Further, six-time Olympian Maria Mutola abandoned Eugene as a training area "in part to avoid allergies". Ronald Reagan was the first person to cross the Coronado Bridge. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.87. Granted, that crime rate is higher than the national average, but compared to cities Lincoln or Portland, Eugene is safe. Eugene is close to many popular mountain bike trails, and Disciples of Dirt is the local mountain bike club that organizes group rides and promotes trail stewardship. Fun Facts About Eugene. Extreme temperatures range from 12F (24C), recorded on December 8, 1972, to 108F (42C) on August 9, 1981. The process, still used by the university in modified form, was created by Christopher Alexander, whose works also directly inspired the creation of the Wiki. The population density was 3,572.2 people per square mile. The, Interstate 5: Interstate 5 forms much of the eastern city limit, acting as an effective, though unofficial boundary between Eugene and Springfield. Pilot Butte, a cinder cone volcano, exists within the city limits of Bend. Oregon Route 126 continues west, a portion shared with Oregon Route 99, and continues west to. Formally incorporated as a city in 1862, it was named simply Eugene in 1889. It was relocated in 1853 and named Eugene City, but was not formally incorporated as a city until 1862. Eugene is consistently ranked as one of Americas Most Bicycle Friendly Cities. Facts About Portland, Oregon. Oregon is the 27th most populous state in the United States and the 9th largest state by area in the United States! Eugene is also known for its vibrant art and counterculture scenes, heavy community involvement in government, natural splendors, and a whole plethora of other interesting characteristics. Principal performing arts venues include the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts ("The Shedd"), Matthew Knight Arena, Beall Concert Hall and the Erb Memorial Union ballroom on the University of Oregon campus, the McDonald Theatre, and W.O.W. Spencer Butte Park at the southern edge of town provides access to Spencer Butte, a dominant feature of Eugene's skyline. There are two Eastern Orthodox Church parishes in Eugene: St John the Wonderworker Orthodox Christian Church in the Historic Whiteaker Neighborhood and Saint George Greek Orthodox Church. According to Robert T. Boyd, an anthropologist at Portland State University, the first three years of the epidemic, probably constitute the single most important epidemiological event in the recorded history of what would eventually become the state of Oregon. 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. Oregon is the ninth largest state in the union, covering 98,380 square miles. Eugene, Oregon facts for kids Kids Encyclopedia Facts Eugene ( YOO-jeen) is a city in the U.S. state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest. During Bowerman's tenure, his "Men of Oregon" won 24 individual NCAA titles, including titles in 15 out of the 19 events contested. As the demographic pressure from the settlers grew, the remaining Kalapuyans were forcibly removed to Indian reservations. 2. In 2022, the city will host the 18th Track and Field World Championships. Well-known breweries include Ninkasi, Rogue and McMenamins.. 7. Eugene is one of the few municipalities in the US that does not fluoridate its water supply. Rock band Floater originated in Eugene as did the Robert Cray blues band. They stored these foods in their permanent winter village. Oregon Air & Space Museum. The hottest months are July and August, with average highs of around 82F (28C), with an average of 15 days per year above 90F (32.2C). Native Americans could not leave the reservation without traveling papers and white people could not enter the reservation. Danny Ainge NBA player, coach and team executive. Fun and Interesting Facts About Eugene, Oregon. Reptiles such as western pond turtles and Oregon alligator lizards creep through the state.. Natural gas service is provided by NW Natural. The Eugene School District includes four full-service high schools (Churchill, North Eugene, Sheldon, and South Eugene) and many alternative education programs, such as international schools and charter schools. Here are some fun and interesting facts for those curious to get the best out of Oregon's largest city. So for all of you new to town, we want to welcome you by sharing some interesting facts you may not know about our Emerald City. Not coincidentally, those engineering movements also had origins here. Lane Transit District (LTD), a public transportation agency formed in 1970, covers 240 square miles (620km2) of Lane County, including Creswell, Cottage Grove, Junction City, Veneta, and Blue River. 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, Cascades & Coast Visitor Center - Travel Lane County. 10. Eugene's largest employers are PeaceHealth Medical Group, the University of Oregon, and the Eugene School District. Jogging was introduced to the U.S. through Eugene, brought from New Zealand by Bill Bowerman, who wrote the best-selling book "Jogging", and coached the champion University of Oregon track and cross country teams. In 2015, semiconductor manufacturer Broadcom purchased the plant with plans to upgrade and reopen it. For some of the best sunsets and rock formations along the beach, we highly suggest visiting Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint. The University of Oregon campus is an arboretum, with over 500 species of trees. Eugene was the first city to have one-way streets. The racial makeup of the city was 88.15% White, down from 99.5% in 1950, 3.57% Asian, 1.25% Black or African American, 0.93% Native American, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 2.18% from other races, and 3.72% from two or more races. 11. 2. fun, and full of life. The Eugene Metro area also has numerous private airports. Oregon's largest city is Portland. UO Facts | Admissions Facts and Figures Get to know the University of Oregon and explore our academics, enrollment, student body, student life, and athletics. 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. There are a number of community gardens on public property. The University of Oregon, founded in 1876, is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast. 