- Rogue Valley
The Rogue Valley is a farming and timber-producing region in southwestern
Oregon in theUnited States . located along the middle Rogue River and its tributaries in Josephine and Jackson counties, the valley forms the cultural and economic heart of southern Oregon near theCalifornia border. The largest communities in the Rogue Valley include Medford, Ashland, and Grants Pass. The most populated part of the Rogue Valley is not along the Rogue proper, but along a smaller tributary (Bear Creek).The valley forms a relatively isolated enclave west of the
Cascade Range along the north side of theSiskiyou Mountains . It is separated from the nearby coast by a high section of the Coast Range. The valley is characterized by a mild climate that allows a long growing season, especially for many varieties of fruits and nuts. A small regional manufacturing industry is centered at Medford. In recent years the area has emerged as awine -growing region and it is the location of the Rogue Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area ). The mild climate and relative isolation had made the valley a popular retirement destination. The community of Ashland is famous for theOregon Shakespeare Festival .Interstate 5 follows the valley through Ashland and Medford.History
In the early 19th century, before the first
European American settlers arrived, the river valley was inhabited by theShasta ,Takelma , and Rogue River tribes of Native Americans. The earlyfur trade rs named this river the "River of the Rogues". A flood of white settlers began to arrive in the valley after theDonation Land Act , which allocated 320 acres (2.6 km²) of land to each married couple. Between 1836 and 1856, the valley was the scene of a series of bloody conflicts between white settlers and the Rogue River tribe. In 1851gold was discovered in the nearby mountains. The mining activity was centered on the now-restored town of Jacksonville west of Medford. At the peak of the gold rush some $70 million was extracted from the Rogue.ee also
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State of Jefferson References
External links
* [http://www.rvcog.org/ Rogue Valley Council of Governments]
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