Medford, Oregon
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| Medford, Oregon | |||
| Medford City Hall | |||
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| Motto: The Center of the Rogue Valley | |||
| Location in Oregon | |||
| Coordinates: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | ||
| State | Oregon | ||
| County | Jackson | ||
| Incorporated | February 24, 1885 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Gary Wheeler | ||
| Area | |||
| - City | 21.7 sq mi (56.2 km²) | ||
| - Land | 21.7 sq mi (56.2 km²) | ||
| - Water | 0 sq mi (0 km²) | ||
| Elevation | 1,382 ft (421 m) | ||
| Population (2006) | |||
| - City | 75,675 | ||
| - Density | 2,910.5/sq mi (1,123.7/km²) | ||
| - Metro | 202,310 [2] | ||
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) | ||
| ZIP codes | 97501-97504 | ||
| Area code(s) | 541 | ||
| FIPS code | 41-47000GR2 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1124040GR3 | ||
| Website: www.ci.medford.or.us | |||
Medford is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. As of 2007, the city had a total population of 75,675 [1] and a metro population of more than 200,000. The city was named in the 1880s by David Loring, a civil engineer working for the Oregon and California Railroad for his home town of Medford, Massachusetts and in recognition of its position on the middle fork of Bear Creek.[2]
Medford is the county seat of Jackson County.GR6
Contents |
[edit] History
Located along the path of the Siskiyou Trail, Medford was founded on the Oregon and California Railroad line in the Bear Creek Valley, a part of the greater Rogue Valley. The area was surveyed in 1883 by J. S. Howard, who built the first commercial building in January of the next year.
The post office opened February 6 1884, which led to the incorporation of the city in 1885. Medford grew quickly and became the county seat of Jackson County in 1927.[2]
In the 1950s, I-5 was built immediately adjacent to downtown Medford to replace the Oregon Pacific Highway.[3] The section of highway includes a 3,229 foot viaduct that elevates traffic above Bear Creek and the city's downtown.[4]
Over the last 10 years, Medford has experienced a significant residential building boom and a resurgence of downtown Medford has accompanied that growth. A restored Ginger Rogers Craterian Theater, new library, dozens of restored buildings, two parking structures, an urban plaza, and residential lofts are now all part of downtown Medford.[5] Several other projects are in planning or under way to further improve the image of the city.[6]
[edit] Government and leadership
Medford uses a council-manager style of government. The governing body of Medford consists of a mayor and eight city council members. A city ordinance divides Medford into four wards, each providing two council members. The council hires a city manager, bringing the total number of city leaders to ten.[7]
[edit] Mayor
The Mayor of Medford is Gary Wheeler, who was elected in November 2004. Wheeler, a lifelong resident of Medford, will serve until December 2008.[8]
Previous mayors of Medford:
- Lindsay Berryman, 1998-2004; first female mayor of Medford[9]
- Jerry Lausmann, 1986-1998[10]
- Lou Hannum, 1983-1986[11]
- Al Densmore, 1977-1983[12]
[edit] City Council
There are eight city council members, two each from four separate wards of the city.
[edit] City Manager
The city manager of Medford is Michael Dyal.
[edit] Geography and climate
Medford is located approximately 27 miles (43 km) north of the northern California border, and at 42.3°N, nearly halfway between the equator and the north pole. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.7 square miles (56.2 km²), all of it land. The Pacific Ocean is about 75 miles (121 km) west of the city, and is the nearest coast. The nearest river is the Rogue River (8 mi/13 km), and the nearest lake is Agate Lake (13 mi/21 km).
Nearby small-sized cities include Grants Pass, Klamath Falls, Roseburg, Redding (California), and Crescent City (California). Medford is 229 miles (369 km) from Salem, the capital of Oregon.
The nearest interstate highway is I-5, which runs north-south through the center of the city. The nearest junctions with other interstate highways are with I-84 in Portland (273 mi/439 km) and I-80 in Sacramento (309 mi/497 km). Medford also serves as a junction for Oregon Routes 99, 238, 62, and nearby 140 (6 mi/10 km).
