Oregon Blue Book: Oregon Almanac: Abbreviation to Crustacean

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Oregon Almanac: Abbreviation to Crustacean

Wind turbines east of Wasco. (Photo No. sheD0099)

Wind turbines east of Wasco. (Scenic photo No. sheD0099)

Abbreviation, Oregon: OR (postal)

Airports: 97 public, 360 private

Alternative Energy Projects, Largest

Biglow Canyon Wind Farm, Sherman County, 2007: 217 turbines generating 450 megawatts
Columbia Ethanol Project, Morrow County, 2007: designed to produce 35 million gallons a year
Klamath Cogeneration Project, Klamath County, 2001: natural gas combined-cycle combustion turbine generating 475 megawatts
Klamath Falls Geothermal District Heating System, City of Klamath Falls, 1981: geothermal heat provided to downtown-area buildings
Klamath Generation Facility, Klamath County, 2005: combined-cycle natural gas power plant with gas combustion and steam-powered turbines generating 542.5 megawatts
Klondike III Wind Project, Sherman County, 2007: 176 turbines generating 375 megawatts
Port Westward Generating Project, Columbia County, 2007: natural gas combined-cycle combustion turbine system generating 650 megawatts
Stateline Wind Project, Umatilla County, 2001: 186 turbines generating 222 megawatts

Altitudes
Highest: Mt. Hood (11,239')
Lowest: Pacific Ocean (sea level)

An American Beaver at home near the water.

Animal, State
The American Beaver (Castor canadensis) was named the Oregon state animal by the 1969
Legislature. Prized for its fur, the beaver was overtrapped by early settlers and eliminated from much of its original range. Through proper management and partial protection, the beaver has been reestablished in watercourses throughout the state and remains an important economic asset. The beaver has been referred to as “nature’s engineer,” and its dam-building activities are important to natural water flow and erosion control. Oregon is known as the “Beaver State.” The beaver is mascot for Oregon State University, which calls its athletic teams the Beavers.

Also see related learning resource.

Linus Pauling won two Nobel prizes.

Apportionment, US House of Representatives
1860-1880: 1 seat
1890-1900: 2 seats
1910-1930: 3 seats
1940-1970: 4 seats
1980-2008: 5 seats

Awards (Nobel, Pulitzer)
1934 - Medford Mail Tribune - Pulitzer, Journalism
1939 - Ronald Callvert, The Oregonian - Pulitzer, Editorial Writing
1954 - Linus Pauling - Nobel, Chemistry
1956 - Walter H. Brattain - Nobel, Physics
1957 - Wallace Turner and William Lambert, The Oregonian - Pulitzer, Reporting (No Edition Time)
1962 - Linus Pauling - Nobel, Peace
1999 - Richard Read - The Oregonian - Pulitzer, Explanatory Writing
2001 - Carl Weiman - Nobel, Physics
2001 - The Oregonian - Pulitzer, Public Service
2001 - Tom Hallman Jr. - The Oregonian - Pulitzer, Feature Writing
2005 - Nigel Jaquiss - Willamette Week - Pulitzer, Investigative Reporting
2006 - Rick Attig and Doug Bates - The Oregonian - Pulitzer, Editorial Writing
2007 - The Oregonian - Pulitzer, Breaking News Reporting

The Western Meadowlark is Oregon's state bird. (Noah Strycker)

Beverage, State
Milk was selected in 1997 as the state beverage. The Legislature recognized that milk production and the manufacture of dairy products are major contributors to the economic well-being of Oregon agriculture.

The KOIN Tower in Portland is one of Oregon's tallest buildings. (Scenic photo no. mulD0050)

Bird, State
The Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) was chosen the Oregon state bird in 1927 by Oregon’s school children in a poll sponsored by the Oregon Audubon Society. Native throughout western North America, the bird has brown plumage with buff and black markings. Its underside is bright yellow with a black V-shape on the breast. The outer tail feathers are mainly white and are easily visible when it flies. The Western Meadowlark is known for its distinctive, flute-like song.

Also see related learning resource.

Births: 47,006 (2009)

Borders and Boundaries
Washington on the north;
California on the south: established by a treaty between Spain and the United States in 1819;
Idaho on the east;
Pacific Ocean on the west;
Nevada on the southeast.

Bridges
Highest: Thomas Creek Bridge (north of
Brookings), 345'
Longest: Megler Bridge (Astoria), 21,474'
Covered bridges: 50 throughout the state

Buildings, Tallest (Portland)
1. Wells Fargo Tower (1972), 546', 41 floors
2. U.S. Bancorp Tower (1983), 536', 42 floors
3. KOIN Tower (1984), 509', 35 floors

Harney County is the largest county by area in Oregon. Shown above is a road near Alvord Lake. (Scenic photo No. harDA0155)

Campsites Overnight Use
During 2009, a total of 169,906 reservations were made for overnight campsites in Oregon State Parks. Oregon residents made 114,593 of these reservations (67%), while non-residents made the remaining 55,313 (33%).

Cities, Total Incorporated: 242

Largest Populations (2009)
1. Portland (582,130)
2. Eugene (157,100)
3. Salem (156,955)
4. Gresham (101,015)
5. Hillsboro (90,380)
6. Beaverton (86,860)

Counties, Total: 36

Largest Area, Sq. Mi.
1. Harney (10,228)
2. Malheur (9,928)
3. Lake (8,359)
4. Klamath (6,135)
5. Douglas (5,071)

Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, which holds the distinction of being both the smallest county in area and the largest county in population in Oregon. (Scenic photo no. mulD0054)

Smallest Area, Sq. Mi.
1. Multnomah (465)
2. Hood River (533)
3. Benton (679)
4. Columbia (687)
5. Yamhill (718)

A Dungeness crab.

Largest Populations (2009)
1. Multnomah (724,680)
2. Washington (527,140)
3. Clackamas (379,845)
4. Lane (347,690)
5. Marion (318,170)

Crustacean, State
The 2009 Legislature designated the Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus magister) as the official state crustacean. The action followed petitioning by the 4th grade class of Sunset Primary School in West Linn. Common to the Pacific coastline from the Alaskan Aleutian Islands to Santa Cruz, California, Dungeness Crab is considered the most commercially important crab in the Pacific Northwest.