Contact: Jae Heidenreich, 503.742.5910
jh@mthoodterritory.com
Mt. Hood Territory Facts
| Mt. Hood Territory |
Defined by the borders of Clackamas County |
| Clackamas County |
Founded in 1843, acquired current boundaries in 1854; named after Clackamas Indians |
| County Seat |
Oregon City - first incorporated city west of the Rockies, 1844 |
| Population |
338,391 (2000 census) |
| Area |
1,879 square miles |
| Incorporated Cities |
Barlow, Canby, Damascus, Estacada, Gladstone, Happy Valley, Johnson City, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, Molalla, Oregon City, Rivergrove, Sandy, Tualatin, West Linn and Wilsonville |
| Time Zone |
Pacific |
| Recreation |
More than 100 recreational areas (parks, campgrounds); 16 golf courses; 40+ lakes. Rivers include: Clackamas, Collawash, Little Zigzag, Molalla, Pudding, Roaring, Sandy, Salmon and Willamette |
| Major Industries |
Agriculture, timber, manufacturing, commerce and computer soft/hardware |
| Highways |
I-5, I-205, Hwy. 26 and I-84 |
| Distances |
Portland - 11 miles; Seattle - 174 miles; Vancouver, B.C. - 318 miles; Boise, Idaho - 412 miles; San Francisco - 629 miles |
| Temperature |
Average highs: January - 45°F/7°C July - 80°F/27°C |
| Average Rainfall |
59.64 inches per year |
| Weather |
National Weather Service - www.nws.noaa.gov or 503.275.9792 |
| Road Conditions |
Oregon Dept. of Transportation - www.odot.state.or.us/home
or 503.588.2941 |
| Airport |
Portland International Airport - www.flypdx.com or 503.460.4234 |
| Transit |
Tri Met - 503.231.3199; Greyhound - 503.243.2357; Amtrak - 800.872.7245; South Metro - 503.682.7790; Sandy Area Metro - 503.668.5569; South Clackamas Transportation - 503.632.7000; Canby Area Transit - 503.266.4022 |
| Agriculture |
One of the nation’s largest producers of Christmas trees and
nursery products, the region boasts a variety of Agri-tourism opportunities
at local gardens; U-pick flower, fruit and vegetable farms; and harvest
festivals. The richest farmland is found in Canby, Sandy, Boring,
Wilsonville and Molalla. |
| Mt. Hood National Forest |
Covers 1.2 million acres, making up more than half of the Territory;
has four designated wilderness areas; and more than 1,200 miles of
hiking trails |
Mount Hood Facts
| Elevation |
Mt. Hood – 11,245 feet (U.S. Geological Survey Office, Vancouver,
Wash.) |
| Facts |
Base spreads over 92 miles; highest mountain in Oregon and fourth
highest in the Cascade Mountain range; Indian name – “Wy’East”;
dormant volcano |
| Average Snowfall |
Average base is 175-200 inches per season measured from Timberline’s
opening date until end of winter season in April. Average snowfall
is 500-600" per year. |
| Ski Areas |
Timberline Ski Area, Mt. Hood Skibowl, Summit Ski Area and Mt. Hood
Meadows |
Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory – What You Might
Not Know
Factoids
- Willamette Falls is the 18th largest water fall in the world by volume of water.
- The sheer power of Willamette Falls inspired Oregon businessmen to take the unprecedented risk of building an electrical transmission line from the falls to Portland some 20 miles away. Previously, electrical distribution had been limited to about one mile. By successfully proving the feasibility of long-distance electrical transmission, Oregon entrepreneurs became the pioneers of the electric power industry. The falls also spawned early industry in Oregon City in the form of lumber, woolen and grain mills.
- With 268 growers, the county sold 2.5 million Christmas trees grown in 2005. Oregon is the top state in Christmas tree sales with 7.3 million, followed by North Carolina (3.5 million), Michigan (3 million) and Pennsylvania (2.3 million).
- Timberline Ski Area offers the longest ski season in North America on the Palmer Snowfield.
- Mt. Hood Skibowl is the largest night-skiing area in North America.
- Oregon’s first golf course was built in 1928 at the base of Mt. Hood in Welches, Ore.
- Mt. Hood is the second most climbed mountain in the world, second only to Japan’s Mt. Fuji.
- The 2003 World Record Giant Pumpkin, weighing in at 1,385 pounds, was crowned at the Giant Pumpkin Festival in Canby.
- Nationally, Clackamas County ranks seventh in agricultural output.
- In Oregon, the Mt. Hood Territory is the leader for nursery and greenhouse activity.
- The county features nearly 3,200 farms, including: 130 vegetable farms, 120 orchards and 470 nurseries.
Dates
- 1844 – Oregon City became the first incorporated community west of the Rocky Mountains.
- February 5, 1846 – First newspaper west of the Missouri River, The Oregon Spectator, was issued in Oregon City.
- March 31, 1849 – Oregon City was named the capital of Oregon and remained as such until May 15, 1852.
- 1888 – First suspension bridge west of the Mississippi River was erected over the Willamette River, connecting West Linn and Oregon City.
Regional Visitor Centers
I-205 / Metro Portland
End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
1726 Washington Street, Oregon City
800-424-3002
Exit 10 off I–205
I-5 / N. Willamette Valley
Wilsonville Chamber of Commerce
29600 SW Park Place, Wilsonville
800-647-3843
Exit 283 off I–5
Mt. Hood Area
Sandy Chamber of Commerce/Sandy Historical Museum
39345 Pioneer Blvd, Sandy
503-668-4006
Zigzag Ranger District
70220 E. Hwy 26, Zigzag
503-622-3191
Mt. Hood Adventure
88149 E. Creek Ridge Rd, Government Camp
503-272-3051
Mt. Hood Cultural Center & Museum
88900 E. Hwy 26 Business Loop, Government Camp
503-272-3301
USFS Interpretive Program (SUMMER ONLY)
Timberline Lodge lobby
27500 Timberline Road
503-622-7979
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