It is rusted out and inconspicuous but still has the arrow. 2. Eugene's average annual temperature is 52.1F (11.2C), and annual precipitation at 50.9 inches (1,290mm). Oregon, established in 1859, is known for its wild west history and numerous natural wonders. 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." On the reverse appears a beaver the state animal. Go Ducks! The city's name was shortened from Eugene City to Eugene in 1889. It was also, for many decades, Eugene's only synagogue, until Orthodox members broke away in 1992 and formed "Congregation Ahavas Torah". Randy Pap Beltline: Beltline is a limited-access freeway which runs along the northern and western edges of incorporated Eugene. Excess electricity generated by the EWEB's hydropower plants was used for street lighting. 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. The city is noted for its natural environment, recreational opportunities (especially bicycling, running/jogging, rafting, and kayaking), and focus on the arts, along with its history of civil unrest, protests, and green activism. Stephen leads the Tourism department, overseeing strategic promotion of the Eugene, Cascades & Coast destination to the leisure market. Ronald Reagan was the first person to cross the Coronado Bridge. Eugene has a significant population of people in pursuit of alternative ideas and a large original hippie population. Sacred Heart Medical Center University District is the only one within Eugene city limits. ~ Oregon Live 9. Oregon is the 27th most populous and the 9th most extensive of the 50 states of the United States. Eugene is home to the University of Oregon's Hayward Field track, which hosts numerous collegiate and amateur track and field meets throughout the year, most notably the Prefontaine Classic. Not coincidentally, Eugene is consistently one of the most popular destinations for top track events and competitions. [3] The first American city west of the Missouri River was Oregon City, incorporated in 1844. Eugene's official slogan is "A Great City for the Arts and Outdoors". 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%. Open to the Public. Portland's name was chosen in a toss-up One of the most important historical facts relating to Portlandis also one of the least-commonly known: in 1842, the city was just a coin flip away from becoming Boston, Oregon. Not coincidentally, those engineering movements also had origins here. Story Source: www.eugenecascadescoast.org, photo credit: Erik R. Bishoff via photopin cc, photo credit: Don Hankins via photopin cc, 541.485.7776 | 1301 Ferry St. | Eugene, OR 97401. Following those protests, then-mayor Jim Torrey described the city as "the anarchist capital of the United States.". The University of Oregon, founded in 1876, is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast. Also located next to the Willamette are Skinner Butte Park and the Owen Memorial Rose Garden, which is home to more than 4,500 roses of over 400 varieties, as well as the 150-year-old Black Tartarian Cherry tree, an Oregon Heritage Tree. Learning that a prospective buyer had plans to build several houses on the property, they formed a nonprofit organization called Madison Meadow in June 2004 in order to buy the property and "preserve it as undeveloped space in perpetuity." During Bowerman's 24 years at Oregon, his track teams finished in the top ten at the NCAA championships 16 times, including four team titles (1962, '64, '65, '70), and two second-place trophies. But plenty of things make Bend extra-special, and a handful of those things can only be experienced right here. South Sister, Cascade Mountains Their bites can lead to "abdominal muscle cramps, nausea, profuse perspiration, tremors, fever, labored breathing, and restlessness," according to the Oregon Department of Agriculture. With more than 350+ miles of bike lanes, Portland is considered the most bike-friendly city in the country. Eugene is located at an elevation of 426 feet (130 m). An apt setting, the museum is situated on the same property as the Eugene Airport. Oregon is one of only two states with statutes requiring attendants to pump your gas. Eugene is the only U.S. city to host three consecutive U.S. Olympic Team Trials Track & Field (1972, 1976, 1980). First played in 1894. Oregons largest sports arena/stadium is the University of Oregons Autzen Stadium. 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. 8. This portion of Oregon Route 126 is also signed Interstate 105, a spur route of Interstate 5. About Eugene, Oregon Known as TrackTown USA, this outdoors-minded community has produced many great Olympic runners, fostered the creation of Nike, is home to landmark sports venues and a host of sporting events from popular marathons to multiple U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field and the first World Athletics Championships held in the U.S. Oregon is known for its artsy cities, dense forests, stunning landscapes and, of course, for being at the end of the Oregon Trail. 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. Greyhound Lines provides service between Los Angeles and Portland on the I-5 corridor. 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. That bit of info probably is at the top of every single list of Oregon facts! 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. 