Josephine County
Sunset on the Rogue River at Grants Pass. (Oregon State Archives Photo No. josD0096)
Contact
County Seat: Courthouse, 500 NW 6th St., Grants Pass 97526; Mailing Address: PO Box 69, Grants Pass 97526
Phone: 541-474-5243 (General); 541-476-2309 (Court Administrator)
Fax: 541-474-5246
E-mail: clerk@co.josephine.or.us
Web: www.co.josephine.or.us
About
Population (2009): 83,665
Established: Jan. 22, 1856
Elev. at Grants Pass: 948'
Area: 1,641 sq. mi.
Average Temp.: January 39.9° July 71.6°
Assessed Value: $6,086,990,924
Real Market Value: $8,446,479,564
Annual Precipitation: 32.31"
Economy: Tourism, recreation, forest products, electronics and software
Related resources
History
Historical
Records Inventory
Scenic
Image
Economic
Information (from OBDD)
"County
Quick Facts" (from U.S.
Census Bureau)
County
Seat Map (from Yahoo!
Maps)
County
Map (from ODOT)
Incorporated cities
Cave
Junction | Grants
Pass
Points of interest
Oregon Caves National Monument, Wolf Creek Tavern, Sunny Valley Covered Bridge and Interpretive Center, Hellgate Canyon-Rogue River, Grants Pass Historic District, Growers Market, Kalmiopsis Wilderness, Rogue Community College, Barnstormers Theater, Rogue Music Theater
History and general information
Josephine County, named for Virginia “Josephine” Rollins, the first white woman to make this county her home, was established in 1856 out of the western portion of Jackson County. The county seat was originally located in Sailor Diggings (later Waldo), but in July of 1857 was relocated to Kerbyville, situated on the main route between the port of Crescent City, California and the gold fields.
The discovery of rich placers at Sailor Diggings in 1852 and the resulting gold rush brought the first settlers to this region. Several U.S. Army forts were maintained in the county and many engagements during the Rogue River Indian War (1855–1858) took place within its boundaries. In 1886, the county seat was finally relocated to Grants Pass, a new town on the railroad that was completed through Oregon that same year. Grants Pass is now the departure point for most Rogue River scenic waterway guided fishing and boat trips. The Illinois River, one of the Rogue’s tributaries, has also been designated a scenic waterway.
County officials
Commissioners—Dwight Ellis 2013, Vacant 2013, Simon Hare 2015; Dist. Atty. Stephen D. Campbell 2013; Assess. Connie Roach 2013; Clerk Art Harvey 2013; Sheriff Gil Gilbertson 2015; Surv. Peter D. Allen 2013; Treas. John Harelson 2013