Jackson County, Oregon

Jackson County
County
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Oregon
Oregon's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°25′N 122°44′W
Country	United States
State	Oregon
Founded	January 12, 1852
Seat	Medford
Area
• Total	2,802 sq mi (7,260 km2)
• Land	2,785 sq mi (7,210 km2)
• Water	17 sq mi (40 km2)  0.86%
Population
• Estimate  (2008)	201,138
• Density	60/sq mi (25/km2)
Website	www.co.jackson.or.us

Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. In 2008, its estimated population was 201,138. The county is named for Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States. There are 11 incorporated cities and 34 unincorporated communities in Jackson County; the largest is Medford, which has been the county seat since 1927.

History

Modoc, Shasta, Takelma, Latgawa, and Umpqua Indian tribes are all native to the region of present Jackson County. In the early 1850s, both the Klickitats from the north and the Deschutes from the south raided and settled the area.

The Territorial Legislature created Jackson County on January 12, 1852, from the southwestern portion of Lane County and the unorganized area south of Douglas and Umpqua Counties. It included lands which now lie in Coos, Curry, Josephine, Klamath and Lake Counties. Gold discoveries in the Rogue and Illinois River valleys near Jacksonville in 1852 and the completion of a wagon road connecting the county with California to the south and Douglas County to the north led to an influx of non-native settlers.

Conflict between the miners and Native Americans led to war in 1853, which continued intermittently until the final defeat of the last band under chiefs John and George by a combined force of regular army and civilians May 29, 1856 at Big Bend on the Illinois River. The Native Americans had received the worse of the fighting throughout this conflict, and as they began to surrender, they were herded to existing reservations, beginning in January, 1856 when one group was marched to the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation west of Salem. Over the following months, other groups were forced to leave until by May, 1857 almost all of the Shasta, Takelma, and Latgawas tribes had been relocated to the Siletz Reservation, where they remained.

Jacksonville was designated as the first county seat in 1853. However, Jacksonville declined due to diminishing returns in the local goldfields and the construction in the 1880s of the Oregon and California Railroad. This railroad bypassed Jacksonville and rather went near Medford, located five miles (8 km) east of Jacksonville. Medford's prospects increased precipitously because of the location of the railroad and the accompanying commerce and development as Jacksonville continued its steady decline. Jacksonville fended off suggestions to move the county seat until 1927 when Medford was finally selected as the county seat.

In March 2004, Jackson County became the first of an eventual 35 counties to implement a voluntary plan of fireproofing homes situated on properties zoned as part of the forestland-urban interface. This requires homeowners to maintain a 30' or greater firebreak around their structures, and affects 12,000 homeowners. In 2007 this plan becomes mandatory for many landowners, under threat of liability if their property is involved in a fire.

On May 15, 2007, residents voted not to reopen the county's 15 libraries, which have been closed since April 6 due to a shortage of funds. This was the second time that residents have voted not to fund the libraries. This was the largest library closure in the history of the United States. The libraries were reopened, with reduced hours, on October 24, 2007.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,802 square miles (7,257 km²), of which, 2,785 square miles (7,214 km²) of it is land and 17 square miles (43 km²) of it (0.59%) is water. A portion of the Umpqua National Forest is in Jackson County.

Located entirely within Jackson County is the Bear Creek and its watershed, a tributary of the Rogue River. The population centers of Medford, Ashland, Phoenix, Talent, and Central Point are located along the stream. It connects with the Rogue River near the Upper and Lower Table Rock lava formations.

Adjacent counties

• Josephine County, Oregon - (west)
• Klamath County, Oregon - (east)
• Douglas County, Oregon - (north)
• Siskiyou County, California - (south)

National protected areas

Campground in Valley of the Rogue State Park on the banks of the Rogue River adjacent to Interstate 5.

• Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument
• Crater Lake National Park (part)
• Klamath National Forest (part)
• Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (part)
• Umpqua National Forest (part)

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 181,269 people, 71,532 households, and 48,427 families residing in the county. The population density was 65 people per square mile (25/km²). There were 75,737 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.65% White, 0.40% Black or African American, 1.09% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 2.88% from other races, and 2.91% from two or more races. 6.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.4% were of German, 12.9% English, 10.2% Irish and 8.8% United States or American ancestry according to Census 2000. 92.7% spoke English and 5.6% Spanish as their first language.

Of the 71,532 households, 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.20% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.40% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,461, and the median income for a family was $43,675. Males had a median income of $32,720 versus $23,690 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,498. About 8.90% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.30% of those under age 18 and 6.90% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The county's principal industries are healthcare, agriculture, lumber, manufacturing, and tourism.

Jackson County has over 10,000 acres (40 km²) of orchards and shares with Josephine County the Rogue Valley and Applegate wine appellations.

Soapstone, a substance used in art sculpture, is mined in Jackson County.

Points of interest

Bear Creek Greenway

Main article: Bear Creek Greenway

The Bear Creek Greenway is the area on both side of Bear Creek running from Ashland to Central Point. The Greenway's most popular feature is the bike path which runs from Ashland north towards Medford. Eventually it will be a 21-mile long paved link between Ashland and Central Point. The bike path is very popular with cyclists and skaters, especially during the warmer spring and summer months.

Oregon Vortex

Main article: Oregon Vortex

Jackson County is home to the Oregon Vortex, a roadside attraction located in Gold Hill. It is an example of a gravity hill; the attraction contains several demonstrations of what are claimed to be phenomenons relating to the surrounding area, but skeptics would argue to be optical illusions.

Communities

Incorporated cities

Ashland Butte Falls Central Point Eagle Point

Gold Hill Jacksonville Medford Phoenix

Rogue River Shady Cove Talent

Unincorporated communities and CDPs

Applegate Beagle Bitter Lick Brownsboro Buckhorn Springs Buncom Bybee Corner

Cascade Gorge Climax Colestin Dardanelles Foots Creek Four Corners Lake Creek

Lincoln McKee Bridge McLeod Mountain View Pinehurst Prospect Provolt

Rock Point Rogue Elk Seven Oaks Starvation Heights Steamboat Ruch Sams Valley

Table Rock Tolo Trail Union Creek White City Wimer

Former communities

• Copper
• Sterlingville

See also

• Beekman Native Plant Arboretum
• Bigfoot trap
• Britt Festival
• Mail Tribune
• National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory
• Oregon Shakespeare Festival
• Southern Oregon University
• Southern Oregon Speedway
• Medford School District
• Ashland School District

External links

• Jackson County, Oregon
• Jackson County Records 1853–1920