JOSEPHINE COUNTY

County Offices
500 NW Sixth Street
Grants Pass 541-474-5240
www.co.josephine.or.us

Chamber of Commerce
1995 NW Vine Street
Grants Pass 541-476-7717
https://www.grantspasschamber.org/

Nestled in the southwestern corner of Oregon, Josephine County offers pristine natural settings from riverfront land to alpine splendor. US Highway 199 or the Redwood Highway traverses the county for links to Interstate 5 and the Pacific Coast Highway. Growing tourism, cottage industries, and government employment drive the local economy in this recreational paradise that serves as Siskiyou National Forest headquarters and the northern gateway to the Redwood Empire of California.

Services
Residents of Josephine County can enjoy the advantages of tranquil rural life without sacrificing easy and quick access to state-of-the-art healthcare. Asante Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass provides a model for blending the most advanced technologies and clinical excellence with the finest of holistic traditions in a peaceful setting. This modern facility features an open floorplan for increased efficiency with patient rooms at a quiet distance from the daily bustle of medical staff for a truly healing environment. Ranked second in Oregon for orthopedic services, Asante Three Rivers was also the first hospital in Oregon to receive a “Baby Friendly” designation by the World Health Organization and UNICEF. The premier Asante network is the largest in Southern Oregon, connecting Three Rivers to skilled professionals across the state for expanded medical choices and continuum of care. The adjacent Asante Center for Outpatient Health provides convenient access for physical therapy and rehabilitation, in-house imaging and lab, surgical suites, urgent care and physician offices.

First-rate educational opportunities are available on every academic level in Josephine County, where parents have a choice between quality local school districts and private school alternatives. Grants Pass is home to Rogue River Community College for two-year degree and career programs or an affordable start on a four-year degree. Partnering with regional employers, the college operates a Small Business Development Center and devotes 75 percent of its classes each session to specific training that upgrades worker skills. Beyond two-year programs and continuing education, Josephine County residents can take advantage of Southern Oregon’s outstanding four-year institutions of higher education. Ashland is home to Southern Oregon University, serving nearly 6,000 students from around the world with more than 100 areas of study in liberal arts, sciences, and select graduate and professional programs. Nearby Klamath Falls also hosts the campus for the Oregon Institute of Technology—the only public institute of technology in the entire Northwest. More than 20 additional choices in public and private four-year colleges and universities are located throughout the state along with scores of trade, technical and commercial schools.

Lifestyle
Newcomers to Josephine County and the Illinois Valley will discover endless variety in every aspect of life, from bustling small towns and rural villages to recreational and cultural attractions. Modern services and a kaleidoscope of entertainment options contrast with historic treasures in unique destinations like downtown Grants Pass, Kerby, Wolf Creek and Golden. The annual calendar is filled with opportunities to enjoy live stage productions by several local theatre and music groups or visit the changing displays at the Grants Pass Museum of Art. The nationally celebrated, award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival is just 50 miles from Grants Pass in Ashland, while the famous Britt Festivals in Jacksonville are 45 miles away. Celebrations and special events draw enthusiastic crowds to Concerts in the Park, the Native American Arts Festival, Spring Wine Stroll, First Friday Art Night, Antique & Collectible Street Fair, Boatnik, the Wild Rogue Balloon Festival, Art along the Rogue, the Fabulous 50’s Car Show, and Bear Fest in Grants Pass. Many of these events are multi-day extravaganzas of parades, displays, food and vendor booths, family fun and lively competitions.

Newcomers will discover abundant opportunities for outdoor adventure and exploration around the four seasons, from cycling, hiking, camping, hunting, fishing and whitewater rafting to family activities in some of the most breathtakingly beautiful parks in the Pacific Northwest. The county is brimming over with recreational facilities that include swimming pools, golf courses, athletic fields and sports courts. Ocean beaches and alpine skiing are only two hours away, with alpine lakes for boating and fishing available within an hour’s drive. Flying and skydiving enthusiasts can take advantage of the local airport while wine connoisseurs enjoy tasting rooms and special events in Illinois and Applegate Valley wineries. Premier destinations like Crater Lake National Park and Oregon Caves National Monument are easy day trips. Those who appreciate the charm of small-town friendliness, family gardens, outdoor adventures and a healthy rural lifestyle are likely to discover the perfect home in Josephine County.

