History of Oregon in Timeline

Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, bordered by Washington to the north (largely defined by the Columbia River), Idaho to the east (largely defined by the Snake River), California and Nevada to the south (defined by the 42° north parallel), and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is a part of the Western U.S.

1900: Portland's population boom began

Around 1900, Portland experienced the start of a significant population boom.

1902: Oregon introduces direct legislation

In 1902, Oregon introduced direct legislation by the state's citizens through initiatives and referendums, which was known as the Oregon System.

1902: Ballot measure creating initiative and referendum approved

In 1902, Oregon overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure that created the initiative and referendum, allowing citizens to propose or approve laws and constitutional amendments directly. This made Oregon the first state to adopt such a system.

1902: Ballot measures since 1902

Since 1902, Oregon citizens have passed 99 of 288 initiatives and 25 of 61 referendums, though some were challenged in courts.

1904: Joaquin Miller's suggestion in Sunset magazine

In 1904, Joaquin Miller offered a suggestion regarding the origin of Oregon's name in Sunset magazine.

1904: Primary election adopted

In 1904, Oregon adopted the primary election system for selecting party candidates.

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 Apportionment Increased

Following the census of 1910, congressional apportionment increased the size of the delegation of Oregon.

1913: Jack London Writes Valley of the Moon

In 1913, Jack London wrote his novel "Valley of the Moon" at the Wolf Creek Inn State Heritage Site in Southern Oregon.

The Valley of the Moon: 100th Anniversary Collection

Check it on Amazon

1930: Portland's population boom ended

Around 1930, Portland's population boom ended, having tripled in size during the period.

1930: Gray wolves extirpated from Oregon

Around 1930, gray wolves were extirpated from Oregon, but they have since returned.

February 10, 1933: Oregon's lowest recorded temperature at Seneca

On February 10, 1933, Oregon's lowest recorded temperature of −54 °F (−48 °C) was recorded at Seneca.

1933: Construction of Bonneville Dam began

In 1933, construction began on the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River.

1937: Construction of Bonneville Dam completed

The construction of the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River was completed in 1937.

1940: Congressional Apportionment Increased

Following the census of 1940, congressional apportionment increased the size of the delegation of Oregon.

1944: George R. Stewart's "most plausible explanation" in American Speech

In 1944, George R. Stewart proposed an explanation for the name Oregon in an article in American Speech, attributing it to an engraver's error on a French map.

May 5, 1945: Japanese balloon bomb explosion on Gearhart Mountain

On May 5, 1945, a Japanese balloon bomb exploded on Gearhart Mountain near Bly, killing six civilians and marking the only deaths on American soil attributed to enemy balloon bombs during World War II.

1951: Self-service gasoline banned in Oregon

Self service gasoline was banned in Oregon from 1951.

1970: Non-Hispanic Whites in Oregon in 1970

In 1970, non-Hispanic Whites represented 95.8% of Oregon's total population.

1971: Oregon Beverage Container Act of 1971 (Bottle Bill) becomes law

In 1971, Oregon introduced the Oregon Beverage Container Act of 1971, also known as the Bottle Bill, becoming the first law of its kind in the United States to control litter.

1973: Oregon affected by the 1973 oil crisis

In 1973, the Pacific Northwest, including Oregon, was significantly impacted by the 1973 oil crisis, leading to substantial shortages.

1974: Intel a Top Employer in Oregon

Since 1974, Intel Corporation has been a top employer in Oregon, currently employing 22,000 people, primarily at its Hillsboro campus.

1979: Enactment of the "Kicker Law"

In 1979, Oregon enacted the "kicker law," stipulating that when income tax collections exceed state economists' estimates by two percent or more, any excess must be returned to taxpayers.

1980: Oregon Gains Congressional Districts

Following the 1980 census, Oregon had five congressional districts.

1980: Mount St. Helens eruption

In 1980, Mount St. Helens in Washington erupted, an event visible from northern Oregon and affecting some areas there.

1981: Experimentation with postal voting begins

In 1981, Oregon began experimenting with postal voting, approved by the Oregon Legislative Assembly.

1986: Democratic Governors

Oregon voters have elected Democratic governors in every election since 1986.

1988: Democrats Win Control of State Senate

Oregonians have voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election since 1988.

