1. 1908 Portland Race Riot: On February 29, 1908, a race riot broke out in Portland, Oregon. A group of white men attacked African American workers in the city's waterfront district, resulting in multiple injuries and arrests. The incident highlighted the racism and segregation that existed in Portland during that time.

2. The Oregonian newspaper was founded on February 29, 1850. Originally a weekly publication, it has since become one of the most well-known daily newspapers in the Pacific Northwest.

3. The first leap year proposal in Oregon history occurred on February 29, 1920. At a community dance in the small town of Molalla, a young man named Austin Flegel proposed to his girlfriend, Mabel, by getting down on one knee and asking her to marry him on the extra day of the year.

4. On February 29, 1980, Mount St. Helens began to show signs of an impending eruption. The volcano ultimately erupted on May 18, 1980, killing 57 people and causing widespread damage in the surrounding area.

5. In 1844, Oregon officially became a territory of the United States on February 29. This unique date has been celebrated as "Founders Day" by some Oregonians in remembrance of the state's early history and settlement.