MEDFORD, OREGON, the county seat of Jackson County (population 14,000), is the center of the famous Rogue River Valley. Climate is mellow, with an average rainfall of about 20 inches; elevation about 1300 ft., although many of our ranch and resort properties are much higher. It is a profitable farming, fruit, poultry, dairying and stock raising area. This valley is noted as the best pear-growing section of the United States, and most of the valley is under irrigation. Its greatest industry is logging and lumber mills.
    Southern Oregon is noted for its scenic beauty, hunting and fishing. The Rogue River, reaching a width of 400 ft., is world-famous for its salmon fishing and steelhead; bass and trout abound in the shady nooks and sparkling riffles of this and many other rivers and streams. Boating and swimming are popular pastimes in season and deer abound in bordering forests. Famous Crater Lake is also an attraction in this out-of-door wonderland.
    Jackson County is one of the "natural" dairy sections of the Pacific Coast. The advent of ladino clover has introduced the best and least expensive dairy feed in the country. The area adapted to this crop is quite limited, even in Oregon; Jackson County, of which Medford is the county seat, is the choice section for this crop. The seed threshed from ladino furnishes an additional income, and the straw is used for feed. Concentration of dairy feeds and products is the secret of success. Highly productive cows, home-grown feeds, local creameries and cheese factories are the essence of concentration. Ordinarily ten irrigated acres here support ten to twelve cows and furnish a small family a good livelihood. Alfalfa also flourishes here throughout the long growing season.
    Thousands of motorists and vacationists travel to glorious Crater Lake each year over the fine highway, which many of these ranches border. Many of our properties offer excellent opportunities for resorts, dude ranches, summer boarding schools and auto courts, and at low prices that will probably never again be repeated. There is just one Rogue River and one Crater Lake Highway and one "Evergreen Oregon."
    For those fortunate Americans who can select their ranches in the favored vacation spots, this Rogue River and Crater Lake country has a great appeal. Ginger Rogers recently purchased a large ranch in this district, and Clark Gable steals a week off now and then between pictures to come up here and fish salmon in the Rogue.
D. E. Millard, E. A. Strout Realty agent, "Rogue River Valley," January 1942. Brochure scans retained.

Last revised January 1, 2025