History of Oregon in Timeline
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Its northern boundary is largely defined by the Columbia River, separating it from Washington, while the Snake River forms much of its eastern border with Idaho. California and Nevada border it to the south along the 42° north parallel. The Pacific Ocean marks its western edge.
4 hours ago : Oregon faces snowpack deficit, drought risk, and Crater Lake's grim record.
Oregon faces below-normal snowpack on Mount Hood, increasing drought risks in three counties as warned by the governor, and Crater Lake sets a grim new record raising environmental concerns.
1900: Portland Experiences Population Boom
Portland, Oregon, experienced a significant population boom between 1900 and 1930, tripling in size.
1902: Oregon Introduces Direct Legislation
In 1902, Oregon introduced direct legislation through initiatives and referendums, known as the Oregon System.
1902: Ballot measure creates initiative and referendum
In 1902, Oregon overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure that created the initiative and referendum for citizens to introduce or approve proposed laws or amendments to the state constitution directly. This made Oregon the first state to adopt such a system.
1902: People have passed 99 of the 288 initiatives and 25 of the 61 referendums
Since 1902, the people of Oregon have passed 99 of the 288 initiatives and 25 of the 61 referendums on the ballot, though not all survived court challenges.
1904: Joaquin Miller Suggests an Origin
In 1904, Joaquin Miller suggested an origin for Oregon's name in Sunset magazine.
1904: Primary election adopted
In 1904, the primary election to select party candidates was adopted in Oregon.
1908: Oregon Constitution amended to include recall of public officials
In 1908, the Oregon Constitution was amended to include the recall of public officials.
1910: Congressional Districts Increased
Congressional apportionment increased the size of the delegation following the 1910 census.
1913: Valley of the Moon Written
In 1913, Jack London wrote his novel "Valley of the Moon" at the Wolf Creek Inn State Heritage Site.
1930: Gray Wolves Extirpated
Gray wolves were extirpated from Oregon around 1930 but have since found their way back.
1930: Portland Population Triples
Portland, Oregon, experienced a significant population boom between 1900 and 1930, tripling in size.
February 10, 1933: Lowest Recorded Temperature at Seneca
On February 10, 1933, the lowest recorded temperature in Oregon was −54 °F (−48 °C) at Seneca.
1933: Construction of the Bonneville Dam Begins
Industrial expansion began in Oregon following the start of construction of the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River in 1933.
1937: Bonneville Dam Construction Completed
Industrial expansion began in Oregon following the completion of construction of the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River in 1937.
1940: Congressional Districts Increased
Congressional apportionment increased the size of the delegation following the 1940 census.
1944: George R. Stewart proposes origin in 'American Speech' article
In 1944, George R. Stewart proposed in an article in "American Speech" that the name Oregon came from an engraver's error on a French map where the Wisconsin River was mislabeled.
May 5, 1945: Japanese Balloon Bomb Kills Six Civilians
On May 5, 1945, a Japanese balloon bomb exploded on Gearhart Mountain near Bly, killing six civilians, the only deaths on American soil attributed to enemy balloon bombs during World War II.
1951: Self-Service Gasoline Banned
Self service gasoline was banned in Oregon from 1951 until August 2023.
1970: Non-Hispanic Whites Make Up 95.8% of Population
In 1970, non-Hispanic Whites accounted for 95.8% of Oregon's total population.
1971: Oregon Passes the Bottle Bill
In 1971, Oregon passed the Oregon Beverage Container Act of 1971, also known as the Bottle Bill, becoming the first law of its kind in the United States, aimed at controlling litter by promoting recycling.
1973: Oregon Affected by the 1973 Oil Crisis
During the 1970s, the Pacific Northwest, including Oregon, was particularly affected by the 1973 oil crisis, leading to a substantial shortage.
1974: Intel Top Employer
Since 1974, Intel has been a top employer in Oregon.
