including Asiatics, were imported; and their decrease to the period of adjustment and changing economic conditions that followed. Of the 1 1.6 per cent of foreign born in Oregon in 1930, almost one-third came from English-speaking countries; 13,528 from Great Britain and North Ireland; 2,802 from the Irish Free State; and 17,946 from Canada.
Immigration to Oregon had two peaks—1880-90, when 142,936 people arrived, and 1900-10, when newcomers numbered 259,229. The first increase was largely due to the completion of the transcontinental railroads and the construction of local lines, affording easy transportation for settlers; while the second was in the main the result of the World's Fair held in Portland in 1905, which brought vast crowds of visitors, many of whom remained or returned later to the state to live; the development of irrigation which opened large tracts of land for settlement; and the modern exploitation of Oregon's great lumber resources, with the consequent growth of all business.
Of Oregon's 953,736 total population in 1930, 937,029 were white and 16,707 dark-skinned; 392,629 were born in the state and 450,667 in other states; and 110,440 were foreign-born. The native Oregonians, though less than half of the number of inhabitants, comprise, culturally and economically, the dominant elements in the state. The character of the early settlers has, in numberless instances, been inherited by their descendants, and pioneer names abound in the register of Oregon industrialists, merchants, bankers, agriculturists, and public and professional men. The thoroughly American character of Oregon's population is emphasized by the few exceptions to the rule. Only in isolated instances do groups of people maintain cultural habits that distinguish them from the majority. Among these are the Basques of the southeastern part of the state; the Germans of Aurora; the Finns and Scandinavians in and about Astoria; and the Chinese of Portland. Of Oregon's 110,440 foreign-born, 12,913 came from Germany; 5,507 from Finland; 22,033 from Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and 2,075 from China. The number of Basques is negligible. Japanese number 4,958, but they have adopted occidental customs to a surprising degree. The negroes, numbering 2,234, are prone to live in colonies. All children in Oregon, regardless of hue of skin, attend the same schools, and restrictions because of color in business or occupational activity are non-existent. Indians number 4,776, largely on reservations, the most important of which are the Klamath, Umatilla, and Warm Springs (see INDIANS AND ARCHEOLOGY). There remains a small sprinkling of Mexicans, Filipinos and Hindus, insignificant in numbers.
