Roses in Jackson county, Oregon

ROSES IN JACKSON COUNTY, OREGON

Jackson County is located in the Southern Oregon area known as the Valley of the Rogue. The Rogue River stretches from just north of Ashland, Oregon to Grants Pass, Oregon. The Valley was the originally the home of the Native American Rogue indians. An early pioner, John Applegate, is credited with opening the route to Southern Oregon.

During the early booming years of the gold rush, gold was discovered in Rush Gulch in 1851. Miners flocked to the Rogue Valley to seek their fortune. A mining camp emerged and was transformed into a town named Jacksonville. It became the hub of commerce in Southern Oregon and the county seat. In 1884 the railroad decided to bypass Jacksonville to make traveling easier. The flat valley of Middle Ford was used. A train depot was built and tbe town became known as Medford and was the link between the north and south. Many residents and businesses moved from Jacksonville and by the 1890's agriculture became the main industry of the Rogue Valley.

During the next 50 years Jacksonviille preserved it's 19th Century culture and charm. Photographs, writings and artifacts were found and displayed into exhibits and collections. In 1966 the entire town of Jacksonville was designated as a National Historic Landmark. More than 80 buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Jacksonville is located 5 miles west of Medford on the Jacksonville Highway. Driving through the countryside to Jacksonville the foothills of the Siskiyou Mountains surround the town's "living history" exhibits. The old garden roses below are from a Church in Jacksonville. The Jackson & Perkins-Bear Creek display garden is located in Medford.