a territory of the United States of North America, lies between N. Lat. 42. and 46.18., W. Lon. 108. 44. and 124. 28.; and is bounded on the N. by the territory of Washington, from which it is separated by the Columbia River and the 46th parallel of latitude; E. by Nebraska, from which it is separated by the Rocky Mountains; S. by the territory of Utah and state of California; and W. by the Pacific. Its length from E. to W. is about 665 miles; breadth, 279 miles; area, 105,030 square miles. Besides the Rocky Mountains on the eastern frontier, Oregon is traversed by two other ranges having the same general direction from N. to S., and dividing the territory into three distinct regions. The most westerly of these is the Cascade Coast, or, as it is sometimes called, the President's Range, at a distance varying from 80 to 150 miles from the coast. It is very lofty, having many peaks from 12,000 to 14,000 feet above the sea, and quite continuous, except where it is interrupted by the Columbia at the north frontier of Oregon. This mountain chain extends beyond the limits of Oregon, from Russian America in the north to the peninsula of California in the south. It almost entirely cuts off the communication between the coast and the interior, as there are but few passes, and these are so beset with difficulties as to be almost impracticable. The highest point in these mountains is Mount Hood, 18,361 feet above the level of the sea. The Blue Mountains, though having the same general direction as the two ranges between which they stand, are more irregular and interrupted than either the Rocky Mountains or the Cascade range. They branch off from the Rocky Mountains in British America, stretch southwards through Washington and Oregon, and finally extend into the state of California, where they take the name of Sierra Nevada. They send off branches on the east to the Rocky Mountains, and on the west to the Cascade range. Of the three regions into which Oregon is divided by these mountain chains, that which lies between the Cascade range and the ocean is the only agricultural part of the country, and is watered by the Willamette, Umpqua, and Rogue rivers, all of which rise in the Cascade Mountains, and fall, the first into the Columbia, and the two others into the Pacific. Many branches and offsets from the main ridge diversify this country, and these are covered with forests of oak, pine, fir, spruce, ash, and other kinds of timber, with a thick undergrowth of hazels, briars, &c. There are also in this region many valleys and prairies, where the soil is rich and loamy, furnishing good land for cultivation, and excellent pasturage. The coast of Oregon, which is in general bold and steep, is rendered dangerous for navigation by the heavy surf which continually breaks against every part of it. Of the few promontories which diversify the uniformity of its outline, the most noteworthy are capes Lookout, Foulweather, and Blanco or Orford. There are no considerable inlets of the sea; and as the mouths of the small rivers here are generally obstructed by sand-bars thrown up by the violence of the waves, the harbours are few and insignificant. Those in the estuary of the Columbia, and that which lies at the mouth of the Umpqua, are the most important seaports of Oregon. The middle region of the territory, lying between the Cascade and the Blue Mountains, is of a different nature, and more suitable for pastoral than for agricultural purposes. The surface is undulating, and in general elevated about 1000 feet above the sea. With a large extent of barren and lonely deserts in the south, this region contains throughout a great part of its area fine pasture-grounds, and is watered by the Fall River, an affluent of the Columbia from the south, and by several smaller streams. The most easterly region of the territory, extending from the Blue to the Rocky Mountains, is for the most part barren and rocky, so as to be quite incapable of improvement either for agricultural or pastoral pursuits, except in the immediate vicinity of the rivers. In some parts the surface is covered with wood, and it is broken by numerous mountain ridges and isolated hills. The Salmon River Mountains traverse this country from E. to W.; and the principal rivers are the Salmon River, to the north of this range; and on the south the Snake River, into which the former flows, and which discharges their united waters into the Columbia. In the Rocky Mountains, within the territory of Oregon, there is but one pass, the South Pass, at the extreme S.E., 7489 feet in elevation. This forms the great thoroughfare to Utah and California from the east, and by this path the stream of emigration enters these countries. In geological character, the whole country between the Cascade and the Rocky Mountains is of primitive formation. Traces of volcanic agency occur in many places, and in some parts there are extensive beds of lava, in which the rivers have worn channels for themselves. In the western region formations of later eras are general, but in the southern part even of this region primitive rocks occur. Of the mineral wealth of the territory comparatively little is yet known; but gold has been found in the Cascade range and in the rivers that descend from it. Indeed the whole country to the west of the Blue Mountains is believed to abound in this metal. The valley of the Willamette is also rich in coal. The western region of Oregon enjoys a mild and temperate climate. The summers are warm and dry, and the winters neither long nor severe, the difference between the extremes of heat and cold not being so great as in places of the same latitude on the American shores of the Atlantic. A considerable amount of rain falls, chiefly in winter; but the snow only lies for a short time. At Oregon city, not far south of the Columbia, the mean temperature of the whole year is 54°; of spring, 54°; of summer, 70°; of autumn, 54°; and of winter, 40°. In the central region the climate is colder and more variable, but the atmosphere is healthy and bracing. In the eastern region the climate is very variable, and hardly any rain or snow falls. The forests of Oregon abound in many kinds of wild animals—as elks, deer, antelopes, bears, wolves, foxes, beavers, &c. The eastern region of Oregon contains many buffaloes. Fur-bearing animals, which were formerly very abundant, are now falling off in numbers, and constitute no longer a profitable pursuit. Ducks, geese, and other waterfowl are extremely numerous in spring and autumn on the rivers and lakes. In all these, as well as in the sea off the coasts, fish of many kinds are found; such as salmon, sturgeon, cod, carp, &c., as well as crabs, oysters, mussels, and other shell-fish.

