Medford is famous in the US for its succulent pears. Bosc, Comice, d'Anjou, Bartlett, and Winter Nellis pears are all grown here. Its economy is centered around agriculture and timber products, and visitors will see miles and miles of fruit and timber trees in the area. It is a popular place to live in Southern Oregon. Its proximity to Ashland and Jacksonville draws many tourists who wish to take advantage of Medford's lower room and restaurant rates while visiting those cities. Medford is also in a central location for visitors who wish to access recreational areas such as Oregon Caves National Monument, Crater Lake, and the Rogue River Valley.
Harry and David's Country Store is an outlet store for the gift and produce mail order company. Located about 1 mile south of Medford, Harry and David's is one of the world's largest shippers of fruit and food gifts. Many free samples are available, and there is a gourmet pantry, and a produce stand area with fresh-from-the-farm fruits and vegetables. Another favorite stop for visitors is to see the roses at the 43,000 square foot Jackson and Perkins Test & Display Gardens, half a mile south of Harry and David's. Although most of the roses are grown in California, they are packed and shipped from Medford.
Outdoor living and recreation is encouraged by the warm summers and mild winters. Within an 80 mile radius of Medford, there are 153 stocked streams for fishing, 17 lakes, boating and fishing on the Rogue River, and hunting and camping in 56 forest camps.
Table Rock is located in Sams Valley near Medford & Central Point Oregon. Table Rock was a sanctuary for Takelma Indians. There are two Table Rock mesas, an upper Table Rock and a Lower Table Rock. Upper Table Rock is a bit shorter and slightly easier to hike.
The Upper Table Rock provides a wonderful hiking trail to the top of this enormous flat rock. Spring time is the best to catch the best flower and endangered wildflower displays and to avoid the heat. The views are spectacular from the top. Here you can see the most of Sams Valley and Rogue Valley south to Ashland and Mt McLaughlin.
Hiking Upper Table Rock is a moderately easy 2.8-mile trip, with a 720 foot gain. At the 1.1-mile point there is a final steep pitch on the trail suddenly, then you reach the table's amazingly flat summit. Although easy for some to hike, we suggest you be in good health to hike it, especially in the summer.
The Lower Table Rock trail is longer and rockier, climbing through shadier woods. The path climbs, steeply at times, after 1.6 miles the path suddenly crests at the plateau and becomes an old road. Walk another 200 yards up the road and fork left on a trail that ends at a 200-foot cliff & viewpoint. Lower Table Rock was dedicated as a nature preserve by The Nature Conservancy in 1979.
There are five covered bridges in the Medford area, including the Eagle Point and Wimer bridges. The Wimer bridge is the only covered bridge in Jackson county that is open to vehicles. The 85' span crosses Evans Creek, and is located in the center of Wimer. Records show a bridge at that location as early as 1892 but the current bridge has been restored several times, the most recent being in 1986. The unusual Wimer signs on the bridge are said to have been recovered from an old gas station.
The Medford Railroad Park is a great place for train buffs to visit. Located near Berrydale Ave. and Table Rock Road, the historic park features a vintage Medford Corp. logging train and other rolling stock. There are rides available on scale model trains, from 11-3 p.m. (second or fourth Sundays of the month, April through October).
Housing Cost
Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $226,700
Demographics
Estimated population in July 2006: 71,168. Medford covers 21.7 square miles. It sits at an elevation of 1,383 feet above sea level.
Zip codes: 97501, 97504 - Area code: 541
Weather
Medford, OR climate is mild during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 60's and cold during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 40's.
The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 87.90 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 30.60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Temperature variations between night and day tend to be relatively big during summer with a difference that can reach 36 degrees Fahrenheit, and fairly limited during winter with an average difference of 18 degrees Fahrenheit.
The annual average precipitation at Medford is 21.14 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is December with an average rainfall of 3.27 Inches.
Information provided by idcide.com and city data.com
place to live in Southern Oregon. Its proximity to Ashland and Jacksonville draws many tourists who wish to take advantage of Medford's lower room and restaurant rates while visiting those cities. Medford is also in a central location for visitors who wish to access recreational areas such as Oregon Caves National Monument, Crater Lake, and the Rogue River Valley.