Our Oregon
Oregon is noted worldwide for its varied and diverse recreation opportunities. Western Oregon (the boundaries of which define the Diocese of Oregon) contains two mountain ranges, the Cascades and the Coast Range. Both extend the full length of the state from the Columbia River in the north to the California border.
Portland is Oregon’s largest city (and center of the nation’s 23rd largest metropolitan region with a population of over 2 million) and principal cultural center followed by Eugene (155,000) and Salem (154,000), the state’s capital city. Many smaller cities and towns are scattered throughout the Diocese.
In the text below you will find information about:
| Oregon's History | Culture & Recreation |
| Oregon's Economy | Higher Education in Oregon |
| Regions | An Oregon Reading List |
History
Before Europeans explored Oregon, as many as 80 Native American tribes prospered here. The Oregon Country had been claimed variously by Great Britain, Russia, and Spain. The United States staked its claim in 1792 when Captain Robert Gray sailed into the Columbia River. The Lewis and Clark expedition (1804-07) culminated at the mouth of the Columbia near present day Astoria and further reinforced American claims to Oregon. Trappers and traders were the harbingers of the coming migration.
Between 1840 and 1850 more than 53,000 people traversed the Oregon Trail. Native American exposure to diseases such as smallpox and diphtheria decimated the tribes, and that, along with the encroachment of settlers on tribal lands, was the cause of much strife between Native Americans and incoming Europeans. The American government encouraged migration to Oregon in order to strengthen its hold on the land. The United States perfected its claim to the Oregon Country below the 49th parallel with the signing of the Oregon Treaty in 1846 with Great Britain. The federal Land Donation Law allotted 320 acres to white male pioneers and 640 acres to married white couples. That helped provide the impetus for the western expansion and the American idea of its "manifest destiny".
Oregon's Economy
While economic development was slow in the coastal region, the Willamette Valley and Portland in particular boomed. Portland became a major shipping port, especially in wheat. In the 1880s, the coming of the railroads connecting Portland with San Francisco and the transcontinental railroad further fueled economic development. Portland became the economic center of the state.
The First World War stimulated the shipyards and timber trades in Oregon, especially Portland. In the 1930s, New Deal programs such as the Works Projects Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps built many projects around the state, including such Oregon treasures as Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood. The lives of many Oregonians were improved when roads were built and hydroelectric dams harnessed the Columbia River. This encouraged settlement, and irrigation water from the Columbia enabled agricultural development. The Bonneville Dam was a plentiful and inexpensive source of power, which stimulated the development of industries such as aluminum smelters during World War II. Food production, shipbuilding and the lumber industry were also greatly enhanced by the needs of the nation during WWII.
Since 1945 the economy has evolved, largely in the major urban areas, into one that focuses on high technology, banking, professional services, and tourism; and with an impetus from the state’s research universities, medical research and biotechnologies. These developments have occurred simultaneously with a decline in natural resource based industries and present a challenge today for the state and for the Diocese.
Regions
Metropolitan Portland
The Portland area comprises half of the population of the whole state and three quarters of the population of the Diocese of Oregon. It has a cosmopolitan urban environment and is the financial center of the state. Lying at the confluence of two great rivers, the Columbia and the Willamette, it is a beautiful city, vibrant and architecturally rich, with some spectacular parks including an exceptional Rose Garden. There are many institutions of higher education in Portland and several excellent museums. Hand crafted beers are popular and thoroughly enjoyed by Oregonians. Several of the specialty brewers are located in Portland.
Northern Coast
Oregon's north coast is a popular playground for locals and weekend visitors. The Lewis and Clark Expedition’s terminus near Astoria is a destination for tourists. To the south are Seaside, Canon Beach and Tillamook. Camp grounds, Bed and Breakfasts, and small hotels are plentiful as are the recreational opportunities throughout this region.
The Columbia Gorge
The Columbia Gorge is a spectacular phenomenon of nature just east of Portland. Well known for its views of snow covered mountains and the Columbia River, it is famous for its salmon fishing, wind-surfing and resorts. For Lewis and Clark and for many Oregon pioneers travelling through the Columbia Gorge, it was the last great leg of the Oregon Trail journey.
The Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley, extending from Portland south to Eugene, is a fertile stretch of land with lush fields of crops and thick green forests. It is one of the most agriculturally rich areas in the world – it was the dream destination of the pioneers who crossed the continent on the Oregon Trail. The wide variety of crops grown in this region includes grass seed, mint, nursery and landscape plants, nuts, berries, hops and wine grapes. It is home to many fine wineries, and to the University of Oregon (Eugene) and the Oregon State University (Corvallis). Taking a wine tour, seeing the picturesque covered bridges or visiting farmers' markets are excellent ways to discover the Willamette Valley.
Southern Oregon
Medford, Ashland, Grant’s Pass and Roseburg are significant cities in Southern Oregon. Ashland is home to Southern Oregon University and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which are principal economic drivers to the local economy. Other theatre groups and the music and dance offerings of the Britt Festival held in the historic gold mining town of Jacksonville also attract significant tourism. In Southern Oregon, recreation is a year round experience. Perennial favorites include skiing, snowshoeing, white water rafting, angling, hiking, biking and camping.
