Oregon

State Profile

Known as the hidden jewel of the Pacific coast, this northwestern state is sandwiched between Washington to the north and California to south. Further outlined by the two rivers that snake around the state’s northern and eastern boundaries, Oregon was inhabited by several indigenous tribes before the traders and explorers later arrived on its soil. By 1843, these settlers formed an autonomous government and then Oregon, the region, became part of the Union in 1859.

The navy blue state flag, which was adopted in 1925, has a shield surrounded by 33 stars to symbolize the fact that it was admitted as the 33rd state. The reverse side of Oregon’s flag shows a beaver—the only state in the union that has a different pattern on the reverse side of their flag. After statehood, it was founded as refuge from slavery and yet it maintained a so-called “whites only” clause in its state Constitution. Despite this, the state played an important role in the Underground Railroad with its Oregon Trail.  The origin of the state’s name is not known exactly, however one popular theory is that it comes from the French word ouragan (hurricane). At one time, it is said that French explorers called the Columbia River le Fleuve aux Ouragan (Hurricane River) because of its strong winds.

A bit of history

In the War of 1812, the British gained control of all of the Pacific Fur Company posts. The Treaty of 1818 established joint British and American occupancy of the region west of the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. By the 1820s and 1830s, the Hudson’s Bay Company dominated the Pacific Northwest from its Columbia District headquarters at Fort Vancouver, which was built in 1825 by the District’s Chief Factor John McLoughlin.  

In 1841, Sir George Simpson, Governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company, reversed the Hudson’s Bay Company’s longstanding policy of discouraging settlement because it interfered with the lucrative fur trade. He directed some 200 Red River Colony settlers be relocated to HBC farms near Fort Vancouver, (the James Sinclair expedition), in an attempt to hold Columbia District.

Today, there are over 3.8 million people who live in this mountainous and agricultural region. From a breathtaking coastline and mountain range, to evergreen forests and desert-like regions, the people who live in Oregon enjoy a scenic and diverse landscape. In most mountainous area of western Oregon lies Mount Hood, which was formed by volcanic activity and earthquakes in the region. Located in the Willamette Valley is the state capitol, Salem, and Celilio Falls, a hub of economic activity for many years.

Major sectors

Columbia River has caused angst with its floods over the years, but it now provides a bountiful home to the salmon industry, transportation, electronic power and flood control.

If you love hazelnuts, Oregon is your place to find them. As of the top major hazelnut growing regions, it produces over 95 percent of the domestic-grown products in the United States. The agriculturally rich state prospers from the ideal climate and soil conditions for wine, as well. Case in point: in 2005, Oregon was rated third among other U.S. states with over 303 wineries. Because of the regional similarities in climate and soil, the grapes planted in Oregon are often the same varieties found in the French regions of Alsace and Burgundy. In the northeastern region of the state, particularly around Pendleton, both irrigated and dry land wheat is grown. Oregon farmers and ranchers also produce cattle, sheep, dairy products, eggs and poultry.

Oregon’s largest for-profit private employer is Intel, located in the infamous Silicon Forest area on Portland’s west side. High-tech industries and services have been a major employer since the 1970s. Tektronix was the largest private employer in Oregon until the late 1980s. Intel’s creation and expansion of several facilities in eastern Washington County continues to grow today.

When the dot-com boom busted in 2001, it hit the region particularly hard; many high technology employers reduced the number of their employees or went out of business. Open Source Development Labs made news in 2004 when they hired Linus Torvalds, developer of the Linux kernel. Recently, biotechnology giant Genentech purchased several acres of land in Hillsboro in an effort to expand its production capabilities.

The American Business Journal is proud to spotlight the biggest movers and shakers in Oregon, as well as profiles of companies and entrepreneurs who are working hard to keep Oregon a unique and special state.

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