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. The town raised the initial funding to start a public university, which later became the University of Oregon, with the hope of turning the small town into a center of learning. Contents. They made seasonal rounds, moving around the countryside to collect and preserve local foods, including acorns, the bulbs of the wapato and camas plants, and berries. The Eugene-Springfield, Oregon metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is the 146th largest metropolitan statistical area in the US and the third-largest in the state, behind the Portland Metropolitan Area and the Salem Metropolitan Area. It is also referred to as the Emerald City, and as Track Town, USA. There are six Roman Catholic parishes in Eugene as well: St. Mary Catholic Church, St. Jude Catholic Church, St. Mark Catholic Church, St. Peter Catholic Church, St. Paul Catholic Church, and St. Thomas More Catholic Church. In 1873, community member J.H.D. 1. Eugene, Oregon is safe, and there are only 36 crimes per 1,000 residents. (New Jersey is the other.) 754 Olive Street. Copyright 2019 von Klein Rentals. There are 11 schools in this district. 2012 - 354,200 Portland is the most bike-friendly city in America. The state of Oregon is the ninth largest state in the US with a total area of 98,381 square miles. Eugene Has A Low Crime Rate. Despite being located about 100 miles (160km) south and having only a slightly higher elevation, Eugene has a more continental climate, less subject to the maritime air that blows inland from the Pacific Ocean via the Columbia River. 1. The KLCC Microbrew Festival is held in February at the Lane County Fairgrounds. Details. 1 Where are the oldest known human dwellings in the state of Oregon? 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. 1. John Belushi had the idea for the film The Blues Brothers during filming of Animal House when he happened to meet Curtis Salgado at what was then the Eugene Hotel. 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. At this time the settlement was known as Skinner's Mudhole. The Portland International Airport (PDX) is 119 miles (192 km) from downtown Eugene. Excess electricity generated by the EWEB's hydropower plants was used for street lighting. UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. The problem has been referenced in popular culture, including in the episode The 30% Iron Chef in Futurama. It is also referred to as the Emerald City and as Track Town, USA. Eugene is home to the University of Oregon, Bushnell University, and Lane Community College. 2. Cardwell Hill Cellars. American football is especially popular, with intense rivalries between the Ducks and both the Oregon State University Beavers and the University of Washington Huskies. 8. 503-623-6181. But much of the Willamette Valley's rich topsoil . 1. Its also home of the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Track & Field. Eugene also has the Lane County Law Library. Randy Pap Beltline: Beltline is a limited-access freeway which runs along the northern and western edges of incorporated Eugene. The beautiful park, peacefully hugging Mirror Pond, was named after Alexander M. Drake, a frontier developer. The title was changed for its DVD release. Kenny Moore, Eugene-trained Olympic runner and co-star in Prefontaine, co-wrote the screenplay for Without Limits. The district is home to the traditional Willamette High School and the alternative Kalapuya High School. Eugene's Oregon Ducks are part of the Pac-12 Conference (Pac-12). When the film premiered in June 2001 at the Seattle International Film Festival, it was titled Rennie's Landing after a popular bar near the University of Oregon campus. In Eugene, You're Never More Than Half An Hour From What You Want To Do The worlds largest living organism is a fungus underground that spans 2200 acres and lives in the Malheur National Forest! The Eugene, Cascades & Coast region is a slice of western Oregon that stretches from the coast to the Cascades, encompassing Lane County. Oregon has had three capitol buildings in Salem. The University of Oregon mascot is the Ducks. It is adjacent to the Lane County Farmer's Market in downtown Eugene. They were known as the Chifin Kalapuyans and called the Eugene area where they lived Chifin, sometimes recorded as Chafin or Chiffin. In fact, Historic Hayward Field is one of the most famous track and field-only facilities in the world.. 4. Summertime events and festivals frequently have bike parking "corrals" that are often filled to capacity by three hundred or more bikes. Bowerman began designing and manufacturing his own track shoes using a waffle iron, eventually forming his own company with Knight in 1971 after their relationship with Onitsuka Tiger ended. There are tons of interesting facts about Oregon that they don't teach you in school though. It was relocated in 1853 and named Eugene City in 1853. Henderson donated the hilltop land for the campus, overlooking the city. OFAM and the Hult Center routinely draw major jazz talent for concerts. So you should probably invest in a good tent before you come to Oregon. The Volunteers in Medicine & Occupy Medical clinics provide free medical and mental care to low-income adults without health insurance. Prefontaine was filmed in Washington because the Without Limits production bought out Hayward Field for the summer to prevent its competition from shooting there. 13. The Eugene/Springfield Pride Festival is held annually on the second Saturday in August from noon to 7:00p.m. at Alton Baker Park. To the north of downtown is Skinner Butte. Eugene is the only U.S. city to host three consecutive U.S. Olympic Team Trials Track & Field (1972, 1976, 1980). Flag: The flag of Oregon is the only state flag with different pictures on each side. Phil Knight, Nikes current owner, founded the company in 1964 with his track coach at UO, Bill Bowerman. Corporate headquarters for the employee-owned Bi-Mart corporation and family-owned supermarket Market of Choice remain in Eugene. Asian Celebration, presented by the Asian Council of Eugene and Springfield, takes place in February at the Lane County Fairgrounds. His teams also posted a dual meet record of 11420. 1. In the late 1990s, their contributions to the swing revival movement propelled them to national stardom. The "Chicken Salad on Toast" scene in the 1970 Jack Nicholson movie Five Easy Pieces was filmed at the Denny's restaurant at the southern I-5 freeway interchange near Glenwood. It's a gently flowing river springing from the Cascade Mountains, which are reflected in its glassy surface. Be sure to check out our other informative blogs here! 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