Medford, Oregon#Combined Statistical Area

File:Oregon - Medford - NARA - 68147406 (cropped).jpg

In 1883, a group of railroad surveyors headed by S.L. Dolson and David Loring arrived in Rock Point, near present-day Gold Hill.{{cite web

| url=http://id.mind.net/%7Etruwe/tina/medford1883.html

| title=Railroad Notes

| page=3

| work=Oregon Sentinel (Jacksonville, Oregon)

| date=March 10, 1882

| access-date=March 13, 2008

| publisher=Talky Tina Press

| archive-date=June 9, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609212316/http://id.mind.net/%7Etruwe/tina/medford1883.html

| url-status=dead

}} They were charged with finding the best route through the Rogue Valley for the Oregon and California Railroad. Citizens of neighboring Jacksonville hoped that it would pass between their town and Hanley Butte, near the present day Claire Hanley Arboretum. Such a move would have all but guaranteed prosperous growth for Jacksonville, but Dolson decided instead to stake the railroad closer to Bear Creek.{{cite web

| url=http://id.mind.net/%7Etruwe/tina/medford1883.html

| title=Local Items

| page=3

| work=Oregon Sentinel (Jacksonville, Oregon)

| date=June 9, 1883

| access-date=March 13, 2008

| publisher=Talky Tina Press

| archive-date=June 9, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609212316/http://id.mind.net/%7Etruwe/tina/medford1883.html

| url-status=dead

}} The response from Jacksonville was mixed,{{cite web

| url=http://id.mind.net/%7Etruwe/tina/medford1883.html

| title=Commentary

| page=3

| work=Oregon Sentinel (Jacksonville, Oregon)

| date=May 19, 1883

| access-date=March 13, 2008

| publisher=Talky Tina Press

| archive-date=June 9, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609212316/http://id.mind.net/%7Etruwe/tina/medford1883.html

| url-status=dead

}} but the decision was final. By November 1883, a depot site had been chosen and a surveying team led by Charles J. Howard was hard at work platting the new town. They completed their work in early December 1883, laying out 82 blocks for development.{{cite web

| url=http://id.mind.net/%7Etruwe/tina/medford1883.html

| title=Commentary

| page=3

| work=Oregon Sentinel (Jacksonville, Oregon)

| date=December 8, 1883

| access-date=March 13, 2008

| publisher=Talky Tina Press

| archive-date=June 9, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609212316/http://id.mind.net/%7Etruwe/tina/medford1883.html

| url-status=dead

}}

James Sullivan Howard, a merchant and surveyor,{{cite web

| url=http://id.mind.net/~truwe/tina/howard.html

| title=James Sullivan Howard

| publisher=Southern Oregon History Revised

| access-date=February 29, 2016

| archive-date=March 15, 2016

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315182920/http://id.mind.net/%7Etruwe/tina/howard.html

| url-status=dead

}} claimed to have built the town's first building in January 1884,{{cite web

| title=The Phipps-Howard War

| url=http://id.mind.net/%7Etruwe/tina/phipps-howard.html

| publisher=Mail Tribune as quoted by the Talky Tina Press

| access-date=March 13, 2008

| archive-date=June 14, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614195738/http://id.mind.net/%7Etruwe/tina/phipps-howard.html

| url-status=dead

}} though blacksmith Emil Piel was advertising for business at the "central depot" in the middle of December 1883.{{cite web

|url=http://id.mind.net/%7Etruwe/tina/medford1883.html

|title=Commentary

|page=3

|work=Democratic Times (Jacksonville, Oregon)

|date=December 14, 1883

|access-date=April 27, 2008

|publisher=Talky Tina Press

|archive-date=June 9, 2008

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609212316/http://id.mind.net/%7Etruwe/tina/medford1883.html

|url-status=dead

}}

Others point out the farms of town founders Iradell Judson Phipps and Charles Wesley Broback, which were present before the town was platted. Regardless, on February 6, 1884 (less than a month after it was built), J. S. Howard's store became Medford's first post office, with Howard serving as postmaster. The establishment of the post office led to the incorporation of Medford as a town by the Oregon Legislative Assembly on February 24, 1885,{{cite journal|last=Baker|first=Frank C.|year=1891|title=Special Laws|journal=The Laws of Oregon, and the Resolutions and Memorials of the Sixteenth Regular Session of the Legislative Assembly Thereof|publisher=State Printer|location=Salem, Oregon|page=986|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yr2wAAAAIAAJ&q=oregon%20legislature%20hillsboro%20incorporation&pg=PA986|access-date=October 9, 2020|archive-date=October 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007044109/https://books.google.com/books?id=Yr2wAAAAIAAJ&q=oregon%20legislature%20hillsboro%20incorporation&pg=PA986#v=onepage&q=oregon%20legislature%20hillsboro%20incorporation&f=false|url-status=live}} and again as a city in 1905. Howard held the position of postmaster for Medford's first ten years, and again held the post at the time of his death on November 13, 1919.{{cite web

|author = Riedel, Marilyn

|author2 = M. Constance Guardino III

|url = http://www2.wi.net/~maracon/lesson15.html

|title = Rogue River Communities

|access-date = January 28, 2008

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080608181848/http://www2.wi.net/~maracon/lesson15.html

|archive-date = June 8, 2008

|df = mdy-all

}}

The beginning of the 20th century was a transitional period for the area. Medford built a new steel bridge over Bear Creek to replace an earlier one which washed away three years before. Without a bridge, those wanting to cross had to ford the stream, typically using a horse-drawn wagon; the first automobile did not arrive in Medford until 1903.{{cite news

| url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080208/NEWS/802080334/-1/NEWS02

| title=Since you asked: A bridge too many

| work=Mail Tribune

| date=February 8, 2008

| access-date=March 26, 2008

| archive-date=June 20, 2009

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620233947/http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080208/NEWS/802080334/-1/NEWS02

| url-status=dead

}} Pharmacist George H. Haskins had opened a drugstore just after the town was platted, and in 1903 he allowed the Medford Library Association to open a small library in that store. Five years later the library moved to Medford's new city hall; in another four years, Andrew Carnegie's donation allowed a dedicated library to be built. Construction on the Medford Carnegie Library was completed in 1912.{{cite news

| url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/NEWS/710090334

| title=A little bit of history

| work=Mail Tribune

| date=March 26, 2008

| access-date=March 26, 2008

| archive-date=June 20, 2009

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620234227/http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/NEWS/710090334

| url-status=dead

}}{{cite news

| url=http://id.mind.net/~truwe/tina/1932history.html

| title=History of Medford, Oregon

| publisher=Talky Tina Press

| access-date=March 26, 2008

| archive-date=June 14, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614195938/http://id.mind.net/~truwe/tina/1932history.html

| url-status=dead

}}

In 1927, Medford took the title of county seat of Jackson County away from nearby Jacksonville.{{cite web

|url = http://www.jacksonvilleoregon.org/history.html

|title = History of Jacksonville

|publisher = Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce

|access-date = January 28, 2008

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080511192356/http://www.jacksonvilleoregon.org/history.html

|archive-date = May 11, 2008

|df = mdy-all

}}

Between World War II and the 1960s, Medford had a reputation as a sundown town where African Americans and other nonwhites were not allowed to live or stay at night.{{cite news|title='Sundown' No More|author=E. A.|department=editorial|edition=regional|newspaper=Medford Mail Tribune|location=Medford, Oregon|date=July 18, 1963|page=4A|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29370669/|quote=Medford has long had a reputation as a 'sundown town'. The reputation once was justified. ... Negroes and other racial minorities were definitely not welcome here. In some cases of record, many years ago, police officers were assigned to see that no such individuals were permitted to remain here overnight. Later, overnight lodging was denied them. They were not welcome in restaurants. And it was rare indeed that any found a way to stay here.|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 10, 2019|archive-date=October 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007044219/https://www.newspapers.com/article/medford-mail-tribune/29370669/|url-status=live}}