Southern Coast
The dark sands of Oregon's southern coast set the region apart as a world of its own. Collecting unusual stones, watching for whales, or just walking by the surf for miles and miles are hallmarks of the Southern Oregon coast experience. Recreational opportunities are plentiful and include golfing, hiking the lush coastal forests, exploring the wild rivers, or discovering the charm of its small coastal towns.
Culture and Recreation
In recent years, the cultural scene in Portland has exploded, attracting all sorts of innovative artists, young and old. Whatever your cultural leanings, Oregon is likely to offer a wide range of choices at any time of the year. From the Oregon Symphony to the “Do Jump!” Dance Theater, and from the food and wine festivals to the many art museums and galleries, there is an array of cultural events from which to choose. Many events take place in the Portland cultural district, but others are in cities and towns across the state. Eugene has a state-of-the-art auditorium, and smaller theaters and concert halls abound in other towns and cities. Other areas in Portland that are rich in the arts are the trendy NW Pearl District and the up-and-coming eastside cultural area
Music
Notable symphony orchestras in Oregon include the Oregon Symphony, founded in 1896. Concerts range from classical to pops. The Eugene Symphony also offers a full season of concerts. The Portland Baroque Orchestra offers a season of intimate music played with remarkable energy on historic instruments. Two youth orchestras are active in Oregon – the Portland Youth Philharmonic is the oldest youth orchestra in the USA, and the Metropolitan Youth Symphony is also highly regarded. Various choirs are active in Oregon; three of note are the Oregon Repertory Singers, the Portland Symphonic Choir and the Gay Men’s Chorus.
Music can be quite eclectic in Oregon. Here are a few examples: recognizing our position on the Pacific Rim, Portland has an Asian-American Taiko drumming ensemble. The city is host every Summer to the Chamber Music Northwest series. In Newport on the Oregon coast, the Ernest Bloch Festival is held each year to honor the composer who spent his last years at Agate beach, just north of Newport. An ensemble calling itself 3 Leg Torso performs a synthesis of chamber music, tango, klezmer, Latin and world music. The Peter Britt Music Festival in Jacksonville provides a wide range of music, including folk, country, bluegrass, jazz, musical theater and dance. The festival hosts dozens of summer concerts, performed at the beautiful hillside estate of 19th century photographer and horticulturist, Peter Britt.
Opera
At the intersection of music and theater, the Portland Opera offers five productions each year, featuring international artists. In association with Broadway Across America, the Opera also presents touring productions of Broadway shows throughout the year.
Dance
Eight dance companies are active in Portland, alone, with the Oregon Ballet Theatre, a nationally regarded classical company, being the most prominent. There are other experimental companies such as “Do Jump!”. White Bird presents a season of touring national dance companies. Dance companies flourish in many other towns and cities.
Theater
Live theatre in Oregon is excellent. There are approximately 40 companies in Portland alone. The Portland Center for the Performing Arts complex with its four venues is the focus for several companies but there are many other smaller venues as well. Portland boasts four Actors’ Equity companies. The Artists Repertory Theater, the Portland Center Stage are just two. The Broadway Rose Theater are is a professional musical theater company based in the Portland suburbe of Tigard. There are several children’s theaters as well.
Founded in 1935, the Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland is one of the oldest and largest theatre companies in the nation. From February through October, 11 plays, by a wide variety of playwrights, are produced in three theatres and attended by more than 400,000 people annually. It also has a significant theatre education program. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is considered one of the finest Shakespearean companies in the world.
Most of Oregon’s principal cities and many towns also have theater companies. One well known company is the Coaster Theatre in Cannon Beach on the Oregon coast. A list of Oregon’s regional arts organizations can be found in Oregon's Bluebook.
Art Galleries and Museums
Art galleries abound in Oregon – there are more than 150 galleries and numerous museums in the Portland area and scores more in smaller cities and towns. The Portland Art Museum is a significant regional art museum in its own right but it also presents touring collections of note several times a year. Exhibits also change regularly in the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, the World Forestry Center, the Children’s Museum, and the Oregon Historical Society Museum. On the first Thursday of the month, Portland’s First Thursday gallery walks feature shows and openings at scores of art galleries in the Pearl District. Both Lewis and Clark College and Reed College have significant art galleries that are open to the public.
Food, Wine and Hand Crafted Beer
Food and culinary arts have reached cultural status in Oregon. Many communities offer farmers’ markets with a bountiful array of freshly grown produce in addition to music and conviviality. There are many Community Supported Agriculture farms. The City of Lake Oswego, for example, bought a farm on its periphery and offers residents the opportunity to buy a share of its seasonal output or to grow their own produce.
There are many wine and food festivals all over the state. One, The Sip, is held at the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville and attracts many of the local wineries, cheese makers and other cottage food producers. Cooking classes are also treated as culture in Oregon.