1989: Decline in timber harvested from federal lands

Between 1989 and 2011, the amount of timber harvested from federal lands in Oregon dropped about 90%.

1990: Passage of Measure 5

Since the 1990 passage of Measure 5, which set limits on property tax levels, Oregon has faced challenges in funding higher education.

1993: Measure 1 Defeated

In 1993, Oregon voters defeated Measure 1, a sales tax proposal, by a 75–25% margin, marking the latest in a series of rejections of a sales tax in the state.

1994: Oregon Health Plan adopted

In 1994, Oregon adopted the Oregon Health Plan, which made health care available to most 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 in Oregon mandated that all counties conduct elections by mail.

2000: Ballot Measure 86 Converts Kicker Law

In 2000, Ballot Measure 86 converted the "kicker" law from statute to the Oregon Constitution, and changed some of its provisions.

2000: Bush Carries Eastern Oregon Counties

In 2000, George W. Bush carried every county east of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon.

2000: Oregon's population in 2000

Oregon's population in 2000 was 3,421,399.

2001: Recession and Dot-Com Bust Hit Region Hard

The recession and dot-com bust of 2001 significantly impacted the Silicon Forest region, leading to job losses and business closures among high technology employers.

January 2002: Weyerhaeuser Acquires Willamette Industries

In January 2002, Weyerhaeuser acquired Portland-based Willamette Industries as part of the timber industry's decline in Oregon.

2002: Joey Harrington's "Orygun" stickers

In 2002, after being drafted by the Detroit Lions, Joey Harrington distributed "Orygun" stickers to the media as a reminder of the correct pronunciation of Oregon.

2002: Oregon Voters Approve Minimum Wage Increase

In the 2002 general election, Oregon voters approved a ballot measure to automatically increase the state minimum wage each year according to inflationary changes, as measured by the consumer price index (CPI).

2003: Oregon's GDP rank

In 2003, Oregon was 28th in the U.S. by GDP.

2004: Democrats Win Control of State Senate

In 2004, Democrats won control of the Oregon State Senate.

2004: Open Source Development Labs Hires Linus Torvalds

In 2004, Open Source Development Labs hired Linus Torvalds, the developer of the Linux kernel.

2004: Measure 37 reflects backlash against land-use laws

In 2004, Oregon's Measure 37 reflected a backlash against the state's land-use laws.

2004: Ballot Measures Passed Banning Same-Sex Marriage and Restricting Land Use Regulation

In the 2004 general election, Oregon voters passed ballot measures banning same-sex marriage and restricting land use regulation.

2005: Oregon 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 ranked third among U.S. states with 303 wineries

In 2005, Oregon ranked third among U.S. states with 303 wineries.

2005: Death with Dignity Act challenged in U.S. Supreme Court

In 2005, the Bush administration unsuccessfully challenged Oregon's Death with Dignity Act in a case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.

2006: Democrats Win Control of State House

In 2006, Democrats won control of the Oregon State House.

2006: Oregon State Beavers won the college baseball championships

In 2006, the Oregon State Beavers won the college baseball championships.

2006: Voters Restrict Eminent Domain and Extend Prescription Drug Coverage

In the 2006 general election, Oregon voters restricted the use of eminent domain and extended the state's discount prescription drug coverage.

2007: Legislation Funds University System

In 2007, Oregon legislation funded the university system far beyond the governor's requested budget, though tuition increases were capped at 3% per year.

2007: Measure 49 curtails provisions of Measure 37

In 2007, Oregon's Measure 49 curtailed many of the provisions of Measure 37.

2007: Oregon State Beavers won the college baseball championships and the University of Oregon won the NCAA men's cross country championships

In 2007, the Oregon State Beavers won the college baseball championships and the University of Oregon won the NCAA men's cross country championships.

2008: The University of Oregon won the NCAA men's cross country championships

In 2008, the University of Oregon won the NCAA men's cross country championships.

2008: Political Polarization in Oregon

In a 2008 analysis of the 2004 presidential election, a political analyst found that Oregon was the most politically polarized state in the country.

2008: Percentage of non-religious residents in Oregon

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 identified as one of the 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's population included 361,393 foreign-born residents, primarily from Latin America, Asia, and Europe.

2009: Oregonians identifying as Christian in 2009

In the 2009 Gallup poll, 69% of Oregonians identified themselves as being Christian.