In 1967,{{cite news

| url=http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/99/jan99/1399n2.htm

| title=Takin' the old road

| date=January 3, 1999

| author=Aleccia, Jonel

| newspaper=Mail Tribune

| access-date=March 14, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611204836/http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/99/jan99/1399n2.htm

| archive-date=June 11, 2008

| url-status=dead

}} Interstate 5 was completed immediately adjacent to downtown Medford to replace the Oregon Pacific Highway. It has been blamed for the decline of small businesses in downtown Medford since its completion, but nevertheless remains an important route for commuters wishing to travel across the city. In fact, a study completed in 1999 found that 45% of vehicles entering I-5 from north Medford heading south exited in south Medford, just three miles (5 km) away.{{cite news

| url=http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/99/mar99/31299n3.htm

| title=I-5 just another Medford street, study suggests

| date=March 12, 1999

| author=Davis, Jim

| work=Mail Tribune

| access-date=March 14, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611211424/http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/99/mar99/31299n3.htm

| archive-date=June 11, 2008

| url-status=dead

}}

The high volume of traffic on Interstate 5 led to the completion of a new north Medford interchange in 2006. The project, which cost about $36 million, improved traffic flow between I-5 and Crater Lake Highway.{{cite web

| url=http://www.boli.state.or.us/ODOT/HWY/REGION3/nmi_newsrelease_010105.shtml

| title=North Medford interchange ramp detour planned for January 3

| publisher=Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries

| date=January 1, 2005

| access-date=March 14, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614165016/http://www.boli.state.or.us/ODOT/HWY/REGION3/nmi_newsrelease_010105.shtml

| archive-date=June 14, 2008

| url-status=dead

}} Further traffic problems identified in south Medford prompted the construction of another new interchange, costing $72 million. The project began in 2006 and was completed in 2010.{{cite news

| url=http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2007/0412/local/stories/beams_arrived.htm

| title=Concrete beam heads for south interchange

| date=April 12, 2007

| author=Landers, Meg

| work=Mail Tribune

| access-date=March 14, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611204816/http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2007/0412/local/stories/beams_arrived.htm

| archive-date=June 11, 2008

| url-status=dead

}}{{cite web

| url=http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=799

| title=2004 State of the City

| publisher=City of Medford

| access-date=January 18, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320133007/http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=799

| archive-date=March 20, 2008

| url-status=dead

}}{{cite web

|url = http://www.odotmovingahead.com/article.php?current_month=Apr-2010&articleid=167&title=South%20Medford%20Interchange%20project%20wraps%20up

|title = South Medford Interchange project wraps up

|work = Mail Tribune

|access-date = July 5, 2011

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120326152156/http://www.odotmovingahead.com/article.php?current_month=Apr-2010&articleid=167&title=South%20Medford%20Interchange%20project%20wraps%20up

|archive-date = March 26, 2012

|df = mdy-all

}}

Since the 1990s, Medford has dedicated an appreciable amount of resources to urban renewal in an attempt to revitalize the downtown area.{{cite news |title=Lighting Up Medford |url=http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/98/dec98/121398n1.htm |author=Davis, Jim |date=December 13, 1998 |access-date=September 14, 2009 |newspaper=Mail Tribune |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124205704/http://www.mailtribune.com/section/archive |archive-date=January 24, 2016 |url-status=dead }} Several old buildings have been restored, including the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater and the Prohibition era Cooley-Neff Warehouse, now operating as Pallet Wine Company, an urban winery. Streets have been realigned, new sidewalks, traffic signals, and bicycle lanes were installed, and two new parking garages have been built. Downtown Medford also received a new library building to replace the historic Medford Carnegie Library and now boasts satellite campuses for both Rogue Community College and Southern Oregon University.{{cite news |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080930/NEWS/809300315 |author=Achen, Paris |work=Mail Tribune |title=RCC-SOU center impresses with its 'bells and whistles' |date=November 30, 2008 |access-date=April 14, 2009 |archive-date=June 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620234216/http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080930/NEWS/809300315 |url-status=dead }}

Economic problems in 2008 and 2009 put a hold on The Commons project, a collaboration between the city of Medford and Lithia Motors.{{cite news |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080808/NEWS/808080332 |author=Achen, Paris |newspaper=Mail Tribune |title=Economy halts work on The Commons |date=August 8, 2008 |access-date=April 14, 2009 |archive-date=June 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620233959/http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080808/NEWS/808080332 |url-status=dead }} The project, one of the largest undertaken in downtown in recent years, aims to provide more parking, recreation, and commerce to the area. Before the work stopped, the Greyhound Bus depot was moved and $850,000 was spent replacing water lines. The Commons is anchored by the new corporate headquarters of Lithia Motors. Included in The Commons are two public park blocks slated to be informal public gathering areas as well as an area for special events such as the farmer's market. Ground breaking for the project was April 22, 2011, with a Phase 1 completion date of 2012.

File:Medford Oregon.jpg

Medford is located approximately {{convert|27|mi|km}} north of the northern border of California.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|25.74|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|25.73|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.01|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=December 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 12, 2012 }}

Medford is situated in the remains of ancient volcanic flow areas as demonstrated by the Upper and Lower Table Rock lava formations and nearby Mount McLoughlin and Crater Lake, which is the remains of Mount Mazama.{{cite web

| url=http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/oregon/preserves/art6805.html

| title=Lower Table Rock

| publisher=Nature.org

| date=January 19, 2008

| access-date=April 6, 2006

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328194936/http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/oregon/preserves/art6805.html

| archive-date=March 28, 2010

| url-status=dead

}}{{cite web

| url=http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/rogue/trails_mcloughlin.html

| title=Mount McLoughlin

| publisher=United States Forest Service

| access-date=January 19, 2008

| archive-date=February 22, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080222102732/http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/rogue/trails_mcloughlin.html

| url-status=live

}}

File:Welcome to medford oregon.jpg near the north end of Medford]]

{{Main|Rogue Valley#Climate}}

Medford sits in a rain shadow between the Cascade Range and Siskiyou Mountains called the Rogue Valley. As such, most of the rain associated with the Pacific Northwest (and Oregon in particular) skips Medford, making it drier and sunnier than the Willamette Valley. Medford's climate is considerably warmer, both in summer and winter, than its latitude would suggest, with a Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa). Summers are akin to Eastern Oregon, and winters resemble the coast. Here, summer sees an average of 61 afternoons over {{convert|90|°F|1}} and 11 afternoons over {{convert|100|°F|1}}. In August 1981, the high temperature reached over {{convert|110|°F|1}} for four consecutive days,{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonphotos.com/Oregon-hot-n-cold-records.html|title=Oregon Hot and Cold records by month|access-date=November 8, 2010|archive-date=November 27, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127121904/http://oregonphotos.com/Oregon-hot-n-cold-records.html|url-status=live}} with two days reaching {{convert|114|°F|1}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbyday.com/oregon/medford/august-medford-weather.html|title=Medford Weather In August|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006212112/http://www.weatherbyday.com/oregon/medford/august-medford-weather.html|archive-date=October 6, 2011|df=mdy-all}} Freezing temperatures occur on 64 mornings during an average year, and in some years there may be a day or two where the high stays at or below freezing; the average window for freezing temperatures is October 23 through April 23. The city is located in USDA hardiness zone 8.{{cite web

|url = http://www.arborday.org/treeinfo/ZoneInfo.cfm?ZipCode=97504&submit=Look+it+up%21

|title = What is my arborday.org Hardiness Zone?

