Rogue Valley

Rogue Valley
Valley
The Rogue Valley and Ashland from the south
Location in Oregon
Country	USA
Region	Southern Oregon
Principal communities	Medford Ashland Grants Pass
Website	www.rvcog.org

The Rogue Valley is a valley region in southwestern Oregon in the United 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 the California border. The largest communities in the Rogue Valley are Medford, Ashland and Grants Pass. The most populated part of the Rogue Valley is not along the Rogue proper, but along the smaller Bear Creek tributary. The Rogue Valley is a popular fall destination in Oregon because of the hardwood forests there.

The valley forms a relatively isolated enclave west of the Cascade Range along the north side of the Siskiyou Mountains. It is separated from the nearby coast by a high section of the Southern Oregon Coast Range. The valley is characterized by a mild climate that allows a long growing season, especially for many varieties of fruits, nuts and herbs, such as medical marijuana. A regional manufacturing industry is centered in Medford, the most highly populated area of the valley. In recent years the valley has emerged as a wine-growing region and it is the location of the Rogue Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area). The mild climate and relative isolation have made the valley a popular retirement destination. The community of Ashland is famous for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Interstate 5 follows the valley through Ashland and Medford.

History

The central Rogue Valley

In the early 19th century, before the first European American settlers arrived, the river valley was inhabited by the Shasta, Takelma, and Rogue River tribes of Native Americans. The early fur traders named this river the "River of the Rogues". A flood of white settlers began to arrive in the valley after the Donation Land Act, which allocated 320 acres (1.3 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 1851 gold 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.

Climate

Medford
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.4     48 32     2     54 34     1.7     59 36     1.4     65 40     1.3     73 45     0.6     82 52     0.3     92 57     0.4     91 56     0.6     84 49     1.1     70 42     3     53 36     3.4     46 30 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     61     9 0     51     12 1     43     15 2     36     18 4     33     23 7     15     28 11     7.6     33 14     10     33 13     15     29 9     28     21 6     76     12 2     86     8 −1 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm

Grants Pass
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     4.8     48 34     4     55 34     3.4     60 36     2.1     66 39     1.4     74 44     0.7     81 49     0.3     90 54     0.3     90 52     0.6     84 46     1.9     70 39     5     53 37     6.4     46 36 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     122     9 1     102     13 1     86     16 2     53     19 4     36     23 7     18     27 9     7.6     32 12     7.6     32 11     15     29 8     48     21 4     127     12 3     163     8 2 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm

Ashland
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.4     49 30     1.9     54 31     2     58 33     1.8     63 36     1.7     71 39     0.8     79 47     0.5     88 51     0.5     87 50     0.7     80 44     1.4     68 37     3     54 32     3.3     47 29 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     61     9 −1     48     12 −1     51     14 1     46     17 2     43     22 4     20     26 8     13     31 11     13     31 10     18     27 7     36     20 3     76     12 0     84     8 −2 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm

File:PhoenixOregonSnowExit24Interstate5.jpg

Snow in Phoenix.

Unlike most of the rest of Oregon, because of the rain shadow effect resulting from the close range of the Cascades and Siskiyous, the Rogue Valley is relatively dry when compared to the coast and Portland. The region's climate is similar to the Central and Sacramento Valleys of California, with a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. Winters are chilly and rainy, but relatively dry and slightly colder when compared to the rest of western Oregon, with frequent fog, and occasional snow. Summers are hot and sunny, but dry, with low or no humidity. Temperatures surpass 100°F (38°C), on an average of 10-15 days during the summer. Because of the combination of heat and dry air, wildfires are a problem during the summer, and occasionally, smoke will fill up the valley for weeks, reducing visibility. On average, the first frost occurs October 22, and the last on May 6. The Rogue Valley is in USDA plant hardiness zones 7-9. Sub-zero temperatures are extremely rare in the valley; the Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport has not recorded such extreme cold weather since December 21, 1990, when the temperature dropped to −2°F (−21°C).

Due to the valley's generally mild climate, it is used as a region to grow pears, and there are multiple vineyards. Medford has, on average, 175 sunny days per year, compared to 80 on average for the Willamette Valley, and 65 on average for the coast.

See also

• Jefferson (Pacific state)
• Roxy Ann Peak
• Upper and Lower Table Rock