Oregon History: 8 Events That Shaped the State

Exploring, mining and hunting are all part of Oregon history, but the state has developed into a prosperous manufacturing area, in addition to its agricultural production.

Here are eight events that helped shape the state of Oregon:

1. After the Lewis and Clark expedition mapped the area in the early 1800s, pioneers began traveling through the Oregon Trail, which became the most widely used route for westward expansion from the 1830s to the 1880s, according to History.com. The 2,000-mile trail stretched from Missouri to the Oregon Territory.

VOTE NOW: Is Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber Doing a Good Job?

2. The U.S. agreed to a joint settlement of the area with the British, but the territory was divided with a border between the two nations in 1846. Territory given to the British eventually would become part of Canada.

3. Congress officially established the Oregon Territory in 1848 that included areas now known as Oregon, Washington and Idaho, as well as parts of Wyoming and Montana.

4. Oregon was admitted to statehood in 1859. Its constitution included the prohibition of slavery. However, it also barred blacks from residing in the state.

5. Trappers were unregulated and supplied the high demand for beaver hats and coats. However, the trapping nearly eliminated the beaver population by the mid-1800s. Oregon, known as the "Beaver State," took control of trapping management, which has allowed the animals to flourish again.

VOTE NOW: Should the Government Be Doing More to Promote Tourism in America?

6. A gold rush from 1862 to 1868 attracted some 10,000 people to Wasco County at the peak of the period in Oregon history. Some $15 million worth of gold was taken from Canyon Creek. But the boomtown fever had fizzled out by the end of the decade.

7. Coast Highway 101, also called U.S. Route 101, was constructed through California, Oregon and Washington with most of the construction taking place in the 1920s and 1930s. The highway goes through most of the coastal towns in Oregon with scenic bridges and state parks along the way.

8. The 80-mile-long Columbia River Gorge between the Oregon and Washington borders became the nation’s first National Scenic Area in 1986. The gorge is considered one of the world’s best places for windsurfing because of its combination of marine air and drier air for natural wind tunnels.

URGENT: Do You Approve of the Job John Kitzhaber Is Doing as Oregon Governor?

Related Stories:

• Oregon Staycation: 7 Fun Things to Do While Staying Close to Home

• Oregon Gov.'s Fiancee Secretly Married Immigrant