Salem, Oregon Salem, Oregon Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood of West Salem is in Polk County. Salem was founded in 1842, became the capital of the Oregon Territory in 1851, and was incorporated in 1857. Salem had a population of 154,637 at the 2010 census, making it the third largest city in the state after Portland
History of Oregon State Beavers football splitting with #5 Southern California and Utah, Oregon State crossed the Rockies a second time to battle #19 Houston. The Cougars were 18-point favorites but trailed the Beavers until Steven Wright hauled in a 21-yard touchdown pass with 1:17 left for a 19-16 Houston win. The loss was the first of three for Oregon State. However, the Beavers swept California, Washington State, and Oregon for the second year in a row to finish with a winning record. Oregon State would not sweep California, Oregon, and Washington State in the same season again for three decades. In 1971, Oregon State started