2009: Democratic U.S. Senators

Since 2009, the state of Oregon has been represented by two Democratic U.S. senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley.

2010: Oregon High School Graduation Rate

As measured from the 2010 U.S. census, approximately 90.5% of Oregon high school students graduate, which is an improvement over the national average of 88.3%.

2010: Genentech Opens Facility in Hillsboro

In 2010, biotechnology giant Genentech opened a $400 million production facility in Hillsboro, Oregon, expanding its production capabilities.

2010: Portland Timbers repurposed the stadium

In the fall of 2010, the Portland Timbers repurposed the formerly multi-use stadium into a soccer-specific stadium, increasing the seating in the process.

2010: Oregon Initiative 71 Passed

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 as the second-most popular moving destination

Oregon was the second-most popular destination in 2010.

2010: 2010 U.S. Census

The 2020 U.S. census showed a 10.60% increase over the 2010 census.

2010: Largest Christian denominations in Oregon

The largest Christian denominations in Oregon by number of adherents in 2010 were the Roman Catholic Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Assemblies of God.

2011: Minority children in Oregon under one year of age

As of 2011, 38.7% of Oregon's children under one year of age belonged to minority groups.

2011: Decline in timber harvested from federal lands

Between 1989 and 2011, the amount of timber harvested from federal lands in Oregon dropped about 90%.

2011: Amazon Opens Datacenter Near Boardman

In 2011, Amazon opened a datacenter near Boardman, Oregon, taking advantage of the cheap power and favorable climate.

2011: Oregon Leads U.S. in Softwood Lumber Production

In 2011, Oregon led the U.S. in softwood lumber production with 4,134 million board feet, surpassing Washington, Georgia, and Mississippi.

2011: Portland Trail Blazers were the only major professional sports team in Oregon.

Until 2011, the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association were the only major professional sports team in Oregon.

2012: Barack Obama won Oregon

In 2012, Barack Obama won the state of Oregon by a margin of twelve percentage points, with over 54% of the popular vote.

2012: Oregon ranked as the second-most popular moving destination

Oregon was the second-most popular destination in 2012.

2012: Oregon's GDP increase from 2012

Oregon's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2013 was a 2.7% increase from 2012.

2013: Wallowa Valley moose herd count

As of 2013, the moose herd in Wallowa Valley numbered about 60.

2013: Portland Thorns FC first season and league championship

In 2013, Portland Thorns FC played in the National Women's Soccer League since the league's first season and won league championships.

2013: Oregon's gross domestic product and per capita personal income

In 2013, the gross domestic product (GDP) of Oregon was $219.6 billion, and the state's per capita personal income (PCPI) was $39,848.

2013: Oregon Public School Statistics

In the 2013–2014 school year, the state of Oregon had 567,000 students in public schools.

2013: Oregon ranked as the top moving destination

Oregon was also the top moving destination in 2013.

2013: Growth of wineries compared to 2013

The total number of wineries is currently 676, which represents a growth of 12% over 2013.

November 4, 2014: Oregon Approves Recreational Marijuana Legalization

On November 4, 2014, Oregon approved a measure to legalize recreational use of marijuana, making it the second state at the time to legalize gay marriage, physician-assisted suicide, and recreational marijuana.

2014: Wineries opened in Oregon in 2014

In 2014, 71 wineries opened in Oregon.

2014: Oregon Public School Statistics

In the 2013–2014 school year, the state of Oregon had 567,000 students in public schools.

2014: OSU Enrollment Largest for Fall

Oregon State University had the state's largest enrollment for fall 2014 and is the state's highest ranking university according to Academic Ranking of World Universities, Washington Monthly, and QS World University Rankings.

2014: Oregon ranked as the nation's "Top Moving Destination"

Oregon was the nation's "Top Moving Destination" in 2014, with twice as many families moving into the state as moving out.

2015: Oregon's median household income

As of 2015, Oregon ranked as the 17th highest in median household income at $60,834.

2015: Gov. John Kitzhaber Resigned and Secretary of State Kate Brown Became Governor

In 2015, Governor John Kitzhaber resigned amid allegations of influence peddling, and Secretary of State Kate Brown became governor.

2015: Reed College Ranking

In 2015, Reed College, a liberal arts college in Portland, was ranked by Forbes as the 52nd best college in the country.

