Politics of Oregon in 1989
In 1989, Oregon was a state firmly in the Democratic camp. After the Reagan Revolution of the 1980s, Democrats had regained control of both houses of the Oregon legislature. The governorship, however, was still held by a Republican – Victor Atiyeh, who had been elected in 1982 and re-elected in 1986.
Atiyeh’s tenure as governor was marked by fiscal conservatism and social liberalism; he vetoed several bills that sought to restrict abortion rights or increase taxes on businesses, although he did sign into law a controversial “right to work” bill that made it more difficult for unions to organize. He also cut taxes for businesses and eliminated certain state regulations on industries.
At the same time, Atiyeh was supportive of environmental protection measures and increased funding for education; he signed a bill that created Oregon’s bottle deposit program and another that increased funding for public schools. He also signed legislation establishing Oregon’s first lottery system and creating tax incentives for companies investing in research and development.
During Atiyeh’s tenure as governor, the economy of Oregon entered a period of sustained growth and diversification; new industries such as tourism, technology, timber production and agriculture began to take root in the state while traditional industries such as logging continued to provide employment opportunities. This period also saw an influx of people from other states seeking employment opportunities or looking to retire in Oregon’s mild climate – by 1989, the population had grown by nearly 13 percent since 1980.
Overall, Atiyeh’s administration can be seen as one that embraced fiscal conservatism while still supporting social liberalization and environmental protection measures – a combination which proved popular with many voters in 1989 when he was re-elected for his third term with nearly 70 percent of votes cast statewide. His administration was characterized by economic growth coupled with increased investment in education and infrastructure projects which helped lay the groundwork for future prosperity throughout Oregon during his tenure as governor from 1979-1987.
Population of Oregon in 1989
In 1989, Oregon had a population of 2,842,321 people. This was an increase of 8.1% from the 1980 population of 2,633,105. The largest city in Oregon in 1989 was Portland with a population of 437,319 people. In total, there were 17 cities with populations over 10,000 in 1989. See ehuacom for information about the capital city of Oregon. The racial makeup of the state was 87.7% white, 1.7% African American, 1.2% Native American and Alaskan native, 3% Asian American and Pacific Islander and 6.4% from other races. Oregon also had a Hispanic population of 4%. The median household income for all households in 1989 was $25,489 and the median family income was $33,924. In terms of education attainment in 1989, 23% of the population had completed high school or higher while 13% had completed four years or more college or university level education. The major industries that employed Oregonians at this time were manufacturing (14%), retail trade (11%) and services (12%). However, agriculture was still very much part of the state’s identity with 8% employed in this sector as well as forestry (3%) and fishing (1%).
Economy of Oregon in 1989
In 1989, Oregon’s economy was largely driven by the manufacturing, retail trade and services sectors. However, agriculture still played an important role in the state’s economy, with 8% of the population employed in this sector. This included the production of wheat, hay, nursery stock and other crops as well as livestock raising and forestry. The fishing industry also had a presence in Oregon and employed 1% of the population. In terms of manufacturing, it accounted for 14% of employment with computer and electronic products being one of the most important industries. Retail trade accounted for 11% while services such as healthcare and education accounted for 12%. The median household income for all households in 1989 was $25,489 while the median family income was $33,924. In terms of economic development at this time, Portland had become a major hub for technology companies while Eugene had become an important center for biotechnology research and development. The Port of Portland also continued to be an important port city with goods being shipped to destinations around the world. According to liuxers, tourism remained an important part of Oregon’s economy with visitors coming from all over to enjoy its natural beauty and recreational activities such as fishing, hiking and skiing.
Events held in Oregon in 1989
In 1989, Oregon hosted a variety of events that attracted people from all over the world. On April 22, the Portland Rose Festival celebrated its 90th anniversary with a grand parade and fireworks display. Later in the month, the Oregon Country Fair was held in Veneta and featured music, art and food from various cultures around the world. In June, the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival was held in Hood River and featured performances by jazz legends such as Wynton Marsalis, George Benson and Herbie Hancock. July saw the Oregon Brewers Festival take place in Portland with over 80 craft beers being sampled and enjoyed by attendees. August brought with it the Pendleton Round-Up, a rodeo event that has been held since 1910 and features bull riding, barrel racing and other rodeo events. September saw two major events take place: The Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland which showcased classic works of literature on stage, as well as The Oregon State Fair which featured carnival rides, livestock shows and more. Finally, October was host to The Great Pumpkin Regatta which took place on Sauvie Island where competitors raced across a lake in hollowed out pumpkins. All these events attracted thousands of visitors to Oregon who enjoyed its culture while also helping to generate revenue for businesses throughout the state.
