Oregon State History
Oregon has seen human inhabitation for at least 13,200 years, with early settlements existing across the region as early as 8000 BC. Oregon was a particularly important region for the early inhabitants of North America, and acted as a hub of trade for thousands of years. Native American settlement in the region brought tribes such as the Nez Perce and Chinook into the area during the 16th and 17th century.
Spanish explorers visited the Oregon region as early as 1565, many ending up in the Oregon area by mistake after they shipwrecked or became lost. Juan Perez would later map out the Oregon coast in 1774, with other explorers discovering more, such as the Columbia River soon after. Many explorers arrived in the Oregon region looking for the mythical Northwest Passage, a route that would allow ships to cross the continent from Atlantic to Pacific.
The land of Oregon would be explored in 1805 when Lewis and Clark entered the region. British explorer David Thompson would also explore the area in 1811. Explorers generally noted the abundance of fur trading in the area, believing it to be a great area for future expansion. The Native Americans of the region welcomed European explorers as trading partners, but the introduction of foreign diseases would prove devastating to their populations.
Fort Astoria would become the first European settlement in the region, established by the Astor Expedition in 1810. The fort sought to secure the fur trading business for incoming white settlers, but it soon became a hotly contested area with the British. As a result of the situation during the War of 1812, Fort Astoria was sold to British entity North West Company. The British exercised a great deal of influence in the Oregon region until 1846, with the Oregon Treaty of 1846. Although nearly resulting in a third war with the United Kingdom, the Oregon Treaty provided for the peaceful division of land.
Occupying the land with some unease beside settlers from the United Kingdom, American immigrants took the storied Oregon Trail on their way to the future state. Many of the first families to make it to Oregon came as a religious calling, seeking to spread Christianity to the natives of the region. Perhaps the most famous of these religious settlers, Jason Lee, established a mission in the Willamette Valley.
Settlement of the Oregon region would accelerate rapidly due to the Donation Land Claim Act of 1850. As a result, the state found acceptance to the Union on February 14th, 1859. During the Civil War, Oregon was left largely to its own devices, with Federal troops withdrawing east to fight against the Confederacy. Volunteer armies and organizations kept the peace during the war years, until Federal troops returned in 1865. The state saw rapid growth after it was connected with the Eastern United States by means of the transcontinental railroads being built during the 1880s. This would allow the free movement of people and goods across the country.
The economy of the state has long been tied to the lumber industry. The fur trading that originally drew settlers into the region suffered a price collapse during the 1840s, forcing locals to refocus their economic energy. Lumber from Oregon has fueled the American construction industry for decades. As closely tied to the construction industry as it is, Oregon has suffered frequent booms and busts as the rate of growth across the United States changes pace.
Oregon has a long history of culturally diverse populations. The state is home to both a largely liberal urban culture, as well as a more conservative rural influence. Because of the state’s direct legislation system, these stark contrasts are often seen in the amazingly diverse proposals that appear on the ballot. A bill for drug decriminalization might be seen right alongside a bill proposing a highly religious agenda. The state is famous for a series of tense conflicts, beginning with a contentious face off involving ranchers and farmers.
Although logging remains a very important part of the Oregon economy, the service sector and high tech industries have also become crucial in the past few years. Despite suffering a slowdown after the dotcom bubble burst seen in 2001, the Oregon high tech industry continues to thrive, as it does all along the West Coast.
Oregon State Resources