[04] Population Factoids Since 1950

Most people live in the Portland area and Willamette Valley area, especially around Salem and Eugene. The city of Portland had an estimated 539,438 residents in 2002 and the estimated population of Salem was 140,977; Eugene's was 140,395.

Population Trends
1980: 2,633,105
1990: 2,842,321
2000: 3,421,399
2004 estimate: 3,594,586

Percent change, 1990–2000: 20.4%

U.S. rank in 2004: 27th

Percent of residents born in state: 45.3% (2000)

Density: 35.6 people per square mile (2000)

Between 1970 and 1980, the state's net gain from migration was about 341,000; from 1980 to 1983, however, the state suffered a net loss of about 37,000, and from 1985 to 1990, the net migration gain was 123,500. Between 1990 and 1998, Oregon had net gains of 260,000 in domestic migration and 58,000 in international migration. In 1998, 5,909 foreign immigrants arrived in Oregon; of these, the greatest number, 1,879, came from Mexico. The state's overall population increased 15.5% between 1990 and 1998, making it one of the fastest growing states in the nation. In the period 1995–2000, 399,328 people moved into the state and 324,663 moved out, for a net gain of 74,665, many of whom came from California.

Racial and Ethnic Characteristics (2000)
White: 2,961,623
Black or African American: 55,662
American Indian and Alaska Native: 45,211
Asian: 101,350
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 7,976
Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 275,314
Other: 144,832

About 55,662 blacks were estimated to live in Oregon in 2000, up from 46,000 in 1990; most blacks reside in the Portland area. In 2000, Hispanics and Latinos numbered about 275,314, or 8% of the state total population, up from 113,000 in 1990. In the same year Asians numbered 101,350. There were 20,930 Chinese, 12,131 Japanese, 12,387 Koreans, 10,627 Filipinos, 18,890 Vietnamese (up from 8,130 in 1990), 9,575 Asian Indians (more than triple the 1990 population of 2,726), and 4,392 Laotians. Pacific Islanders numbered 7,976.

Age Characteristics (2000)
Population under 5 years old: 223,005
Population 5 to 19 years old: 720,999
Percent of population 65 years and over: 12.8%
Median age: 36.3 years (2000)

Vital Statistics
Total number of births (2003): 45,911
Total number of deaths (2003): 30,973 (infant deaths, 270)

Religion
Oregon has a high proportion of religiously-unaffiliated and self-identified "nonreligious" residents. 1.2% of Oregonians describe themselves as and 17% of Oregonians classify themselves as "nonreligious". The largest religion in OR is Christianity. Most people are part of the Catcholic Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.


Sources
http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-West/Oregon.html