Oregons

Oregons is a name used for multiple places in the United States. In addition to the well-known state of Oregon, several towns and communities in various states are named Oregon. Examples include Oregon, Illinois; Oregon, Wisconsin; and Oregon, Ohio. These places range from incorporated towns and villages to unincorporated communities and townships, and they are not related administratively to the state of Oregon.

The origin of the place name Oregon is uncertain. The term appeared in early exploration and mapping related to the Pacific Northwest, and it was later adopted by settlers in other regions for their own communities. As the United States expanded westward in the 19th century, some settlements adopted Oregon as a geographic or aspirational name, leading to a number of distinct places sharing it.

The most prominent and enduring use of Oregon is the state in the Pacific Northwest. Residents of the state are called Oregonians, while the plural form Oregons more commonly appears in reference to the multiple places that bear the name rather than to people. The name’s appearance in many states reflects historical patterns of migration and settlement, as settlers carried familiar place names with them as they moved across the country.

See also Oregon Territory and Oregon Trail for related historical topics, and note that Oregons typically require disambiguation to distinguish among the various places that share the name.