Cave Junction, Oregon

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Cave Junction, Oregon
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto = Gateway to the Oregon Caves

imagesize =
image_caption =

image_

imagesize =
image_caption =

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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location in Oregon

mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Oregon
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Josephine
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Tony Paulson
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = 1948
area_magnitude =
area_total_sq_mi = 1.6
area_total_km2 = 4.2
area_land_sq_mi = 1.6
area_land_km2 = 4.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0
area_water_km2 = 0
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_urban_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
population_as_of = 2007
population_note =
population_total = 1685
population_metro =
population_urban =
population_density_km2 = 320.9
population_density_sq_mi = 828.8
timezone = Pacific
utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = Pacific
utc_offset_DST = -7
latd = 42 |latm = 10 |lats = 0 |latNS = N
longd = 123 |longm = 38 |longs = 49 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 480
elevation_ft = 1575
website =
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 97523, 97531
area_code = 541
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 41-11850GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1139474GR|3
footnotes =

Cave Junction, incorporated in 1948, is a city in Josephine County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,363. The 2007 estimate is 1,685 residents. [http://www.pdx.edu/media/p/r/prcCertifiedRelease_07_web_cities.pdf PSU:Population Research Center] ] Its motto is the "Gateway to the Oregon Caves," [cite web |url=http://www.cavejunction.com/ |title=Cavejunction.com main page |accessdate=2007-09-27 |format= |work= ] and the city got its name by virtue of its location at the junction of Redwood Highway (U.S. Route 199) and Caves Highway (Oregon Route 46). It is 93% white, with 29% of residents living below the poverty line.

Cave Junction is located in the Illinois Valley, where, starting in the 1850s, the non-native economy depended on gold mining. After World War II, timber became the main source of income for residents. As timber income has since declined, Cave Junction is attempting to compensate with tourism and as a haven for retirees. Tourists visit the Oregon Caves National Monument, which includes the Oregon Caves Chateau, a National Historic Landmark, as well as the Out'n'About treehouse resort and the Great Cats World Park zoo.

History

For thousands of years, the Takelma Indians inhabited the Illinois Valley. Their culture was destroyed when gold was discovered in the early 1850s, causing the subsequent Rogue River Wars. After an 1853 treaty, most of the Takelmas lived on the Table Rock Reservation. In 1856, after the wars ended, they were moved to the Grand Ronde Reservation and the Siletz Reservation. [cite web |url=http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/rogue-siskiyou/projects/watershed/e-fork-illinois/efivsocial.pdf |title=East Fork of the Illinois River Watershed Analysis Social Module |accessdate=2007-09-29 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=US Forest Service|format=PDF]

The first gold in Oregon history was found in the Illinois Valley, as well as the largest gold nugget (17 pounds). [cite web |url=http://www.illinois-valley-news.com/archive/2006/2006-0201/RB-JosephineCrk.htm |title=Josephine Creek a gold nugget of county history |accessdate=2007-09-29 |last=Brandt |first=Roger |date=2006-02-01 |publisher=Illinois Valley News] In 1904, more than 50 years after prospectors had started combing the valley for gold, an 18-year-old named Ray Briggs discovered what the newspapers at the time called "the most wonderful gold discovery ever reported in Oregon history." While hunting along Sucker Creek, he discovered gold lying on the ground. He staked a claim and called it the "Wounded Buck Mine," which produced 1,777 ounces (110 lbs) of gold. The "mine" was a small vein of gold 12 to convert|14|in|mm wide, convert|12|ft|m long and convert|7|ft|m deep. [cite web |url=http://www.illinois-valley-news.com/archive/2006/2006-1115/wounded_buck_mine.htm |title=Josephine Creek a gold nugget of county history |accessdate=2007-09-29 |last=Brandt |first=Roger |date=2006-11-15 |publisher=Illinois Valley News]

As the gold mining in the Illinois Valley played out in the 1860s and 1870s, the residents diversified into ranching, fishing, logging, tourism and agriculture. In 1874, Elijah Davidson found a cave while on a hunting trip, and is now credited with discovering the Oregon Caves. In 1884, Walter C. Burch heard about the cave from Davidson, and staked a squatter’s claim at the mouth of the caves. He charged one dollar for a guided tour. According to his advertisement in the "Grants Pass Courier", this included camping, good pasture and "medicinal" cave waters. Burch attempted to acquire title to the land, but abandoned the idea a few years later.

