AREA PROFILES
GRANTS PASS
Located in Southern Oregon about 60 miles north of the California
border, Grants Pass is known for its mild climate and is located
in the "sun belt" of Southern Oregon. It is a town filled with
beauty, history and scenic attractions. Downtown Grants Pass has
earned the distinction of a National Historic District because of
its historic buildings and homes. The city is filled with antique
and collectible shops, beautifully restored historical buildings
and espresso stands.
The highlight of Grants Pass is
the mighty Rogue River flowing through town. Riverside Park is
located right on the Rogue River and is a wonderful place to
picnic and walk along the Rogue. The city is often referred to the
"whitewater rafting capital" of Oregon and over 25 outfitters
offer rafting adventures in Grants Pass and nearby Merlin. Jjet
boats that leave from Grants Pass and take visitors on a tour
through Hellgate Canyon. Grants Pass abounds with modern
campgrounds and RV facilities, many with boat ramps and riverside
campsites. Josephine County has an extensive system of parks, and
many of these are on the Rogue River.
MEDFORD
Located on Interstate 5, just 27 miles north of the
California-Oregon border. It is about 26 miles south of Grants
Pass. Medford is situated in the heart of Southern Oregon's
beautiful Rogue River Valley. Pear orchards bloom profusely in the
spring, The summers are very warm and fall colors are beautiful,
with Snow-capped peaks in winter.
Few places in Oregon
combine scenic beauty, outdoor recreation, historical, and
cultural attractions more successfully than Southern Oregon. Medford, the county seat of Jackson County, is the industrial,
retail, and professional center of Southern Oregon.
Years
ago the Rogue River Valley was home to the Shasta, Takilma, and
Athabascan Indians. Then gold was discovered in 1852 and miners
thronged to the valley in search of a fortune in nuggets, followed
by farmers lured to the valley by the fertile soil and favorable
growing conditions. Today, Medford, is the business and
professional center of Jackson County.
ASHLAND
Ashland is located 15 miles north of the California border on
Interstate 5 at the south end of the Rogue Valley, sitting at
about 2,000 feet above sea level. Mt. Ashland looms above the city
to the South, 7,500 feet high, and the Cascade Range lies about 30
miles to the east. Ashland offers qualities of life that many
towns only dream about. Snow-capped mountain peaks, a major
theater company joined by other smaller theaters, art galleries,
museums and fine restaurants offer a truly picturesque setting.
Ashland is a unique place, offering a ski resort in the winter,
and three other distinctive seasons. With its warm summers and
mild climate, Ashland is an excellent place to garden and enjoy
the outdoors and local river activities.
Ashland & Rogue Valley is known as
"pear country." The climate is also conducive to growing grapes, and Ashland
has two local wineries. Ashland has an active and varied
theatrical community and is home to the Oregon Shakespeare
Festival and nine other theater groups, which
perform a wide variety of productions and musicals all year long.
JACKSONVILLE
Located about seven miles west of Medford and fifteen miles north
of Ashland Oregon. Jacksonville is one of the most historically
significant communities in the western United States. Filled with
historical landmarks this town offers visitors to share in the
experience of a bygone era. Jacksonville is filled specialty
shops, cozy inns, museums, fine restaurants and other historic
attractions. People from all over come to dine in Rogue Valley's
best restaurants still in the original brick and wood.
There are Antique stores, Galleries, Book Stores
&
Boutiques. Jacksonville is Home to the Britt Festival. More than
100 individual buildings are on the National Register or Historic
Places. In 1966, the entire town of Jacksonville was designated a
National Register of Historic landmark by the U.S. Department of
the Interior. There are historic Inns and Bed & Breakfast Inns,
most are actual historic landmarks that reflect the mystery and
elegance of an earlier era. Jacksonville is one of the first towns
se up in the Rogue Valley.