20. Here are a few weird facts about Eugene Oregon that might make you think twice before visiting: Weird Facts About Eugene Oregon 1. 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 regional boundaries are Florence on theOregon Coast(Hwy 101) through Eugene - Springfield (Interstate 5) at the south end of theWillamette Valleyto theCascade Mountains McKenzie River (Hwy126) and Oakridge/Westfir (Hwy 58). 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. The market reappears as the "Holiday Market" between Thanksgiving and New Year's in the Lane County Events Center at the fairgrounds. 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 city bid for the 2019 event but lost narrowly to Doha, Qatar. Their settlements were concentrated in the French Prairie community in Northern Marion County but may have extended south to the Eugene area. About 8.7% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over. Eugene's jogging trails include Pre's Trail in Alton Baker Park, Rexius Trail, the Adidas Oregon Trail, and the Ridgeline Trail. Website (541) 484-5307. Emerald Valley, The Emerald City, Track Town, Main page: List of people from Eugene, Oregon, Eugene-Springfield, Oregon metropolitan statistical area, Science Factory Children's Museum & Planetarium, Autzen Stadium, Matthew Knight Arena, PK Park, Hayward Field, Basketball, Cross Country, Distance Track, Golf, Soccer, Volleyball, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, Cascade Collegiate Conference, Basketball, Cross Country, Track and Field, Soccer, Baseball, Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges, Junior A Tier III-League Hockey: Northern Pacific Hockey League. 7. Extreme temperatures range from 12F (24C), recorded on December 8, 1972, to 108F (42C) on August 9, 1981. Eugene is a city in the U.S. state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest. Eugene also has the Lane County Law Library. A short distance away, on the University of Oregon campus, is where this stadium is located. Until July 2008, Hynix Semiconductor America had operated a large semiconductor plant in west Eugene. Several track and field movies have used Eugene as a setting and/or a filming location. 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. 1990 - 282,912, Source:Population Research Center, Portland State University. Well-known breweries include Ninkasi, Rogue and McMenamins.. 7. 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. The 340-member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Eugene (UUCE) purchased the former Eugene Scottish Rite Temple in May 2010, renovated it, and began services there in September 2012. It provides participants with an introduction to a large range of microbrewery and craft beers, which play an important role in Pacific Northwest culture and the economy. For some of the best sunsets and rock formations along the beach, we highly suggest visiting Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint. Three hospitals serve the Eugene-Springfield area. Many U.S. trends in community development originated in Eugene. The largest library in Oregon is the University of Oregon's Knight Library, with collections totaling more than 3 million volumes and over 100,000 audio and video items. Bobby Doerr Professional baseball player and member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Foreign language immersion programs in the district are available in Spanish, French, Chinese, and Japanese. Natural gas service is provided by NW Natural. Eugene's largest employers are PeaceHealth Medical Group, the University of Oregon, and the Eugene School District. Oregon is home to the world's largest living organism, a honey fungus, which is 2.4 mi (3.9 km) long and 8650 years old, located in the Blue Mountains of the state. All Rights Reserved. LTD also operates a bus rapid transit line that runs between Eugene and SpringfieldEmerald Express (EmX)much of which runs in its own lane, with stations providing for off-board fare payment. Performing arts centers, galleries, music and cultural festivals, museums, as well as the dynamics of the University of Oregons intellectual and athletic inspiration keep the area thriving with vitality. So, get out there and enjoy all that our community has to offer! 9. Eugene has a community of some 140 Sikhs, who have established a Sikh temple. The Eugene portion of this highway begins at an interchange with Interstate 5 and ends two miles (3km) west at a freeway terminus. Generals, a Tier III Junior "A" ice hockey team belonging to the Northern Pacific Hockey League (NPHL) consisting of 8 teams throughout Oregon and Washington, plays at the Lane County Ice Center. Because of geological features that are unsuitable for settlement, there is an average of 39.9 people per square mile in the entire state of Oregon. Like the rest of the Willamette Valley, Eugene lies in the Marine West Coast climate zone, with Mediterranean characteristics. The Oregon state flag has a beaver on the back. It is sometimes called the "scenic route" since it has a great view of the Coast Range and also stretches through many scenic farmlands of the Willamette Valley. fun, and full of life. Sightseeing. The climate is cool and temperate, good both for jogging and record-setting. In early 2010, the slogan was changed to "A Great City for the Arts & Outdoors.". Natives traced the arrival of the disease, then new to the Northwest, to the U.S. ship, Owyhee, captained by John Dominis. 