President William Howard Taft established the convert|480|acre|km2|sing=on Oregon Caves National Monument on July 12 1909, to be administered by the U.S. Forest Service. In 1923, the Forest Service subcontracted the building of a hotel and guide services to a group of Grants Pass businessmen. By 1926, the monument had a chalet and seven two-bedroom cabins.cite web |url=http://www.nps.gov/orca/historyculture/timeline.htm |title=Oregon Caves National Monument Timeline |accessdate=2007-10-02 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=National Park Service] Traffic into the caves led to a community developing at the junction of the Redwood Highway and the branch highway to the caves (now known as Oregon Route 46).cite book
last = McArthur
first = Lewis A.
authorlink = Lewis A. McArthur
coauthors = Lewis L. McArthur
title = Oregon Geographic Names
origyear = 1928
edition = Seventh Edition
year = 2003
publisher = Oregon Historical Society Press
location = Portland, Oregon
id = ISBN 0-87595-277-1
pages = 181] Cave Junction, originally known as Cave City, was established in 1926 on land donated by Elwood Hussey. In 1935, a post office was applied for and was named "Caves City", however postal authorities disapproved of the name, partly because "City" implied the place was incorporated. Among the other names suggested was "Cave Junction", which was adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names in 1936 with the post office being renamed the same year. The locality was incorporated as Cave Junction in 1948, and is the only incorporated area in the Illinois Valley.cite web |url=http://www.cavejunctionoregon.com/new_page_5.htm |title=Short notes on the History of the Illinois River Valley Page 2 |accessdate=2007-10-02 |publisher=Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce ]

In 1950 Cave Junction had a population of 283, which increased to 248 in 1960 and 415 in 1970. The city population's primary growth period occurred in the 70's, with an average annual increase of 9.9 percent. Its growth was also quick in the 1960s, increasing at an average of 6.8 percent annually. Growth slowed in the 1980s when the population increase averaged only 1.7 percent annually. The rate fell further between 1990 and 1998, averaging 1.6 percent which was less than the state and county averages. [cite web |url=https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/dspace/bitstream/1794/4197/1/Cave_Junction_Transplan.pdf |title=City of Cave Junction Transportation System Plan Adopted July 2001 |accessdate=2007-11-11 |last= |first= |coauthors= |month=July | year=2001 |work= |publisher=University of Oregon Scholars' Bank|format=PDF]

Forest fires

In 2002, the Florence and Sour Biscuit fires converged, creating the Biscuit Fire. This fire threatened Cave Junction, Kerby, Selma and a number of Northern California communities. [cite web |url=http://www.planetark.com/avantgo/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=17257 |title=Biggest blaze in US merges with smaller Oregon fire |accessdate=2007-09-29 |publisher=Planet Ark] Ultimately, the Biscuit Fire lasted120 days, burned convert|499965|acre|km2 in southern Oregon and northern California, and destroyed four homes and nine outbuildings in the Cave Junction area. [cite web |url=http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2004/2004-01-12-01.asp |title=Salvage Logging on Big Oregon Burn Termed Radical |accessdate=2007-09-29 |date=2004-01-12 |publisher=Environment News Service] In 2003, a wildfire destroyed a home in Cave Junction. [cite web |url=http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2003/0713/local/stories/04local.htm |title=Fire danger: In a word, it’s ‘bad’ |accessdate=2007-09-29 |last=Fattig |first=Paul |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=] In 2004, a downed power line caused a fire that briefly threatened over 100 homes and forced 200 people to evacuate, with one person apparently dying of stress related to the fire. [cite web |url=http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_080404_news_ore_wildfire.45bf12f9.html |title=Wildfire sweeps near Cave Junction, threatens homes |accessdate=2007-09-29 |last=Parker |first=Jim |date=2004-08-04 |publisher=KGW]

Geography

Cave Junction is located on U.S. Route 199 at its junction with Oregon Route 46. It is about 48 km (30 mi) southwest of Grants Pass, Oregon and 85 km (53 mi) northeast of Crescent City, California. The city lies in the Illinois Valley, on the northwest slope of the Siskiyou Range, at an elevation of about 480 m (1575 ft) above MSL. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.2 km²), all of it land.