|publisher = Arbor Day Foundation

|access-date = January 20, 2013

|archive-date = October 7, 2024

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241007044111/https://www.arborday.org/trees/

|url-status = live

}} Medford also experiences temperature inversions in the winter which during its lumber mill days produced fog so thick that visibility could be reduced to less than {{Convert|5|ft|m|spell=in}}. These inversions can last for weeks; some suggest this is because the metropolitan area has one of the lowest average wind speeds of all American metropolitan areas. The heavy fog returns nearly every winter with the inversions lowering air quality for several months without relief.{{cite web

|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/avgwind.html

|title=Average Wind Speed (MPH)

|publisher=National Climatic Data Center

|date=August 20, 2008

|access-date=April 18, 2009

|archive-date=March 10, 2009

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310084409/http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/avgwind.html

|url-status=live

}}{{cite web

|title=Evaluation of Temperature Inversions and Wind Machine on Frost Protection in Southern Oregon

|url=https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/dspace/bitstream/1957/4675/1/SR%20no.%20514_ocr.pdf

|author1=Bates, Earl

|author2=Lombard, Porter

|name-list-style=amp

|date=July 1978

|access-date=April 14, 2009

|archive-date=October 7, 2024

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007044111/https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/dspace/bitstream/1957/4675/1/SR%20no.%20514_ocr.pdf

|url-status=live

}}{{failed verification|date=September 2014}}

Medford residents experience snowfall during the winter that, due to the weather shadow effect, averages {{convert|3.4|in|cm|1}} and melts fairly quickly. In the past, the city has seen seasonal snowfall totals reach {{convert|31|in|cm}} in 1955–1956.{{cite web

| url=http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMONtsnf.pl?or5435

| title=Monthly Total Snowfall (Inches)

| publisher=Western Regional Climate Center

| date=October 18, 2007

| access-date=February 2, 2008

}}{{Dead link|date=October 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} That season was also the wettest "rain year" with a total of {{convert|33.41|in|mm|1}}; this immediately followed the driest "rain year" since records started in 1911 from July 1954 to June 1955 when only {{convert|9.28|in|mm|1}} was recorded. By far the wettest month has been December 1964 with {{convert|12.72|in|mm|1}}; no other month has had more than {{convert|10|in|mm|0}}. The wettest day on record has been December 2, 1962, with {{convert|3.30|in|mm|1}}.

The lowest recorded temperature in Medford was {{convert|-10|°F|0}} on December 13, 1919, and the highest recorded temperature was {{convert|115|°F|0}} on July 20, 1946, and June 28, 2021.{{cite tweet|number=1409641825552330754|user=NWSMedford|title=Alright folks! After a period of premature excitement, we finally reached our rolling 5 minute average of 115! We'v… |date=June 28, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mailtribune.com/okategoriserade/2021/06/28/medford-topples-all-time-heat-record-for-june/|title=Medford ties all-time heat record|author=Pfeil, Ryan|date=June 28, 2021|newspaper=Mail Tribune|access-date=July 2, 2021|archive-date=July 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703191637/https://www.mailtribune.com/okategoriserade/2021/06/28/medford-topples-all-time-heat-record-for-june/|url-status=live}} There is significantly more diurnal temperature variation in summer than in winter, with the difference between December high and low average temperatures being only {{convert|13.5|F-change}}, whereas the difference between August high and low average temperatures is {{convert|33.2|F-change}}.

{{Weather box

|location = Medford, Oregon (Rogue Valley International–Medford Airport) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1911–present)

|width = auto

|single line = Y

|collapsed = Y

|Jan high F = 48.2

|Feb high F = 54.2

|Mar high F = 59.4

|Apr high F = 64.6

|May high F = 73.9

|Jun high F = 81.5

|Jul high F = 91.6

|Aug high F = 91.1

|Sep high F = 84.3

|Oct high F = 70.1

|Nov high F = 54.0

|Dec high F = 46.1

|year high F= 68.3

| Jan mean F = 40.4

| Feb mean F = 44.1

| Mar mean F = 48.3

| Apr mean F = 52.8

| May mean F = 60.4

| Jun mean F = 66.9

| Jul mean F = 75.1

| Aug mean F = 74.5

| Sep mean F = 67.7

| Oct mean F = 56.1

| Nov mean F = 45.2

| Dec mean F = 39.4

| year mean F = 55.9

|Jan low F = 32.5

|Feb low F = 33.9

|Mar low F = 37.2

|Apr low F = 41.0

|May low F = 46.9

|Jun low F = 52.3

|Jul low F = 58.6

|Aug low F = 57.9

|Sep low F = 51.2

|Oct low F = 42.1

|Nov low F = 36.4

|Dec low F = 32.6

|year low F= 43.6

| Jan avg record high F = 61.7

| Feb avg record high F = 67.0

| Mar avg record high F = 75.2

| Apr avg record high F = 83.6

| May avg record high F = 91.8

| Jun avg record high F = 98.2

| Jul avg record high F = 103.8

| Aug avg record high F = 103.4

| Sep avg record high F = 99.3

| Oct avg record high F = 86.8

| Nov avg record high F = 68.8

| Dec avg record high F = 60.9

| year avg record high F = 105.9

| Jan avg record low F = 21.9

| Feb avg record low F = 23.9

| Mar avg record low F = 27.3

| Apr avg record low F = 30.7

| May avg record low F = 35.1

| Jun avg record low F = 42.1

| Jul avg record low F = 49.2

| Aug avg record low F = 48.7

| Sep avg record low F = 40.7

| Oct avg record low F = 30.6

| Nov avg record low F = 24.6

| Dec avg record low F = 20.2

| year avg record low F = 17.6

|Jan record high F = 73

|Feb record high F = 79

|Mar record high F = 86

|Apr record high F = 96

|May record high F = 103

|Jun record high F = 115

|Jul record high F = 115

|Aug record high F = 114

|Sep record high F = 110

|Oct record high F = 99

|Nov record high F = 80

|Dec record high F = 72

|Jan record low F = −3

|Feb record low F = 6

|Mar record low F = 14

|Apr record low F = 21

|May record low F = 28

|Jun record low F = 31

|Jul record low F = 38

|Aug record low F = 39

|Sep record low F = 29

|Oct record low F = 18

|Nov record low F = 10

|Dec record low F = −10

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 2.72

|Feb precipitation inch = 1.96

|Mar precipitation inch = 1.81

|Apr precipitation inch = 1.51

|May precipitation inch = 1.34

|Jun precipitation inch = 0.68

|Jul precipitation inch = 0.24

|Aug precipitation inch = 0.33

|Sep precipitation inch = 0.48

|Oct precipitation inch = 1.22

|Nov precipitation inch = 2.61

|Dec precipitation inch = 3.53

|year precipitation inch = 18.43

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.0

|Nov snow inch = 0.1

|Dec snow inch = 0.9

|Jan snow inch = 1.0

|Feb snow inch = 1.2

|Mar snow inch = 0.2

|Apr snow inch = 0.0

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|year snow inch= 3.4

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 13.5

|Feb precipitation days = 11.6

|Mar precipitation days = 12.6

|Apr precipitation days = 11.4

|May precipitation days = 8.7

|Jun precipitation days = 4.2

|Jul precipitation days = 1.9

|Aug precipitation days = 1.6

|Sep precipitation days = 3.1

|Oct precipitation days = 7.5

|Nov precipitation days = 12.9

|Dec precipitation days = 14.4

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.0

|Nov snow days = 0.2

|Dec snow days = 1.0

|Jan snow days = 0.9

|Feb snow days = 1.2

|Mar snow days = 0.3

|Apr snow days = 0.1

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|year snow days=

|Jan humidity = 84.3

|Feb humidity = 77.9

|Mar humidity = 71.3

|Apr humidity = 65.2

|May humidity = 60.9

|Jun humidity = 54.5

|Jul humidity = 47.7

|Aug humidity = 50.4

|Sep humidity = 56.9

|Oct humidity = 70.4

|Nov humidity = 83.7

|Dec humidity = 86.5

|year humidity = 67.4

| Jan dew point C = 0.2

| Feb dew point C = 1.2

| Mar dew point C = 1.9

| Apr dew point C = 2.9

| May dew point C = 5.5

| Jun dew point C = 7.9

| Jul dew point C = 9.1

| Aug dew point C = 9.3

| Sep dew point C = 7.2

| Oct dew point C = 5.2

| Nov dew point C = 3.1

| Dec dew point C = 0.6

| year dew point =

|source 1 = NOAA (relative humidity and dew point 1961–1990){{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00024225&format=pdf

| title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| accessdate = August 13, 2023

| archive-date = June 28, 2021

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210628230514/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00024225&format=pdf

| url-status = live

}}{{cite web

| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=mfr

| title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| accessdate = February 19, 2024

| archive-date = September 17, 2021

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210917145809/https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=mfr

| url-status = live

}}{{cite web

| url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/

| title = xmACIS2

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| accessdate = August 13, 2023

| archive-date = August 15, 2019

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190815183401/http://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/

| url-status = live

}}{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72597.TXT

| title = Medford Climate Normals 1961–1990

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| accessdate = August 13, 2023

| archive-date = August 13, 2023

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230813194128/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72597.TXT

| url-status = live

}} }}

{{US Census population

|1890= 967

|1900= 1791

|1910= 8840

|1920= 5756

|1930= 11007

|1940= 11281

|1950= 17305

|1960= 24425

|1970= 28973

|1980= 39746

|1990= 46951

|2000= 63154

|2010= 74907

|2020= 85824

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016|archive-date=June 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610232059/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:41&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=Oct 12, 2022|archive-date=February 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213085226/https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:41&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|url-status=live}}

}}

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov/|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 21, 2012|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709054630/https://www.census.gov/|url-status=live}} of 2010, there were 74,907 people, 30,079 households, and 19,072 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2911.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 32,430 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1260.4|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 86.0% White, 1.5% Asian, 1.2% Native American, 0.9% African American, 0.5% Pacific Islander, 6.0% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.8% of the population.

