About Oregon
The state motto, “She Flies with Her Own Wings,” is a reflection of the free and independent spirits of the early pioneers in the state and the more contemporary Oregonians.
In a 2012 Gallup ideological survey, Oregon was ranked the third most liberal state behind Washington D.C. and Massachusetts. It was also found to be one of the most non-religious states.
Oregon was the first state in the Union to require voter registration and the first to elect their senators by popular vote.
The state has also been at the forefront of environmental issues over the past half century, making all their ocean beaches public, restricting non-recyclable bottles and cans, and creating state-funded bicycle paths.
Oregon has a lower crime rate than the national average crime rate, coming in at number 21 on the USA.com crime index rankings. Their rates of murder, robbery, and assault are all lower than the national averages; however, their rates of burglary, theft, and motor vehicle crimes are higher than the national averages.
They also have higher crimes per square mile than most states (58) and have much higher rates of hate crimes than the national average at 45 per 100,000 (national average is 26).
Most of these crimes are race and sexual orientation related.