Oregon, located in northwestern US, was the 33rd state admitted to the Union in 1859. Salem is the state's capital, but its largest city, Portland, is more widely known. Its western coast is on the Pacific Ocean, providing about 360 miles (580 kilometers) of coastline. The state has a varied geography, including:

• the coast range, a mountainous region along the coast providing dramatic seaside vistas,
• the fertile Willamette Valley, one of the most productive agricultural areas of the world,
• the Cascades (part of the Pacific Rim of Fire) with Mt. Hood being Oregon's highest point (11,239 feet [3,428 meters]),
• the Klamath Mountains, an area rich with varied and unique flora,
• the Columbia Plateau which includes a rain forest environment in the spectacular Columbia Gorge,
• and a portion of the arid Great Basin desert.

Agriculture is a major player in the state's economy with revenue provided by many fruit crops, dairy products and cattle. It is the one of the world's 4 major hazelnut-producing areas, producing most of the domestic hazelnuts in the US. With many forests, timber is a major industry in the state, although forest fires, over-harvesting and lawsuits have reduced the amount of timber produced. Oregon has one of the largest salmon industries in the world as the Oregon rivers are the spawning grounds for this specie.

Oregonians are proud of their natural resources and work hard to preserve them. Much legislation has been passed to protect these resources while allowing for growth and change. It was a pioneer in introducing laws requiring a deposit on soft drink and beer containers, the first state to do so in 1971. As a result, resources were better utilized and litter was reduced.

Tourism is also a large industry, thanks to the varied geology and relatively mild climate. From sandy beaches to evergreen forests to towering mountains, there is a multitude of places to visit. The state has one National Park, Crater Lake, with its pristine blue waters filling an extinct volcano. There are numerous state parks available for day use or camping in all parts of the state.

And for you trivia buffs out there, a few interesting items:

• Oregon's flag is one of only a few in the world that has different images on the front and back (on the front is the state seal while the back features a small beaver, the state animal)
• Oregon is home to the world's smallest park, Mill Ends Park, a 2 foot diameter circle, located in Portland
• Oregon has been a leader in vote-by-mail, offering experimental vote-by-mail in 1981, becoming permanent in 1987 and being the first state to hold a Federal primary totally by mail in 1995. In 2000 Oregon was the first state to conduct a presidential election by mail with 80% of the registered voters participating.

We have traveled to many places in Oregon over the years and now it has become the closest thing we have to “home.” There is such a diversity of environments that we can always find somewhere new to visit. While we haven’t really lived there long enough to feel like “Oregonians,” we have noticed that an increasing number of Californians have been moving to Oregon in the recent years. Perhaps it is because Oregon has managed to keep the relaxed attitude that California used to have before it became so populated.

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