Medford is situated in the remains of ancient volcanic flow areas as demonstrated by the lava formations and nearby and Crater Lake, the remains of Mount Mazama.[13][14] In the late spring/early summer the snow formations on the peak of Mount McLoughlin melt away into a formation called the "angel wings," which Native American tribes interpreted as an osprey, an indicator of when the salmon spawn began.
Medford sits in a "weather shadow" between the Cascade Range and Siskiyou Mountains called the Rogue Valley. As such, most of the rain associated with the Pacific Northwest and Oregon in particular skips Medford, making it drier and sunnier than the Willamette Valley. Medford's climate is considerably warmer, both in summer and winter, than its latitude would suggest, with climate data closely paralleling that of Madrid.[citation needed] Summers are reminiscent of Eastern Oregon, and winters resemble the coast. In Medford, summer often includes as many as ninety days over 90°F (32°C), with temperatures over 100°F (38°C) common in July and August. In August 1980, the temperature stayed over 110°F (43°C) for over a week, with two days reaching 117°F (47°C). Medford also experiences temperature inversions in the winter which during its lumber mill days produced fog so thick that visibility could be reduced to less than five feet. These inversions could last four to six weeks. Medford rarely sees snow, averaging less than an inch every two or three years.
| Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures | ||||||||||||
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec High °F | 71 | 79 | 86 | 93 | 103 | 111 | 115 | 114 | 110 | 99 | 77 | 72 |
| Norm High °F | 47.3 | 53.8 | 58.3 | 64.3 | 72.2 | 81.2 | 90.2 | 90.1 | 83.5 | 70 | 52.8 | 45.2 |
| Norm Low °F | 30.9 | 33.1 | 35.9 | 39 | 44 | 50.1 | 55.2 | 54.9 | 48.3 | 40.2 | 35 | 31 |
| Rec Low °F | -3 | 6 | 16 | 21 | 28 | 31 | 38 | 39 | 29 | 18 | 10 | -6 |
| Precip (in) | 2.47 | 2.1 | 1.85 | 1.31 | 1.21 | 0.68 | 0.31 | 0.52 | 0.78 | 1.31 | 2.93 | 2.9 |
| Source: USTravelWeather.com [3] | ||||||||||||
[edit] Economy
Medford's economy is driven primarily by agriculture (pears, peaches, viticulture grapes) and timber products. The largest direct marketer of fruits and food gifts in the United States, Harry and David Operations Corp., is based in Medford. It is the largest employer in Southern Oregon, with 1,700 year-round and about 6,700 seasonal employees in the Medford area.[15] Harry and David was founded in 1910 to market the harvest from the orchards of the Rogue Valley.
Musician's Friend, America's largest direct response retailer of musical instruments and related gear, is headquartered in Medford. Lithia Motors, A Fortune 1000 company, and "America's Car & Truck Store", has its headquarters scattered around separate buildings in downtown Medford. Construction has begun on centralizing the Lithia Headquarters into one single 10-story building and a separate six-story building on what is now the former Lithia Jeep, Dodge area in downtown Medford. Full Construction on the headquarters building is expected to start in October 2007.[16]
As there are no towns of equal or larger size within several hours' drive, Medford is a regional hub for medical services. The two major medical centers in the city employ over 2,000 people. As Medford is also a retirement destination, assisted living and senior services have become an important part of the economy.
Medford and the surrounding area is home to an expanding wine industry that includes a large variety of Bordelaise and Burgundian varietals including merlot, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, zinfandel, pinot noir, gewürztraminer, riesling, pinot gris, chardonnay, pinot blanc, early muscat, and Gamay Noir.
Fishing tourism is also a substantial part of the local economy with guided drift boats and extensive salmon sport fishing on the Rogue River. Other local tourist draws are Lost Creek Dam, Lake of the Woods, Crater Lake, and hunting for black-tailed deer.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 63,154 people, 25,093 households, and 16,511 families residing in the city. In 2005 the population was estimated at 71,000 people. The population density was 2,910.5 people per square mile (1,123.7/km²). There were 26,297 housing units at an average density of 1,211.9/sq mi (467.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.99% White, 0.50% African American, 1.07% Native American, 1.14% Asian, 0.26% Pacific Islander, 3.87% from other races, and 3.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.25% of the population.