1977: Trail Blazers won the 1977 NBA Finals
In 1977, the Portland Trail Blazers won the NBA Finals behind star Bill Walton.
1979: Enactment of the "kicker law"
Since the enactment of the "kicker law" in 1979, refunds have been issued for seven of the eleven biennia because income tax collections exceeded state economists' estimates by two percent or more.
1980: Congressional Districts Increased
Following the 1980 census, Oregon had five congressional districts.
1980: Mount St. Helens Erupts
In 1980, Mount St. Helens in Washington erupted, an event that was visible from northern Oregon and affected some areas there.
1981: Oregon Legislative Assembly approves postal voting experimentation
In 1981, the Oregon Legislative Assembly approved experimentation with postal voting.
1986: Democratic Governors
Oregon voters have elected Democratic governors in every election since 1986.
1988: Democratic Presidential Candidate
Oregonians have voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election since 1988.
1989: Decline in Timber Harvest from Federal Lands Begins
Between 1989 and 2011, the amount of timber harvested from federal lands in Oregon dropped about 90%.
1990: Measure 5 Passage
Especially since the 1990 passage of Measure 5, which set limits on property tax levels, Oregon has struggled to fund higher education.
1992: Trail Blazers reached the 1992 NBA Finals
In 1992, the Portland Trail Blazers reached the NBA Finals with star Clyde Drexler.
1993: Sales Tax Proposal Defeated
In 1993, a sales tax proposal, Measure 1, was defeated by a 75–25% margin, continuing Oregon's tradition of having no sales tax.
1994: Oregon adopted the Oregon Health Plan
In 1994, Oregon adopted the Oregon Health Plan, which made health care available to most of its citizens without private health insurance.
1994: Oregon Legalizes Physician-Assisted Suicide
In 1994, Oregon became the first U.S. state to legalize physician-assisted suicide through the Oregon Death with Dignity Act.
1998: Ballot measure mandates all counties conduct elections by mail
In 1998, a ballot measure mandated that all counties in Oregon conduct elections by mail.
2000: "Kicker" Law Amended
In 2000, Ballot Measure 86 converted the "kicker" law from statute to the Oregon Constitution, and changed some of its provisions.
2000: Bush Carried Eastern Counties
In 2000, George W. Bush carried every county east of the Cascades in Oregon.
2000: Oregon Population in 2000
Projections from the U.S. Census Bureau show Oregon's population increasing to 4,833,918 by 2030, an increase of 41.3% compared to the state's population of 3,421,399 in 2000.
2001: Recession and Dot-Com Bust
In 2001, the recession and dot-com bust significantly impacted the Silicon Forest region, leading to layoffs and business closures.
January 2002: Weyerhaeuser Acquisition
In January 2002, Weyerhaeuser acquired Portland-based Willamette Industries, marking a shift in the timber industry.
2002: Joey Harrington Distributes "Orygun" Stickers
In 2002, after being drafted by the Detroit Lions, former Oregon Ducks quarterback Joey Harrington distributed "Orygun" stickers to media members to remind them how to pronounce the state's name; the University of Oregon Bookstore sells these stickers.
2002: Minimum Wage Increase
In the 2002 general election, Oregon voters approved a ballot measure to increase the state minimum wage automatically each year according to inflationary changes.
2003: GDP Ranking in the U.S.
In 2003, Oregon was 28th in the U.S. by GDP.
2004: Bush Carried Eastern Counties
In 2004, George W. Bush carried every county east of the Cascades in Oregon.
2004: Measure 37 reflects backlash against land-use laws
In 2004, Measure 37 in Oregon reflected a backlash against land-use laws.
2004: Linus Torvalds Hired
In 2004, Open Source Development Labs hired Linus Torvalds, the developer of the Linux kernel.
2004: Ballot Measures Passed
In the 2004 general election, Oregon voters passed ballot measures banning same-sex marriage and restricting land use regulation.
2005: Taxes per Capita
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2005 Oregon ranked 41st out of the 50 states in taxes per capita, with an average amount paid of 1,791.45.