COMMUNITY PROFILES

Cave Junction, Takilma
City Offices
541-592-2156
https://www.cavejunctionoregon.us/

Chamber of Commerce
541-592-3326
https://cavejunctionoregon.com/

The scenic small town of Cave Junction is located along Highway 199 near the California border and 30 miles southwest of Grants Pass. Residents are only 40 miles from the Pacific Ocean beaches, although coastal hills ensure a mild climate. The rolling Illinois River forms the town’s western boundary. With the Oregon Caves just 20 miles east of the city, Cave Junction thrives as a service and tourism hub for approximately 15,000 rural residents and thousands of annual visitors. In addition to shops, services and other amenities, Cave Junction is home to the Illinois Valley’s public school system but also offers options for private education from preschool through 12th grade. Just 10 miles from Cave Junction, the unincorporated community of Takilma is home to artists and activists but is probably best known for its Out n’ About Treehouse Resort. The hippie movement that brought youthful residents to Takilma in 1968 has matured into notable projects like the Siskiyou Community Health Center, the Siskiyou Field Institute, and the Jefferson Baroque Orchestra.

Grants Pass
City Offices
541-450-6000
https://www.grantspassoregon.gov/

Chamber of Commerce
541-476-7717
https://www.grantspasschamber.org/

Nestled in Southern Oregon just 60 miles from the California border, the county seat and urban center of Grants Pass is located along the banks of the Rogue River. Set against a backdrop of Cascade, Siskiyou and coastal mountain ranges, the city features natural beauty, historic charm, and a world of attractions. With an entire downtown designated as a National Historic District, Grants Pass draws residents and visitors to antique and collectible shops, ice cream parlors and sidewalk espresso stands. Dubbed the Whitewater Rafting Capital of Oregon, the city hosts abundant outfitters and a jet boat operation that leaves Grants Pass on Hellgate Canyon tours. Newcomers will find attractive housing options in traditional tree-lined neighborhoods or tranquil rural properties that command outstanding views. First-rate services include a major medical center, a community college campus, quality public and private schools, a lively local economy, and an extensive park system. Several tiny unincorporated communities surround the city including Fruitdale to the southeast and Redwood, nestled between Rogue River and Redwood Highway.

Merlin, Galice
County Offices
541-474-5240
www.co.josephine.or.us

Chamber of Commerce
541-476-7717
https://www.grantspasschamber.org/

Designated as the “Gateway to the Wild & Scenic Rogue River,” the small hamlet of Merlin is a census-designated place just northwest of Grants Pass. Often referred to as the Merlin-Galice area, the community provides a convenient home for an abundance of outfitters and fishing guides. Merlin’s character has been strongly influenced by its location near Grave Creek, the starting point for the 32-mile “wild” section of the river, while nearby is the breathtakingly beautiful Hellgate Canyon. One of the premier attractions in the Merlin area is Wildlife Images Rehabilitation & Education Center that releases 50 percent of its intakes each year. Those too injured to survive in the wild are cared for and integrated into wonderful education programs. Located along Galice Highway, this scenic canyon was a popular film site for many Westerns including Rooster Cogburn. Galice Resort and Morrison’s Lodge dominate the Galice area, another rafting activity center. North of Galice, historic Indian Mary Park began as the smallest Indian Reservation ever created and now serves as a county park set against the natural beauty of Rogue River.

Selma
County Offices
541-474-5240
www.co.josephine.or.us

Chamber of Commerce
541-476-7717
https://www.grantspasschamber.org/

The growing but unincorporated community of Selma is conveniently located at the intersection of Redwood Highway and Deer Creek Road. Actor John Wayne often visited a ranch near Selma that now serves as the Deer Creek Center for Field Research and Education. Wayne used to board horses at the ranch because he grew so fond of the area after filming Rooster Cogburn along the Rogue River. The same unspoiled natural beauty and rural charm that captured Wayne’s attention so long ago is attracting new development. Newcomers who are looking for a tranquil retreat will find country homes including luxurious manors or multi-acre properties that are ideal for custom home construction. Selma residents are only a half-hour drive away from all that Grants Pass has to offer, including a leading medical center, a community college campus, shops and services, entertainment and cultural attractions, and developed recreational facilities.

Williams
County Offices
541-474-5240
www.co.josephine.or.us

Chamber of Commerce
541-476-7717
https://www.grantspasschamber.org/

Another of Josephine County’s small pastoral communities, Williams draws newcomers and visitors to a place where children still start their school day to the sound of a bell and residents flock to the community center for pancake breakfasts. Located between the urban hub of Grants Pass and the city of Cave Junction, Williams offers a serene rural lifestyle. Nestled in the scenic Williams Valley where Williams Creek flows into the Applegate River, the community is ideal for small, locally owned agricultural operations. The Williams area offers a variety of housing options on sprawling lots or multi-acre properties that are ideal for equestrians or just those who appreciate a luxurious sense of seclusion surrounded by breathtaking beauty including Powell Creek views. The local elementary school is part of the Three Rivers School District headquartered in Grants Pass, which also offers a major medical center, a community college and other urban amenities.