There were 25,093 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,481, and the median income for a family was $43,972. Males had a median income of $34,533 versus $23,714 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,170. About 10.3% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.8% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Points of interest
[edit] Alba Park
Alba Park, one of the oldest parks in Medford, is located at the intersection of Holly and Main in downtown Medford. It was named for Medford's sister city, Alba, Italy, and contains a gazebo, a statue of a boy with two dogs surrounded by a fountain pool, and a Japanese cannon from World War II.[17] [18]
The annual Pear Blossom Run starts across the street at Medford city hall, with an all-day fair conducted in the park itself.[19]
[edit] The Commons
The Commons is an urban renewal project in downtown Medford with a goal to provide more parking, recreation, and commerce to the area. The project is a collaboration between the City of Medford and Lithia Motors, and is expected to be completed by 2017.[20]
[edit] Vogel Plaza
Finished in 1997 at the intersection of E. Main St and Central Ave in downtown Medford, Vogel Plaza has quickly become a center of activity for many local events.[21] One such event is the annual Art in Bloom festival, which is held around Mothers' Day each year. During the two-day festival, over 10,000 people attend and more than 75 artists showcase their work while surrounded by live entertainment, workshops, food, and children's activities.[22][23][24]
[edit] Other points of interest
[edit] Education
Medford is served by the Medford School District (Medford 549c) and has two high schools, South Medford High School and North Medford High School. In addition, there are 14 primary schools and two middle schools.
In 1997, Grants Pass-based Rogue Community College completed construction on a seven-building campus spanning five blocks in downtown Medford.[25]
[edit] Notable residents
- William Abercrombie, World War II admiral
- Kirstie Alley, actress
- Brad Arnsberg, former Major League pitcher, currently pitching coach for Toronto Blue Jays
- Jeff Barry, former Major League Baseball outfielder
- Steve Bechler, Baltimore Orioles pitcher who died at age 23, as a result of taking Ephedra
- Bill Bowerman, Medford and University of Oregon coach, co-founder of Nike
- Tee Corinne, lesbian photographer, artist, writer, and activist
- Edwin Russell Durno, United States Representative from Oregon
- Dick Fosbury, Olympic athlete who introduced the "Fosbury Flop" high jump technique
- David B. Frohnmayer, former state attorney general and president of the University of Oregon
- Les Gutches, champion amateur wrestler.
- Page Hamilton, guitarist and frontman for the rock band Helmet
- Marshall Holman, Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame bowler
- Patricia Leines, Miss Oregon 1996 and Miss America second runner-up
- Jon Lindstrom, actor
- Dave Luetkenhoelter, bassist for the Christian rock band Kutless
- Allison Machado, Miss Oregon USA 2006
- Teo Olivares, actor
- Jason James Richter, actor
- Lisa Rinna, soap opera star and Dancing With The Stars competitor
- Ginger Rogers, actress
- Kyle Singler, former South Medford High basketball star (2003-2007)
- Vic Snyder, United States Representative from Arkansas
- Jonathan Stark, former professional tennis player
- Kevin Towers, General Manager San Diego Padres
- Travis Wong, former professional baseball player with the Cincinnati Reds. Idaho state home run record holder.