2005: Oregon Ranks Third in Number of Wineries
In 2005, Oregon ranked third among U.S. states with 303 wineries.
2005: Death with Dignity Act unsuccessfully challenged
In 2005, the Bush administration unsuccessfully challenged the Death with Dignity Act in a case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.
2006: Democrats Win Control
In 2006, Democrats won control of the Oregon House.
2006: Oregon State won college baseball championships
In 2006, Oregon State won college baseball championships.
2006: Ballot Measures Passed
In the 2006 general election, Oregon voters restricted the use of eminent domain and extended the state's discount prescription drug coverage.
2007: Higher Education Funding
In 2007 legislation funded the university system far beyond the governor's requested budget though still capping tuition increases at 3% per year.
2007: Measure 49 curtails provisions of Measure 37
In 2007, Measure 49 in Oregon curtailed many of the provisions of Measure 37.
2007: Oregon State won college baseball championships and the University of Oregon won NCAA men's cross country championships
In 2007, Oregon State won college baseball championships, and the University of Oregon won NCAA men's cross country championships.
2008: University of Oregon won NCAA men's cross country championships
In 2008, the University of Oregon won NCAA men's cross country championships.
2008: Political Polarization Analysis
In a 2008 analysis of the 2004 presidential election, a political analyst found that Oregon boasted both the most liberal Kerry voters and the most conservative Bush voters, making it the most politically polarized state in the country.
2008: Percentage of Non-Religious Residents
The 2008 American Religious Identification Survey placed Oregon as tied with Nevada in fifth place of U.S. states having the highest percentage of residents identifying themselves as "non-religious", at 24 percent.
2009: Oregon Ranked Among Least Religious States
According to a 2009 Gallup poll, Oregon was paired with Vermont as the two "least religious" states in the U.S.
2009: Foreign-Born Residents in Oregon
As of 2009, Oregon had 361,393 foreign-born residents, with the largest groups originating from Latin America, Asia, and Europe.
2009: Oregonians Identify as Christian
In the 2009 Gallup poll, 69% of Oregonians identified themselves as being Christian.
2009: Democratic Senators
Since 2009, the state has had two Democratic U.S. senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley.
2010: High School Graduation Rate
Approximately 90.5% of Oregon high school students graduate, improving on the national average of 88.3% as measured from the 2010 U.S. census.
2010: Genentech Facility Opened
In 2010, biotechnology giant Genentech opened a $400 million facility in Hillsboro to expand its production capabilities, and Facebook built a large datacenter near Prineville.
2010: Largest Christian Denominations in Oregon
In 2010, the largest Christian denominations in Oregon by number of adherents were the Roman Catholic Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Assemblies of God.
2010: The Timbers repurposed the stadium
In fall 2010, the Timbers repurposed the formerly multi-use stadium into a soccer-specific stadium, increasing the seating in the process.
2010: Oregon Initiative 71
Oregon Initiative 71, passed in 2010, mandates the legislature to begin meeting every year, for 160 days in odd-numbered years, and 35 days in even-numbered years.
2010: Oregon Ranked Second-Most Popular Destination
Oregon was the second-most popular moving destination in 2010 through 2012.
2010: Oregon Population Counted by Census
The 2020 U.S. census determined that the population of Oregon was 4,237,256, a 10.60% increase over the 2010 census.
2011: Minority Children Under One Year of Age
As of 2011, 38.7% of Oregon's children under one year of age belonged to minority groups.
2011: Timber Harvest Amount Drops
Between 1989 and 2011, the amount of timber harvested from federal lands in Oregon dropped about 90%.
2011: Amazon Datacenter Opened
In 2011, Amazon opened a datacenter near Boardman.
2011: Softwood Lumber Production
In 2011, Oregon led the U.S. in softwood lumber production, producing 4,134 million board feet.
