What is the abbreviation for Oregon, and what region is it in?

Oregon's two-letter postal abbreviation is OR. The U.S. Census Bureau places it in the West region, in the Pacific division, and about 4.24 million people lived there in the 2020 census.

When did Oregon become a state, and what number state was it?

Oregon became the 33rd state on February 14, 1859. The 1846 Oregon Treaty with Great Britain set the border at the 49th parallel, and Congress created the Oregon Territory in 1848, after thousands of settlers had arrived over the Oregon Trail.

Where does the name Oregon come from?

The origin is uncertain. The name first appeared in writing as "Ouragon" in a 1765 petition by English army officer Robert Rogers, who used it for a great river of the West, and historians have proposed several explanations without settling on one.

What is the capital of Oregon, and has it always been the capital?

Salem has been the capital since the territorial government moved there from Oregon City in the early 1850s, apart from a brief move to Corvallis in 1855. The current State Capitol was completed in 1938 after fire destroyed the earlier building, and it is topped by a gold-covered statue called the Oregon Pioneer.

What states border Oregon?

Oregon borders Washington to the north, much of it along the Columbia River, Idaho to the east, much of it along the Snake River, and Nevada and California to the south. Its western edge is Pacific Ocean coastline.

Does Oregon vote by mail?

Yes. In 1998 Oregon voters approved a measure to conduct elections by mail, and in 2000 Oregon became the first state to hold a presidential election entirely by mail. Ballots are mailed to every registered voter. Learn more about how elections work.

What are Oregon's nickname, motto, and symbols?

Oregon is known as "The Beaver State." Its motto is "She Flies With Her Own Wings." Its state bird is the western meadowlark, its flower is the Oregon grape, its tree is the Douglas fir, and its animal is the American beaver.

How many representatives and electoral votes does Oregon have?

Based on the 2020 census, Oregon gained a seat and now has 6 in the U.S. House of Representatives, which gives it 8 votes in the Electoral College.

What is the deepest lake in the United States?

Crater Lake in southern Oregon, formed in the collapsed volcano Mount Mazama about 7,700 years ago, is the deepest lake in the United States at 1,943 feet. It is the centerpiece of Crater Lake National Park, Oregon's only national park, established in 1902.

State Guide33rd StateEst. 1859

Oregon OR

"The Beaver State"

The end of the Oregon Trail and the beginning of a new American frontier. Home to the world's deepest lake, the nation's largest Intel campus, the birthplace of Nike, and 363 miles of coastline that by law belongs entirely to the public. Oregon has always done things its own way, and it usually ends up being right.

State Debt - FY2024

$16.9 billion

Total state government debt outstanding at the close of fiscal 2024, including long-term bonds and short-term borrowing across state agencies and public universities.

Tax Revenue - FY2024

$17.0 billion

Total Oregon state tax collections in fiscal 2024. Oregon has no general sales tax, so collections are led by the individual income tax ($9.5B), followed by the corporate activity and corporate income taxes.

Borrowing

Oregon borrows through several categories of constitutionally defined bonds (general obligation, lottery revenue, and appropriation-backed) issued for schools, housing, and transportation. All are sold to investors in the tax-exempt municipal market, and a state debt policy commission recommends limits. The state reported about $192 million in interest on its debt in fiscal 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State Government Finances.

33rd

State admitted to the Union

4.3M

Population (2025 est.)

99%

Of U.S. hazelnuts grown here

1,943 ft

Depth of Crater Lake

Oregon's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Here's the deal: on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Oregon votes in the midterm election, and this one is a big one. You're picking a governor, one of your two U.S. senators, and your member of the U.S. House. Every one of those races affects you, whether it's the gas you buy, the school down the street, or the laws Congress passes.

It's called a midterm because it lands halfway through the president's four-year term. Nationally, these elections decide which party controls Congress for the next two years, and historically the party that holds the White House usually loses seats. So yes, your one ballot is part of a much bigger fight.

Oregon does it differently than most states: everybody votes by mail. Your ballot shows up at your house, you fill it out at the kitchen table, and you mail it back or drop it in an official drop box. No lines, no polling place, no excuses. Oregon was the first state to run its elections entirely by mail, after voters approved it in 1998.

The key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each type of race. Every candidate on the ballot is listed, in the same order the state lists them, with the same information for each one. We summarized what each candidate says they stand for, in their own words, and linked their website so you can dig in and make up your own mind. That's the whole point.

Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026

Key Dates

Key Dates
Last day to register or update your registration	Tuesday, October 13
Ballots start going out in the mail	Wednesday, October 14
Suggested last day to mail your ballot	Tuesday, October 27
Election Day: drop boxes close at 8 p.m.	Tuesday, November 3
Last day a ballot postmarked by Election Day can arrive	Tuesday, November 10

How Voting Works in Oregon

Make sure you're registered at your current address by October 13. You can check or update it online at oregonvotes.gov. If you moved and didn't update it, the post office will not forward your ballot, so do this first.

Your ballot arrives in the mail starting October 14. Fill it out, sign the return envelope (your signature is how they confirm it's really you), and send it back. Postage is already paid, no stamp needed.

You can mail it, as long as it's postmarked by 8 p.m. on November 3, or drop it in any official drop box in the state, even one in another county. Drop boxes close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. If you're cutting it close, use a drop box, since mail picked up late in the day may not get that day's postmark.

Didn't get a ballot, or messed one up? Call your county elections office and they'll send a replacement. Questions? The Secretary of State's voter line is 1-866-673-8683, and se habla español.

Sources & Further Reading

…

Oregon's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026

Key Dates

Last day to register or update your registration

Tuesday, October 13

Ballots start going out in the mail

Wednesday, October 14

Suggested last day to mail your ballot

Tuesday, October 27

Election Day: drop boxes close at 8 p.m.

Tuesday, November 3

Last day a ballot postmarked by Election Day can arrive

Tuesday, November 10

How Voting Works in Oregon

Didn't get a ballot, or messed one up? Call your county elections office and they'll send a replacement. Questions? The Secretary of State's voter line is 1-866-673-8683, and se habla español.

Oregon's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Oregon

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Oregon's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Oregon

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading