2009 - 347,690 ~ Oregon Live 9. Eugene also has a Ukrainian Catholic Church named Nativity of the Mother of God. Some of the most famous include Nike, Taco Time, and Brderbund Software. Eugene residents also frequent Hoodoo and Mount Bachelor ski resorts. Eugene is one of the few municipalities in the US that does not fluoridate its water supply. Contents. Formally incorporated as a city in 1862, it was named simply Eugene in 1889. Here are some fun facts about Oregon, the 33rd state of America. But plenty of things make Bend extra-special, and a handful of those things can only be experienced right here. On 1/31/1922 at 13:17:28, a magnitude 7.6 (7.6 UK, Class: Major, Intensity: VIII - XII) earthquake occurred 263.6 miles away from the city center On 11/8/1980 at 10:27:34, a magnitude 7.2 (6.2 MB, 7.2 MS, 7.2 MW, 7.0 ML) earthquake . By continuing to use our site you agree to ourprivacy policy. The top 20 players from the Nationwide Tour are promoted to the PGA Tour for the following year. 503-623-6181. ePerhaps understandably, the only exposure many people have to the wonderful city of Eugene, Oregon, is largely in its capacity as a college town. Eugene is surrounded by foothills and forests to the south, east, and west, while to the north the land levels out into the Willamette Valley and consists of mostly farmland. Hayward Field was host to the 2004 AAU Junior Olympic Games, the 1989 World Masters Athletics Championships, the track and field events of the 1998 World Masters Games, the 2006 Pacific-10 track and field championships, the 1971, 1975, 1986, 1993, 1999, 2001, 2009, and 2011 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships and the 1972, 1976, 1980, 2008, 2012, and 2016 U.S. Olympic trials. The Eugene-Springfield metropolitan statistical area is the 146th largest in the United States and the third largest in the state, behind those of Portland and Salem. Eugene is named after its founder, Eugene Franklin Skinner. State Symbols. The coolest month is December, with the average daytime high in the mid-40sF (78C), and nights averaging just above freezing. Rock band Floater originated in Eugene as did the Robert Cray blues band. The Eugene, Cascades & Coast region is a slice of western Oregon that stretches from the coast to the Cascades, encompassing Lane County. A well-known hot spot for both lush, dense greenery in the forests and an infamous training/gathering hub of some of the fastest athletes in the world, its fitting that Eugene got the nicknames Emerald City and Track Town, USA. Notable local food processors, many of whom manufacture certified organic products, include Golden Temple (Yogi Tea), Merry Hempsters and Springfield Creamery (Nancy's Yogurt & owned by the Kesey Family), and Mountain Rose Herbs. It is at the southern end of the Willamette Valley, near the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about 50 miles (80 km) east of the Oregon Coast. Former US president George Bush Sr. received his naval aviator wings at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. There are also two branches of the Eugene Public Library, the Sheldon Branch Library in the neighborhood of Cal Young/Sheldon, and the Bethel Branch Library, in the neighborhood of Bethel. According to archeological evidence, the ancestors of the Kalapuyans may have been in Eugene for as long as 10,000 years. According to the 2010 census, Eugene's population was 156,185. Stealing Time, a 2003 independent film, was partially filmed in Eugene. 754 Olive Street. The, Interstate 5: Interstate 5 forms much of the eastern city limit, acting as an effective, though unofficial boundary between Eugene and Springfield. 9. Ronald Reagan was the first person to cross the Coronado Bridge. Skinner later ran a ferry service across the Willamette River where the Ferry Street Bridge now stands. Foreign language immersion programs in the district are available in Spanish, French, Chinese, and Japanese. Until 1889, it was named Eugene City.. 8. Pres Rock Memorial to distance runner Steve Prefontaine. Eugene Has A Low Crime Rate. What else would you expect from a place nicknamed Track Town, USA? The 1908 Amtrak depot downtown was restored in 2004; it is the southern terminus for two daily runs of the Amtrak Cascades, and a stop along the route in each direction for the daily Coast Starlight. The meteoric rise and growth of the Oregon Ducks Division I college football program, which has become perennial conference (and even national) championship contenders within the past two decades. As of the 2010 census, Eugene had a population of 156,185; it is the county seat of Lane County and the state's third most populous city after Portland and Salem, though recent state estimates suggest its population may have surpassed Salem's. They stored these foods in their permanent winter village. Eugene, OR 97401 Cycling is popular in Eugene and many people commute via bicycle. The old Grower's Market, downtown near the Amtrak depot, is the only food cooperative in the U.S. with no employees. The Pendleton Woolen Mills and Pendleton Round Up became features of the city captured in early paintings by Walter S. Bowman. Eugene Skinner and his wife, Mary, were the original settlers in Eugene, which is where the city gets its name. An apt setting, the museum is situated on the same property as the Eugene Airport. It's a gently flowing river springing from the Cascade Mountains, which are reflected in its glassy surface. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males. It is the county seat of Lane County, and is home to a population of over 160,000 people. But much of the Willamette Valley's rich topsoil . Eugene museums include the University of Oregon's Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art and Museum of Natural and Cultural History, the Oregon Air and Space Museum, Conger Street Clock Museum, Lane County Historical Museum, Maude Kerns Art Center, Shelton McMurphey Johnson House, and the Science Factory Children's Museum & Planetarium. The Bethel School District serves children in the Bethel neighborhood on the northwest edge of Eugene. The first major educational institution in the area was Columbia College, founded a few years earlier than the University of Oregon. In fact, the world's largest living organism can be seen in this state! There were 58,110 households, of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.1% were non-families. In this process, the mixed race families began to impact Native access to land, food supply, and traditional materials for trade and religious practices. The City of Eugene has an active Neighborhood Program. Beginning in the 1960s, the countercultural ideas and viewpoints espoused by Ken Kesey became established as the seminal elements of the vibrant social tapestry that continue to define Eugene. 8. The city bid for the 2019 event but lost narrowly to Doha, Qatar. While Eugene has a vibrant arts community for a city its size, and is well situated near many outdoor opportunities, this slogan was frequently criticized by locals as embarrassing and ludicrous. When crop activities waned, they returned to their winter villages and took up hunting, fishing, and trading. Family Fun. Oregon lies on the West Coast of the USA, sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and four other states. Donald Duck, the mascot for the University of Oregon, is the ONLY sports mascot by Disney. Some Eugene anarchists gained international notoriety in 1999 for their perceived role in the violent protests at the WTO Conference in Seattle. The Eugene Airport was originally where the BiMart on 18th Ave is today. It lies in the Pacific Northwest region on the West Coast of the United States. Oregon has had three capitol buildings in Salem. The Oregon Trail was one of the most used routes during the western expansion of the US. Burrowing owls, snowy plovers, sage grouse, and osprey are some of Oregon's avian residents. Fun Facts About Eugene. Granted, that crime rate is higher than the national average, but compared to cities Lincoln or Portland, Eugene is safe. Lane United FC, a soccer club that participates in the Northwest Division of USL League Two, was founded in 2013 and plays its home games at Civic Park. The first was built in 1855 and burned to the ground after only two months. Eugene, Oregon: A City of Diversity and Adventure Eugene is a vibrant city located in the U.S. state of Oregon, and is the second-largest city in the state. Eugene is consistently ranked as one of Americas Most Bicycle Friendly Cities. Eugene is named after its founder, Eugene Franklin Skinner. The district is home to the traditional Willamette High School and the alternative Kalapuya High School. Hendricks Park, situated on a knoll to the east of downtown, is known for its rhododendron garden and nearby memorial to Steve Prefontaine, known as Pre's Rock, where the legendary University of Oregon runner was killed in an auto accident. 2. Welcome to Fun Facts About the 50 States. In the fall of 2003, neighbors noticed that "an unassuming two-acre remnant orchard tucked into the Friendly Area Neighborhood" had been put up for sale by its owner, a resident of New York City. It also holds the record for the fastest speeder ever clocked by the Oregon State Police. Northwest Christian University (formerly Northwest Christian College), founded in 1895, has ties with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Of those registered to vote, about 43% are registered Democrat, 25% Republican, 25% non-affiliated, with about 7% registered to third parties. Flag: The flag of Oregon is the only state flag with different pictures on each side. Stephen leads the Tourism department, overseeing strategic promotion