View source for Jackson County, Oregon

{{short description|County in Oregon, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county       = Jackson County
 | state                = Oregon
 | seal                 = Jackson County (Oregon) Seal.png
 | founded date     = January 12
 | founded year         = 1852
 | seat wl             = Medford
 | largest city wl     = Medford
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 2802
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 2784
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 18
 | area percentage      = 1%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 223259
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 221331 {{loss}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | district             = 2nd
 | web     = jacksoncountyor.gov
 | time zone           = Pacific
 | ex image             = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = Jackson County Courthouse (Jackson County, Oregon scenic images) (jacDA0008).jpg
| photo2a = Jacksonville, Oregon City Hall (former Jackson County Courthouse).jpg
| photo2b = Templo_de_Medford_Oregon.jpg
| photo3a =Views_from_Cascade-Siskiyou_National_Monument_(18362936785).jpg
| photo3b = Hannon_library_sou.jpg
| photo4a = Alexlockhart Mt Ashland 06-01-21.jpg
| spacing = 2
| position = center
| color_border = white
| color = white
| size = 310
| foot_montage = From top clockwise: Jackson County Courthouse and Office Building, [[Medford Oregon Temple|Medford Mormon Temple]], [[Southern Oregon University|Southern Oregon University's]] Hannon Library, [[Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument]], [[Mount Ashland]], Old Jackson County Courthouse
}}
 | ex image cap         = 
 | named for            = [[Andrew Jackson]] }}

'''Jackson County''' is one of the [[Oregon counties|36 counties]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Oregon]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 223,259.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/jacksoncountyoregon/PST045222|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 15, 2023}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Medford, Oregon|Medford]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://jacksoncountyor.org/County/About-Us|title=About Jackson County |publisher=Jackson County|access-date=January 12, 2017}}</ref> The county [[Oregon Geographic Names|is named]] for [[Andrew Jackson]], the seventh [[president of the United States]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n166 167]}}</ref> Jackson County comprises the Medford, OR [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. There are 11 [[municipal corporation|incorporated cities]] and 34 [[unincorporated area#United States|unincorporated communities]] in Jackson County; the largest is Medford, which has been the county seat since 1927.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=COMM01 |title=About Medford |publisher=[[Mail Tribune]] |access-date=April 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080123040100/http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=COMM01 |archive-date=January 23, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History==
[[Modoc people|Modoc]], [[Shasta (tribe)|Shasta]], [[Takelma]], [[Latgawa]], and [[Umpqua (Native Americans)|Umpqua]] Indian tribes are all native to the region of present Jackson County. Prior to the 1850s, the [[Klickitat Tribe|Klickitat]]s from the north raided the area.

The ''Territorial Legislature'' created Jackson County on January 12, 1852, from the southwestern portion of [[Lane County, Oregon|Lane County]] and the unorganized area south of [[Douglas County, Oregon|Douglas]] and [[Umpqua County, Oregon|Umpqua]] Counties. It included lands which now lie in [[Coos County, Oregon|Coos]], [[Curry County, Oregon|Curry]], [[Josephine County, Oregon|Josephine]], [[Klamath County, Oregon|Klamath]] and [[Lake County, Oregon|Lake]] Counties. Gold discoveries in the Illinois River valley and the Rogue River valley near [[Jacksonville, Oregon|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 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 the [[Grand Ronde Indian Reservation]] west of [[Salem, Oregon|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 instead went through [[Medford, Oregon|Medford]], located {{convert|5|mi|km|spell=in}} 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 properties [[zoning|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 [[Public library|libraries]], which had been closed since April 6 due to a shortage of funds.<ref>Mann, Damian; "[http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070516/NEWS/705160324 County library levy fails handily]" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070519055811/http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070516%2FNEWS%2F705160324 |date=May 19, 2007}} at the ''[[Mail Tribune]]''; written May 16, 2007; retrieved February 4, 2008</ref> This was the largest library closure in the history of the United States.<ref>May, Meredith; "[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/03/04/MNGC7N6Q3M1.DTL Largest library closure in U.S. looms]" at the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]''; written March 4, 2007; retrieved February 4, 2008</ref> The libraries were reopened, with reduced hours, on October 24, 2007.<ref>Mann, Damian; "[http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071009/NEWS/710090312/-1/LIBRARIES Libraries will start to open Oct. 24]" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610161315/http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20071009%2FNEWS%2F710090312%2F-1%2FLIBRARIES |date=June 10, 2011 }} at the ''[[Mail Tribune]]''; written October 9, 2007; retrieved February 4, 2008</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Jackson County.svg|alt=Map of Jackson County|thumb|Map of Jackson County]]
[[File:Valley of the Rogue Camping.jpg|thumb|240px|Campground in [[Valley of the Rogue State Park]] on the banks of the [[Rogue River (Oregon)|Rogue River]] adjacent to [[Interstate 5 in Oregon|Interstate 5]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Gumprecht Bannan |first=Jan |title=Oregon State Parks |publisher= [[The Mountaineers Books]] |year= 2002 |page= 150 |isbn= 978-0-89886-794-7 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=boFO8l8R7BsC}}</ref>]]

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|2802|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|2784|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|18|sqmi}} (0.6%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_41.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 26, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> A portion of the [[Umpqua National Forest]] is in Jackson County.

