Medford is a city located in Jackson County, Oregon. It was named in the 1880s by a civil engineer working for the Oregon and California Railroad for his home town of Medford, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 63,154. It is the county seat of Jackson County.

History

Medford was incorporated as a city in 1885.

Medford was founded along the Oregon and California Railroad line in the Bear Creek Valley, which is part of the greater Rogue Valley. The former name was "Middle Ford". This was due to many possible reasons: it was at a midpoint position along the rail line, it was at the center of Bear Creek Valley, and it was near the crossing of Bear Creek. The name was shortened to Medford by a railroad engineer from Medford, Massachusetts named David Loring.

The city was divided by the construction of I-5 in the 1950s: the downtown and inner neighborhoods are on the west side of the freeway while the more affluent neighborhoods are on the east side. As a result, Medford has struggled for decades with urban decay affecting its core. West side renewal has come in the last decade, however, through a boom of new residential construction.

A ballot measure to block building an interchange that would improve access between the two parts was rejected in the general election of November 5, 2003. Supporters claimed that it would only move traffic congestion from one location to another, while civic and business leaders warned it would cost the city $38 million in state and federal funds.

The largest direct marketer of fruits and food gifts in the United States, Bear Creek Corporation, is based in Medford. It is the second largest employer in Oregon, with 3,500 year-around employees and about 10,000 seasonal. Bear Creek was founded in 1886 to market the harvest from the orchards of the Rogue Valley.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 56.2 km² (21.7 mi²). 56.2 km² (21.7 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 63,154 people, 25,093 households, and 16,511 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,123.7/km² (2,910.5/mi²). There are 26,297 housing units at an average density of 467.9/km² (1,211.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 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. 9.25% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 25,093 households out of which 31.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% are married couples living together, 11.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% are non-families. 27.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.47 and the average family size is 2.99.

In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 88.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $36,481, and the median income for a family is $43,972. Males have a median income of $34,533 versus $23,714 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,170. 13.9% of the population and 10.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 19.8% of those under the age of 18 and 6.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External link

• City of Medford, Oregon Web Site
• Official Tourism Site

External links