The only part of Oregon that has yet been settled and cultivated is that which lies to the west of the Cascade Mountains. In 1850 the territory contained (exclusive of the counties of Clark and Lewis, which then belonged to Oregon, but have since been formed into the territory of Washington), 115,691 acres of cultivated, and 247,212 of uncultivated land in farms. The whole value of the farms was in that year L492,927; and that of the farming implements and machinery L34,112. There were produced in Oregon in the year ending June 1, 1850, 200,148 bushels of wheat, 2913 of maize, 54,624 of oats, 29,536 lb. of wool, 3822 bushels of peas and beans, 58,429 of potatoes, L15,964 worth of market-garden produce, 209,564 lb. of butter, and 35,930 lb. of cheese. Of live stock there were in the territory in the same year 6679 horses, 414 asses and mules, 34,334 horned cattle, 4024 sheep, and 28,729 swine; the whole being valued at L350,651. The only mining operation carried on in Oregon is gold-digging, which is pursued in the valleys in the south-west of the territory. Nor are the manufactures of the country of much importance, being confined to such articles as are required to supply the wants of a scattered agricultural people. Some trade, however, is carried on in the exportation of timber, leather, beef, pork, salmon, onions, potatoes, butter, cheese, &c. A line of steamers plies between San Francisco and the Columbia. The exports of Oregon for the year ending June 30, 1856, amounted in value to L1296; and the imports to L565. According to the constitution of Oregon, promulgated in 1848, the executive power is in the hands of a governor, appointed for a period of four years by the president of the United States, and removable at will by the same authority. The legislature consists of a council of 9 members, and a house of representatives of not less than 18, or more than 80; both elected by the people, the former for three years, and the latter for one. The right of voting and of eligibility as a member of the legislative body belongs to every white male of full age in the territory who is either a citizen of the United States, or declares upon oath his intention to become such; but the legislature may introduce new limitations in the franchise. By a vote of the people in June 1857 a convention was appointed to prepare a constitution for Oregon as a state, which was to be submitted to the people for ratification. At the same time the questions connected with slavery, as regards Oregon, were to be decided by popular vote; and if the constitution be ratified, provision is made for the election of a state government and representatives in Congress, June 7, 1858. The number of churches in Oregon, according to the census of 1850, was eight, having an aggregate accommodation for 2633; and property amounting to L15,315. Little progress has yet been made in education, as indeed little could have been expected from the scanty population; but certain lands have been allotted for the endowment of a university; and of the public land, two sections in each township are reserved for educational purposes, an amount which will yield a large sum, being double what is allowed in the other new states. There were in Oregon in 1850, 29 academies and schools, with 44 teachers, and 898 pupils. In the same year the total number of adults in the territory unable to read and write was 156. Oregon is gradually rising to wealth and prosperity by the steady labour and industry of the inhabitants; while at the same time the means for the religious and intellectual advancement of the people are by no means neglected. The discovery of the coast of Oregon is an honour disputed by the British and Spanish nations; for it was visited by navigators from both countries in the sixteenth century. Ferrelo, a Spaniard, is said to have reached as far N. as Lat. 43, in 1547; while in 1579 Drake arrived at the 48th parallel. The estuary of the Columbia was first entered in 1792 by Captain Baker, an Englishman, and Captain Gray, an American; and on account of the priority of the entrance of the latter, the American government laid claim to the entire country watered by that river and its affluents. These conflicting pretensions gave rise to many serious and long-continued disputes between the three powers, which were finally settled only by the treaty of 1846, by which all the country south of N. Lat. 49, was ceded to the United States. The whole of this country was originally comprised in the territory of Oregon, but has since been divided into those of Oregon and Washington. Pop. (1850), exclusive of the present territory of Washington, 12,093; (1853), 33,324; (1857), estimated at 43,000.