История города Медфорд, Орегон: от основания до современности.

City and county seat in Oregon, United States

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 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 1883, laying out 82 blocks for development. James Sullivan Howard, a merchant and surveyor, claimed to have built the town's first building in January 1884, though blacksmith Emil Piel was advertising for business at the "central depot" in the middle of December 1883. Others point out the farms of town founders Iradell Judson Phipps and Charles Wesley Broback, which were present before the town was platted. and again as a city in 1905. Howard held the position of postmaster for Medford's first ten years, and again held the post at the time of his death on November 13, 1919. The beginning of the 20th century was a transitional period for the area. 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 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. Between World War II and the 1960s, Medford had a reputation as a sundown town where African Americans and other nonwhites were not allowed to live or stay at night. In 1967, Interstate 5 was completed immediately adjacent to downtown Medford to replace the Oregon Pacific Highway. It has been blamed for the decline of small businesses in downtown Medford since its completion,

The high volume of traffic on Interstate 5 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, costing $72 million. The project began in 2006 and was completed in 2010. Since the 1990s, Medford has dedicated an appreciable amount of resources to urban renewal in an attempt to revitalize the downtown area. Several old buildings have been restored, including the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater and the Prohibition era Cooley Neff Warehouse, now operating as Pallet Wine Company, an urban winery. Streets have been realigned, new sidewalks, traffic signals, and bicycle lanes were installed, and two new parking garages have been built. Downtown Medford also received a new library building to replace the historic Medford Carnegie Library and now boasts satellite campuses for both Rogue Community College and Southern Oregon University. Economic problems in 2008 and 2009 put a hold on The Commons project, a collaboration between the city of Medford and Lithia Motors. The project, one of the largest undertaken in downtown in recent years, aims to provide more parking, recreation, and commerce to the area. Before the work stopped, the Greyhound Bus depot was moved and $850,000 was spent replacing water lines. The Commons is anchored by the new corporate headquarters of Lithia Motors. Included in The Commons are two public park blocks slated to be informal public gathering areas as well as an area for special events such as the farmer's market. Ground breaking for the project was April 22, 2011, with a Phase 1 completion date of 2012.

Medford is located approximately 27 mile (43 km) north of the northern border of California. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.74 square miles (67 km2), of which 25.73 square miles (67 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0 km2) is water. Medford is situated in the remains of ancient volcanic flow areas as demonstrated by the Upper and Lower Table Rock lava formations and nearby Mount McLoughlin and Crater Lake, which is the remains of Mount Mazama.

Medford sits in a rain 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 a Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa). Summers are akin to Eastern Oregon, and winters resemble the coast. Here, summer sees an average of 61 afternoons over and 11 afternoons over In August 1981, the high temperature reached over for four consecutive days, with two days reaching Freezing temperatures occur on 64 mornings during an average year, and in some years there may be a day or two where the high stays at or below freezing; the average window for freezing temperatures is October 23 through April 23. The city is located in USDA hardiness zone 8. 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 5 feet (2 m). These inversions can last for weeks; some suggest this is because the metropolitan area has one of the lowest average wind speeds of all American metropolitan areas. The heavy fog returns nearly every winter with the inversions lowering air quality for several months without relief. Medford residents experience snowfall during the winter that, due to the weather shadow effect, averages and melts fairly quickly. In the past, the city has seen seasonal snowfall totals reach in 1955–1956. That season was also the wettest "rain year" with a total of ; this immediately followed the driest "rain year" since records started in 1911 from July 1954 to June 1955 when only was recorded. By far the wettest month has been December 1964 with ; no other month has had more than The wettest day on record has been December 2, 1962, with
The lowest recorded temperature in Medford was on December 13, 1919, and the highest recorded temperature was on July 20, 1946, and June 28, 2021. There is significantly more diurnal temperature variation in summer than in winter, with the difference between December high and low average temperatures being only , whereas the difference between August high and low average temperatures is .