Climate

Demographics

As of the United States 2000 CensusGR|2, there were 1,363 people, 603 households, and 356 families residing in the city. The population density was 828.8 people per square mile (320.9/km²). There were 730 housing units at an average density of 443.9/sq mi (171.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.30% White, 0.29% African American, 2.05% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.37% Pacific Islander, 1.17% from other races, and 3.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.50% of the population.

There were 603 households out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.8% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.8% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 85.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was US$17,161, and the median income for a family was US$22,500. Males had a median income of US$20,893 versus US$16,333 for females. The per capita income for the city was US$10,556. About 23.6% of families and 28.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.8% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Cave Junction is 35.9% Democratic, and 62% Republican. Residents range from very liberal, to strongly right-wing to survivalists. [cite web |url=http://www.oregonartscommission.org/pdf/ABC_TA_Rpt_01.pdf |title=Arts Build Communities Technical Assistance |accessdate=2007-10-01 |pages=32 |publisher=Oregon Arts Commission |format=PDF] The city has 13 employees, with an average wage of $35,799, the largest categories of employees are Sewerage and Water Supply, with four employees each. In total, Cave Junction's monthly employee outlay is $35,799, or $465,384 a year. [cite web |url=http://www.city-data.com/city/Cave-Junction-Oregon.html |title=Cave Junction, Oregon |accessdate=2007-09-30 |publisher=City-Data.com ] Josephine County Sheriff volunteers man a sub station in Cave Junction, and the Sheriff's Office has plans to begin a pilot program in the City Hall building, staffed by volunteers, that will include three temporary holding cells and the ability to take incident reports. [cite web |url=http://www.co.josephine.or.us/SectionIndex.asp?SectionID=121 |title=Josephine County Online - Sheriff's Homepage |accessdate=2007-11-25 |publisher=Josephine County Online]

Economy

Starting in the early 1850s, gold mining was the main source of income in the Illinois Valley. As the gold mining played out in the 1860s and 1870s, the economy diversified into ranching, fishing, logging, tourism and agriculture. In the years after World War II, timber became an increasingly large part of the counties finances. There were 30 lumber mills operating in the valley after the war, but by the late 1980s the number had dwindled to just one. [cite web |url=http://www.cavejunction.com/cavejunction/history.shtml |title=Cave Junction and The Illinois Valley |accessdate=2007-09-27 |publisher=Cave Junction Chamber of Congress]

Because of President Roosevelt's creation of the Siskiyou National Forest, and the reversion of Oregon and California Railroad lands to federal government control, by 1937 the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management were in charge of 70% of the land in Josephine county, and a large part of the Illinois Valley. Because this decreased the counties potential tax base, the government shared money earned from timber sales with the county,cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7122963 |title=Federal Subsidy Expires on Oregon's Timber Towns |accessdate=2007-09-30 |last=Brady |first=Jeff |date=2007-02-02 |work=Morning Edition |publisher=NPR] and payments in lieu of taxes from the federal government became a large part of its tax base. In 1989, Josephine County received $16,756,000 in various federal payments, by 1999, the payments had fallen to $9.6 million.cite web |url=http://www.sierrainstitute.us/neai/OR_case_studies/Cave_Junction_OR.pdf |title=Cave Junction, Illinois Valley, Oregon |accessdate=2007-09-30 |last=McLain |first=Rebecca |coauthors=Will Kay |date= |work= |publisher=The Sierra Institute|format=PDF]

