Oregon is a picturesque landscape of vast forests, volcanic peaks, fertile valleys, plateaus, and a rugged ocean coastline. With its large reserves of standing trees, Oregon is a leading producer of lumber and plywood, having to consistently balance the needs of the timber industry with environmental concerns. Oregon covers 95,997 square miles, with a 2008 estimated population of 3,790,060 people – 838,432 living in rural Oregon (USDA-ERS). Salem, the capital, is located in the northwestern region of the state. The state’s largest cities are Portland, Eugene, and Salem. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 90.3% of the state’s population is white, 3.7% is Asian, 2.0% is Black/African American, 1.4% is American Indian & Alaska Native, and 10.6% is of Hispanic/Latino origin.
According to the Oregon Office of Rural Health there are 58 hospitals in the state with 29 of these being identified as rural hospitals. 25 of the rural hospitals are designated as Critical Access Hospitals (April, 2009). Also, there are 59 Rural Health Clinics in Oregon (CMS, 2009), and 24 Federally Qualified Health Centers provide services at 179 sites in the state (Kaiser, 2008). Most Oregonians have some form of health insurance coverage, although 17.4% of its residents lack any health insurance (Kaiser, 2006-2007).
According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the average per-capita income for all Oregonians in 2007 was $35,143, although rural per-capita income lagged at $28,531. 2008 estimates indicate a poverty rate of 15.9% exists in rural Oregon, compared to a 12.8% level in urban areas of the state. Data from 2000 finds that 18.8% of the rural population has not completed high school, while only 13.6% of the urban population lacks a high school diploma. The unemployment rate in rural Oregon is at 7.7%, while in urban Oregon it is at 6.0% (USDA-ERS, 2008).
For a national comparison, please see an overview of the United States.
Data Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau: State & County QuickFacts
USDA Economic Research Service: State Fact Sheets
Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts
Oregon Office of Rural Health
Flex Monitoring Team: Critical Access Hospital List
Organizations
Community Action Directors of Oregon (CADO)
State/regional organization
A private, non-profit association comprised of the Executive Directors of Oregon's Community Action Agencies, the Oregon Human Development Corporation and associate member agencies. Mission is to eradicate the causes and conditions of poverty that exist in Oregon.
HUD Community Development Block Grants: Oregon
Federal government
Contact information for the State CDBG program. Provides funding for community development projects.
National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Pacific Northwest Region (NN/LM-PNR)
State/regional organization
Supports collaboration among regional libraries and information centers in the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
Oregon Area Health Education Centers (AHEC)
Academic/Research
A partnership between OHSU and Oregon communities. Its purpose is to improve the education, training and distribution of health care professionals in Oregon.
Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (OAHHS)
State/regional organization
A statewide, nonprofit trade association that works closely with local and national government leaders, business and citizen coalitions, and other professional health care organizations to enhance and promote community health and to continue improving Oregon's innovative health care industry.
Oregon Dental Association (ODA)
State/regional organization
Dedicated to advancing the dental profession and promoting the highest standard of oral health and oral healthcare.
Oregon Department of Education: Special Education (ODE)
State government
Supports and monitors special education programs.
Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS)
State government
Assists people to become independent, healthy and safe.
Oregon Department of Human Services: Developmental Disabilities (DD)
State government
Provides a variety of programs, support and resources for people with developmental disabilities.
Oregon Department of Human Services: Health Systems Planning
State government
Strengthens the ability of Oregon's health system to serve Oregonians by improving access to primary care, reducing disparities in health care services, improving quality, patient safety, and the level of patient centered care.
Oregon Division of Child Support
State government
Dedicated to establishing paternity and child support orders, and enforcing child support obligations in cases involving families who are receiving or have received public assistance, and in certain non-assistance cases.
Oregon Economic and Community Development Department (ECDD)
State government
Provides economic and community development and cultural enhancement throughout the state, and administers programs that assist businesses, communities and people.
Oregon Employment Department
State government
Supports economic stability for Oregonians and communities during times of unemployment through the payment of unemployment benefits. Serves businesses by recruiting and referring the best qualified applicants to jobs, and provides resources to diverse job seekers in support of their employment needs. Develops and distributes quality workforce and economic information to promote informed decision making. Provides access to child care that is safe, high quality, and affordable.
Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)
State government
Oregon's housing finance agency, providing financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of lower and moderate income.
Oregon Office of Mental Health and Addiction Services
State government
Provides services and information for mental health care consumers and providers.
Oregon Office of Rural Health
State/regional organization
Coordinates efforts to improve rural health systems, provides technical assistance to rural communities, recruits health care providers, advises hospitals about the Critical Access Hospital option, and serves as a clearinghouse for information on rural health issues.
Oregon Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (OVRS)
State government
Assists Oregonians with disabilities to achieve employment and independence.
Oregon Primary Care Association
State/regional organization
A nonprofit member association, provides advocacy on public policy and assistance to members in order to help decrease health disparities and increase access to comprehensive health care for low income and vulnerable people in Oregon.
Oregon Public Health Division: Office of Multicultural Health
State government
Works to improve the health status of under-served and under-represented populations in Oregon through multicultural and culturally-competent approaches that influence the way in which health services are designed and delivered.
Oregon Rural Health Association (ORHA)
State/regional organization
Works to improve the health of rural Oregonians by providing leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communication and education.
Oregon Rural Practice-based Research Network (ORPRN)
Academic/Research
An active clinical research network spanning rural communities throughout the state of Oregon. The mission is to improve the health of rural populations in Oregon through conducting and promoting health research in partnership with the communities and practitioners we serve.
