nursery products, cattle and calves, dairy products, hay and ryegrass. Oregon is also a top producer of berries, pears, plums and cherries.
Manufacturing: The leading manufactured products in the state are electronic equipment such as oscilloscopes, computer video display monitors, calculators, printer components, microprocessors and communication microchips.
Mining: About three-fourths of Oregon’s mining income is generated by sand and gravel for roadbeds and stone.
A Closer Look: Oregon’s largest for-profit private employer is Intel, located in the Silicon Forest area on Portland’s west side.
Did You Know? Merry Christmas: Oregon handedly leads the nation in terms of lumber production and is a leading producer of Christmas trees across the nation.
Oregon Education:
Find Colleges and Universities in Oregon, here.
Sources: In addition to specific citations noted in this “Career Information” section, supplementary source materials include: the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service; Netstate.com; Education-Portal.com; USCollegeSearch.org; and Wikipedia.com.
