oregon city lies interstate approximately north california border near south end bear creek valley arm july city population estimated city home oregon shakespeare festival important economy depends restaurants galleries retail stores cater visitors creek historic buildings paved bike trail provide additional tourist attractions originally called named ohio original home founder kentucky founders family connections mayor council government assisted citizen committees historically liberal politics differed sharply rest southwest oregon history prior arrival settlers mid-19th century people lived valley creek approximately located hunters following trail passed site 1820s late 1840s settlers american following began passing area early 1850s donation land act brought white settlers conflict native people violent clashes continued gold discovered tributary tent city developed banks area later known jacksonville settlers arrived area january including filed donation land claims built called later renamed turn timber lumber settlers built second mill grind local wheat flour community mill known post office established 1860s 1870s community grew establishing school churches businesses large employer produced clothing blankets local wool dropped mills reverend opened college predecessor portland oregon san_francisco california joined rail rail service began taking different route east avoid steep grade rail trade local products including women petitioned creation park creek discovery water near time led plan establish mineral spa park voters approved bonds pay project included mineral water source town engaged landscape architect san_francisco golden gate park design park renamed later shortened park popular mineral spa plans proved expensive local abandoned took selling mineral waters area springs fourth july celebration angus arranged performances oregon shakespeare festival festival grew 20th century award winning internationally known regional theater company historic buildings preserved restored city individual structures historic districts railroad addition district national_register_of_historic_places structures include building home contained largest establishment sacramento portland geography feet sea level foothills cascade ranges miles north california border interstate miles south miles north california border feet highest point miles south miles south portland according city total area square miles km2 land tributaries begin flanks feet sea level south city upstream south city boundary streams flow mainly national forest creek flows city meet roughly parallels east streams flows generally northwest join near flows generally west mouth pacific_ocean oregon route running roughly parallel passes downtown enters east intersects route near city center climate lies oregon southwest interior climate zone higher elevation sites rain shadow west largest urban areas zone addition north mountain peaks zone receive inches precipitation year urban areas valleys lie generally inches valley climate particularly good growing fruit especially producing crops farm goods hay grain beef cloud cover nearby varies average percent july percent december average precipitation falls days year totals inches average annual snowfall inches average relative humidity measured daily percent varying percent july percent december according climate classification system warm summer mediterranean climate month december average high temperature month july average high highest temperature recorded observed august record low occurred december demographics census people households families residing city population density inhabitants square mile km2 housing units average density square mile km2 racial makeup city white african american native american asian pacific races races hispanic latino race population households children age living married couples living female husband present male wife present non families households individuals living years age older average household size average family size median age city years residents age ages rounded nearest number years old years age older gender makeup city male female median income household city median income family males median income versus females capita income city population families poverty line total population age older living poverty line government mayor council government consisting mayor council members elected city voters serve year terms term ends current mayor citizen committees assist mayor council setting legislative goals democrat represents oregon house district state legislature oregon senate district represented democrat federal level republican speaks rest oregon 2nd congressional district united_states house_of_representatives democrats serve state oregon united_states senate historically political southwest oregon presidential election favored abraham_lincoln neighbors strongly preferred pro slavery candidates early 1900s voters supported women suffrage prohibition generally step rest region recent elections liberal supported tax environmental regulations opposed voters jackson nearby counties critics refer city economy income tourism important economy large number restaurants galleries retail stores cater thousands visitors attend plays year oregon shakespeare festival festival sold tickets theater productions town largest employer faculty staff addition university health service providers significant contributions economy businesses related outdoor recreation transportation technology light manufacturing important shakespeare festival employed people hospital public schools produces uncle john bathroom reader books based san_diego specializing battery electric based moved talent arts culture oregon shakespeare festival grown summer outdoor series 1930s season stretches february october incorporating plays theaters largest regional theater united_states features musicals comedy year opened dinner theater occupies built mission revival style shows international domestic films genre takes place april downtown films shown days festival setting movie version annual nonprofit organization encourages develop new work public readings year holds international competition hundreds submissions plays read live audiences professional actors day festival october museums points interest national fish wildlife laboratory world laboratory dedicated solving crimes wildlife forensic science experts laboratory help wildlife officers investigate possible crimes animals establish links victims suspects cases court laboratory assisted foreign agencies concerned cities city band organized late 19th century brass band band octagonal style butler memorial band shell built gives public concerts summer june august parks acre park including acres national_register_of_historic_places begins near downtown shopping area extends upstream creek near center city includes ponds japanese garden tennis courts public outdoor stage miles hiking trails comes natural mineral water found area strong mineral taste slight water found town plaza frequently tourists behest residents frequent visitors use cheap humorous initiation rite hiking path begins near intersection close confluence creek flows mile path follows passes talent phoenix education public year university founded offers courses study degrees liberal arts science business education students focus major fields programs minors enrollment fall urban university offers graduate level programs acre campus percent university students women percent men popular major fields include related business psychology visual performing arts social sciences protective services law enforcement student faculty ratio tuition year oregon residents oversees elementary schools school focused science arts middle school high school community learning center ranked best nation public high schools 15th best oregon media published monday saturday morning daily published monday sunday serves radio stations operate region including independent non profit broadcasting student run radio station letters nickname radio free shut february years broadcasting rogue based serves jackson counties commercial television stations nearby seven infrastructure public services general medical surgical hospital health network based beds public library building expanded city original library historic portion library restored budget problems led closing april library event lasted october largest library closure history services handled private company services branch remains network public libraries rogue route route provides bus service city routes running minutes providing combined service frequency minutes route provides service passengers connect routes southwest point daily shuttle operated carrying passengers amtrak station falls amtrak station serves long haul passenger train track owned municipal airport foot asphalt runway offers general aviation services international airport miles serves city moved improve local internet access late 1990s creating building fiber ring inside city boundaries city faced difficulties debt load approaching million city hired new director suggested scrapping cable television service retaining profitable high speed internet access october cable television service transferred local company city retained infrastructure wholesale internet business sister city sister city mexico notable people
Ashland, Oregon