Pacific Northwest Red states are states most commonly considered part of the Pacific Northwest. The pink areas (including British Columbia) are sometimes considered part of the region The northwestern part of the United States is known as the Pacific Northwest. Its boundaries are imprecise: the Pacific coast states of Washington and Oregon are always included, with Idaho a common addition. Extreme western Montana, near Missoula, is also sometimes included. A broader view of the region leads to the inclusion of the southwestern British Columbia. This broader view may relate to the region's modern origins in the former Oregon Country. In ecology, the Pacific Northwest is restricted to the high rainfall, mild winter coastal region with an oceanic climate, from Kodiak Island in Alaska south to northwest California, but not extending more than 50-100 km inland. Landscape in Oregon Country, by Charles Marion Russell History During the colonial period, various claims to the Pacific Northwest were made by Russia, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The United States established a claim following the exploration of the region by the Lewis and Clark Expedition. From the 1810s until the 1840s, modern-day Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and western Montana, along with most of British Columbia, were part of the Oregon Country, which was jointly administered by the United States and the United Kingdom. John McLoughlin of the Hudson's Bay Company was the de facto local political authority for most of this time. This arrangement ended when increased settlement caused the US government to move toward controlling the region directly. After a war scare with the United Kingdom, the two nations negotiated the 1846 Oregon Treaty partitioning the region along the 49th parallel. British Columbia, the UK portion, joined the Dominion of Canada in 1871. The US portion became the Oregon Territory; it was later subdivided into territories that were eventually admitted as states. Geography The Pacific Northwest is dominated by several mountain ranges, including the Coast Ranges, the Cascade Range, and the Rocky Mountains. Because of plentiful rainfall and a relatively low population density, it has: some of North America's most extensive forests; more than its share of aluminium refineries (because electric power is plentiful and inexpensive). The major cities of Vancouver, Portland, and Seattle all began as sea ports supporting the logging, mining, and farming industries of the region, but have developed into major technological and industrial centers that benefit from their proximity to Asia. Miscellaneous facts The Pacific Northwest is the least church-going part of the United States, yet it is home to four international charities, three of which are faith-based: Northwest Medical Teams International World Concern World Vision International The fourth is Mercy Corps. The Cascadia is a proposed name for an independent state that would unite British Columbia, Washington State, and Oregon, each seceding from their respective federal governments in Ottawa and Washington DC. Its boundaries would incorporate those of the existing province and states. It would, according to its proponents, also include coastal Northern California and Alaska. External links American Indians of the Pacific Northwest Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Pacific Northwest Newspaper Association Pacific Northwest Region of the United States Forest Service Moden Pacific Northwest Trail What is the Northwest? "Provocative description" of the Northwest Many Relief Agencies Call the Northwest Home Most Popular Articles: Music    Musical Instruments    Guitar    Classical Music    History    Music Definition    Country Music    Rock Music    Pop Music    Hip Hop    Rap    DJ    Video Games    Casino Games    Poker    Blackjack    Casinos    Real Estate    Loan    Auction    eBay    Marketing    Search Engine Optimization    File Sharing    MP3    Music Industry    Kazaa    Internet    Supermodel    Fashion    Fashion Designers    Erotica    Modeling    Clothing    Boots    Shoes    Diamond Engagement Rings    Diamond    Rugs    Gospel Music    Affiliate    E-Commerce    Radio This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License at http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html You may copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license. You must provide a link to http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html To view or edit this article at Wikipedia go to http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Northwest