There were 30,079 households, of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.6% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.98.

The median age in the city was 37.9 years. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.4% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 16.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

FBI data for 2015 ranked Medford as the most dangerous major city in Oregon, with 502 violent crimes and 6,543 property crimes per 100,000 residents.{{Cite news |last=Graves |first=Mark |date=July 12, 2017 |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/trending/2017/07/fbis_20_most_dangerous_cities.html |title=Oregon's 20 most crime-ridden cities ranked, according to FBI data |work=OregonLive.com |access-date=2018-12-14 |archive-date=December 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216073826/https://www.oregonlive.com/trending/2017/07/fbis_20_most_dangerous_cities.html |url-status=live }}

Medford experienced increased gang activity and organized crime in the 2000s.{{cite news

| author=Burke, Anita

| url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080103/NEWS/801030332/-1/rss01

| title=Increased violence puts gang presence on radar

| newspaper=Mail Tribune

| date=January 3, 2008

| access-date=January 23, 2008

| archive-date=June 11, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611211433/http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080103/NEWS/801030332/-1/rss01

| url-status=dead

}} In 2009, Medford experienced increased methamphetamine use, which was believed to have contributed to property crimes, including identity theft.{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Conrad |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090608/NEWS/906080307 |title=Medford sees 45 percent jump in drug arrests |work=Mail Tribune |date=June 8, 2009 |access-date=September 15, 2012 |archive-date=September 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918030823/http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090608/NEWS/906080307 |url-status=live }}

File:Rogue Valley Medical Center.jpg

Medford's economy is driven primarily by the health care industry.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080317/NEWS/803170306/-1/LIFE03 |title=MailTribune.com: Making ends meet |access-date=March 28, 2008 |archive-date=June 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624085557/http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080317/NEWS/803170306/-1/LIFE03 |url-status=dead }} The two major medical centers in the city, Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center{{Cite web |url=http://www.asante.org/Locations/location-detail/?id=1018 |title=Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center |access-date=July 23, 2014 |archive-date=August 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810214500/http://www.asante.org/Locations/location-detail/?id=1018 |url-status=live }} and Providence Medford Medical Center, employ over 2,000 people. As Medford is also a retirement destination, assisted living and senior services have become an important part of the economy.

In the past, Medford's economy was fueled by agriculture (pears, peaches, viticulture grapes) and timber products. The largest direct marketer of fruits and food gifts in the United States, Harry and David Operations Corp., is based in Medford. It is the largest employer in Southern Oregon, with 1,700 year round and about 6,700 seasonal employees in the Medford area.{{cite web

|url = http://www.bco.com/overview/locations.html

|title = Locations

|publisher = Bear Creek Organization

|access-date = January 19, 2008

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071217095524/http://www.bco.com/overview/locations.html

|archive-date = December 17, 2007

|df = mdy-all

}} The recreational legalization of OR marijuana in 2012 has been a special boon for area agriculture. Of the more than two million pounds of marijuana grown in the state each year,{{Cite web|url=https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/article/oregon-overproduction-oversupply-export-cannabis-interstate/|title=In Oregon, Overproduction Prompts Debate Over Cannabis Export Legislation|website=Cannabis Business Times|date=September 26, 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-12-13|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216032041/https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/article/oregon-overproduction-oversupply-export-cannabis-interstate/|url-status=live}} $2 million a month is sold from Medford area retailers.{{Cite web|url=http://mailtribune.com/news/top-stories/local-pot-industry-surpasses-wine|title=Local pot industry surpasses wine|last=Mann|first=Damian|date=2018-05-20|website=Mail Tribune|access-date=2018-12-13|archive-date=May 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525032257/http://mailtribune.com/news/top-stories/local-pot-industry-surpasses-wine|url-status=dead}} Lithia Motors, a Fortune 500 company and the 4th largest auto retailer in the U.S.,{{cite news|title=Top 150 Dealership Groups|newspaper=Automotive News|date=March 27, 2017|access-date=January 16, 2018|url=https://www.autonews.com/assets/PDF/CA109608327.PDF|archive-date=January 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127135301/http://www.autonews.com/assets/PDF/CA109608327.PDF|url-status=live}} has been headquartered in Medford since 1970 and was started in Ashland in 1946, named for a nearby springs.{{cite encyclopedia|title=Lithia Motors|encyclopedia=The Oregon Encyclopedia|publisher=Portland State University|url=http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/lithia_motors/|first=Edwin|last=Battistella|access-date=June 19, 2013|archive-date=May 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521002136/http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/lithia_motors/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Our History|publisher=Lithia Motors|url=http://www.lithiacareers.com/OurHistory.htm|access-date=June 19, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925014357/http://www.lithiacareers.com/OurHistory.htm|archive-date=September 25, 2013|df=mdy-all}}

File:Rogue Valley Manor.jpg

Other companies located in the city include Benchmark Maps,{{cite web |url=http://www.benchmarkmaps.com/about.html |title=About Benchmark Maps |publisher=Benchmark Maps |access-date=February 2, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990823182501/http://www.benchmarkmaps.com/about.html |archive-date=August 23, 1999 |df=mdy-all }} Falcon Northwest, Pacific International Enterprises, and Tucker Sno-Cat. Medford and the surrounding area is home to the expanding Oregon wine industry, which includes the Rogue Valley AVA.

The city's historic downtown has undergone an economic recovery in recent years, using a combination of public funds and private investment. The revitalization effort led to the renovation of underutilized downtown properties and to the construction of a new Lithia Motors headquarters building in the district, completed in 2012.{{cite news

|title=Will Medford Ever Be Cool?

|first=Dan

|last=Cook

|url=http://www.oregonbusiness.com/article/archives-2006-2009/item/14981-will-medford-ever-be-cool

|work=Oregon Business Magazine

|access-date=May 10, 2016

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630190456/http://www.oregonbusiness.com/article/archives-2006-2009/item/14981-will-medford-ever-be-cool

|archive-date=June 30, 2017

|url-status=dead

}}

Hospitality company The Neuman Hotel Group, based in nearby Ashland, OR, took over management and ownership of a large downtown motel, The Red Lion, in 2014, that had fallen into disrepair. Neuman Hotel Group renovated the property and renamed it Inn At the Commons.

{{Main|Harry and David Operations Corp.}}

Medford is the birthplace of Bear Creek Corporation, known around the world for its fruit-laden gift baskets, especially locally grown pears.{{cite web |url=http://www.bco.com/overview/history.html |title=Harry & David | About Us |publisher=Bco.com |access-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510225121/http://bco.com/overview/history.html |archive-date=May 10, 2012 |df=mdy-all }} Tours of the plant are open to the public.

The annual Pear Blossom Run ends across the street from Alba Park at the Medford city hall, with an all-day fair conducted in the park itself.{{cite web

|url=http://www.pearblossomrun.com/important_times.htm

|title=Important Times

|publisher=PearBlossomRun.com

|access-date=January 19, 2008

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213075105/http://www.pearblossomrun.com/important_times.htm

|archive-date=December 13, 2007

|url-status=dead

}}

The cemetery, established in 1890, lies on {{convert|20|acre|ha}} just north of Bear Creek Park. The Parks and Recreation Department offers free tours of the cemetery.

