Jackson County, Oregon | |
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_(jacDA0008).jpg) .jpg)  .jpg)   From top clockwise: Jackson County Courthouse and Office Building,Medford Mormon Temple,Southern Oregon University's Hannon Library,Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument,Mount Ashland, Old Jackson County Courthouse | |
_Seal.png) Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofOregon | |
 Oregon's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:42°25′N122°44′W / 42.42°N 122.74°W /42.42; -122.74 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Oregon |
| Founded | January 12, 1852 |
| Named after | Andrew Jackson |
| Seat | Medford |
| Largest city | Medford |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,802 sq mi (7,260 km2) |
| • Land | 2,784 sq mi (7,210 km2) |
| • Water | 18 sq mi (47 km2) 1% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 223,259 |
• Estimate (2024) | 221,331 |
| • Density | 80.19/sq mi (30.96/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | jacksoncountyor |
Jackson County is one of the36 counties in theU.S. state ofOregon. As of the2020 census, the population was 223,259.[1] Thecounty seat isMedford.[2][3] The countyis named forAndrew Jackson, the seventhpresident of the United States.[4] Jackson County comprises the Medford, ORMetropolitan Statistical Area. There are 11incorporated cities and 34unincorporated communities in Jackson County; the largest is Medford, which has been the county seat since 1927.[5]
Modoc,Shasta,Takelma,Latgawa, andUmpqua Indian tribes are all native to the region of present Jackson County. Prior to the 1850s, theKlickitats from the north raided the area.
TheTerritorial Legislature created Jackson County on January 12, 1852, from the southwestern portion ofLane County and the unorganized area south ofDouglas andUmpqua Counties. It included lands which now lie inCoos,Curry,Josephine,Klamath andLake Counties. Gold discoveries in the Illinois River valley and the Rogue River valley nearJacksonville 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 Rogue 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 theGrand Ronde Indian Reservation west ofSalem. 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 theSiletz 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 theOregon and California Railroad. This railroad bypassed Jacksonville and instead went throughMedford, located five miles (8.0 km) east of Jacksonville. Medford's prospects improved 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 in Oregon to implement a voluntary plan of fireproofing homes situated on propertieszoned 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 15libraries, which had been closed since April 6 due to a shortage of funds.[6] This was the largest library closure in the history of the United States.[7] The libraries were reopened, with reduced hours, on October 24, 2007.[8]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,802 square miles (7,260 km2), of which 2,784 square miles (7,210 km2) is land and 18 square miles (47 km2) (0.6%) is water.[10] A portion of theUmpqua National Forest is in Jackson County.
Located entirely within Jackson County isBear Creek and itswatershed, atributary of theRogue River.[11] The population centers ofMedford,Ashland,Phoenix,Talent, andCentral Point are located along thestream. It connects with the Rogue River near theUpper and Lower Table Rock lava formations.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 3,736 | — | |
| 1870 | 4,778 | 27.9% | |
| 1880 | 8,154 | 70.7% | |
| 1890 | 11,455 | 40.5% | |
| 1900 | 13,698 | 19.6% | |
| 1910 | 25,756 | 88.0% | |
| 1920 | 20,405 | −20.8% | |
| 1930 | 32,918 | 61.3% | |
| 1940 | 36,213 | 10.0% | |
| 1950 | 58,510 | 61.6% | |
| 1960 | 73,962 | 26.4% | |
| 1970 | 94,533 | 27.8% | |
| 1980 | 132,456 | 40.1% | |
| 1990 | 146,389 | 10.5% | |
| 2000 | 181,269 | 23.8% | |
| 2010 | 203,206 | 12.1% | |