Located entirely within Jackson County is [[Bear Creek (Rogue River)|Bear Creek]] and its [[drainage basin|watershed]], a [[tributary]] of the [[Rogue River (Oregon)|Rogue River]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rvcog.org/pdf/WR_BCWA_PART2_BCMAINSTEM.pdf |page=9 |title=Bear Creek Watershed Assessment - Phase 2 |publisher=Rogue Valley Council of Governments] |date=December 2001 |access-date=April 21, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100713143813/http://www.rvcog.org/pdf/WR_BCWA_PART2_BCMAINSTEM.pdf |archive-date=July 13, 2010}}</ref> The population centers of [[Medford, Oregon|Medford]], [[Ashland, Oregon|Ashland]], [[Phoenix, Oregon|Phoenix]], [[Talent, Oregon|Talent]], and [[Central Point, Oregon|Central Point]] are located along the [[stream]]. It connects with the Rogue River near the [[Upper and Lower Table Rock]] lava formations.

===Summits===
* [[Barneburg Hill]]
* [[Fredenburg Butte]]
* [[Obenchain Mountain]]
* [[Ropers Bunion]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Douglas County, Oregon|Douglas County]] (north)
* [[Klamath County, Oregon|Klamath County]] (east)
* [[Siskiyou County, California]] (south)
* [[Josephine County, Oregon|Josephine County]] (west)

===National protected areas===
* [[Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument]]
* [[Crater Lake National Park]] (part)
* [[Klamath National Forest]] (part)
* [[Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest]] (part)
* [[Umpqua National Forest]] (part)

===Other landforms===
* [[Schieffelin Gulch]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 3736
|1870= 4778
|1880= 8154
|1890= 11455
|1900= 13698
|1910= 25756
|1920= 20405
|1930= 32918
|1940= 36213
|1950= 58510
|1960= 73962
|1970= 94533
|1980= 132456
|1990= 146389
|2000= 181269
|2010= 203206
|2020= 223259
|estyear=2024
|estimate=221331
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 15, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/or190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226035610/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=February 26, 2015 |url-status=dead|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Jackson County, Oregon – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 1980<ref name=1980Census>{{Cite web|title=1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Oregon - Table 58 - Persons by Race and Table 59 - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race (p. 39/24-39/32)|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1980/volume-1/oregon/1980a_orabc-05.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|page=}}</ref>
!Pop 1990<ref name=1990Census>{{Cite web|title=1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Oregon - Table 5 - Race and Hispanic Origin|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-39.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|page=9-30}}</ref>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Jackson County, Oregon|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US41029&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Jackson County, Oregon|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US41029&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Jackson County, Oregon|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US41029&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 1980
!% 1990
!% 2000
!% 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|126,089
|136,957
|160,795
|170,023
|style='background: #ffffe6; |170,232
|95.19%
|93.56%
|88.71%
|83.67%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |76.25%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|163
|319
|674
|1,227
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,574
|0.12%
|0.22%
|0.37%
|0.60%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.71%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|1,189
|1,722
|1,782
|1,874
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,775
|0.90%
|1.18%
|0.98%
|0.92%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.80%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|798
|1,386
|1,583
|2,304
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,293
|0.60%
|0.95%
|0.87%
|1.13%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.47%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census</ref>
|x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census</ref>
|291
|562
|style='background: #ffffe6; |808
|x
|x
|0.16%
|0.28%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.36%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|263
|56
|198
|229
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,496
|0.20%
|0.04%
|0.11%
|0.11%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.67%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|x <ref>not an option in the 1980 Census</ref>
|x <ref>not an option in the 1990 Census</ref>
|3,820
|5,242
|style='background: #ffffe6; |13,682
|x
|x
|2.11%
|2.58%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.13%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|3,954
|5,949
|12,126
|21,745
|style='background: #ffffe6; |30,399
|2.99%
|4.06%
|6.69%
|10.70%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |13.62%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''132,456'''
|'''146,389'''
|'''181,269'''
|'''203,206'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''223,259 '''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}
 