of the Eugene, Cascades & Coast destination to the leisure market. Temperatures can vary from cool to warm, with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The U.S. Census Bureau's annual American Community Survey reported that Eugene had a bicycle commuting mode share of 7.3% in 2011, the fifth highest percentage nationwide among U.S. cities with 65,000 people or more, and 13 times higher than the national average of 0.56%. On the way, along Oregon Route 58, are several reservoirs and lakes, the Oakridge mountain bike trails, hot springs, and waterfalls within Willamette National Forest. The racial makeup of the city was 85.8% White, 4.0% Asian, 1.4% Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.2% Pacific Islander, and 4.7% from other races. There are 54 nights per year with a low below freezing, and about three days with highs not exceeding freezing. 4. Moore had also had a role in Personal Best. 5. 8. Fun Facts. Doom metal band YOB is among the leaders of the Eugene heavy music scene. According to Eugene's 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city's top employers are: Eugene has a growing problem with homelessness. 3. Back in the '70s, Eugene, already a very progressive city, created a cutting edge running and bicycle trails, laying the groundwork for its title as one of the most bikeable cities in the country, even more so than its metropolitan counterpart to the north. Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in the United States. Because of its status as a college town, Eugene has been home to many music genres, musicians and bands, ranging from electronic dance music such as dubstep and drum and bass to garage rock, hip hop, folk and heavy metal. Here are some fun and interesting facts for those curious to get the best out of Oregon's largest city. Up to 30% OFF Sale - Limited Time Learn More. First NCAA basketball champions in 1939. In 2015, installations from a group of Eugene-based artists known as Light At Play were showcased in several events around the world as part of the International Year of Light, including displays at the Smithsonian and the National Academy of Sciences. Cookies are used for measurement, ads and optimization. in front of a now defunct tire shop on the corner of Henderson Ave. Oregon owns a full of America's llama populations. In late September 2009, Uni-Chem of South Korea announced its intention to purchase the Hynix site for solar cell manufacturing. Mason Williams puts on a yearly Christmas show at the Hult center for performing arts with a full orchestra produced by author, audio engineer and University of Oregon professor Don Latarski. Eugenes slogan is A Great City for the Arts and Outdoors. Summertime events and festivals frequently have bike parking "corrals" that are often filled to capacity by three hundred or more bikes. Eugene is located at an elevation of 426 feet (130m). Oregon sports a fairly unique state flag when compared to other states, it is in fact, the only state flag to have different designs on each side. However, this deal fell through and as of late 2012, is no longer planned. In the late 1990s, their contributions to the swing revival movement propelled them to national stardom. 14. It still has small natural food stores in many neighborhoods, some of the oldest student cooperatives in the country, and alternative schools have been part of the school district since 1971. Run Gum, an energy gum created for runners, also began its life in Eugene. Dick Hyman, noted jazz pianist and musical director for many of Woody Allen's films, designs and hosts the annual Now Hear This! In 1873, community member J.H.D. It was used as a trading post and was registered as an official post office on January 8, 1850. 2018 - 370,600 The four-story library is an increase from 38,000 to 130,000 square feet (3,500 to 12,100m2). 10. The part of south Eugene known as College Hill was the former location of Columbia College. Until July 2008, Hynix Semiconductor America had operated a large semiconductor plant in west Eugene. American football is especially popular, with intense rivalries between the Ducks and both the Oregon State University Beavers and the University of Washington Huskies. 4610 square miles/ In early 2010, the slogan was changed to "A Great City for the Arts & Outdoors.". The Torrey pine tree is the official tree of the city of San Diego. 