[8] In the 1980s, hard times hit Oregon's main resource sectors: timber, fishing, and agriculture.

[12] With the coming of the First World War, the state's shipyard industry and timber trades continued to expand rapidly again, especially in Portland.

[11] The Bonneville Dam, built from 1933 to 1937 provided low cost electricity that helped fuel development of industries such as aluminum plants, like Wah Chang Corporation located in Albany.

The power, food, and lumber provided by Oregon helped fuel the development of the West, although the periodic fluctuations in the nation's building industry have hurt the state's economy on multiple occasions.

That coupled with needs of World War II food production, shipbuilding and the lumber were also greatly enhanced throughout the state.

Cranberry cultivation in Oregon uses about 27,000 acres (110 square kilometers) in southern Coos and northern Curry counties, centered around the coastal city of Bandon.

[23] An Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) infestation has been sighted in Forest Grove, the first for Western North America.

[24][25] On June 30, 2022, an off-duty invasion biologist noticed an infested tree and the Emerald Ash Borer Readiness and Response Plan for Oregon[26] – finalized in March of the previous year – was quickly enacted by state departments.

[28] Even the shift in recent years towards finished goods such as paper and building materials has not slowed the decline of the timber industry in the state.

[38] The Oregon Coast Aquarium comprises 23 acres (9.3 ha) along Yaquina Bay in Newport, and was also home to Keiko the orca whale.

[40] Fort Clatsop in Warrenton features a replica of Lewis and Clark's encampment at the mouth of the Columbia River in 1805.

[42] Oregon has also historically been a popular region for film shoots due to its diverse landscapes, as well as its proximity to Hollywood.

[43] Movies filmed in Oregon include: Animal House, Free Willy, The General, The Goonies, Kindergarten Cop, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and Stand By Me.

Oregon native Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, has incorporated many references from his hometown of Portland into the TV series.

[44] Additionally, several television shows have been filmed throughout the state including Portlandia, Grimm, Bates Motel, and Leverage.

Intel's creation and expansion of several facilities in eastern Washington County continued the growth that Tektronix had started.

The recession and dot-com bust of 2001 hit the region hard; many high technology employers reduced the number of their employees or went out of business.

[50] Oregon is home to several large datacenters that take advantage of cheap power and a climate conducive to reducing cooling costs.

[53] Providence and Kaiser are vertically integrated delivery systems which operate hospitals and offer insurance plans.

[57] Oregon voters have been resolute in their opposition to a sales tax, voting proposals down each of the nine times they have been presented.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Oregon ranked 41st out of the 50 states in taxes per capita in 2005 with an average amount paid of 1,791.45.

[67] The "kicker law" stipulates that when income tax collections exceed state economists' estimates by two percent or more, any excess must be returned to taxpayers.

Federal payments to county governments that were granted to replace timber revenue when logging in National Forests was restricted in the 1990s, have been under threat of suspension for several years.

This issue dominates the future revenue of rural counties, which have come to rely on the payments in providing essential services.

Oregon is also home to Mentor Graphics Corporation, a world leader in electronic design automation located in Wilsonville and employs roughly 4,500 people worldwide.

Nike's Beaverton campus is continuously ranked as a top employer in the Portland area-along with competitor Adidas.