+Medford, Oregon – Racial and ethnic compositionNote: 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. Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)54,29959,75661,43385.98%79.77%71.58%Black or African American alone (NH)2915988050.46%0.80%0.94%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)6076916870.96%0.92%0.80%Asian alone (NH)7011,0841,7281.11%1.45%2.01%Pacific Islander alone (NH)1423284870.22%0.44%0.57%Other race alone (NH)36764440.06%0.10%0.52%Mixed Race or Multi Racial (NH)1,2372,0555,5541.96%2.74%6.47%Hispanic or Latino (any race)5,84110,31914,6869.25%13.78%17.11%Total63,15474,90785,824100.00%100.00%100.00%

As of the census of 2010, there were 74,907 people, 30,079 households, and 19,072 families residing in the city. The population density was There were 32,430 housing units at an average density of The racial makeup of the city was 86.0% White, 1.5% Asian, 1.2% Native American, 0.9% African American, 0.5% Pacific Islander, 6.0% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.8% of the population. There were 30,079 households, of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.6% were non families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age in the city was 37.9 years. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.4% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 16.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

FBI data for 2015 ranked Medford as the most dangerous major city in Oregon, with 502 violent crimes and 6,543 property crimes per 100,000 residents. Medford experienced increased gang activity and organized crime in the 2000s. In 2009, Medford experienced increased methamphetamine use, which was believed to have contributed to property crimes, including identity theft.

Medford's economy is driven primarily by the health care industry. The two major medical centers in the city, Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center and Providence Medford Medical Center, 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. 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. The recreational legalization of OR marijuana in 2012 has been a special boon for area agriculture. Of the more than two million pounds of marijuana grown in the state each year, $2 million a month is sold from Medford area retailers. Lithia Motors, a Fortune 500 company and the 4th largest auto retailer in the U. S., has been headquartered in Medford since 1970 and was started in Ashland in 1946, named for a nearby springs. Other companies located in the city include Benchmark Maps, Falcon Northwest, Pacific International Enterprises, and Tucker Sno Cat. Medford and the surrounding area is home to the expanding Oregon wine industry, which includes the Rogue Valley AVA. The city's historic downtown has undergone an economic recovery in recent years, using a combination of public funds and private investment. The revitalization effort led to the renovation of underutilized downtown properties and to the construction of a new Lithia Motors headquarters building in the district, completed in 2012. Hospitality company The Neuman Hotel Group, based in nearby Ashland, OR, took over management and ownership of a large downtown motel, The Red Lion, in 2014, that had fallen into disrepair. Neuman Hotel Group renovated the property and renamed it Inn At the Commons. Tours of the plant are open to the public.

The annual Pear Blossom Run ends across the street from Alba Park at the Medford city hall, with an all day fair conducted in the park itself.

The cemetery, established in 1890, lies on just north of Bear Creek Park. The Parks and Recreation Department offers free tours of the cemetery.

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, a nonprofit, The Children's Museum of Southern Oregon (formerly Kidtime), occupies the location.

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.

At nearly , this south Medford park is the second largest in the city (Prescott Park is the largest at 1,740 acres). Bear Creek Park is bordered on the west by Bear Creek and the Bear Creek Greenway. On the park grounds are four tennis courts, a skatepark, a dog park, an amphitheater, a large playground, a BMX track, and a community garden. Since 1925, the property hosting Bear Creek Park has been used for several purposes. The first section was purchased from a resident of Medford named Mollie Keene. The town used it for incinerating garbage until 1939. After that, it spent 20 years as a girl scout day camp before seeing private ownership again for a few years. Concerns about pollution in the Bear Creek received media attention in 1963 and the city purchased more property. In 1988, a playground designed by Robert Leathers of New York was built.

The Commons is a public park built in the city's historic downtown district adjacent to the Lithia Motors headquarters building. It has been used as a venue for community activities. It was completed in 2012. Roxy Ann Peak is a 30 million year old mountain located on the east side of the city. Its summit is 3576 feet (1090 m) above sea level. 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 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. The most commonly used trail on Roxy Ann Peak, part of Prescott Park, climbs about 950 feet (290 m) from the beginning of the footpath at the second gate to a height of about 3547 feet (1081 m). The trail is about 3.4 mile (5 km) one way, and provides a panoramic view of the Rogue Valley.

Medford has a council manager style of government. The governing body of Medford consists of an elected mayor and eight city council members, two from each of four wards. The council hires a professional city manager to run the day to day operations of the city including the hiring of city staff.

