In 2015, semiconductor manufacturer Broadcom purchased the plant with plans to upgrade and reopen it. Some Eugene anarchists gained international notoriety in 1999 for their perceived role in the violent protests at the WTO Conference in Seattle. Phil Knight, Nikes current owner, founded the company in 1964 with his track coach at UO, Bill Bowerman. In the 1970s, Eugene was packed with cooperative and community projects. 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. 6. For some of the best sunsets and rock formations along the beach, we highly suggest visiting Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint. 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. 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. Eugene , state Oregon ( By Press Release office) 2023-01-22T13:00:00 GMT | 2 | 0 Eugene Oregon : Fun with Coloring ( Eugene ) - Ages 5 - 9 with your grownups: drop in to get creative with coloring . 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. Oregon's topsoil comes from many miles away. Click here to email us, Although there is a nearby Oregon town that is literally named Springfield, that obviously serves as the primary basis for the beloved cartoon city from, Eugene will host the Track and Field World Championships in 2022, Very much a hub for hippies and other countercultural attitudes, practices, and ways of thinking, Ken Kesey one of the most prolific thinkers and authors of the era himself was originally from Eugene. The Eugene/Springfield Pride Festival is held annually on the second Saturday in August from noon to 7:00p.m. at Alton Baker Park. It rises almost 2,000 feet above sea level and is found in Medford's Prescott Par 2. Corpus Christi is America's "birdiest" city, with more individual species of birds than any other US city. Eugene residents also frequent Hoodoo and Mount Bachelor ski resorts. 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. The Nike corporation had its beginnings in Eugene. 9. Eugene's average August low is 50.8F (10.4C), while Portland's average August low is 56.5F (13.6C). Oregon is known for having one of the most abundant and diverse ecosystems in the United States. As the campus was still under construction at the time, the "occupation scenes" were easier to shoot. Best Places for Business and Careers -Forbes, 2013 Allstate Americas Best Drivers Report. There is a mainline Protestant contingency in the city as wellsuch as the largest of the Lutheran Churches, Central Lutheran near the U of O Campus and the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection. That bit of info probably is at the top of every single list of Oregon facts! Another important stream is Amazon Creek, whose headwaters are near Spencer Butte. Fact 8. 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. 20. These high pollen counts have led to difficulties for some track athletes who compete in Eugene. Oregon achieved statehood on February 14th, 1859. The hazelnut is Oregon's official state nut. 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. And is a literal breathtaking shade of blue. At this time the settlement was known as Skinner's Mudhole. 2000 - 322,963 In Eugene, You're Never More Than Half An Hour From What You Want To Do The population density was 3,404.8 people per square mile (1,314.5/km). Eugene, Oregon is the 154th largest city in the United States as of 2015. The Eugene Public Library moved into a new, larger building downtown in 2002. 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. 5. Eugene is home to some of our regions best breweries, while downtown Eugene hubs are infused with bottleshops, taphouses and growler fill stations. 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. The part of south Eugene known as College Hill was the former location of Columbia College. Eugene is also home to the Eugene Emeralds, a short-season Class A minor-league baseball team. In 1872, the Legislative Assembly passed a bill creating the University of Oregon as a state institution. Eugene's official slogan is "A Great City for the Arts and Outdoors". Up to 30% OFF Sale - Limited Time . Religious institutions of higher learning in Eugene include Northwest Christian University and New Hope Christian College. Here are some fast facts about Eugene, Oregon. Strict racial segregation was enforced and mixed race people, known as Mtis in French, had to make a choice between the reservation and Anglo society. Pee-you or Mohawk Calapooians, Winefelly or Pleasant Hill Calapooians, and the Lungtum or Long Tom. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.87. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 43.74 square miles (113.29km2), of which 43.72 square miles (113.23km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05km2) is water. 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. Some of the most famous include Nike, Taco Time, and Brderbund Software. Corporate headquarters for the employee-owned Bi-Mart corporation and family-owned supermarket Market of Choice remain in Eugene. 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. http://preparetoserve.com/OREGON Interesting facts about Eugene, Oregon. There were 69,951 housing units at an average density of 1,600 per square mile. 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. 10. Facts About Portland, Oregon. Skinner later ran a ferry service across the Willamette River where the Ferry Street Bridge now stands. The greater Eugene-Springfield area also has a Jehovah's Witnesses presence with five Kingdom Halls, several having multiple congregations in one Kingdom Hall. Oregon Air & Space Museum. Eugene has a community of some 140 Sikhs, who have established a Sikh temple. Eugene is a city in the U.S. state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest. Parochial schools in Eugene include Marist Catholic High School, O'Hara Catholic Elementary School, Eugene Christian School, and St. Paul Parish School. Copyright 2020 Tons Of Facts. 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. In 2012, the Eugene metro region was dubbed the Silicon Shire for its growing tech industry. However, theres much more to this place than its athletic success. Autzen Stadium is home to Duck football, with a seating capacity of 54,000 but has had over 60,000 with standing room only. 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 Oregon state flag has a beaver on the back. The first was built in 1855 and burned to the ground after only two months. Each has its own performance venue. If you're interested in things to do in Eugene with an educational edge, be sure to check out Oregon Air & Space Museum. Spring and fall are also moist seasons, with light rain falling for long periods. The state attained statehood on February 14, 1859, becoming the 33rd state to join the union. Eugene's visual arts community is supported by over 20 private art galleries and several organizations, including Maude Kerns Art Center, Lane Arts Council, DIVA (the Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts), the Hult Center's Jacobs Gallery, and the Eugene Glass School. At this time the settlement was known by Anglos as Skinners Mudhole. 3. In 2017, Oregon voted to allow self-service at rural gas stations during certain hours in order to increase fuelaccessibility. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males. The median age in the city was 33.8 years. Eugene also has several private schools, including the Eugene Waldorf School, the Outdoor High School, Eugene Montessori, Far Horizon Montessori, Eugene Sudbury School, Wellsprings Friends School, Oak Hill School, and The Little French School. 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. Well-known breweries include Ninkasi, Rogue and McMenamins.. 7. 2012 - 354,200 The University of Oregon campus is an arboretum, with over 500 species of trees. We Have A Volcano Roxy Ann Peak is a 30-million-year-old dormant volcano, named for Roxy Ann Bowen, an early settler who lived at the base of the peak. Natural gas service is provided by NW Natural. Eugene has a significant population of people in pursuit of alternative ideas and a large original hippie population. Eugene was the first city to have one-way streets. 14. Sightseeing. Of those, only 140 classes have more than 100 students. Having come out West with Mary from Illinois in 1845, the couple claimed land in the Willamette Valley, built a farm, and started raising a family before ultimately starting a successful ferrying business across the Willamette River. It fell victim to two major fires in four years, and after the second fire, the college decided not to rebuild again. If you watch the show and pay close attention, there are multiple landmarks and environments that were inspired by Eugene (Maxs Tavern is almost a shot-for-shot copy of Moes from the show). Jan Eliot Writer & illustrator of comic strip Stone Soup. By 1985, the industry had recovered and Eugene began to attract more high-tech industries. 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. Eugene Celebration is a three-day block party that usually takes place in the downtown area in August or September. According to archeological evidence, the ancestors of the Kalapuyans may have been in Eugene for as long as 10,000 years. 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