Oregon State Protective Services
State government
Responsible for administering adult protective services for all adults with developmental disabilities who receive services in the community. Protective services are those steps taken to prevent abuse or neglect and to keep people safe.
Oregon State Commission for the Blind
State government
A resource for visually impaired Oregonians, as well as their families, friends, and employers.
Oregon State Public Health
State government
Protects and promotes the health of all the people of Oregon; protects individuals and communities against the spread of disease, injuries, and environmental hazards; promotes and encourages healthy behaviors; responds to disasters and assists communities in recovery; and assures the quality and accessibility of health services.
Pacific Health Association (PHA)
State/regional organization
PHA is comprised of the California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems and Washington State Hospital Association. Formed to provide information, support and representation to current members of the three state associations and future members. PHA provides a vehicle for the three state associations to collaborate and provide better service to their members on a multi-state basis.
Regence Foundation
Nonprofit/Foundation
Committed to building healthier communities, transforming health care and supporting end-of-life issues.
Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Helps rural communities in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming to improve community infrastructure.
Rural Development Initiatives, Inc. (RDI)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Helps build the capacity of rural leaders and facilitates the development of collaborative partnerships that undertake economic and community development initiatives. Works with local community leaders, volunteers, and partners to proactively address opportunities and challenges.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Oregon
Federal government
Works to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing. The HUD state office provides information about HUD housing programs and local contacts for the state.
USDA Rural Development Oregon State Office
Federal government
Committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America. The Rural Development State Office provides information about Rural Development programs and applications for financial assistance.
Tools
ERS State Fact Sheet: Oregon
Web site
Lists statistics on population, educational attainment, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators for the state.
MedlinePlus Go Local
Web site
Offers information about health services in local geographic areas, including hospitals, physicians, nursing homes, support groups, health screening providers and many others.
National Healthcare Quality Report State Snapshot: Oregon
Web site
Health care quality report for the state, based on the National Healthcare Quality Report.
Oregon QuickFacts
Web site
Basic demographic and economic statistics for the state, with links to county-level data.
Oregon Dental Association's List of Community Access Resources
Web site
A directory of statewide and regional dental resources.
Oregon Health Centers Data
Web site
Provides access to information on Federally Qualified Health Centers for the state. Includes a map of FQHC locations, as well as information on the populations served by health centers, services provided, staff, patient visits, costs of care, and use of electronic health information.
Oregon Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile
Web site
Highlights compile 2000 data on levels of employment, projected growth and key environmental factors that affect demand for health care. Details for medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, mental health and aides.
Oregon KIDS COUNT Data Center (KCDC)
Web site
Provides data on child well-being for the state.
Oregon State Health Facts
Database
The latest state-level data on demographics, health, and health policy, including health coverage, access, financing, and state legislation. Individual state profiles and 50-state comparisons.
State Profiles- Oregon: Health Information Technology (HIT)
Web site
Profiles the state’s health information technology (HIT) issues. Contains sections on demographics, HIT legislation, telemedicine, Health Information Exchanges (HIE) & Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIO), grant funded HIT projects, and HIT survey information.
See also: Resources for All States: Tools Documents, Reports and Other Publications
Demographic and Economic Profile: Oregon
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
Presents demographics, economics, and research on Oregon. Includes statistics, data, maps, charts, and graphs.
Date: 10 / 2008
Education: A Regional Overview
Author(s): By Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Explores education characteristics in the western states and examines how it impacts rural development.
Date: 2008
Employment, Income and Poverty: A Regional Overview
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Examines and compares employment and income in western states with both rural and urban data.
Date: 2008
Health and Longevity: A Regional Overview
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Examines health and longevity for states in the western region.
Date: 2008
Land Use and Resources: A Regional Overview
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Examines land use and resources in the western states.
Date: 2008
Oregon Domestic Violence Program Meets Frontier Funding Challenges
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Frontier Communities
Describes a federally-funded program in rural frontier Oregon providing coordinated support for
victims of domestic violence. Discusses the special challenges of funding a social service program in a frontier community.
Date: 08 / 2006
Oregon Federally Certified Rural Health Clinics: 2008 Report
Author(s): Troy Soenen, Claire Tranchese, Jo Johnson, Emerson Ong, Kate Clemens
Sponsoring organization: Oregon Office of Rural Health
Updates benchmarks and policy information from the 2005 report and provides time trend analysis from the 2005 Report and from the 2001 Oregon Primary Care Association report on RHCs. Also provides new information.
Date: 02 / 2009
Small Business Profile: Oregon
Sponsoring organization: Small Business Administration
Profile of the state's economy, covering the number of firms, industry composition, small business income, banking, women and minority business ownership, and employment.
Date: 2008
State of Oregon: Population Brief
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Baseline information for the advancement of rural development that examines population changes and characteristics within Oregon.
Date: 2008
State Profiles - Oregon: Reforming the Health Care System
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
Detailed profile of the state's health care system. Covers demographics, expenditures and financing, health status, utilization and quality of services, health care providers, Medicare, Medicaid, health insurance coverage, and key trends.
Date: 12 / 2005
The Changing West: A Regional Overview
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Provides baseline data for identifying population changes in the western states for use in advancing rural development.
Date: 2008
See also: Resources for All States: Documents Journals
Oregon - ORH Newsletter
Electronic newsletter providing information on news, events, funding opportunities, legislation and more.
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