Corvallis is a town of around 55,000 people in Oregon, USA. There isn’t much to attract the visitor to the town, however it is host to this year’s National Collegiate Athletic Association(NCAA) American football ‘Civil War’ clash between Oregon State University’s Oregon State Beavers and the University of Oregon’s, Oregon Ducks.
The ‘Civil War’ name comes from the college rivalry between Oregon’s two university football teams. The rivalry dates back to 1894 when the two teams competed against each other for the first time.
The game means that people from around Oregon and America will be heading to Corvallis, so here’s a few interesting facts about the town.
The town was founded in 1845 by Joseph Avery, who settled at the mouth of the Marys River and Willamette Rivers, in Willamette Valley. Apparently, the city was originally named Marysville, and in 1853, it was renamed Corvallis, meaning ‘heart of the valley’ in Latin. It was the original capital of Oregon, but in 1855 Salem was named capital instead.
Corvallis is the county seat of Benton County, Oregon. It is not to be confused with the other Benton Counties in the US – also in Arkansas and Washington states. Benton County’s total population stands at around 85,000. In 1862, Oregon State University was established in the town and remains to this day as the main employer in the region. Corvallis also houses the research center of computer manufacturer, HP.
Weather is on everyone’s mind when they visit a new city or country. Fog is synonymous with cities such as London, and so too it is with Corvallis. Its low lying position means that during winter months, fog lies across the city like a blanket. Visibility can be poor, so watch out and drive slow if you’re heading there by car, the FishDuck.com reports.
Temperatures can reach up to 42 degrees (C) in summer, while in winter the temperature can drop to minus 20 degrees (C).
Corvallis’ population is dominated by white males, with around 90% white according to the US Census of 2010.It is said to be the least religious region in America. However, minority sects and religions are more common, such as internet-based churches, The Church of All Worlds, and Scientology.
Sights to take in are The Peavy Arboretum, Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, and Benton County Courthouse buildings.Whilst parks and outdoor sports areas are numerous in and around the town with more than 21 in total.