| 2020 | 223,259 | 9.9% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 221,331 | [12] | −0.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[13] 1790–1960[14] 1900–1990[15] 1990–2000[16] 2010–2020[1] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[17] | Pop 1990[18] | Pop 2000[19] | Pop 2010[20] | Pop 2020[21] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 126,089 | 136,957 | 160,795 | 170,023 | 170,232 | 95.19% | 93.56% | 88.71% | 83.67% | 76.25% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 163 | 319 | 674 | 1,227 | 1,574 | 0.12% | 0.22% | 0.37% | 0.60% | 0.71% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 1,189 | 1,722 | 1,782 | 1,874 | 1,775 | 0.90% | 1.18% | 0.98% | 0.92% | 0.80% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 798 | 1,386 | 1,583 | 2,304 | 3,293 | 0.60% | 0.95% | 0.87% | 1.13% | 1.47% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[22] | x[23] | 291 | 562 | 808 | x | x | 0.16% | 0.28% | 0.36% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 263 | 56 | 198 | 229 | 1,496 | 0.20% | 0.04% | 0.11% | 0.11% | 0.67% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[24] | x[25] | 3,820 | 5,242 | 13,682 | x | x | 2.11% | 2.58% | 6.13% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3,954 | 5,949 | 12,126 | 21,745 | 30,399 | 2.99% | 4.06% | 6.69% | 10.70% | 13.62% |
| Total | 132,456 | 146,389 | 181,269 | 203,206 | 223,259 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2010 census, there were 203,206 people, 83,076 households, and 53,460 families living in the county.[26] The population density was 73.0 inhabitants per square mile (28.2/km2). There were 90,937 housing units at an average density of 32.7 units per square mile (12.6 units/km2).[27]
The racial makeup of the county was 88.7% white, 1.2% Asian, 1.2% American Indian, 0.7% black or African American, 0.3% Pacific islander, 4.5% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 10.7% of the population.[26] In terms of ancestry, 19.9% wereGerman, 14.4% were English, 14.1% were Irish, and 5.3% wereAmerican.[28]
Of the 83,076 households, 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.6% were non-families, and 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.91. The median age was 42.1 years.[26]
The median income for a household in the county was $44,142 and the median income for a family was $53,739. Males had a median income of $40,435 versus $30,632 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,410. About 9.9% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.[29]
As of thecensus[30] of 2000, there were 181,269 people, 71,532 households, and 48,427 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 65 people per square mile (25 people/km2). There were 75,737 housing units at an average density of 27 units per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.65%White, 0.40%Black orAfrican American, 1.09%Native American, 0.90%Asian, 0.18%Pacific Islander, 2.88% fromother races, and 2.91% from two or more races. 6.69% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 17.4% were ofGerman, 12.9%English, 10.2%Irish and 8.8% United States or American ancestry. 92.7% spoke onlyEnglish at home, while 5.6% spokeSpanish.
Of the 71,532 households, 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.20% weremarried 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 one individual, 11.00% being a person who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.95.
The age distribution of the county's population was 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% 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 compared to $23,690 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $19,498. 8.90% of families and 12.50% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.30% of those under age 18 and 6.90% of those age 65 or over.
As is typical of southwestern Oregon, Jackson County leans towards the Republican nominee in presidential elections, although the presence of a substantial student body at Ashland means Democrats get a larger proportion of the vote in statewide elections than in any other county south of the Willamette Valley. No Democratic presidential candidate has won an absolute majority in Jackson County sinceLyndon Johnson's landslide in 1964, althoughBill Clinton in 1992 andBarack Obama in 2008 obtained narrow pluralities in the county, in both cases by less than 500 votes. In recent elections, however, the Republican lean in Jackson County has presented some signs of waning. The four most recent instances in which Republicans have been able to win the county had them doing so only by single digit margins.[31]
In theUnited States House of Representatives, Jackson County lies withinOregon's 2nd congressional district, which has aCook Partisan Voting Index of R+11 and is represented by RepublicanCliff Bentz. In theOregon House of Representatives, Jackson County is divided between four districts, which are together represented by three Republicans and one Democrat (Pam Marsh of Ashland). In theOregon State Senate, Jackson County is divided between three districts; the 2nd and 28th Districts, represented by RepublicansArt Robinson andDennis Linthicum, and the 3rd District, represented by DemocratJeff Golden.