Due to these budget cutbacks, Southern Oregon has tried to use tourism not as a means unto itself, but to attract small businesses and retirees. The movement of California retirees in particular has helped the economy grow. [cite web |url=http://www.newsreview.info/article/20060115/NEWS/101160047 |title=Booming Winston |accessdate=2007-09-30 |last=Gillespie |first=Danielle |date=2006-01-15 |publisher=The News Review] Although jobs have been created as a result, they are usually of the low-paying variety.cite web |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/printer/printer.ssf?/southernoregon/oregonian/related.ssf?/special/oregonian/ninestates/part2.html |title=Growing its own way: Southern Oregon |accessdate=2007-09-30 |last=Mapes |first=Jeff |date=2003-11-03 |publisher=The Oregonian] Today the principle industries are tourism, timber and agriculture. [cite web |url=http://www.ohs.org/education/folklife/Josephine-County-Profile.cfm |title=Josephine County Community Profile |accessdate=2007-09-29 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=Oregon Historical Society] Since about 1960 the community has evolved into a center for wine, retirement, tourism, and small businesses. [cite web |url=http://www.passport2oregon.com/cat_index_172.html |title=Southern Oregon : Cave Junction |accessdate=2007-09-27 |format= |work= ] One timber mill remains in Cave Junction, Rough & Ready Lumber Co., located six miles (10 km) south of town. [cite web |url=http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=31226 |title=Family sawmills: Endangered! Eco-lobby, government policies lead to demise of last local timber firm |accessdate=2007-09-30 |last=Foster |first=Sarah |date=2003-02-26 |publisher=WorldNetDaily.com] As of September 2007, Rough & Ready has plans for a $5 million biomass plant to replace their existing wood-fired boiler, because market forces have increased demand for dry timber. [cite web |url=http://www.illinois-valley-news.com/archive/2007/05/30/biomass.html |title=R&R biomass project awaits public hearing |accessdate=2007-09-30 |last=Jorgensen |first=Scott |date=2007-09-30 |publisher=Illinois Valley News]

One organization in Cave Junction that has attracted notice for working to improve the Illinois Valley economy is The Illinois Valley Community Development Organization (IVCDO). In 2006, Cave Junction was awarded the Great Strides Award by the Northwest Area Foundation for the IVCDO's efforts to reduce long term poverty. The IVCDO was created in 1974, and in 2004 it started a partnership with the National Park Service, creating 40 seasonal and year-around jobs managing the Oregon Caves Chateau. The project uses local produce, food products and wine at the Chateau, and the proceeds are directed back into the local community. [cite web |url=http://programs.nwaf.org/pr/nwaf/info/Great-Strides-Winners.asp |title=Great Strides Award winners - Dayton, WA; Enterprise, OR; Cave Junction, OR; and Salmon, ID |accessdate=2007-09-27 |format= |work= ]

Culture

Cave Junction has a number of points of interest, including a museum, a zoo, and a resort consisting of treehouses. It also has a number of historic sites, many related to gold mining, as well as an Oregon State Park and a National Monument, all located in the greater Cave Junction area. Since the late 60s to early 70s, hippies have become a force in the community, and a newspaper and two radio stations also serve this area.

Tourism

Each year Cave Junction features an ArtWalk that occurs on the second Friday of each month, except during the winter, with the city's businesses exhibiting various types of visual art such as pottery, iron art, music and fire dancing.cite web |url=http://www.illinois-valley-news.com/archive/2007/04/04/artwalk.html |title=Second Friday Art Walk set to resume April 13 |accessdate=2007-11-18 |last=Jorgensen |first=Scott |coauthors= |date=2007-04-04 |work= |publisher=Illinois Valley News] The ArtWalk adds significantly to the Illinois Valley's image and increases tourism and the local economy. According to surveys conducted in 2006 by the Arts Council of Southern Oregon, the city sees a 30-50% increase in sales and visitors during the event. Attendance is approximately 150-200 people, with roughly 15% coming from outside the community. [cite web |url=http://illinois-valley-news.com/archive/2007-0214/art_walk.htm |title=April on tap for Art Walk |accessdate=2007-11-19 |publisher=Illinois Valley News] Local artists, including students of Lorna Byrne Middle School, [cite web |url=http://www.illinois-valley-news.com/archive/2007/08/08/artwalk.html |title=Art Walk will include ‘sole-full’ display |accessdate=2007-11-19 |last=Kramer-Hover |first=Dorothea |publisher=Illinois Valley News] participate while local businesses, including thrift stores and art galleries, serve as hosts.

Great Cats World Park is located a few miles south of Cave Junction. As of 2007, it has 32 cats, of 17 different species, including cougars, leopards, jaguars, lions, Siberian tiger cubs, a fishing cat, and an ocelot. [cite web |url=http://www.greatcatsworldpark.com/mmt-article.html |title=greatcatsworldpark.com home page |accessdate=2007-09-27 ] [cite web |url=http://www.illinois-valley-news.com/valley_visitor/cats.html |title=Some folks are cat people |accessdate=2007-09-27 |publisher=Illinois Valley News ] [cite web |url=http://www.grantspassoregon.gov/Index.aspx?page=280 |title=Great Cats World Park |accessdate=2007-09-27 |publisher=Grantspassoregon.gov] Other attractions include the It's a Burl handcrafted wood gallery and the Kerbyville Museum, both in Kerby, Oregon. Cave Junction's Wild River Brewery serves one of the smallest communities of any Oregon brewery. [cite web |url=http://www.guestontap.com/byview.php?id=60725 |title=How beer has changed in Oregon |accessdate=2007-10-31 |last=Corbin |first=Gary |publisher=Guest on Tap] Founded in 1975 as the Pizza Deli, a microbrewery was added in 1989. In 1994, the name Wild River was adopted and a Wild River restaurant and pub was opened in Grants Pass.

