1. On September 4th, 1851, the first issue of the Oregon Statesman newspaper was published in Salem. The paper later merged with the Capital Journal in 1980 to form the current Statesman Journal.

2. In 1880, the first irrigation ditch was completed in Oregon by the East Side Irrigation Company in the vicinity of Baker City. This allowed for increased farming and agricultural production in the area.

3. On September 4th, 1936, the last known passenger pigeon, named Martha, died in captivity at the Cincinnati Zoo. The species was once widespread in the Pacific Northwest, including Oregon, but was hunted to extinction in the early 20th century.

4. The Almeda Fire erupted on September 4th, 2020, in the southern Oregon communities of Phoenix and Talent. The fire destroyed over 2,300 structures and forced thousands of residents to evacuate. It was one of the most destructive wildfires in Oregon history.

5. Oregon became the first state to adopt a bottle bill on September 4th, 1971. The law required a 5-cent deposit on certain beverage containers, which could be redeemed when returned for recycling. The bill helped to reduce litter and increase recycling rates in the state.