21. Dave Wilcox Professional football player and member of NFL Hall of Fame. Saraha Nyingma Buddhist Temple in Eugene opened in 2012 in the former site of the Unitarian Universalist Church. The record high low was 73F (23C) in 2006. The Eugene area has been used as a filming location for several Hollywood films, most famously for 1978's National Lampoon's Animal House, which was also filmed in nearby Cottage Grove. Organically Grown Company, the largest distributor of organic fruits and vegetables in the northwest, started in Eugene in 1978 as a non-profit co-op for organic farmers. Reptiles such as western pond turtles and Oregon alligator lizards creep through the state.. A State of (Natural) Wonder (a.k.a largest, deepest, richest): Crater Lake, at 1,932 feet deep, is the deepest lake in the United States. It is growing faster than 61% of similarly sized cities since 2000. More than 100 years ago, pioneers took refuge and relaxed here. In 2009, the League of American Bicyclists cited Eugene as 1 of 10 "Gold-level" cities in the U.S. because of its "remarkable commitments to bicycling." French fur traders had settled seasonally in the Willamette Valley by the beginning of the 19th century. Our area is known as one of Americas most livable communities with easy access to arts and culture, numerous parks and gardens, culinary offerings and miles of running and bike trails. In July 1830, intermittent fever struck the lower Columbia region and a year later, the Willamette Valley. Kenny Moore also wrote a biography of Bill Bowerman, played in Without Limits by Donald Sutherland back in Eugene 20 years after he had appeared in Animal House. A short distance away, on the University of Oregon campus, is where this stadium is located. Of those, only 140 classes have more than 100 students. 13. The population density was 3,572.2 people per square mile. Parochial schools in Eugene include Marist Catholic High School, O'Hara Catholic Elementary School, Eugene Christian School, and St. Paul Parish School. Natives traced the arrival of the disease, then new to the Northwest, to the U.S. ship, Owyhee, captained by John Dominis. Another important stream is Amazon Creek, whose headwaters are near Spencer Butte. Eugene's average annual temperature is 52.5 F (11.4 C), and annual precipitation at 46.1 inches (1,170 mm). The Lane County Fair occurs in July at the Lane County Fairgrounds. This balance was further altered over the next few years by the arrival of Anglo-American settlers, beginning in 1840 with 13 people and growing steadily each year until within 20 years more than 11,000 American settlers, including Eugene Skinner, had arrived. Advised by the Kalapuyans to build on high ground to avoid flooding, he erected the first Anglo cabin on south or west slope of what the Kalapuyans called Ya-po-ah. The illustrious Crater Lake, located in Oregon's only National Park, is quite a sight to behold. All about the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region including fun facts, statistics, data and other interesting information. Several sites have planted gardens by removing driveways. Many multinational businesses were launched in Eugene. That bit of info probably is at the top of every single list of Oregon facts! Copyright 2020 Tons Of Facts. There is no college there today. The hazelnut is Oregon's official state nut. Although Eugene has been an American settlement for hundreds of years now, officially having been incorporated into a township in 1862, much of the city grew around the success of the University of Oregon, and the school continues to serve as the foundation and center for the city. The regional boundaries are Florence on the Oregon Coast (Hwy 101) through Eugene - Springfield (Interstate 5) at the south end of the Willamette Valley to the Cascade Mountains - McKenzie River (Hwy126) and Oakridge/Westfir (Hwy 58). Its four bordering states are Nevada, Washington, California, and Idaho . The nearest ski resort, Willamette Pass, is one hour from Eugene by car. Hell's Canyon is the deepest gorge in North America at 8,000 feet. In 2022, the city will host the 18th Track and Field World Championships. Open to the Public. With more than 350+ miles of bike lanes, Portland is considered the most bike-friendly city in the country. It was relocated in 1853 and named Eugene City in 1853. The event has been played every year since 1998, except in 2001 when it was slated to begin the day after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Since the founder of Nike is an Oregon alum, all of their sports apparel are sponsored by Nike and as of December 2012 a physics professor calculated that Oregon Football had 9,984 different uniform combos. Henderson donated the hilltop land for the campus, overlooking the city. Eugene ( YOO-jeen) is a city in the U.S. state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest. Corporate headquarters for the employee-owned Bi-Mart corporation and family-owned supermarket Market of Choice remain in Eugene. Than 350+ miles of bike lanes, Portland is considered the most used routes during the western expansion of US. Short distance away, on the West Coast of the most bike-friendly city in 1862, it was named city! Valley by the Oregon state Police Mary, were the original settlers Eugene... 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