Wine

The Illinois Valley is the coolest and wettest of the three valleys in the Rogue Valley American Viticultural Area. cite web | title=Rogue Valley AVA | work=AppellationAmerica.com | publisher=Appellation America | url=http://wine.appellationamerica.com/wine-region/Rogue-Valley.html ] In the late 1960s and early 1970s a new group of Oregonians started experimenting with growing grapes and making wine. Initially this group wasn't very successful, but 40 years later Oregon is considered a prestigious growing area.cite web |url=http://rgweb.registerguard.com/news/2006/05/03/fd.simplywine.0503.p1.php?section=entree |title=Oregon wine pioneer made the right call in Illinois Valley |accessdate=2007-12-04 |last=Rutan |first=Roger |date=2006-05-03 |publisher=The Register-Guard] Southern Oregon's climate is higher and often warmer than better known wine producing valleys Napa Valley to the south and Willamette Valley and Columbia Valley to the north. [cite web |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/09/Taste/Wine_of_the_week.shtml |title=Wine of the week Foris Fly-Over Red |accessdate=2007-12-03 |last=Sherman |first=Chris |coauthors= |date=2005-03-09 |publisher=St. Petersberg Times] The Illinois Valley has dry, warm summers and cold nights which make it well suited for pinot noir, in sharp contrast to the hotter and dryer Rogue and Umpqua Valleys. Several vineyards and wineries are located near Cave Junction, including Bridgeview Vineyards, Foris Vineyards Winery, and Bear Creek Winery who are all discussed in Fodor's 2004 book "Oregon Wine Country." [cite web |url=http://www.cavejunctionoregon.com/attractions.html |title=Attractions |accessdate=2007-12-04 |publisher=Cave Junction Chamber of Congress] [cite web |url=http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2005/0112/life/stories/01life.htm |title=Fodor book gives boost to local wineries |accessdate=2007-12-06 |last=Twitchell |first=Cleve |date=2005-01-12 |work=Wine Talk |publisher=Medford Mail Tribune]

Cave Junction is the home of Bridgeview Vineyards, one of the largest wineries in Oregon. [cite book |last=Perdue |first=Andy |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=The Northwest Wine Guide: A Buyer's Handbook |year=2003 |publisher=Sasquatch Books |location= |isbn=978-1570613616 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=cCDQ84wRNcQC&pg=RA4-PA107&dq=Bridgeview+Vineyards&ei=0kT7RrraFaL6pwK7urXDCw&ie=ISO-8859-1&sig=H8DO22owmAlEXHkth-Ynx1C8P78] Bridgeview is noted for their chardonnay, pinot gris and pinot noir. At the 2000 American Wine Awards, Bridgeview's 1998 Bridgeview Oregon Blue Moon was selected as the best pinot noir under $15. [cite web |url=http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/american-wine-awards-2000 |title=American Wine Awards 2000 |accessdate=2007-09-29 ] Their 85 acre estate in the Illinois Valley is planted in the European style of dense six-foot row and four-foot vine spacing. Bridgeview also has an 80 acre vineyard in the Applegate Valley. [cite web |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/LIFE07/70416071 |title=Bridgeview |accessdate=2007-09-27 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |publisher="Mail Tribune"]