The current mayor of Medford is Randy Sparacino. He was elected in November 2020. The longest serving mayor was Gary Hale Wheeler. He was first elected mayor in November 2004 with 16,653 of 28,195 votes (59%), reelected in 2008 with 21,651 of 22,211 votes (97.5%), reelected again in 2012 with about 97 percent of the votes, and reelected again in 2016 with about 56 percent of the votes for a term ending in December 2020. Notable previous mayors include Jerry Lausmann (1986–1998), and Al Densmore (1977–1983).

The city manager position is held by Brian Sjothun, the former Medford Parks and Recreation Director.

Medford is served by Medford School District 549C and has two main high schools and two alternative high schools: South Medford High School, North Medford High School, Central Medford High School, and Medford Innovation Academy respectively. 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 School. In addition, there are 14 public elementary schools and three public middle schools, (Hedrick, Oakdale, and McLoughlin). Medford 549C has over 13,000 students enrolled as of 2012. Crossroads School is a private, alternative high school operating in Medford along with three others operated or affiliated with a church; Cascade Christian High School, St. Mary's High School, and Rogue Valley Adventist School. Grace Christian and Sacred Heart School are private elementary and middle schools in Medford. In 1997, Grants Pass based Rogue Community College (RCC) completed construction on a seven building campus spanning five blocks in downtown Medford. Nearby Ashland based Southern Oregon University collaborated with Rogue in 2007 on the construction of an eighth building which will offer third and fourth year courses to students. Pacific Bible College, formerly named Dove Bible Institute, was founded in Medford in 1989.

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Until 2023, the principal newspaper of Medford and Jackson County was the Mail Tribune, founded in 1909. It ceased publication of its print editions in September 2022 and shut down all operations on January 13, 2023. Within days of the Mail Tribune shutting down, EO Media Grouppublisher of several other newspapers in Oregonannounced that it would be launching a new newspaper, based in Medford, to fill the void. With print editions three days a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays), the first of which was published on February 18, the new paper was initially named the Rogue Valley Tribune. David Smigelski, a former editor at the Mail Tribune, was hired as managing editor of the Rogue Valley Times.

The city of Medford is responsible for over of roads within its boundaries.

Interstate 5 runs directly through the center of the city and includes a 3,229 feet (984 m) 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. Highway 99 runs through the city's center, while Highway 62 runs through the northern portion of Medford. Highway 238 runs through the northwestern portion of Medford.

Medford is home to Oregon's 3rd busiest airport, the Rogue Valley International Medford Airport (IATA airport code: MFR). Over 1 million passengers use the airport annually. Medford Airport has one asphalt runway, which handles about sixty daily flights from five airlines. The bus system operates eight routes from Monday to Saturday, four of which travel to the nearby cities of Central Point, Jacksonville, Phoenix, Talent, Ashland, and White City. All routes connect at the Front Street Transfer Station, which since October 2008 has contained Medford's Greyhound Bus depot.

There are no passenger trains that route through Medford. Amtrak trains serve nearby Klamath Falls. People in Medford can board the Southwest POINT Klamath Shuttle Amtrak Thruway (an inter city bus route) at the RVTD Front Street Transfer Station for a two and a half hour ride and guaranteed connection with Amtrak's Coast Starlight train at the Klamath Falls Amtrak Passenger Rail Station. The last direct service was provided by the Southern Pacific Railroad to Portland, ending in 1956.

The nearest maritime port is the Port of Coos Bay, which is 167 mile (269 km) away. The nearby Rogue River was monitored for flooding at the former Gold Ray Dam site, a decommissioned and now removed hydroelectric dam built in 1906 near Gold Hill. The National Weather Service identifies 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.

As of 2018, the Medford Police Department has 103 sworn police officers supported by a staff of 33 civilian employees and 30 volunteers.

Shortly after the sister city program was established in 1960, Medford was paired up with Alba, Piedmont, Italy. The cities are apart and were paired based on 1960 similarities in population, geography, and climate. Every other year, Alba and Medford take turns exchanging students. During March and April of one year, students from Medford's high schools will visit Alba and stay with host families. Likewise, Alba students will visit Medford every other year. Sixty seven 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.