File:Medford Carnegie Library - Medford Oregon.jpg

{{Main|Medford Carnegie Library}}

The Medford Carnegie Library is a two-story library building located in downtown Medford. It was erected in 1911 thanks to a gift from Andrew Carnegie, but was vacated in 2004 after a new library building was constructed near the Rogue Community College extension campus, also in downtown Medford.{{cite news

| url=http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2004/0307/local/stories/03local.htm

| title=Carnegie closes the book on 92 years of service

| author=Fattig, Paul

| newspaper=Mail Tribune

| date=March 7, 2004

| access-date=March 3, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611211141/http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2004/0307/local/stories/03local.htm

| archive-date=June 11, 2008

| url-status=dead

}} Currently, a nonprofit, The Children's Museum of Southern Oregon (formerly Kidtime), occupies the location.{{cite news

| url=https://www.klcc.org/arts-culture/2022-07-13/the-childrens-museum-of-southern-oregon-celebrates-new-home-in-downtown-medford

| title=The Children's Museum of Southern Oregon celebrates new home in downtown Medford

| author=Bulkeley, Aubrey

| newspaper=NPR

| date=July 13, 2022

| access-date=March 17, 2023

| archive-date=October 7, 2024

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007044227/https://www.klcc.org/arts-culture/2022-07-13/the-childrens-museum-of-southern-oregon-celebrates-new-home-in-downtown-medford

| url-status=live

}}

{{Main|Vogel Plaza}}

File:Vogel Plaza Art in Bloom 2007.jpg

Finished in 1997 at the intersection of E. Main St and Central Ave in downtown Medford, Vogel Plaza has quickly become a center of activity for many local events.{{cite web

| url=http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=508

| title=Vogel Plaza

| publisher=City of Medford

| access-date=January 18, 2008

| archive-date=March 20, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320121339/http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=508

| url-status=dead

}}

:Location: {{Coord|42.3238|-122.876|name=Alba Park|display=inline}}

The oldest park in Medford, Alba Park is located at the intersection of Holly and Main in downtown Medford was deeded to the city by the railroad company in 1888.{{cite web

| url=http://id.mind.net/~truwe/tina/news1888.html

| title=Medford Squibs

| page=2

| work=Democratic Times (Jacksonville, Oregon)

| date=February 10, 1888

| access-date=April 19, 2016

| publisher=Talky Tina Press

| archive-date=September 7, 2015

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907074258/http://id.mind.net/%7Etruwe/tina/news1888.html

| url-status=dead

}} Known as Library Park after the 1911 construction of the Medford Carnegie Library, it was later renamed for Medford's sister city, Alba, Italy.{{cite web

| url=http://www.ci.medford.or.us/files/appendix%20f%20priority%20maintenance%20projects.pdf

| title=Appendix F: Priority maintenance projects

| publisher=City of Medford

| access-date=March 24, 2008

| archive-date=November 29, 2007

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071129064655/http://www.ci.medford.or.us/files/appendix%20f%20priority%20maintenance%20projects.pdf

| url-status=dead

}} The park contains a gazebo, a statue of a boy with two dogs surrounded by a fountain pool, and a Japanese gun from World War II.{{cite web

| url=http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Page.9

| title=Alba Park

| publisher=City of Medford

| access-date=January 18, 2008

}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite news

| url=http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2000/october/101200n11.htm

| title=Since You Asked

| newspaper=Mail Tribune

| date=October 12, 2000

| access-date=January 18, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611211125/http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2000/october/101200n11.htm

| archive-date=June 11, 2008

| url-status=dead

}}

File:Bear Creek Park (Oregon) 1.jpg

At nearly {{convert|100|acre|km2}}, this south Medford park is the second largest in the city (Prescott Park is the largest at 1,740 acres).{{Cite web |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070601/LIFE/706010340 |title=MailTribune.com: Roxy Ann shows her true colors in the spring |access-date=July 12, 2009 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927012016/http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070601/LIFE/706010340 |url-status=dead }} Bear Creek Park is bordered on the west by Bear Creek and the Bear Creek Greenway. On the park grounds are four tennis courts, a skatepark, a dog park, an amphitheater, a large playground, a BMX track, and a community garden.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=487 |title=City of Medford Oregon – Bear Creek Amphitheater, Dog Park, Skate Park |access-date=July 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701034848/http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=487 |archive-date=July 1, 2017 |url-status=dead }}

Since 1925, the property hosting Bear Creek Park has been used for several purposes. The first section was purchased from a resident of Medford named Mollie Keene. The town used it for incinerating garbage until 1939. After that, it spent 20 years as a girl scout day camp before seeing private ownership again for a few years. Concerns about pollution in the Bear Creek received media attention in 1963 and the city purchased more property.{{cite news |title=Creek Rubbish Resurfaces |newspaper=Mail Tribune |url=http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2005/0726/local/stories/01local.htm |author=Landers, Meg |date=July 26, 2005 |access-date=July 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124205704/http://www.mailtribune.com/section/archive |archive-date=January 24, 2016 |url-status=dead }} In 1988, a playground designed by Robert Leathers of New York was built.{{cite news |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081026/READERSCHOICE/810260397 |title=Best Playground |newspaper=Mail Tribune |date=October 26, 2008 |access-date=July 12, 2009 |archive-date=September 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918030530/http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081026/READERSCHOICE/810260397 |url-status=dead }}

File:Medford Commons 1.jpg

File:Medford Commons 2.jpg

The Commons is a building in Pear Blossom Park, a public park built in the city's historic downtown district adjacent to the Lithia Motors headquarters building. It has been used as a venue for community activities. It was completed in 2012.

File:Roxy Ann Mountain.jpg overlooks Medford from the east.]]

{{Main|Roxy Ann Peak}}

One of Medford's most prominent landmarks,{{cite news

| title=Roxy Ann is named for pioneer woman

| url=http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2006/0123/local/stories/15local.htm

| date=January 23, 2006

| access-date=February 19, 2008

| publisher=Mail Tribune

| work=Since You Asked

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611211201/http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2006/0123/local/stories/15local.htm

| archive-date=June 11, 2008

| url-status=dead

}} Roxy Ann Peak is a 30-million-year-old mountain located on the east side of the city. Its summit is {{convert|3576|ft|m}} above sea level.{{cite web

|url=http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Files/Prescott%20Park%20Management%20Plan.PDF

|title=2008 Prescott Park Master Plan

|first=Pete

|last=Young

|date=April 15, 2008

|publisher=City of Medford Parks Commission

|page=10

|access-date=December 28, 2013

|archive-date=July 26, 2014

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726023018/http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Files/Prescott%20Park%20Management%20Plan.PDF

|url-status=dead

}}{{cite ngs|pid=NZ1108|designation=Roxy Ann|access-date=December 28, 2013}} It was named for Roxy Ann Bowen, an early settler who lived in its foothills.{{cite news

| url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070923/NEWS/709230322/-1/NEWS

| title=A View of Roxy Ann Peak

| author=Miller, Bill

| newspaper=Mail Tribune

| date=September 23, 2007

| access-date=February 19, 2008

| archive-date=June 24, 2011

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624084808/http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070923/NEWS/709230322/-1/NEWS

| url-status=dead

}}

A significant area of Roxy Ann Peak (including the summit) is enclosed in Medford's largest park,{{cite news

| url=http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2006/0818/life/stories/web_activities.htm

| title=Activities

| newspaper=Mail Tribune

| date=August 18, 2006

| access-date=February 19, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611211211/http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2006/0818/life/stories/web_activities.htm

| archive-date=June 11, 2008

| url-status=dead

}} a {{convert|1740|acre|mi2 km2|adj=on}} protected area called Prescott Park. The land was set aside in the 1930s and named in honor of George J. Prescott, a police officer killed in the line of duty in 1933.{{cite news

| url=http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2003/0316/local/stories/07local.htm

| title=Rededication ceremony honors Medford's first traffic officer who was shot and killed

| author=Briskley, Jill

| newspaper=Mail Tribune

| date=March 16, 2003

| access-date=February 19, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611204736/http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2003/0316/local/stories/07local.htm

| archive-date=June 11, 2008

| url-status=dead

}}

The most commonly used trail on Roxy Ann Peak, part of Prescott Park, climbs about {{convert|950|ft|m}} from the beginning of the footpath at the second gate to a height of about {{convert|3547|ft|m}}. The trail is about {{convert|3.4|mi|km}} one-way, and provides a panoramic view of the Rogue Valley.