Foris Vineyards Winery is also located in the Cave Junction area. Established in 1986, Foris is known for there Gewürztraminer, chardonnay, pinot noir and merlot and had its 2006 Pinot Blanc voted "best of show" white at the World of Wine Festival near Gold Hill, Oregon. They also produce Foris Cave Bear Red, the sale of which is used to support the Oregon Caves Chateau renovation. [cite web |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071128/LIFE/711280307 |title=Foris offers bargains for wine lovers |accessdate=2007-12-03 |last=Twitchell |first=Cleve |date=2007-11-28 |publisher=Medford Mail Tribune] Foris was founded by Ted Gerber who fell in love with the Illinois Valley when visiting friends there in 1969. In 1971 he began studying Oregon's climate for the past 30 years and decided that the weather and soil in Oregon could grow quality grapes. He purchased 15 acres near the former gold mining town of Holland, Oregon and added 80 more acres in 1975 in what is now the site of Gerber Ranch and Foris Winery. The early years saw failed crops and the wrong grapes planted in the wrong areas, changes in the wine market also forced various changes over the years. Today's crops prove that the Illinois Valley is a viable place to grow grapes. As of 2007, Foris Winery produced 48,000 cases of wine, making it the 14th largest bonded winery in Oregon.cite web |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080124/BIZ/801240320 |title=Local Business |accessdate=2008-01-24 |date=2008-01-24 |work=Local Business |publisher=Medford Mail Tribune]

Historic sites

Cave Junction has a number of historic sites related to its early gold mining days including various mines, ditches, and Logan Cut. [cite web |url=http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/listings/20011026.htm |title= National Register of Historic Places Listings October 26, 2001 |accessdate=2007-09-30 |format= |work= ] The historic Osgood Ditch in Takilma provided water for early mining operations in the Illinois Valley. [cite web |url=http://www.illinois-valley-news.com/valley_visitor/hike.html |title=Into the wild |accessdate=2007-11-15 |publisher=Illinois Valley News] Although mining in the Illinois Valley started in the rivers, it was soon discovered that there was gold high up the slopes above them in gravel beds. They had been deposited by ancient rivers that then eroded their way deeper into the earth. To extract this gold, prospectors created ditches to bring the water to these areas. The water was then moved with piping to the desired location. The pressure the water built as it dropped was used for hydraulic mining. Water cannons fired water over convert|100|ft|m, and the debris was run through a sluice box. Gold was located within pockets in the gravel, and because the miners couldn't predict where the pockets were, almost every gravel deposit in the Illinois Valley was mined. The Illinois Valley's largest gold rush town, Waldo, Oregon, was located on a gravel deposit and was eventually destroyed when its gravel bed was run through a sluice box, along with most of the town. Today nothing of Waldo remains because of this. The Osgood Ditch provided water for mining operations near Waldo. [cite web |url=http://www.illinois-valley-news.com/archive/2006/2006-0222/RB-JoCoSes-hydraulic.htm |title=Legacy of hydraulic mining leaves last imprint on Illinois Valley |accessdate=2007-11-15 |last=Brandt |first=Roger |date=2006-02-22 |publisher=Illinois Valley News] One building of note is the Oregon Caves Chateau, which is a National Historic Landmark.citeweb|title=Oregon National Register List|url= http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/NATREG/docs/oregon_nr_list.pdf |accessdate=2007-09-27|format=PDF]

Takilma

In the winter of 1968, hippies began moving into the Illinois Valley as part of the back to the land movement, notably into Takilma, Oregon, [cite book |last=Prudham |first=W. Scott |title=Knock on Wood: Nature as Commodity in Douglas-Fir Country |year=2004 |publisher=Routledge |location=UK |isbn=978-0415944014 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=0wLoi3oPn3AC&pg=RA1-PA223&dq=%22cave+junction%22+hippies&ei=Esn9RvmIHZGepgLbyszDCw&ie=ISO-8859-1&sig=N8SpV9W3Liq-VNy7ZJ8y19r_93w] an unincorporated community located convert|10|mi|km southeast of Cave Junction. Signs stating "We do not solicit hippy patronage" soon appeared in the windows of Cave Junction businesses. Despite this, the hippies stayed and became a force in the community. They founded the Siskiyou Community Health Center, the Dome School, the Illinois Valley Fire District's Takilma station, the Siskiyou Regional Education Project and the Jefferson Baroque Orchestra.