===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 203,206 people, 83,076 households, and 53,460 families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US41029
  |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
  |access-date=February 23, 2016
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213030825/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US41029
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|73.0|PD/sqmi}}. There were 90,937 housing units at an average density of {{convert|32.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US41029
  |access-date=February 23, 2016
|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213192146/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US41029
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> 

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.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 19.9% were [[Germans|German]], 14.4% were English, 14.1% were Irish, and 5.3% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US41029 |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |access-date=February 23, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213013750/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US41029 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

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.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

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.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US41029 |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |access-date=February 23, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213014908/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US41029 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 181,269 people, 71,532 households, and 48,427 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|65|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 75,737 housing units at an average density of {{convert|27|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 91.65% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.40% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 1.09% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.90% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.18% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.88% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.91% from two or more races. 6.69% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 17.4% were of [[german people|German]], 12.9% [[english people|English]], 10.2% [[irish people|Irish]] and 8.8% United States or American ancestry. 92.7% spoke only [[english language|English]] at home, while 5.6% spoke [[spanish language|Spanish]].

Of the 71,532 households, 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.20% were [[Marriage|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 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. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $19,498. 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.

==Communities==

===Cities===
{{div col}}
*[[Ashland, Oregon|Ashland]]
*[[Butte Falls, Oregon|Butte Falls]]
*[[Central Point, Oregon|Central Point]]
*[[Eagle Point, Oregon|Eagle Point]]
*[[Gold Hill, Oregon|Gold Hill]]
*[[Jacksonville, Oregon|Jacksonville]]
*[[Medford, Oregon|Medford]] (county seat)
*[[Phoenix, Oregon|Phoenix]]
*[[Rogue River, Oregon|Rogue River]]
*[[Shady Cove, Oregon|Shady Cove]]
*[[Talent, Oregon|Talent]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated places===
*[[Foots Creek, Oregon|Foots Creek]]
*[[Prospect, Oregon|Prospect]]
*[[Ruch, Oregon|Ruch]]
*[[Trail, Oregon|Trail]]
*[[White City, Oregon|White City]]
*[[Wimer, Oregon|Wimer]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
*[[Applegate, Oregon|Applegate]]
*[[Beagle, Oregon|Beagle]]
*[[Bitter Lick, Oregon|Bitter Lick]]
*[[Brownsboro, Oregon|Brownsboro]]
*[[Buckhorn Springs, Oregon|Buckhorn Springs]]
*[[Buncom, Oregon|Buncom]]
*[[Cascade Gorge, Oregon|Cascade Gorge]]
*[[Climax, Oregon|Climax]]
*[[Colestin, Oregon|Colestin]]
*[[Dardanelles, Oregon|Dardanelles]]
*[[Four Corners, Jackson County, Oregon|Four Corners]]
*[[Lake Creek, Oregon|Lake Creek]]
*[[Lincoln, Jackson County, Oregon|Lincoln]]
*[[McKee Bridge, Oregon|McKee Bridge]]
*[[McLeod, Oregon|McLeod]]
*[[Mountain View, Oregon|Mountain View]]
*[[Pinehurst, Oregon|Pinehurst]]
*[[Provolt, Oregon|Provolt]]
*[[Rock Point, Oregon|Rock Point]]
*[[Rogue Elk, Oregon|Rogue Elk]]
*[[Sams Valley, Oregon|Sams Valley]]
*[[Seven Oaks, Oregon|Seven Oaks]]
*[[Starvation Heights, Oregon|Starvation Heights]]
*[[Steamboat, Jackson County, Oregon|Steamboat]]
*[[Table Rock, Oregon|Table Rock]]
*[[Tolo, Oregon|Tolo]]
*[[Union Creek, Oregon|Union Creek]]
{{div col end}}

===Former communities===
*[[Copper, Jackson County, Oregon|Copper]]
*[[Persist, Oregon|Persist]]

==Politics==
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 since [[Lyndon Johnson]]'s landslide in 1964, although [[Bill Clinton]] in 1992 and [[Barack 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.<ref>Menendez, Albert J.; ''The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868–2004'', pp. 284–285 {{ISBN|0786422173}}</ref>

In the [[United States House of Representatives]], Jackson County lies within [[Oregon's 2nd congressional district]], which has a [[Cook Partisan Voting Index]] of R+11 and is represented by Republican [[Cliff Bentz]]. In the [[Oregon 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 the [[Oregon State Senate]], Jackson County is divided between three districts; the 2nd and 28th Districts, represented by Republicans [[Art Robinson]] and [[Dennis Linthicum]], and the 3rd District, represented by Democrat [[Jeff Golden]].

Jackson County is currently one of 11 counties in Oregon in which therapeutic psilocybin is legal.

