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About the Medford, Oregon Area Medford, Oregon
Medford is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. As of 2007, the city had a total population of 75,675 and a metropolitan area population of 202,310. The city was named in 1883 by David Loring, civil engineer and right-of-way agent for the Oregon and California Railroad for his home town of Medford, Massachusetts and in recognition of its supposed position on the middle ford of Bear Creek. Medford is the county seat of Jackson County.
History
In 1883, a group of railroad surveyors headed by S. L. Dolson and David Loring arrived in Rock Point, near present day Gold Hill. They were charged with finding the best route through the Rogue Valley for the Oregon and California Railroad. Citizens of neighboring Jacksonville hoped that it would pass between their town and Hanley Butte, near the present day Claire Hanley Arboretum. Such a move would have all but guaranteed prosperous growth for Jacksonville, but Dolson decided instead to stake the railroad closer to Bear Creek. The response from Jacksonville was mixed, but the decision was final. By November of 1883, a depot site had been chosen and a surveying team led by Charles J. Howard was hard at work platting the new town. They completed their work in early December of 1883, laying out 82 blocks for development. James Sullivan Howard, a New Hampshire Freemason, claimed to have built the town's first building in January of 1884, though blacksmith Emil Piel was advertising for business at the "central depot" in the middle of December. Others point out the farms of town founders Iradell Judson Phipps and Charles Wesley Broback, which were present before the town was platted. Regardless, on 6 February 1884 (less than a month after it was built), J. S. Howard's store became Medford's first post office, with Howard serving as postmaster. The establishment of the post office led to the incorporation of the Medford as a town in early 1885, and again as a city in 1905. Howard held the position of postmaster for Medford's first ten years, and again held the post upon his death on November 13, 1919. The beginning of the 20th century was a transitional period. Medford built a new steel bridge over Bear Creek to replace an earlier one which washed away three years before. Without a bridge, those wanting to cross had to ford the stream, typically using a horse-drawn wagon; the first automobile did not arrive in Medford until 1903. Pharmacist George H. Haskins had opened a drugstore since just after the town was platted, and in 1903 he allowed the Medford Library Association to open a small library in that store. Five years later the library moved to Medford's new city hall, in another four years, Andrew Carnegie's donation allowed a dedicated library to be built. Construction on the Medford Carnegie Library was completed in 1912. In 1927, Medford took the title of county seat of Jackson County away from nearby Jacksonville. Over the last ten years, Medford has experienced a significant residential building boom, and a resurgence of downtown Medford has accompanied that growth. A restored Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater, new library, dozens of restored buildings, two parking structures, an urban plaza, and residential lofts are now all part of downtown Medford. Several other projects are in planning or under way to further improve the image of the city. Interstate 5In 1967, Interstate 5 was completed immediately adjacent to downtown Medford to replace the Oregon Pacific Highway. The section of highway includes a 3,229 foot (984 meter) viaduct that elevates traffic above Bear Creek and the city's downtown. There are two freeway exits in Medford, one at each side of the city. Interstate 5 has been blamed for the decline of small businesses in downtown Medford since its completion, but nevertheless remains an important route for commuters wishing to travel across the city. A study completed in 1999 found that 45% of vehicles entering I-5 from north Medford heading south exited in south Medford, just three miles away (less than five kilometers). The high volume of traffic led to the completion of a new north Medford interchange in 2006. The project, which cost about $36 million, improved traffic flow between I-5 and Crater Lake Highway. Further traffic problems identified in south Medford prompted the construction of another new interchange, estimated at costing $70 million. The project began in 2006 and should be completed by 2010. Government and leadershipMedford has a council-manager style of government. The governing body of Medford consists of a mayor and eight city council members. A local 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. The mayor and council members are not paid, but are reimbursed for expenses. MayorThe current mayor of Medford is Gary Hale Wheeler, who was elected in November, 2004 with 16,653 of 28,195 votes (59%). Prior to his election, he worked for the Medford Urban Renewal Agency for 13 years and as a US Army optometrist. For much of his life, Wheeler has practiced optometry, and still sees patients in his Medford office. He will serve until December 2008. 
Medford municipal code divides the city into four wards, each represented by two city council members. Every biennium, one member from each ward is elected to serve a four-year term, creating an overlap where half of the eight-member council remains in office while the other half must campaign for reelection.
City ManagerThe city manager of Medford is Michael Dyal. He replaced Andy Anderson in June of 1998 by vote of the city council. Dyal, a U.S. Army veteran, previously served as city manager for Orem, Utah, and North Las Vegas, Nevada. Geography and climateMedford 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 cities include Grants Pass, Klamath Falls, Ashland, 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 northwest-southeast 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. In the late spring/early summer the snow on the slopes of Mount McLoughlin melt away into a formation called the "angel wings," which Native American tribes interpreted as an osprey, an indicator of the beginning of salmon run. Climate
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. 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 residents experience snowfall (not necessarily accumulation) every year during winter months, though it usually only amounts to a few inches (5-7 centimeters). In the past, Medford has seen snowfall measurements reach 31 inches/78 centimeters (1955-1956), and in 2007, 9 inches/23 centimeters of snowfall were recorded.