The Takilma People's Clinic was started in 1973, bringing the first new doctor to the Illinois Valley in years. The 1987 Longwood fire forced the clinic, now called the Siskiyou Community Health Center, to move into Cave Junction. It has since spawned sister clinics in Grants Pass and Roseburg. The Dome School opened in 1975 as an alternative to public education. It educates about 35 preschool through fifth-grade children each year, and runs a federally funded summer program for at risk children. The Illinois Valley Fire District's Takilma station was organized in the late 1970s and worked the firelines during the 1987 Longwood fire. The Jefferson Baroque Orchestra was formed in 1994 by Takilma resident Jim Rich, and is now in its 14th season, with performances in Grants Pass and Ashland. [cite web |url=http://www.jeffersonbaroque.org/concerts.html |title=Jefferson Baroque Orchestra - Concerts |accessdate=2007-10-01 ] cite web |url=http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/97/august/81797n2.htm |title=Takilma's hippies leave positive mark on the wider community |accessdate=2007-10-01 |last=Quinn |first=Beth |month=August | year=1997 |publisher="Mail Tribune"]

Many of the hippies were activists from California universities. [cite book |last=Chase |first=Alston |title=In a Dark Wood: The Fight Over Forests and the Myths of Nature |year=2001 |publisher=Transaction Publishers |location=Edison, NJ |isbn=978-0765807526 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=YF_nVcRdkeQC&pg=PA65&dq=%22cave+junction%22+hippies&ei=Esn9RvmIHZGepgLbyszDCw&ie=ISO-8859-1&sig=2rbbLqUtjBJifXuPm_y21H9HA64 |pages=64-65] They created Takilma's environmental organization, The Siskiyou Regional Education Project, in 1982. It now has offices in Grants Pass and Portland. [cite web |url=http://www.siskiyou.org/ |title=Siskiyou Project home page |accessdate=2007-10-01 |format= |work= ] A 1996 proposal for a prison near Cave Junction and Takilma brought the two communities together, but environmental issues still create a divide between them.cite web |url=http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/97/august/81797n1.htm |title=A funny thing happened on the way to the commune |accessdate=2007-10-01 |last=Quinn |first=Beth |month=August | year=1997 |work= |publisher="Mail Tribune"]

ports and recreation

Cave Junction has a golf course and a state park. The Illinois Valley Golf Course has 9 holes, and there are plans for an expansion to 18 holes. [cite web |url=http://www.southernoregon.com/illinoisvalley/index.html |title=ILLINOIS VALLEY PROFILE |accessdate=2007-09-27 |format= |work= ] [cite web |url=http://www.grantspassoregon.gov/Index.aspx?page=333 |title=Golfing |accessdate=2007-09-27 |format= |work= ] cite web |url=http://www.cavejunction.com/cavejunction/points.shtml |title=Points of Interest #1 |accessdate=2007-09-27 |publisher=Cave Junction Chamber of Congress] The Illinois River Forks State Park is located at the confluence of the east and west forks of the Illinois River. The park includes restrooms, picnic tables, and a variety of rare plants. [cite web |url=http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_103.php |title=Illinois River Forks State Park |accessdate=2007-09-28 |format= |work= ]

Media

Cave Junction has one newspaper and two radio stations. The local paper, the "Illinois Valley News", was established in 1937 when Cave Junction was known as Cave City, and as of 2007 has a circulation of 3,248. It is published by Bob and Jan Rodriguez, and edited by Michelle Binker. [cite web |url=http://www.orenews.com/cgi-bin/internal/database/directory/showGMpage.cgi?MemberID=12 |title=Illinois Valley News main page |accessdate=2007-09-27 |format= |work= ] The first issue was four pages long, and included ads for businesses ranging from Cave City to Medford, Oregon, all priced at one or two dollars.cite web |url=http://www.illinois-valley-news.com/archive/bobscorner/bobs20070214.htm |title=Bob's Corner |accessdate=2007-09-29 |last=Rodriguez |first=Bob |coauthors= |date=2007-02-14 |publisher=Illinois Valley News] The cities two licensed radio stations are KCNA (FM 102.7 The Drive), a Classic Hits station, and KBCC-LP (FM 107.9), a Christian station. [cite web |url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/sta_det.pl?Facility_id=134345 |title=Station Search Details for KBCC-LP |accessdate=2007-10-03 |publisher=FCC ] [cite web |url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=KCNA |title=FM Query Results for KCNA |accessdate=2007-10-03 |publisher=FCC ]

The Cave Junction area had a pirate radio station. Hope Mountain Radio broadcast out of Takilma until repeated interference from government agents caused them to shut down. The station began broadcasting legally on the internet, although this caused their costs to go up and necessitated fundraising activities. As of January 2007, Hope Mountain Radio broadcasts 24 hours a day with an all volunteer staff. [cite web |url=http://www.illinois-valley-news.com/archive/2007-0124/hope-mt.htm |title=Hope Mountain Radio benefit scheduled |accessdate=2007-10-03 |last=Jorgensen |first=Scott |date=2007-01-24 |publisher=Illinois Valley News]

