Oregon was reported to be a benign climate for farming without the bitter cold of the Midwest. There were abundant animals, fish, lumber, and water. There was water access via the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. read more
While settlers traveled west along the Oregon Trail for a variety of reasons, most were motivated either by land or gold. Various land acts in Oregon provided free land to pioneers, while the start of the California Gold Rush in 1848 lured thousands more. read more