File:municipal government diagram.pngs]]

File:MedfordOregonCityHall.jpg

Medford has a council-manager style of government. The governing body of Medford consists of an elected mayor and eight city council members, two from each of four wards. The council hires a professional city manager to run the day-to-day operations of the city including the hiring of city staff.

The mayor and council members are not paid, but are reimbursed for expenses.{{cite web

| url=http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=212

| title=About Medford's Governing Body

| publisher=City of Medford

| access-date=January 18, 2008

| archive-date=October 8, 2007

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008073450/http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=212

| url-status=dead

}}

The current mayor of Medford is Michael Zarosinski. He was elected in November 2024.{{cite news |last1=Alvarado |first1=Damien |title=Michael Zarosinski sworn in as Medford mayor |url=https://www.kdrv.com/news/top-stories/michael-zarosinski-sworn-in-as-medford-mayor/article_9321faf6-cecb-11ef-9578-83273cb2a8c0.html |access-date=17 April 2025 |agency=KDRV NewsWatch 12 |date=9 January 2025}} The longest serving mayor was Gary Hale Wheeler. He was first elected mayor in November 2004 with 16,653 of 28,195 votes (59%),{{cite web| url=http://www.co.jackson.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=2787| title=General Election, November 2004| publisher=Jackson County, Oregon| access-date=March 4, 2008| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110105212858/http://www.co.jackson.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=2787| archive-date=January 5, 2011| df=mdy-all}} reelected in 2008 with 21,651 of 22,211 votes (97.5%),{{cite web| url=http://www.co.jackson.or.us/News.asp?NewsID=952| title=Official Election Results, November 2008| publisher=Jackson County, Oregon| access-date=March 21, 2009| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620223013/http://www.co.jackson.or.us/News.asp?NewsID=952| archive-date=June 20, 2009| df=mdy-all}} reelected again in 2012 with about 97 percent of the votes,{{cite web|title=Official Election Results: Summary Report|url=http://www.co.jackson.or.us/page.asp?navid=3899|publisher=Jackson County, Oregon|date=November 6, 2012|access-date=June 13, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230235338/http://www.co.jackson.or.us/page.asp?navid=3899|archive-date=December 30, 2013|df=mdy-all}} and reelected again in 2016 with about 56 percent of the votes for a term ending in December 2020.{{cite web|title=Statement of Votes Cast by Geography|url=http://jacksoncountyor.org/DesktopModules/EasyDNNNews/DocumentDownload.ashx?portalid=9&moduleid=5102&articleid=247687&documentid=1714|publisher=Jackson County, Oregon|date=November 23, 2016|access-date=February 10, 2017|archive-date=February 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211235327/http://jacksoncountyor.org/DesktopModules/EasyDNNNews/DocumentDownload.ashx?portalid=9&moduleid=5102&articleid=247687&documentid=1714|url-status=live}} Notable previous mayors include Jerry Lausmann (1986–1998),{{cite web

| url=http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/98/dec98/123098n12.htm

| title=Editorials

| publisher=Mail Tribune archives

| date=December 30, 1998

| access-date=January 18, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611211237/http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/98/dec98/123098n12.htm

| archive-date=June 11, 2008

| url-status=dead

}} and Al Densmore (1977–1983).{{cite web

| url=http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Members.asp?MemberID=579

| title=Staff Directory

| publisher=City of Medford

| access-date=January 18, 2008

| archive-date=June 8, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608181142/http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Members.asp?MemberID=579

| url-status=dead

}}

The city manager position is held by Brian Sjothun, the former Medford Parks and Recreation Director.{{cite news|last1=Mann|first1=Damian|title=Brian Sjothun named Medford city manager|url=http://www.mailtribune.com/news/20160825/brian-sjothun-named-medford-city-manager|work=MailTribune.com|date=August 25, 2016|language=en|access-date=June 1, 2017|archive-date=June 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619130906/http://www.mailtribune.com/news/20160825/brian-sjothun-named-medford-city-manager|url-status=dead}}

{{Main|Medford School District (Oregon)}}

Medford is served by Medford School District 549C and has two main high schools and two alternative high schools: South Medford High School, North Medford High School, Central Medford High School, and Medford Innovation Academy respectively. In addition to the two public high schools, Medford has several private high schools. Two of the largest are St. Mary's School and Cascade Christian High School. In addition, there are 14 public elementary schools and three public middle schools, (Hedrick, Oakdale, and McLoughlin). Medford 549C has over 13,000 students enrolled {{As of|2012|lc=y}}.

Crossroads School is a private, alternative high school operating in Medford along with three others operated or affiliated with a church; Cascade Christian High School, St. Mary's High School, and Rogue Valley Adventist School. Grace Christian and Sacred Heart School are private elementary and middle schools in Medford.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ode.state.or.us/pubs/directory/nonpubls.pdf |title=8Nonpublics.pmd |access-date=April 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701010015/http://www.ode.state.or.us/pubs/directory/nonpubls.pdf |archive-date=July 1, 2017 |url-status=dead }}

In 1997, Grants Pass-based Rogue Community College (RCC) completed construction on a seven-building campus spanning five blocks in downtown Medford.{{cite web

| url=http://www.roguecc.edu/Accreditation/pdf/RCC%20Minor%20Sub%20Change-TRC.pdf

| title=Proposal for a Minor Substantive Change

| publisher=Rogue Community College

| date=April 2006

| access-date=January 23, 2008

| archive-date=December 16, 2007

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216055523/http://www.roguecc.edu/Accreditation/pdf/RCC%20Minor%20Sub%20Change-TRC.pdf

| url-status=live

}} Nearby Ashland-based Southern Oregon University collaborated with Rogue in 2007 on the construction of an eighth building which will offer third- and fourth-year courses to students.{{cite news

| author=Darling, John

| url=http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2007/0321/local/stories/rcc-sou-jd.htm

| title=RCC-SOU joint project breaks mold

| newspaper=Mail Tribune

| date=March 21, 2007

| access-date=January 23, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012065313/http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2007/0321/local/stories/rcc-sou-jd.htm

| archive-date=October 12, 2008

| url-status=dead

}} Pacific Bible College, formerly named Dove Bible Institute, was founded in Medford in 1989.{{cite web |url=http://www.pacificbible.com/index.html |title=Pacific Bible College |access-date=December 21, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091207200806/http://www.pacificbible.com/index.html |archive-date=December 7, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}

{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|

• KOBI 5.1 (NBC)
• KSYS 8.1 (PBS)
• KTVL 10.1 (CBS)
• KDRV 12.1 (ABC)
• KDSO-LD 16.1 (theDove TV)
• KMVU 26.1 (Fox)
• KFBI-LD 48.1 (MyNetworkTV)

}}

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• KTMT 580 Sports
• KRTA 610 La Gran D – Regional Mexican
• KSJK 1230 JPR/SOU Public Radio News & Information
• KDSO 1300 Religious
• KYVL 1440 Silent

{{div col end}}

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• KSRG 88.3 JPR/SOU Public Radio Classical
• KSMF 89.1 JPR/SOU Public Radio Jazz
• KSOR 90.1 JPR/SOU Public Radio Classical
• KHRI 91.1 Air 1 Christian Rock
• KDOV-FM 91.7 Christian Top 40
• KTMT-FM 93.7 Now 93.7 – Top 40
• KRRM 94.7 Classic Country
• KBOY-FM 95.7 Classic Rock
• KROG 96.9 The Rogue – Active Rock
• KLDR 98.1 Top 40
• KRVC 98.9 Hot 98.9 Today's Hits
• KRWQ 100.3 Country
• KCMX-FM 101.9 Lite 102 – Adult Contemporary
• KCNA 102.7 The Drive – Classic Hits
• KLDZ 103.5 Kool 103 – Classic Hits
• KAKT 105.1 The Wolf – New Country
• KMED 106.3 News/Talk
• KIFS 107.5 THE BEAT - New and Old Hits