Education

Cave Junction has three schools: Illinois Valley High School, Lorna Byrne Middle School, and Evergreen Elementary School. [cite web |url=http://www.greatschools.net/city/Cave_Junction/OR |title=Top-Rated Cave Junction Public Schools |accessdate=2007-09-27 |publisher=Greatschools.net] These schools are part of the Three Rivers School District, which also encompasses schools from Grants Pass and Applegate, Oregon. [cite web |url=http://www.threerivers.k12.or.us/departments.asp |title=Three Rivers School District - Schools |accessdate=2007-10-02 ]

Two individuals linked to Illinois Valley High School (IVHS) have been inducted into regional halls of fame. In 2004, Sam Hutchins became a member of the Wild Salmon Hall of Fame for creating the non-profit Oregon Stewardship Program. Begun in 1992 to teach Illinois Valley High School students about wild steelhead in the Illinois River, by 2004 the program had been expanded to 25 schools and 1,500 students. [cite web |url=http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2004/1007/sport/stories/05sport.htm |title=Hutchins enshrined in Wild Salmon Hall of Fame |accessdate=2007-09-29 |last=Freeman |first=Mark |coauthors= |date=2004-10-07 |work= |publisher="Mail Tribune"] In 2007, IVHS wrestling coach Ursal “Jay” Miller was inducted into the Oregon Chapter of The National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum. [cite web |url=http://www.illinois-valley-news.com/calendar.html |title=Here, There & Everywhere |accessdate=2007-10-03 |date=2007-10-02 |publisher=Illinois Valley News]

Transportation

The Illinois Valley Airport, also known as the Siskiyou Smokejumper Base, was built by the US Forest Service. It operated from 1943 to 1981 as a smokejumper base, during which time the smokejumpers parachuted on 1445 fires for 5390 fire jumps. [cite web |url=http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/people/smokejumpers/RAC/history.html |title=Redmond Smokejumper History |accessdate=2007-09-28 |format= |work= ] Today the airport has a fixed base operator, aircraft rentals and instruction, hangar rentals, and a restaurant.

Notable residents

Kristy Lee Cook, who was a contestant on American Idol 7, was also raised in Selma, Oregon, where she used to live before joining the competition.

Arthur B. Robinson is the head of the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine, which is located about seven mile (11 km) outside of Cave Junction. [cite web |url=http://www.oism.org/ |title=Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine Overview|accessdate=2007-09-29 |format= |work= ] Also, Mike Millard, author of "Jihad in Paradise: Islam and Politics in Southeast Asia" and "Leaving Japan: Observations on the Dysfunctional U.S.-Japan Relationship," was a 1965 graduate of Illinois Valley High School. [cite web |url=http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2005/1218/life/stories/06life.htm |title=Recalling a childhood in Southern Oregon |accessdate=2007-09-29 |last=Fattig |first=Paul |date=2005-12-18 |publisher="Mail Tribune"]

References

External links

* [http://www.cavejunction.com Cavejunction.com] (unofficial community website)
* [http://www.cavejunctionoregon.com Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce — Cave Junction]
* [http://www.city-data.com/city/Cave-Junction-Oregon.html Factual Information from www.city-data.com]
* [http://bluebook.state.or.us/local/cities/ad/cavejunction.htm Oregon Blue Book listing for Cave Junction]

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Cave Junction — 42° 10′ 00″ N 123° 38′ 49″ W / 42.16666667, 123.64694444 … Wikipédia en Français
Cave Junction — Cave Junction, OR U.S. city in Oregon Population (2000): 1363 Housing Units (2000): 730 Land area (2000): 1.644520 sq. miles (4.259288 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.644520 sq. miles (4.259288 … StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places
Cave Junction, OR — U.S. city in Oregon Population (2000): 1363 Housing Units (2000): 730 Land area (2000): 1.644520 sq. miles (4.259288 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.644520 sq. miles (4.259288 sq. km) FIPS code … StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places
Oregon Caves Historic District — U.S. National Register of Historic Places U.S. Historic district … Wikipedia
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