Jefferson, Proposed state in Northern California and Southern Oregon, US
Jefferson is a proposed state covering Northern California and Southern Oregon, designed to encompass rural areas outside the San Francisco Bay Area. The territory spans roughly 21,000 square miles and would link several sparsely populated counties together.
In November 1941, residents set up roadblocks on Highway 99 and collected fees from travelers while declaring an independent territory. The attack on Pearl Harbor weeks later pushed the movement into the background as the nation turned toward war.
Jefferson Public Radio broadcasts programs that reflect the independent life of communities in Northern California and Southern Oregon. The network connects the rural areas through coverage of local issues and regional culture that receive little attention elsewhere.
The proposed boundaries run through sparsely populated mountain areas with long travel times between towns. Visitors should expect rural roads and limited infrastructure across much of the territory.
Activists distributed proclamations in 1941 and staged armed actions to publicize their independence goals. The symbol of a double cross, representing betrayal by both states, is still used today by supporters of the movement.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
