Medford

Medford is a city in Jackson County in southern Oregon, serving as the administrative seat of the county and located in the broad valley of the Rogue River. The surroundings are framed by mountain ranges and the landscape alternates between settled areas and agricultural zones with orchards.

The settlement was founded in 1884 when the railroad line from Oregon to California passed through the valley and a station was established. In the following decades, the place developed into a trading hub for the surrounding farms and orchards.

The name comes from an early settler's hometown in Massachusetts, showing the connection between pioneers and the East Coast. Many residents gather in downtown cafés and weekly markets, where local produce from the surrounding orchards is sold.

The city works well as a base for day trips to the nearby mountains and wineries in the valley, as many destinations can be reached in less than an hour. Restaurants and shops are concentrated in a few blocks downtown, where parking is easy to find.

In the 1960s, a weather record was set here when extreme temperature swings were measured within a few hours. These climatic peculiarities are due to the geographic position between mountain ranges, which influences airflow.

Location: Jackson County

Inception: 1884

Elevation above the sea: 421 m

Website: http://ci.medford.or.us

GPS coordinates: 42.33194,-122.86167

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:01