Rogue River

History

In the early days the gold seekers forded the Rogue River, and during high water they swam across by holding the tails of their horses. Thus the river crossing near the present City of Rogue River, became known as Tailholt. About 1850 or 51, Davis Evans built a ferry and two cabins at the mouth of Evans Creek. From there a trail was made by the mules of the pack trains that freighted supplies to the gold mines. According to John Breeding, who later freight supplies over the trail on mules and in carts made from the front wheels of wagons, the trail led up Evans Creek, then cut across to Ditch Creek where it passed the hewed log house of the old Burkhart ranch, and ran along the field and over the mountain gap to Jump-Off Joe Creek. A few log cabins, widely scattered over the area marked the locations of the early settlers' homesteads and mining claims. In 1868, according to an old newspaper clipping, a covered bridge was built beside the big live oak tree near the ferry, for the stage road crossing of Evans Creek. Samuel A. Steckel furnished timbers to repair the bridge in 1883. When it was dismantled in 1912 some of the timbers, 80 feet in length, were so well preserved they were saved for use in the bridge eight miles up the creek. In 1872, John Woods settled on the East side of Evans Creek, and soon the town of Woodville was built. The lumber for the first frame houses in Evans Valley and in Woodville was sawed by a sash mill located four miles up Evans Creek. Its single blade was powered by the water wheel of the old mill dam. Steckel owned and ran the mill for many years. In 1912, the town was renamed City of Rogue River. The Woodville post office operated from 1876 until 1912, when the name was changed to Rogue River.

Geography

The city of Rogue River is in western Jackson County, on the north side of the Rogue River. Interstate 5 passes through the south side of the city, running along the north bank of the river. Access is from Exit 48 (Depot Street). I-5 leads west (northbound) to Grants Pass and southeast to Medford, the Jackson county seat. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Rogue River has a total area of , all of it land.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Dark-eyed Junco

  Junco hyemalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  6,636
• Lesser Goldfinch

  Spinus psaltria (Say, 1822) · Aves
  6,363
• Acorn Woodpecker

  Melanerpes formicivorus (Swainson, 1827) · Aves
  6,204
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  6,103
• Anna's Hummingbird

  Calypte anna (R.Lesson, 1829) · Aves
  5,799
• California/Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

  Aphelocoma californica (Vigors, 1839) · Aves
  5,516
• Spotted Towhee

  Pipilo maculatus Swainson, 1827 · Aves
  5,492
• White-breasted Nuthatch

  Sitta carolinensis Latham, 1790 · Aves
  5,058

Largest nearby schools

• Rogue River Elementary School
  Elementary · Rogue River · 410 students · 15.8:1 ratio
• Hanby Middle School
  Middle · Gold Hill · 375 students · 41.7:1 ratio
• Rogue River Junior/Senior High
  High · Rogue River · 357 students · 16.2:1 ratio
• Patrick Elementary School
  Elementary · Gold Hill · 229 students · 20.8:1 ratio
• Rivers Edge Academy Charter School
  Other · Rogue River · 219 students · 21.9:1 ratio
• South Valley Academy
  Other · Rogue River · 92 students · 23:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.95 — 2026-05-23
  6 km E of Pistol River, Oregon
• M 2.97 — 2025-02-27
  6 km E of Pistol River, Oregon
• M 2.79 — 2025-02-22
  6 km E of Pistol River, Oregon
• M 2.9 — 2025-02-19
  9 km E of Pistol River, Oregon
• M 2.95 — 2023-08-08
  28 km ENE of Pistol River, Oregon
• M 2.52 — 2023-01-05
  25 km WNW of Klamath Falls, Oregon