Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Oregon borders the Pacific Ocean on the west, Washington on the north, Idaho on the east, and California and Nevada on the south. The Columbia and Snake Rivers form, respectively, much of its northern and eastern borders. Between two north-south mountain ranges in western Oregon-the Oregon Coast Range and the Cascade Mountain Range-lies the Willamette Valley, the most densely populated and agriculturally productive region of the state.
Oregon has one of the most diverse landscapes of any state in the U.S. It is well known for its tall, dense forests; its accessible and scenic Pacific coastline; and its rugged, glaciated Cascade volcanoes. Other areas include semiarid scrublands, prairies, and deserts that cover approximately half the state in eastern and north-central Oregon.
Public Colleges and Universities:
The Oregon University System supports seven public universities and one affiliate in the state. The University of Oregon in Eugene is Oregon's flagship liberal arts institution, while Oregon State University in Corvallis is the flagship science, engineering and agricultural school. The State also has three regional universities: Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Southern Oregon University in Ashland, and Eastern Oregon University in La Grande. Portland State University is Oregon's largest. The Oregon Institute of Technology has its campus in Klamath Falls. The affiliate Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) comprises a medical, dental, and nursing school in Portland and a science and engineering school in Hillsboro (both graduate-only).
Private Schools:
Oregon is home to a wide variety of private colleges. The University of Portland and Marylhurst University are Catholic institutions in the Portland area. Concordia University, Lewis & Clark College, Multnomah Bible College, Reed College, Warner Pacific College, Cascade College, and the National College of Natural Medicine are also in Portland. Pacific University is in the Portland suburb of Forest Grove.
There are also private colleges further south in the Willamette Valley. McMinnville has Linfield College, while nearby Newberg is home to George Fox University. Salem is home to two private schools, Willamette University (the state's oldest, established during the territorial period) and Corban College. Eugene is home to two private colleges: Northwest Christian College and Eugene Bible College.
Colleges belonging to the state are:
Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton
Central Oregon Community College in Bend
Chemeketa Community College in Salem
Clackamas Community College in Oregon City
Clatsop Community College in Astoria
Columbia Gorge Community College in The Dalles
Klamath Community College in Klamath Falls
Lane Community College in Eugene
Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, with a campus in Corvallis
Mount Hood Community College in Gresham
Oregon Coast Community College in Newport
Portland Community College in Portland
Rogue Community College in Medford and Grants Pass
Southwestern Oregon Community College in Coos Bay
Tillamook Bay Community College in Bay City
Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario
Umpqua Community College in Roseburg
Oregon's population is largely concentrated in the Willamette Valley, which stretches from Eugene (home of the University of Oregon, 3rd largest city) through Salem (the capital, 2nd largest) and Corvallis (home of Oregon State University) to Portland (Oregon's largest city.)
Astoria, at the mouth of the Columbia River, was the first permanent settlement west of Rockies. Oregon City was the Oregon Territory's first incorporated city, and its first capital (from 1848 until 1852, when the capital was moved to Salem.) It was also the end of the Oregon Trail and the site of the first public library established west of the Rocky Mountains, stocked with only 300 volumes. Bend, near the geographic center of the state, is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States. To the Southern part of the state, the Medford area is a rapidly growing metro area and culturally rich part of the state. It it home to The Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, the third busiest airport in the state. Further to the south, near the California-Oregon border, is the community of Ashland, home of the Tony Award winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Oregon is also the home of large corporations in other industries. The world headquarters of Nike, Inc. are located near Beaverton. Medford is home to two of the largest mail order companies in the country: Harry and David Operations Corp. which sells gift items under several brands, and Musician's Friend, an international catalog and Internet retailer of musical instruments and related products.Medford is also home to the national headquarters of the Fortune 1000 company, Lithia Motors. Portland is home to one of the West's largest trade book publishing houses, Graphic Arts Center Publishing.
Oregon has one of the largest salmon-fishing industries in the world, although ocean fisheries have reduced the river fisheries in recent years. Tourism is also strong in the state; Oregon's evergreen mountain forests, waterfalls, pristine lakes (including Crater Lake National Park), and scenic beaches draw visitors year round. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, held in Ashland, is a tourist draw which complements the southern region of the state's scenic beauty and opportunity for outdoor activities.
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