13. In 2017, Oregon voted to allow self-service at rural gas stations during certain hours in order to increase fuelaccessibility. They were close-neighbors to the Chifin, intermarried, and were political allies. The Lewis and Clark Expedition wintered at nearby Fort Clatsop in 1806. The Nationwide Tour's golfing event Oregon Classic takes place at Shadow Hills Country Club, just north of Eugene. Eugene is also the birthplace and home of Bike Friday bicycle manufacturer Green Gear Cycling. Eugene also has a Ukrainian Catholic Church named Nativity of the Mother of God. Oregon has had three capitol buildings in Salem. The record snowfall for March was 8 inches (20cm) deep in 2012. The Willamette and McKenzie Rivers run through Eugene and its neighboring city, Springfield. The Nike corporation had its beginnings in Eugene. A 65-tree filbert grove on public property is being restored by citizen volunteers in cooperation with the city of Eugene. 5. Oregon Medical Group, a primary care based multi-specialty group, operates several clinics in Eugene, as does PeaceHealth Medical Group. Eugene bested the nearby town of Albany in the competition for the state university. The Reconstructionist Temple Beth Israel is Eugene's largest Jewish congregation. Pee-you or Mohawk Calapooians, Winefelly or Pleasant Hill Calapooians, and the Lungtum or Long Tom. 11. Eugene grew rapidly throughout most of the twentieth century, with the exception being the early 1980s when a downturn in the timber industry caused high unemployment. The coolest month is December, with the average daytime high in the mid-40sF (78C), and nights averaging just above freezing. 2. Those age 18 and over accounted for 81.8% of the total population. Of the non-Hispanics, 82% were White, 1.3% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 4% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 0.2% some other race alone, and 3.4% were of two or more races. 1. Eugenes official slogan is A Great City for the Arts and Outdoors. According to archeological evidence, the ancestors of the Kalapuyans may have been in Eugene for as long as 10,000 years. Granted, that crime rate is higher than the national average, but compared to cities Lincoln or Portland, Eugene is safe. The Bethel School District serves children in the Bethel neighborhood on the northwest edge of Eugene. Other institutions of higher learning include Bushnell University, Lane Community College, New Hope Christian College, Gutenberg College, and Pacific University's Eugene campus. Eugene residents also frequent Hoodoo and Mount Bachelor ski resorts. Fact 9. Oregon lies on the West Coast of the USA, sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and four other states. Ten fun facts about Eugene 1. The Pendleton Woolen Mills and Pendleton Round Up became features of the city captured in early paintings by Walter S. Bowman. Friendly Neighborhood has a highly popular neighborhood garden established on the right of way of a street never built. Bike trails take commuting and recreational bikers along the Willamette River past a scenic rose garden, along Amazon Creek, through the downtown, and through the University of Oregon campus. 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. Several neighborhoods are known for their green activism. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The Eugene, Cascades & Coast region is a slice of western Oregon that stretches from the coast to the Cascades, encompassing Lane County. The per capita income for the city was $21,315. It is possible to see Eugene's trend-setting non-profit tendencies in much newer projects, such as the Tango Center and the Center for Appropriate Transport. There is no college there today. Eugene is home to some of our regions best breweries, while downtown Eugene hubs are infused with bottleshops, taphouses and growler fill stations. 3. (458) 207-3090 Many people commute to work by bicycle every month of the year. #1. Eugene's average annual temperature is 52.5 F (11.4 C), and annual precipitation at 46.1 inches (1,170 mm). 24. The cabin was used as a trading post and was registered as an official post office on January 8, 1850. Donald Duck, the mascot for the University of Oregon, is the ONLY sports mascot by Disney. Corporate headquarters for the employee-owned Bi-Mart corporation and family-owned supermarket Market of Choice remain in Eugene. 22. It was used as a trading post and was registered as an official post office on January 8, 1850. 25. The problem has been referenced in popular culture, including in the episode The 30% Iron Chef in Futurama. Eugene recently ranked in the Top 10 on the Livability.com 100 Best Places to Live list,ranked on the Best Places for Business and Careers -Forbes and we ranked 10th on the 2013 Allstate Americas Best Drivers Report just to name a few, 2. Ongoing trials of accused eco-terrorists kept Eugene in the spotlight for a few years. Oregon's most famous track icon is the late world-class distance runner Steve Prefontaine, who was killed in a car crash in 1975. Eugene is home to "Classical Gas" Composer and two-time Grammy award winner Mason Williams who spent his years as a youth living between his parents in Oakridge, Oregon and Oklahoma. Eugene, Oregon is growing somewhat quickly. In 2022, the city will host the 18th Track and Field World Championships. 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