Jackson County is currently one of 11 counties in Oregon in which therapeutic psilocybin is legal.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1880 | 743 | 41.03% | 1,065 | 58.81% | 3 | 0.17% |
| 1884 | 947 | 41.61% | 1,251 | 54.96% | 78 | 3.43% |
| 1888 | 1,181 | 45.81% | 1,320 | 51.20% | 77 | 2.99% |
| 1892 | 959 | 35.04% | 466 | 17.03% | 1,312 | 47.94% |
| 1896 | 1,387 | 36.62% | 2,354 | 62.14% | 47 | 1.24% |
| 1900 | 1,565 | 48.08% | 1,525 | 46.85% | 165 | 5.07% |
| 1904 | 1,992 | 61.16% | 798 | 24.50% | 467 | 14.34% |
| 1908 | 2,032 | 50.09% | 1,537 | 37.89% | 488 | 12.03% |
| 1912 | 847 | 16.15% | 2,079 | 39.65% | 2,317 | 44.19% |
| 1916 | 3,538 | 39.41% | 4,874 | 54.29% | 566 | 6.30% |
| 1920 | 4,382 | 59.81% | 2,503 | 34.17% | 441 | 6.02% |
| 1924 | 4,868 | 53.25% | 1,840 | 20.13% | 2,433 | 26.62% |
| 1928 | 8,053 | 75.43% | 2,463 | 23.07% | 160 | 1.50% |
| 1932 | 5,459 | 40.02% | 7,519 | 55.13% | 661 | 4.85% |
| 1936 | 4,866 | 34.97% | 7,520 | 54.05% | 1,528 | 10.98% |
| 1940 | 8,507 | 55.46% | 6,754 | 44.03% | 78 | 0.51% |
| 1944 | 8,598 | 55.74% | 6,668 | 43.23% | 160 | 1.04% |
| 1948 | 11,226 | 58.86% | 7,342 | 38.50% | 504 | 2.64% |
| 1952 | 18,279 | 67.55% | 8,674 | 32.05% | 107 | 0.40% |
| 1956 | 17,201 | 57.46% | 12,733 | 42.54% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 17,554 | 54.59% | 14,531 | 45.19% | 72 | 0.22% |
| 1964 | 14,598 | 42.83% | 19,486 | 57.17% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 19,577 | 56.19% | 12,714 | 36.49% | 2,551 | 7.32% |
| 1972 | 24,003 | 57.75% | 14,529 | 34.96% | 3,029 | 7.29% |
| 1976 | 24,237 | 48.25% | 23,384 | 46.55% | 2,615 | 5.21% |
| 1980 | 32,879 | 55.97% | 19,903 | 33.88% | 5,958 | 10.14% |
| 1984 | 37,895 | 61.76% | 23,230 | 37.86% | 234 | 0.38% |
| 1988 | 32,516 | 52.52% | 28,028 | 45.27% | 1,368 | 2.21% |
| 1992 | 28,704 | 37.23% | 29,146 | 37.80% | 19,246 | 24.96% |
| 1996 | 33,771 | 45.86% | 29,230 | 39.69% | 10,646 | 14.46% |
| 2000 | 46,052 | 54.31% | 33,153 | 39.10% | 5,591 | 6.59% |
| 2004 | 56,519 | 55.31% | 44,366 | 43.42% | 1,304 | 1.28% |
| 2008 | 49,043 | 48.53% | 49,090 | 48.58% | 2,914 | 2.88% |
| 2012 | 49,020 | 50.47% | 44,468 | 45.78% | 3,639 | 3.75% |
| 2016 | 53,870 | 49.27% | 44,447 | 40.66% | 11,010 | 10.07% |
| 2020 | 63,869 | 50.23% | 59,478 | 46.77% | 3,818 | 3.00% |
| 2024 | 61,743 | 51.64% | 54,065 | 45.22% | 3,764 | 3.15% |
The county's principal industries are healthcare,agriculture, lumber, manufacturing, and tourism.[33]
Jackson County has over 10,000 acres (40 km2) of orchards and shares withJosephine County the Rogue Valley and Applegatewine appellations.
Soapstone, a substance used in art sculpture, is mined in Jackson County.[34]
According to the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, by 2021 the main cash crop produced within the county was grows of illegal cannabis, with the board declaring a state of emergency.[35]
The Bear Creek Greenway is the area on both sides 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 (34 km) 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.[36]
What is believed to be the world's only Bigfoot trap is located in the Siskiyou National Forest in the southern part of the county. The trap was originally built in 1974 by the North American Wildlife Research Team (NAWRT), a now-defunct organization based inEugene, Oregon to capture the legendary hominidBigfoot (or Sasquatch) that is said to inhabit the forests of thePacific Northwest. In recent years it has become a major tourist attraction.
The Oregon Vortex is a roadside attraction that opened to tourists in 1930, located on Sardine Creek in Gold Hill. It consists of a number of interesting effects, which aregravity hilloptical illusions, but which the attraction's proprietors propose are the result of paranormal properties of the area.
The attraction was the inspiration for the Mystery Shack, a fictional tourist trap and the main setting for theDisney Channel (laterDisney XD) original seriesGravity Falls.[citation needed]
ThePacific Crest Trail, officially designated as the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT), passes through Jackson County.[37]
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