2011: Portland Trail Blazers were the only major professional sports team
Until 2011, the only major professional sports team in Oregon was the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association.
2012: Barack Obama won Oregon
In 2012, Democratic incumbent Barack Obama won the state of Oregon by a margin of twelve percentage points, with over 54% of the popular vote.
2012: Oregon Ranked Second-Most Popular Destination
Oregon was the second-most popular moving destination in 2010 through 2012.
2012: Oregon's GDP Increase
The gross domestic product (GDP) of Oregon in 2013 was $219.6 billion, a 2.7% increase from 2012; Oregon is the 25th wealthiest state by GDP.
2013: Wallowa Valley Moose Herd Counted
As of 2013, the Wallowa Valley moose herd numbered about 60.
2013: Oregon Had Third Largest Food Stamp Users
In August, 2013, Oregon had the third largest amount of food stamp users in the nation (21% of the population).
2013: Students in Public Schools
In the 2013–2014 school year, the state had 567,000 students in public schools.
2013: Thorns won league championship
In the inaugural 2013 season, the Thorns won the league championship.
2013: Oregon Ranked Top Moving Destination
Oregon was the top moving destination in 2013, continuing a trend of high inbound migration.
2013: Gross Domestic Product Increase
The gross domestic product (GDP) of Oregon in 2013 was $219.6 billion, a 2.7% increase from 2012; Oregon is the 25th wealthiest state by GDP.
2013: Winery Growth Over 2013
The total number of wineries is currently 676, which represents a growth of 12% over 2013.
November 4, 2014: Oregon Approves Recreational Marijuana
On November 4, 2014, Oregon approved a measure to legalize recreational marijuana, becoming the second state at the time to have legalized gay marriage, physician-assisted suicide, and recreational marijuana.
2014: Number of Wineries Opened in Oregon
In 2014, 71 wineries opened in Oregon.
2014: Students in Public Schools
In the 2013–2014 school year, the state had 567,000 students in public schools.
2014: OSU Largest Enrollment
Oregon State University had the state's largest enrollment for fall 2014.
2014: Oregon Named Top Moving Destination
Oregon was the nation's "Top Moving Destination" in 2014, with two families moving into the state for every one moving out.
2015: Median Household Income Ranking
As of 2015, Oregon ranks as the 17th highest in median household income at $60,834.
2015: Gov. John Kitzhaber resigned, Kate Brown became governor
In 2015, Governor John Kitzhaber resigned amid allegations of influence peddling, and Secretary of State Kate Brown became governor of Oregon.
2015: Reed College Ranking
In 2015, Reed College was ranked by Forbes as the 52nd best college in the country.
2016: Hispanic Population Origin (2016 American Community Survey)
According to the 2016 American Community Survey, 12.4% of Oregon's population were of Hispanic or Latino origin: predominantly Mexican (10.4%).
2016: Kate Brown won a special election
In 2016, Kate Brown won a special election to retain the position of governor in Oregon.
2016: Willamette Valley Blueberry Production
In 2016, the Willamette Valley region produced over 100 million pounds (45 kt) of blueberries.
2016: Largest School Districts
In 2016, the largest school districts in the state were: Portland Public Schools, Salem-Keizer School District, Beaverton School District, Hillsboro School District, and North Clackamas School District.
2016: Hillary Clinton won Oregon
In the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton won Oregon by 11 percentage points.
2017: Oregon State Budget
In 2017, Oregon's biennial state budget was $2.6 billion, comprising General Funds, Federal Funds, Lottery Funds, and Other Funds.
2017: Thorns won league championship
In 2017, the Thorns won the league championship.
2018: Health Insurance Market Share
As of 2018, Cambia Health Solutions had the highest market share at 21% in health insurance, followed by Providence Health.
2018: Amazon Fulfillment Center Opened
In 2018, Amazon opened a fulfillment center in Troutdale.
2018: Kate Brown won a full four-year term
In 2018, Kate Brown won a full four-year term as governor of Oregon.