{{PresHead|place=Jackson County, Oregon|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 11, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|1880|Democratic|743|1,065|3|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1884|Democratic|947|1,251|78|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|1,181|1,320|77|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1892|Populist|959|466|1,312|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|1,387|2,354|47|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,565|1,525|165|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,992|798|467|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,032|1,537|488|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|847|2,079|2,317|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|3,538|4,874|566|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,382|2,503|441|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|4,868|1,840|2,433|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|8,053|2,463|160|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|5,459|7,519|661|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|4,866|7,520|1,528|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|8,507|6,754|78|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|8,598|6,668|160|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|11,226|7,342|504|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|18,279|8,674|107|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|17,201|12,733|0|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|17,554|14,531|72|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|14,598|19,486|0|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|19,577|12,714|2,551|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|24,003|14,529|3,029|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|24,237|23,384|2,615|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|32,879|19,903|5,958|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|37,895|23,230|234|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|32,516|28,028|1,368|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|28,704|29,146|19,246|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|33,771|29,230|10,646|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|46,052|33,153|5,591|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|56,519|44,366|1,304|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|49,043|49,090|2,914|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|49,020|44,468|3,639|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|53,870|44,447|11,010|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|63,869|59,478|3,818|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|61,743|54,065|3,764|Oregon}}
{{PresFoot}}

==Economy==
The county's principal industries are healthcare, [[agriculture]], lumber, manufacturing, and tourism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jacksoncountyor.org/County/About-Us|title=About Jackson County, Oregon|website=Jackson County, Oregon|access-date=February 23, 2019}}</ref>

Jackson County has over {{convert|10,000|acre|km2}} of orchards <!--(the fourth largest) in the state? nation? --> and shares with [[Josephine County, Oregon|Josephine County]] the Rogue Valley and Applegate [[American Viticultural Area|wine appellations]].

[[Soapstone]], a substance used in art sculpture, is mined in Jackson County.<ref>St. John, James; ''[http://www.newarkcampus.org/professional/osu/faculty/jstjohn/Common%20rocks/Steatite.htm Soapstone] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20070613091244/http://www.newarkcampus.org/professional/osu/faculty/jstjohn/Common%20rocks/Steatite.htm |date=June 13, 2007 }}'' at the [[Oregon State University]]; retrieved February 4, 2008</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 13, 2021 |title=Overwhelmed by illegal pot, Oregon county declares emergency |url=https://apnews.com/article/business-oregon-marijuana-environment-legislature-e28efbac73a0662d58a1d7b33ceeed07 |access-date=June 21, 2023 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref>

==Points of interest==

===Bear Creek Greenway===
{{Main|Bear Creek Greenway}}
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 {{convert|21|mi|km|adj=on}} 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bearcreekgreenway.com/index.asp |title=Bear Creek Greenway Foundation-HOME |website=www.bearcreekgreenway.com |access-date=May 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621081303/http://www.bearcreekgreenway.com/index.asp |archive-date=June 21, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Bigfoot trap===
{{Main|Bigfoot trap}}
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 in [[Eugene, Oregon]] to capture the legendary hominid [[Bigfoot]] (or Sasquatch) that is said to inhabit the forests of the [[Pacific Northwest]]. In recent years it has become a major tourist attraction.

===Oregon Vortex===
{{Main|Oregon Vortex}}
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 are [[gravity hill]] [[optical 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 the [[Disney Channel]] (later [[Disney XD]]) original series ''[[Gravity Falls]]''.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

===Pacific Crest Trail===
The [[Pacific Crest Trail]], officially designated as the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT), passes through Jackson County.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cohp.org/records/regn_lst.htm#pacificrest|title = County Highpoints - Regional Lists}}</ref>

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Beekman Native Plant Arboretum]]
*[[Britt Festival]]
*''[[Mail Tribune]]''
*[[National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Jackson County, Oregon]]
*[[Oregon Shakespeare Festival]]
*[[Southern Oregon Land Conservancy]]
*[[Southern Oregon University]]
*[[Southern Oregon Speedway]]
*[[Medford School District (Oregon)|Medford School District]]
*[[Ashland School District (Oregon)|Ashland School District]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|auto=y}}
*[http://jacksoncountyor.gov Jackson County, Oregon]
*[http://nwda-db.wsulibs.wsu.edu/findaid/ark:/80444/xv16766 Jackson County Records 1853–1920]

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Jackson County, Oregon
|North     = [[Douglas County, Oregon|Douglas County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Klamath County, Oregon|Klamath County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Siskiyou County, California]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Josephine County, Oregon|Josephine County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Jackson County, Oregon}}
{{Oregon}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|42.42|-122.74|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-OR_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Jackson County, Oregon| ]]
[[Category:1852 establishments in Oregon Territory]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1852]]