Medford – Southern Oregon

The region of Southern Oregon has seen intense growth and activity over the past several decades. At the hub of Southern Oregon’s growth sits the city of Medford, which was originally named in 1883 by David Loring whose hometown was Medford, Massachusetts.

SCHOOLS

Residents living in Medford and its surrounding communities send their children to schools located in the Medford School District. The district serves more than 12,500 students that filter through the city’s two main high schools: South Medford High School and North Medford High School. The district also hosts 14 elementary school and two middle schools.

Additionally, Medford is home to several private high schools, including St. Mary’s School, Cascade Christian High School and Rogue Valley Adventist School.

The region is also the site of Southern Oregon Univeristy (SOU), which is located in nearby Ashland. Boasting 34 majors and 100 areas of study to choose from, SOU offers students enriched educational curriculum revolving around liberal arts and science.

In close proximity, Rogue Community College based in Grants Pass also has a campus in downtown Medford.
 
RECREATION

Medford abounds with parks and green space. The oldest park in Medford, Alba Park, was named after Medford’s sister city Alba, Italy. The park puts on an all-day fair during the city’s annual Pear Blossom Run.

The second largest park in the city, Medford Park, boasts nearly 100 acres and is bordered on the west by Bear Creek and the Bear Creek Greenway. The park grounds offer Medford recreators access to tennis courts, a skate park, an amphitheater, playground, BMX track and a community garden.

Overlooking Medford is one of the area’s most renowned landmarks, Roxy Ann Peak. The 30 million-year-old dormant volcano was named for Roxy Ann Bowen, one of the area’s early settlers who lived in its foothills. Much of Roxy Ann Peak incorporates nearby 1,700-acre Prescott Park.

ENTERTAINMENT

Southern Oregon is well-known for its rich cultural legacy. Theater specifically, has put the communities of Southern Oregon on the map.

In 1893, the Chautauqua building was constructed in downtown Ashland, which soon prompted a rise in adult education, culture and entertainment in rural areas across the country.

Since then, the region continues to offer a wealth of arts and entertainment opportunities. Founded in 1935, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) in Ashland is one of the oldest and largest professional nonprofit theatres in the nation. Offering 11 main-stage productions in three theaters during its eight-and-a-half-month season, the Tony Award-winning OSF operates on a budget of more than $26 million. Every year, the OSF presents nearly 800 performances with attendance of more than 400,000 people.

Southern Oregon is also home to a variety of other theaters, festivals and galleries. Located in Medford, a state-of-the-art community performing arts center hosts large national concerts and dance and theatrical tours. In addition, the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater also accommodates performances, rehearsals, classes and workshops, conferences, receptions, parties, seminars, trainings and more.

Vogel Plaza, in the heart of Medford, is one of the city’s major venues for local events, including the annual Art in Bloom festival. The weekend festival hosts more than 10,000 people and more than 75 artists showcasing their work. The festival features live entertainment, workshops, food and children's activities as well.

The Britt Music Festival, which was initially created in 1963, brings world-class musicians to the outdoor amphitheater in Jacksonville during the spring and summer months.