Chapter 1
ABOUT OREGON
Oregonians, huh? These people are like the hipster kings of the Pacific Northwest. You ever meet one of these guys? They don’t just drink coffee—they’re brewing kombucha in their backyard. And not just in a pot or something normal. No, no, they got a yurt back there. A yurt! I’m like, what happened to a normal patio? I’m just trying to relax outside, and these guys are setting up a whole ecosystem. You know you’re in Oregon when you see yurts and fermented tea. That’s their vibe. Eco-friendly, off the grid, and a little too proud of it.
And don’t even get me started on Chad. You’ve seen Chad—he’s got the man bun that looks like it’s defying the laws of physics. That thing’s got more engineering than a Tesla. And the beard? Forget about it. His beard’s like if a grizzly bear had a baby with a lumberjack, and that baby went to a salon for regular maintenance. But don’t be fooled—Chad isn’t chopping wood. Nah, he’s just “lumbersexual.” Yeah, that’s a thing now. He dresses like he’s gonna chop down the whole forest, but really, he’s foraging mushrooms or—God help us—protesting gluten. Busy guy. 48
Oregon’s always been... what’s the word? Oh yeah, experimental. These guys were setting trends before trends were even a thing. Bike lanes, solar energy, artisanal beers—yeah, they did that before anyone else. But here’s the thing—those fancy beers? They keep the good stuff local. You’re not getting a taste unless you’re at some secret speakeasy in Portland sipping kombucha with a beard-to-man-bun ratio you’ve never seen.
But don’t let all this new-age stuff fool you. There’s still old Oregon underneath it all. Remember Lewis and Clark? Yeah, those bros floating down the Columbia River probably looked around and thought, “Hey, let’s set up a yurt here.” A few years later, John Jacob Astor’s like, “Let’s trade some fur here too.” Yeah, Oregon’s always been into weird trends. First it was fur, now it’s flannel. Same vibe, different century.
Oregon’s got this real do-it-yourself attitude. They were electing senators by popular vote before it was even cool. These people are the original DIYers of democracy. First state to do mail-in ballots. First to legalize assisted suicide. First to throw a Labor Day party, for crying out loud. They’re ahead of the curve, probably because they’re biking everywhere, so they have time to think. You ever try to have deep thoughts in traffic? Not gonna happen.
But listen, not everything in Oregon is a kumbaya campfire moment. Yeah, they got a dark side. When they wrote their constitution, they were like, “Yeah, no African Americans allowed.” Can you believe that? Then, in the 20th century, the Klan was running around like it’s no big deal. It wasn’t until 1959 that they were like, “Oh yeah, maybe we should let Black people vote. Whoops.” Real progressive... sometimes they just forget to read the fine print, you know?
So that’s Oregon. It’s like a kombucha cocktail with a shot of history and a twist of... occasional craziness.
VITAL STATISTICS
Nickname: Unlike California, Oregon doesn’t have a widely recognized nickname like “The Golden State.” However, it’s often informally referred to as “The Beaver State” due to its association with the beaver as a symbol of industry and resourcefulness.
Joined Union: Oregon became the 33rd state in the United States on February 14, 1859.
Size: Oregon covers approximately 98,381 square miles, making it the ninth-largest state by land area in the country.
Ethnicity:
White: Approximately 78-80% of Oregon’s population identifies as White.
Hispanic or Latino: Around 13-15% of the population in Oregon identifies as Hispanic or Latino.
Asian: Approximately 4-6% of Oregonians are of Asian descent.
Black or African American: The Black or African American population constitutes about 2-3% of the state’s residents.
College Grads:
Bachelor’s degree: Roughly 32-35% of Oregonians aged 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree.
Master’s degree: Approximately 11-13% of the same age group have earned a master’s degree.
GROWTH OF THE STATE
Population: As of the most recent estimates, Oregon has a population of over 4.2 million people. While significantly smaller than California, it’s still a vibrant and growing state.
HIGH CRIME AREAS
WARNING: From 2018-2023 the city of Portland has been in the FBI UCR top 25 at least 3 of those years
Cities with crime rate over the National Average :According to the FBI UCR data, in 2022, among Oregon cities with a population of at least 10K,
Portland had the highest Total Crime Rate per 100K residents (7,115.53)
Ontario (6,882.63),
Coos Bay (6,533.93)
Roseburg (5,168.31),
Medford (4,547.86).
National Average (2500)
IN PRAISE OF
Natural Beauty and Outdoor Activities: Oregon is like Mother Nature’s playground—rugged coastlines, lush forests, volcanic mountains, and high deserts. You want outdoor activities? You got it! Hiking, skiing, surfing, camping—pick your poison! It’s like a buffet of nature where everyone thinks they’re a rugged adventurer until they realize they can’t even set up a tent without Googling it!
Cultural Scene and Food: the cultural scene, especially in Portland, it’s like a hipster convention where everyone’s trying to outdo each other with their artisanal mustaches and hand-crafted lattes. You’ve got art galleries, theaters, and music venues popping up everywhere. Oh boy, here we go- food! Farm-to-table dining, food trucks—listen, if you can’t find a meal that’s not organic, gluten-free, and locally sourced, you’re just not trying hard enough!
Environment and Sustainability: And speaking of trying hard, these Oregonians are all about the environment. They love their clean air and green spaces like they’re gold bars! You’ve got people recycling their recycling, and everyone’s on board with renewable energy like it’s the latest trend. It’s like a giant eco-friendly club where if you don’t have a reusable bag, they’ll kick you out!
Mild Climate: The weather? Oh, it’s mild, especially in the west. You can pretty much do outdoor activities year-round without breaking a sweat—unless you’re trying to walk up a hill, then good luck with that! It keeps everything lush and green, but don’t get too comfortable; it rains enough to make you question your life choices while you’re standing outside trying to enjoy a picnic!
DO NOT MISS!
Ashland is a stunning destination surrounded by the Cascade and Siskiyou mountain ranges, featuring lush forests, rolling hills, and the inviting Rogue River. Don’t miss Lithia Park, a beautifully manicured 93-acre area perfect for leisurely strolls. Theater enthusiasts will love the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, a major attraction drawing visitors from far and wide. For outdoor lovers, Ashland offers hiking, biking, fishing, and skiing at Mount Ashland Ski Area, making it a perfect getaway for nature and culture lovers alike.
