We’re awful proud of our rich Oregon history. We’re the home of the Oregon Trail. Our natural resources and beautiful surroundings are coveted by people from all over the country. And we have this free, pioneering spirit that has persisted for as long as Oregon has been a state. But there are some things that we just don’t learn about in history class. Here, we’ve identified some of those fun facts for your enjoyment.

11) That phrase you might have heard your grandparents use, "Don’t take any wooden nickels," actually comes from Bend. The wooden nickels were created during the depression era.
10) Portland is the only city in the U.S. to have a dormant volcano... Let's hope it stays that way.
Geek2Nurse/Flickr
9) Oregon is the only state in the union to have two different designs on each side of its flag.
By User:Denelson83 [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
"Flag of Oregon (reverse)" by Original uploader was Zscout370 at English Wikipedia - English Wikipedia. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
8) It's true, "The Simpsons" is based in Oregon. Springfield, to be exact.
irrational cat/Flickr
7) One-fourth of the country's llama population call Oregon home.
The Gonger/Flickr

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6) The name for the city of Portland was decided in a coin toss. Had it gone the other way, the city would have been named Boston.
Mark Seton/Flickr
5) Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States.
Anita Gould/Flickr
4) Oregon was once home to what was believed to be the world's largest log cabin.
"P15exhibw" by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia
The half-acre structure was built in 1905 for the Lewis and Clark expedition, but burned to the ground in 1964.
3) Oregon has more ghost towns than any other state in the country.
The Gonger/Flickr
2) Just about everyone, even Starbucks baristas, have Master's degrees in Portland, making the city's residents more literate than any other U.S. city.
Chris Christian/Flickr
1) Sand on the coast glows during the summer. That's because bio-luminescent, tiny bits of phytoplankton called dinoflagellates are washing ashore.
Jeremy Piehler/Flickr
This photographer seems to have captured this phenomenon.

So, we thought these factoids were pretty neato to learn about. Tell us, which are some fun facts about Oregon that you know that always stump friends at dinner parties?

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