Oregon’s wines, especially Pinot Noirs, are well regarded internationally. While hand crafted beers tend to remain in the state, they are prized by loyal followers.
Recreation and Tourism
There are many excellent ski areas and resorts which regularly receive over 200 inches of snow annually. Skiing starts early in the fall and can last until the 4th of July. One area offers summer skiing. Fishing, hiking, boating, mountain climbing, water skiing, golfing and sailing are favorite activities here. Numerous other recreational opportunities are available. Because of our mild climate, many activities are available year round. The following is a small selection.
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The Portland Rose Festival is a major event that includes the Starlight Parade, the Starlight run, the Grand Floral Parade, dragon boat races, the Rose Cup races, a traditional rose show, and much more. US and Canadian Naval ships arrive in town, and sailors enjoy the hospital-ity of the city.
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Silver Falls State Park, near Salem, has ten magnificent waterfalls. Hiking around or behind these waterfalls is a cool way to spend a hot afternoon. Other park facilities include biking and hiking trails, picnic areas and a small lake.
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The Rogue River jet boat trips, either from Grants Pass or Gold Beach, provide white water excitement. The boats run through a wild and scenic section of the Rogue, where many dif-ferent types of wildlife, such as osprey, bald eagles, bear, deer, beaver and otters can be seen.
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Crater Lake National Park, located in Klamath County, is Oregon's only National Park. The sapphire blue water of Crater Lake is one of Oregon's most photographed sights. There are more than 100 miles of hiking trails in the park offering marvelous views.
Higher Education in Oregon
State Universities
Oregon’s public higher education system has three major state universities (University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon State University in Corvallis and Portland State University in Portland). All have large undergraduate populations and extensive graduate studies. The University of Oregon has a highly regarded Honors College, and OSU offers engineering, forestry, oceanography, and other applied sciences. Portland State University is an urban university with many commuter students but also a growing number of on-campus residential students. It has a broad range of offerings, many of which relate to its urban focus.
Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) is located in Portland, and comprises the medical, dental, pharmacy and nursing schools as well as the Oregon Graduate Institute, the Veterans Administration hospital and other specialty teaching and research hospitals. OHSU grew out of the University of Oregon Medical School, whose origins date back to the 1860’s. After running out of room on its Marquam Hill campus the university is developing another campus on the Willamette River, now connected by the innovative Portland Aerial Tram.
Other components of the state higher education system are the three regional four-year universities (Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Southern Oregon University in Ashland, and Eastern Oregon University in La Grande) which began life as normal schools for the education of teachers, and the Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls.
Oregon’s system of public higher education has suffered from modest state support compared with other states, although data shows that the two year growth in spending in absolute terms has in-creased 21.8% (versus a national average of 7.9%), the largest increase of any state. It remains to be seen how the current economic challenges facing Oregon and the nation will affect the state’s colleges and universities.
Community Colleges
Oregon has 17 community colleges, thirteen of which are geographically in the Diocese of Oregon. The enrollment in 2007 was more than 91,000 full-time equivalent students. About one third of high school graduates enroll in community colleges, but two-thirds of the students are older than 24 years and many are senior citizens seeking to enrich their retirement years.
Independent Colleges and Universities
There are ten institutions offering four-year bachelors degrees (see below). All offer liberal arts programs and many also have professional curricula such as business, health professions or law. The most academically rigorous institution of the group and one of the most selective nationally is Reed College. Reed has had many Rhodes Scholars and a high percentage of its graduates go on to earn doctorates. There are three Art Schools in Oregon, all in Portland. A complete list of independent institutions of higher education can be found at the State of Oregon Bluebook website.
Follow these links to detailed information about Oregon colleges and universities.
Public Institutions
Portland State University, Portland
Oregon State University, Corvallis
University of Oregon, Eugene
Western Oregon University, Monmouth
Southern Oregon University, Ashland
Eastern Oregon University, LaGrande
Oregon Institute of Technology, Klamath Falls
Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland
Private Institutions
University of Portland, Portland
Willamette University, Salem
Linfield College, McMinnville
Concordia University, Portland
George Fox University, Newberg
Lewis & Clark College, Portland
Marylhurst University, Lake Oswego
Pacific University, Forest Grove
Reed College, Portland
Warner Pacific College, Portland
Oregon Reading List
The Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission, as part of the Oregon’s celebration this year of it 150 years of statehood, has produced a list of 100 well known and loved works by favorite authors on Oregon themes. The list can be accessed at Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission web site. There you will find novels, poetry, memoirs and nonfiction listed by such well known authors as Beverly Cleary, Ken Kesey, Barry Lopez, and William Stafford.
As you review this list and sample some of the books, life in Oregon become palpable. Here are a few titles that you might find interesting:
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A Girl from Yamhill by Beverly Cleary
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The River Why by David James Duncan
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The Jump Off Creek by Molly Gloss
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Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey
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Winterkill by Craig Lesley
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The Journals of the Expedition by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark
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Of Wolves and Men by Barry Lopez
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A Saga of a Paper Mill by Laurence Pratt
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Traveling Through the Dark by William Stafford.