[edit] Media
[edit] Television
- KOBI NBC 05
- KSYS PBS 08
- KTVL CBS 10
- KDRV ABC 12
- KMCW TELEMUNDO 14
- KMVU FOX 26
- KFBI MY NETWORK 48
[edit] Radio
- KBOY-FM 95.7 Classic Rock
- KDOV-FM 91.7 Christian Top 40
- KEZX-AM 730 Talk Radio
- KLDZ-FM 103.5 Oldies
- KIFS-FM 107.5 Kiss Top 40
- KCMX-AM 880 Talk
- KCMX-FM 101.9 Soft Adult Contemporary
- KCNA-FM 102.7 Classic Hits
- KLDZ-FM 103.5 Oldies
- KLDR-FM 98.7 Top 40
- KMED-AM 1440 Talk
- KRRM-FM 94.7 Classic Country
- KRTA-AM 610 Hispanic
- KRWQ-FM 100.3 New & Classic Country
- KSJK-AM 1230 JPR/SOU Public Radio
- KSMF-FM 89.1 JPR/SOU Classical / Jazz
- KTMT-AM 580 Latin Music
- KTMT-FM 93.7 Plays Anything
- KZZE-FM 106.3 New Hard Rock
- KROG-FM 96.9 New Rock
- KHRI-FM 91.1 Christian Rock
- KAKT-FM 105.1 New Country
[edit] Newspaper
- Mail Tribune- The official newspaper of Jackson County and the City of Medford.
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Air
- Medford is home to the Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (Oregon's 3rd Busiest Airport). Over 600,000 people use this regional airport yearly.[26] With expansion of the airport terminal underway, the facilities are quickly being upgraded.[27]
[edit] Bus
- The greater Medford metro area has been served by Rogue Valley Transportation District (RVTD) since 1975.[28] The bus system operates 6 routes, 4 of which travel to nearby cities Central Point, Jacksonville, Phoenix, Talent, Ashland, and White City.[29] All routes connect at the Front Street Transfer Station.
[edit] Train
- There are no passenger trains that route through Medford. Amtrak trains serve nearby Klamath Falls. People in Medford can board a chartered bus at the RVTD Front Street Transfer Station that will deliver them to the train station in less than two hours.
[edit] Sister city
Medford has one sister city:[30][31]
[edit] References
- ^ [1]
- ^ a b About Medford at MailTribune.com
- ^ The Interstate in Oregon at Oregon.gov
- ^ Interstate 5 at Oregon.gov
- ^ http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=799
- ^ http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=221
- ^ http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=212
- ^ http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=206
- ^ http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/governors/Kitzhaber/web_pages/governor/press/p990430.htm
- ^ http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/98/dec98/123098n12.htm
- ^ http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/98/dec98/122798n1.htm
- ^ http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Members.asp?MemberID=579
- ^ http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/oregon/preserves/art6805.html Upper and Lower Table Rock
- ^ http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/winema/recreation/hiking/mcloughlin.shtml Mount McLoughlin
- ^ http://www.bco.com/overview/locations.html
- ^ http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070905/NEWS/709050309
- ^ http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=509
- ^ http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2000/october/101200n11.htm
- ^ http://www.pearblossomrun.com/important_times.htm
- ^ http://www.downtownmedford.com/Projects.asp?ProjectID=1039
- ^ http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=508
- ^ http://www.downtownmedford.com/Calendar.asp?View=EVENT&EventID=1006
- ^ http://www.artscouncilso.org/awards.htm
- ^ http://www.art-in-bloom.com/
- ^ http://www.roguecc.edu/Accreditation/pdf/RCC%20Minor%20Sub%20Change-TRC.pdf
- ^ http://www.co.jackson.or.us/Files/Passenger%20Flow%200307.pdf
- ^ http://www.co.jackson.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=1774
- ^ http://www.rvtd.org/about_us.php
- ^ http://www.rvtd.org/bus_schedules.php
- ^ Oregon Directory at Sister Cities International
- ^ Oregon Sister Relationships at the Economic and Community Development Department
[edit] External links
- City of Medford
- Oregon Blue Book entry for Medford
- Visitors and Conventions Bureau of Medford
- Medford Urban Renewal Agency
- Medford, Oregon is at coordinates Coordinates:
Municipalities and communities of Jackson County, Oregon | ||
|---|---|---|
| County seat: Medford | ||
| Cities | Ashland | Butte Falls | Central Point | Eagle Point | Gold Hill | Jacksonville | Medford | Phoenix | Rogue River | Shady Cove | Talent | |
| CDP | ||
| Unincorporated communities | Applegate | Lake Creek | Prospect | Ruch | Sams Valley | |
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