{{div col end}}

Until 2023, the principal newspaper of Medford and Jackson County was the Mail Tribune, founded in 1909.{{cite news |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070802/BIZ/708020307 |title=Future of Mail Tribune's unclear |author=Stiles, Greg |newspaper=Mail Tribune |date=August 2, 2007 |access-date=March 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603213512/http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070802/BIZ/708020307 |archive-date=June 3, 2008 |url-status=dead}} It ceased publication of its print editions in September 2022 and shut down all operations on January 13, 2023.{{cite news |last=Neumann |first=Erik |date=January 11, 2013 |title=Medford Mail Tribune announces it will close Friday |url=https://www.opb.org/article/2023/01/11/medford-mail-tribune-oregon-newspaper-news-journalism/ |work=Oregon Public Broadcasting |access-date=January 18, 2023 |archive-date=January 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117020508/https://www.opb.org/article/2023/01/11/medford-mail-tribune-oregon-newspaper-news-journalism/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2023/01/mail-tribune-storied-newspaper-in-medford-to-abruptly-shut-down.html |title=Mail Tribune, storied newspaper in Medford, to abruptly shut down |last=Njus |first=Elliot |newspaper=The Oregonian |date=January 11, 2023 |access-date=January 16, 2023 |archive-date=January 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112094055/https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2023/01/mail-tribune-storied-newspaper-in-medford-to-abruptly-shut-down.html |url-status=live }} Within days of the Mail Tribune shutting down, EO Media Group{{spaced ndash}}publisher of several other newspapers in Oregon{{spaced ndash}}announced that it would be launching a new newspaper, based in Medford,{{cite news |last1=O'Brien |first1=Gerry |title=Long-time journalist to run Rogue Valley Tribune in Medford |url=https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/long-time-journalist-to-run-rogue-valley-tribune-in-medford/article_f9360726-a0d6-11ed-aa38-4f95d72acf94.html |access-date=March 19, 2023 |newspaper=The Bulletin |date=January 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131043843/https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/long-time-journalist-to-run-rogue-valley-tribune-in-medford/article_f9360726-a0d6-11ed-aa38-4f95d72acf94.html |archive-date=January 31, 2023 |url-status=live |location=Bend, Oregon}} to fill the void.{{cite news |last1=Blinder |first1=Mike |title=Medford, Oregon: As one paper dies, another begins all in a few weeks |url=https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/medford-oregon-as-one-paper-dies-another-begins-all-in-a-few-weeks,242333 |access-date=March 19, 2023 |magazine=Editor & Publisher |date=February 18, 2023 |archive-date=March 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318230938/https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/medford-oregon-as-one-paper-dies-another-begins-all-in-a-few-weeks,242333 |url-status=live }} With print editions three days a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays), the first of which was published on February 18, the new paper was initially named the Rogue Valley Tribune. The owners of the former paper objected to the use of "Tribune" in the name, and on March 1, 2023, EO Media Group changed the newspaper's name to the Rogue Valley Times, in order to avoid a potential legal fight.{{cite news |last1=Manning |first1=Jeff |title=Startup newspaper in Medford to change name, publisher cites legal threats |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2023/03/startup-newspaper-in-medford-to-change-name-publisher-cites-legal-threats.html |access-date=March 19, 2023 |work=The Oregonian |date=March 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302075351/https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2023/03/startup-newspaper-in-medford-to-change-name-publisher-cites-legal-threats.html |archive-date=March 2, 2023 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Rogue Valley Tribune has a new name |url=https://www.rv-times.com/rogue-valley-tribune-has-a-new-name/article_e12a6d96-b7ad-11ed-8c2f-03dd325563be.html |website=rv-times.com |publisher=EO Media Group |access-date=March 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316115649/https://www.rv-times.com/rogue-valley-tribune-has-a-new-name/article_e12a6d96-b7ad-11ed-8c2f-03dd325563be.html |archive-date=March 16, 2023 |date=March 1, 2023 |url-status=live}} David Smigelski, a former editor at the Mail Tribune, was hired as managing editor of the Rogue Valley Times.

In addition to having several athletes who were famous natives or residents of the city, Medford has played host to several professional sports teams since 1948. It was the home city for several professional baseball teams, most notably the Medford A's, later known as the Southern Oregon Timberjacks, of the Northwest League. They were a short-season single-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Oakland Athletics who played at historic Miles Field from 1979 to 1999 before relocating to Vancouver, British Columbia.

File:Harry and David Field1.jpg

Medford also hosted a professional indoor football team from the National Indoor Football League known as the Southern Oregon Heat in 2001. They played in the Compton Arena at the Jackson County Expo Park.

File:Medford Rogues game.jpg

Medford's Lava Lanes bowling alley previously hosted the PBA's Medford Open every January, which aired on ESPN; the last Open took place in 2009.

Medford is the home of a Junior A hockey team, the Southern Oregon Spartans, who play their home games at The RRRink in south Medford.

Medford is host to the Medford Rogues, a collegiate wood bat baseball team, who play their home games at Harry and David Field.

Each year, the Rogue Valley Timbers Soccer Club hosts the Rogue Memorial Challenge on Memorial Day weekend, culminating at US Cellular Community Sports Park after games in fields across the city.{{cite web |title=The First Annual Rogue Memorial Challenge |url=http://www.roguememorialchallenge.com/home.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503114426/http://www.roguememorialchallenge.com/home.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 3, 2013 |website=Rogue Memorial Challenge |access-date=18 January 2023 }}

The city of Medford is responsible for over {{convert|322|km|mi|sp=us|order=flip}} of roads within its boundaries.{{cite web |title=Utility accounts |url=http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=117 |publisher=s City of Medford |access-date=March 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320120034/http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=117 |archive-date=March 20, 2008 |url-status=dead }}

File:Medford Viaduct.jpg

Interstate 5 runs directly through the center of the city and includes a {{convert|3,229|ft|m|adj=on}} viaduct that elevates traffic above Bear Creek and the city's downtown.{{cite web

| url=http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/interstate50_I5.shtml

| title=Interstate 5

| publisher=State of Oregon Department of Transportation

| access-date=March 14, 2008

| archive-date=December 4, 2006

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061204044604/http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/interstate50_I5.shtml

| url-status=live

}}{{cite web

| url=http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/interstate50inOR.shtml

| title=The Interstate in Oregon

| publisher=State of Oregon

| access-date=March 14, 2008

| archive-date=May 31, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531140404/http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/interstate50inOR.shtml

| url-status=live

}} There are two freeway exits in Medford, one at each side of the city. Highway 99 runs through the city's center, while Highway 62 runs through the northern portion of Medford. Highway 238 runs through the northwestern portion of Medford.

{{Main|Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport}}

Medford is home to Oregon's 3rd-busiest airport,{{cite web |url=http://www.co.jackson.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=72 |title=General Information |publisher=5 Jackson County Airport Page |access-date=February 5, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107094232/http://www.co.jackson.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=72 |archive-date=January 7, 2008 |df=mdy-all }} the Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (IATA airport code: MFR). Over 1 million passengers use the airport annually.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12439782/mfr-celebrates-one-million-passengers|title=StackPath|date=January 4, 2019|access-date=January 11, 2019|archive-date=October 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007044114/https://www.aviationpros.com/airports/press-release/12439782/rogue-valley-international-medford-airport-mfr-celebrates-one-million-passengers|url-status=live}} Medford Airport has one asphalt runway, which handles about sixty daily flights from five airlines. Medford's Airlines are Alaska Airlines (operated by Horizon Air), United Express, Delta Connection, United, American Airlines, and Allegiant Airlines.