September 2016: Oregon's unemployment rate in September 2016

In September 2016, Oregon's unemployment rate was 5.5%, compared to the U.S. unemployment rate of 5.0% that month.

2016: Oregon's population by Hispanic or Latino origin according to the 2016 American Community Survey

According to the 2016 American Community Survey, 12.4% of Oregon's population was of Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race).

2016: Kate Brown won a special election

In 2016, Kate Brown won a special election to retain the position of Governor of 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 Oregon

In 2016, the largest school districts in the state of Oregon 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's Biennial State Budget

In 2017, Oregon's biennial state budget was $2.6 billion, comprising General Funds, Federal Funds, Lottery Funds, and Other Funds.

2017: Portland Thorns FC won the league championship

In 2017, the Portland Thorns FC won the league championship again.

2018: Cambia Health Solutions Market Share

As of 2018, Cambia Health Solutions had the highest market share in health insurance in Oregon at 21%, followed by Providence Health.

2018: Amazon Opens Fulfillment Center in Troutdale

In 2018, Amazon opened a fulfillment center in Troutdale, Oregon, further expanding its presence in the state.

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 Beavers won the college baseball championships

In 2018, Oregon State Beavers won the college baseball championships.

2018: Top countries of origin for Oregon's immigrants

In 2018, the top countries of origin for Oregon's immigrants were Mexico, Vietnam, China, India, and the Philippines.

2018: Oregon Implements Bicycle Tax

Since 2018, Oregon has imposed a $15 bicycle tax on each new bicycle over $200, making it the only state in the nation with a bicycle excise tax.

May 8, 2019: Educators Protest in Oregon

On May 8, 2019, educators across Oregon protested to demand smaller class sizes, more support staff, and the restoration of art, music, and physical education classes, leading to the closure of approximately 600 schools.

2020: Oregon's population by ethnicity according to the 2020 census

According to the 2020 census, 13.9% of Oregon's population was of Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) and 71.7% non-Hispanic White, 2.0% African American, 1.5% Native American, 4.6% Asian, 1.5% Pacific Islander, and 10.5% two or more races.

2020: Population and Gender Makeup of Oregon

As of the 2020 census, Oregon's population was 4,237,256, with a gender makeup of 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

2020: Non-Hispanic Whites in Oregon in 2020

By 2020, non-Hispanic Whites had decreased to 71.7% of Oregon's total population, although the number of people increased.

2020: Oregon Gains Sixth Congressional Seat

Following the 2020 census, Oregon gained a sixth congressional seat.

2020: Oregon Legalizes Psilocybin for Medicinal Use

In 2020, Oregon 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: Oregon Decriminalizes Street Drugs

In the 2020 general election, Oregon voters approved a ballot measure decriminalizing the possession of small quantities of street drugs such as cocaine and heroin, making it the first state in the country to do so after the drugs were originally made illegal.

2020: Oregon cast seven votes in the U.S. Electoral College

In the 2020 presidential election, Oregon cast seven votes through the U.S. Electoral College. Joe Biden won Oregon by 16 percentage points over Donald Trump.

2020: Oregon's population determined by U.S. census

The 2020 U.S. census determined Oregon's population was 4,237,256.

June 29, 2021: Oregon's 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 were not included in the 2021 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, the first emerald ash borer infestation in Western North America was discovered in Forest Grove, Oregon.

2022: Estimated number of homeless people 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: 2022 Congressional Elections

In 2022, Oregon's newly gained sixth congressional seat was filled in the Congressional Elections.

2022: Tina Kotek Elected Governor

In 2022, Tina Kotek was elected governor of Oregon over Republican Christine Drazan and Independent Betsy Johnson.

August 2023: Self-service gasoline ban lifted in Oregon

In August 2023, the ban on self-service gasoline in Oregon was lifted, although gas stations are not required to offer it.

2023: Oregon's U.S. House Representation

Since 2023, Oregon has been represented by four Democrats and two Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives.

2024: Oregon Reverses Drug Decriminalization

In 2024, Governor Kotek signed a bill reversing the decriminalization component of the 2020 ballot measure regarding street drugs, while also expanding funding for drug treatment in Oregon.

2024: Oregon will cast eight votes in the U.S. Electoral College

In the 2024 election, Oregon will cast eight votes in the U.S. Electoral College due to the addition of a sixth congressional seat under the apportionment of Congress under the 2020 U.S. census.