Economy
Medford's economy is driven primarily by the health care industry . In the past, Medford's economy was fueled 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. 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. Benchmark Maps, founded in Medford in 1995, produces detailed atlases and maps in 10 western states.[62] Falcon Northwest, a personal computer manufacturing company, has been operating in Medford since 2002. There is even a film production company, called Pacific International Enterprises, which has been distributing films from Medford since at least the 1970s. 
Lithia Motors, a Fortune 1000 company, and "America's Car & Truck Store," until recently had its headquarters scattered around separate buildings in downtown Medford. Construction has begun on centralizing the Lithia headquarters into a ten-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. 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 the expanding Oregon 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. DemographicsAs of the census 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. Points of interestAlba Park
The oldest park in Medford, Alba Park is located at the intersection of Holly and Main in downtown Medford. Originally called Library Park due to its proximity to the Medford Carnegie Library, it was later renamed for Medford's sister city, Alba, Italy. The park contains a gazebo, a statue of a boy with two dogs surrounded by a fountain pool, and a Japanese cannon from World War II. The annual Pear Blossom Run starts across the street from Alba Park at the Medford city hall, with an all-day fair conducted in the park itself. [edit] Claire Hanley ArboretumThe Claire Hanley Arboretum was first planted in 1962 by Claire and Mary Hanley, two sisters raised on the historic Michael Hanley Farmstead along present day Oregon Route 238 It is part of a larger agriculture research center belonging to the Oregon State University. Located on the grounds are species of the dogwood cornus mas, the dove tree, and the Sorrel tree. The CommonsThe 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. Medford Carnegie Library
The Medford Carnegie Library is a two-story library building located in downtown Medford. It was erected in 1911 thanks to a gift from Andrew Carnegie, but was vacated in 2004 after a new library building was constructed near the Rogue Community College extension campus, also in downtown Medford. Currently, there are plans to use the building for class reunions, public meetings, and for annexing some city offices from the neighboring City Hall building. Roxy Ann Peak and Prescott Park
One of Medford's most prominent landmarks, Roxy Ann Peak is a 30 million year old dormant volcano located on the east side of the city. At 1,089 meters (3,573 feet), the mountain rises almost 610 meters (2000 feet) above the valley floor. It was named for Roxy Ann Bowen, an early settler who lived in its foothills.A significant area of Roxy Ann Peak (including the summit) is enclosed in Medford's largest park, a 7.04 square kilometer (2.72 mi², 1,740 acres) protected area called Prescott Park. The land was set aside in the 1930s and named in honor of George J. Prescott, a police officer killed in the line of duty in 1933 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. One such event is the annual Art in Bloom festival, which is held around Mother's 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. EducationMedford is served by Medford School District 549c and has two main high schools: South Medford High School and North Medford High School. In addition to the two public high schools, Medford has several private high schools. Two of the largest are St. Mary's School and Cascade Christian High. In addition, there are 14 public primary schools and two public middle schools, (Hedrick and McLoughlin). Crossroads School (a private alternative school), Cascade Christian High Television
Radio
NewspaperThe official newspaper of Medford and Jackson County is the Mail Tribune, which is owned by Ottaway Community Newspapers. It began circulation in 1909 after a merger between the Medford-based Mail and the Ashland-based Tribune. As of 2004, an average of 37,000 copies of the Mail Tribune are in circulation each day. TransportationThe city of Medford is responsible for over 322 kilometers (200 miles) of roads within its boundaries AirMedford is home to Oregon's 3rd busiest airport, the Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (airport code MFR). 647,471 people used this regional airport in 2007, which has served over 11 million passengers between 1978 and 2008.Medford airport has two asphalt runways which handle about sixty daily flights from five airlines. With expansion of the airport terminal underway, the facilities are quickly being upgraded. BusThe greater Medford metro area has been served by Rogue Valley Transportation District (RVTD) since 1975. The bus system operates 6 routes, 4 of which travel to nearby cities Central Point, Jacksonville, Phoenix, Talent, Ashland, and White City. All routes connect at the Front Street Transfer Station. RailThere 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. MaritimeThe nearest maritime port is the Port of Coos Bay, which is 269 km (167 mi) away. The nearby Rogue River is monitored for flooding at the Gold Ray Dam, a decommissioned hydroelectric dam built in 1906 near Gold Hill, Oregon. The National Weather Service identifies 3.6 meters (12 feet) as the flood level. At this depth, navigability between the Pacific Ocean and the Rogue Valley is limited. Even a small "handysize" freighter is unable to make the trip, and any ship hauling cargo to Medford would have to have a much smaller draw. Therefore, Medford does not have a nearby maritime port. Sister city
Each year, both Alba and Medford take turns exchanging students. During March and April of one year, students from Medford's two high schools will visit Alba and stay with host families. Likewise, Alba students will visit Medford every other year. 67 Medford students applied for the 2007 trip to Italy, but only 24 were selected. It was former mayor of Medford John W. Snider who selected Alba during his 1957-1962 term, making a satellite phone call to Alba's former mayor Osvaldo Cagnasso. External links
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