Southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley was originally inhabited by several thousand native peoples including Takilma, Shasta, Athabascan and Rogue River tribes. The first non-natives to the area were trappers and traders.

In the 1850s, Oregon’s first gold discovery was made near present-day Jacksonville and prospectors flooded the area in search of instant wealth. Later, farmers were lured by the fertile soil and mild climate. Small towns began springing up practically overnight, served by a busy stagecoach route.

By the early 1880s, the Oregon & California Railroad completed the north-south line. Originally planned through Jacksonville, the railroad was diverted a few miles east when the town’s officials refused to pay a premium for the privilege. The resulting community became Medford, which was incorporated as a city in 1885.

Several Rogue Valley communities, including Jacksonville, Medford and Ashland and Grants Pass feature Historic Districts and sites showcasing buildings, homes, monuments and artifacts that depict the region’s remarkable past.