2018: Oregon State won college baseball championships
In 2018, Oregon State won college baseball championships.
2018: $15 Bicycle Tax
Since 2018, Oregon has had a $15 bicycle tax for each new bicycles over $200.
May 8, 2019: Educator Protests
On May 8, 2019, educators across the state protested to demand smaller class sizes, hiring more support staff and the restoration of art, music, and physical education classes, causing two dozen school districts to close.
2020: Oregon's Population by Ethnicity (2020 Census)
According to the 2020 census, 13.9% of Oregon's population was of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 71.7% non-Hispanic White.
2020: Oregon Population Statistics from the 2020 Census
As of the 2020 census, the population of Oregon was 4,237,256 with a gender makeup of 49.5% male and 50.5% female. 20.5% of the population was under 18.
2020: Non-Hispanic White Population Decreases to 71.7%
By 2020, the non-Hispanic White population in Oregon decreased to 71.7% of the total population.
2020: Sixth Congressional Seat Gained
Following the 2020 census, Oregon gained a sixth congressional seat.
2020: Psilocybin Legalization
In 2020, the state also approved a ballot measure to create a legal means of administering psilocybin for medicinal use, making it the first state in the country to legalize the drug.
2020: Oregon ranked as the easiest state for citizens to vote in
In a 2020 study, Oregon was ranked as the easiest state for citizens to vote in.
2020: Drug Decriminalization
In the 2020 general election, Oregon voters approved a ballot measure decriminalizing the possession of small quantities of street drugs.
2020: Oregon Population Determined by Census
The 2020 U.S. census determined that the population of Oregon was 4,237,256, a 10.60% increase over the 2010 census.
2020: Oregon cast seven votes in the U.S. Electoral College
Through the 2020 presidential election, Oregon cast seven votes in the U.S. Electoral College.
June 29, 2021: Highest Recorded Temperature Tied at Pelton Dam
On June 29, 2021, Oregon's highest recorded temperature of 119 °F (48 °C) was tied at Pelton Dam.
2021: Salem-Keizer Volcanoes not included in Minor League Baseball reorganization
In 2021, the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes were not included in the Minor League Baseball reorganization.
June 30, 2022: Emerald Ash Borer Infestation Found
On June 30, 2022, an emerald ash borer infestation was discovered in Forest Grove, marking the first instance in Western North America.
2022: Homeless Population Estimate in Oregon
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 17,959 homeless people in Oregon.
2022: Thorns won league championship
In 2022, the Thorns won league championship.
2022: Sixth Congressional Seat Filled
In the 2022 congressional elections, Oregon's sixth congressional seat was filled.
2022: Kotek Elected Governor
In the 2022 gubernatorial election, Tina Kotek was elected over Republican Christine Drazan and Independent Betsy Johnson.
August 2023: Self-Service Gasoline Legalized
Self service gasoline was banned in Oregon from 1951 until August 2023.
2023: House Representation
Since 2023, Oregon has been represented by four Democrats and two Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives.
2024: Decriminalization Reversal
In 2024, Governor Kotek signed a bill reversing the decriminalization component of the ballot measure while also expanding funding for drug treatment.
2024: Oregon cast eight votes in the Electoral College
In the 2024 election, Oregon cast eight votes in the Electoral College.
May 2025: Unemployment Rate
Oregon's unemployment rate was 4.8% in May 2025, while the U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2% that month.
2025: Small Business Contribution
In 2025, small businesses made up 99.4% of the businesses in the state, and employed 53.4% of its work force.
2026: Portland Fire of the WBNA will begin play
In 2026, a fourth major professional team, the Portland Fire of the WBNA, will begin play in the state of Oregon.
2030: Projected Population by 2030
Projections from the U.S. Census Bureau show Oregon's population increasing to 4,833,918 by 2030.
2040: State's Projected Population in 2040
The state's own projections forecast a total population of 5,425,408 in Oregon by 2040.
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