File:KC-97 Stratotanker - Flickr - brewbooks.jpg on display at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport]]

{{Main|Rogue Valley Transportation District}}

The greater Medford metro area has been served by Rogue Valley Transportation District (RVTD) since 1975.{{cite web |url=http://www.rvtd.org/about_us.php |title=About Us |publisher=g Rogue Valley Transportation District |access-date=February 10, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312025052/http://www.rvtd.org/about_us.php |archive-date=March 12, 2008 |df=mdy-all }} The bus system operates eight routes from Monday to Saturday, four of which travel to the nearby cities of Central Point, Jacksonville, Phoenix, Talent, Ashland, and White City.{{cite web|url=http://www.rvtd.org/bus_schedules.php |title=Bus Schedules |publisher=g Rogue Valley Transportation District |access-date=February 10, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080222023645/http://www.rvtd.org/bus_schedules.php |archive-date=February 22, 2008 }} All routes connect at the Front Street Transfer Station, which since October 2008 has contained Medford's Greyhound Bus depot.{{cite news |title=Greyhound unveils new Medford bus station |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080925/NEWS/809250325 |author=Achen, Paris |newspaper=Mail Tribune |date=September 25, 2008 |access-date=April 14, 2009 |archive-date=June 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620234004/http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080925/NEWS/809250325 |url-status=dead }}

There are no passenger trains that route through Medford. Amtrak trains serve nearby Klamath Falls. People in Medford can board the Southwest POINT Klamath Shuttle Amtrak Thruway (an inter-city bus route) at the RVTD Front Street Transfer Station for a two-and-a-half-hour ride and guaranteed connection with Amtrak's Coast Starlight train at the Klamath Falls Amtrak Passenger Rail Station.{{cite web |title=South West Point, operated by the Klamath Shuttle |access-date=April 24, 2010 |url=http://www.southwest-point.com/ |archive-date=July 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701110456/http://southwest-point.com/ |url-status=dead }} The last direct service was provided by the Southern Pacific Railroad to Portland, ending in 1956.Southern Pacific timetable, February 6, 1952, Tables 78, 81Streamliner Schedules, 'The Rogue River,' from the 'Official Guide,' http://www.streamlinerschedules.com/concourse/track7/rogueriver195504.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122015135/http://www.streamlinerschedules.com/concourse/track7/rogueriver195504.html |date=January 22, 2019 }}

The nearest maritime port is the Port of Coos Bay, which is {{convert|167|mi|km}} away.

The nearby Rogue River was monitored for flooding at the former Gold Ray Dam site, a decommissioned and now removed hydroelectric dam built in 1906 near Gold Hill.{{cite news |url=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080307/NEWS/803070320 |author=Freeman, Mark |title=Future of Gold Ray Dam up in air |work=Mail Tribune |date=March 7, 2008 |access-date=March 18, 2008 |archive-date=June 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611204902/http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080307/NEWS/803070320 |url-status=live }} The National Weather Service identifies {{convert|3.6|m|ft|sp=us|order=flip}} as the flood level.{{cite web |url=http://ahps2.wrh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=mfr&gage=rygo3 |title=Rogue River at Gold Ray |work=s/ Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service |publisher=National Weather Service |access-date=March 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609035501/http://ahps2.wrh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=mfr&gage=rygo3 |archive-date=June 9, 2008 |url-status=dead }} At this depth, navigability between the Pacific Ocean and the Rogue Valley is limited. Even a small "handysize" freighter is unable to make the trip,The summer draft of typical handysize cargo ships can easily reach {{convert|10|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}}. and any ship hauling cargo to Medford would have to have a much smaller draw.{{cite web |url=http://www.oregon.gov/DSL/NAV/docs/rogue_hearing_notice_2007.pdf |title=Availability and Content of Draft Navigability Study Report |publisher=Oregon Department of State Lands |author=Solliday, Louise |date=September 7, 2007 |access-date=March 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910143458/http://www.oregon.gov/DSL/NAV/docs/rogue_hearing_notice_2007.pdf |archive-date=September 10, 2008 |df=mdy-all }} Therefore, Medford does not have a nearby maritime port.

As of 2018, the Medford Police Department has 103 sworn police officers supported by a staff of 33 civilian employees and 30 volunteers.{{cite web

| url=http://www.ci.medford.or.us/SectionIndex.asp?SectionID=7

| title=Medford Police Department

| publisher=City of Medford

| access-date=April 10, 2018

| archive-date=April 3, 2018

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403073413/http://www.ci.medford.or.us/SectionIndex.asp?SectionID=7

| url-status=dead

}}

Shortly after the sister city program was established in 1960, Medford was paired up with Alba, Piedmont, Italy. The cities are {{convert|9175|km|mi|sp=us|order=flip}} apart and were paired based on 1960 similarities in population, geography, and climate.{{cite web|url=http://www.econ.state.or.us/oregontrade/sistercities.htm |title=Oregon Sister Relationships—Organized by Country |publisher=State of Oregon, Economic and Community Development Department |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070519211617/http://www.econ.state.or.us/oregontrade/sistercities.htm |archive-date=May 19, 2007 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=80 |title=Our Sister City |publisher=s City of Medford |access-date=January 23, 2008 |archive-date=March 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320121633/http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=80 |url-status=dead }}

Every other year, Alba and Medford take turns exchanging students. During March and April of one year, students from Medford's high schools will visit Alba and stay with host families. Likewise, Alba students will visit Medford every other year. Sixty-seven Medford students applied for the 2007 trip to Italy, but only 24 were selected.{{cite news |author=Achen, Paris |url=http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2007/0227/local/stories/alba-exchange.htm |title=Medford students off to Italy |newspaper=Mail Tribune |date=February 27, 2007 |access-date=January 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611204811/http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2007/0227/local/stories/alba-exchange.htm |archive-date=June 11, 2008 |url-status=dead }}

It was former mayor of Medford John W. Snider who selected Alba during his 1957–1962 term, making a satellite phone call to Alba's former mayor Osvaldo Cagnasso.{{cite news

| url=http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/99/feb99/21699n9.htm

| title=Old dairy holds fond memories

| newspaper=Mail Tribune

| date=February 16, 1999

| access-date=February 4, 2008

| archive-date=June 11, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611211418/http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/99/feb99/21699n9.htm

| url-status=dead

}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Files/Oct05nws.pub%20revised.pdf |title=Council welcomes mayor Rossetto and youth from Alba, Italy |work=City of Medford Quarterly Newsletter |publisher=s City of Medford |date=October 2005 |access-date=March 24, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910143501/http://www.ci.medford.or.us/Files/Oct05nws.pub%20revised.pdf |archive-date=September 10, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}

• Brad Arnsberg, baseball player and coach
• Justin Baldoni, actor
• Jeff Barry, baseball player
• Steve Bechler, baseball player
• Kent Beck, software engineer
• Bill Bowerman, track coach and Nike co-founder
• Paul Brainerd, founder of the Aldus Corporation
• Devin Cole, mixed martial artist
• Scott Davis, former CEO of United Parcel Service
• Helen M. Duncan, geologist and paleontologist
• Edwin Russell Durno, Oregon state senator and representative
• Robert G. Emmens, Doolittle raider
• Dick Fosbury, high jumper, Olympic gold medalist and inventor of the Fosbury Flop
• David Frohnmayer, former Attorney General of the state of Oregon and President of the University of Oregon
• Les Gutches, World Champion Freestyle wrestler and Olympian
• Bruce Hale, college and pro basketball player
• Page Hamilton, musician and record producer
• Marshall Holman, professional bowler and PBA Hall of Famer
• Chris Johns, Photographer and Editor-In-Chief at National Geographic
• Jon Lindstrom, actor
• Pete Loncarevich, BMX racer, and rider; lives in Medford
• Clinton "Fear" Loomis, professional Dota 2 player, won The International 2015 with Evil Geniuses
• Dave Luetkenhoelter, rock musician
• Danny Miles, basketball coach
• Jennifer Murphy, actress, former Miss Oregon and contestant on the fourth season of The Apprentice
• Bob Newland, NFL wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints
• Richard Nibley, violinist, composer and music educator
• Art Pollard, American racecar driver
• Kellin Quinn, vocalist of Sleeping With Sirens
• James A. Redden, U.S. District Court Judge, former Oregon Attorney General and State Treasurer
• Edwin Reinecke, 39th Lieutenant Governor of California{{cite web |title=REINECKE, Edwin {{!}} US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives |url=https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/R/REINECKE,-Edwin-(R000159)/ |website=history.house.gov |publisher=United States House of Representatives |access-date=23 August 2022 |language=en |archive-date=August 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823041239/https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/R/REINECKE,-Edwin-(R000159)/ |url-status=live }}
• Jason James Richter, actor
• Lisa Rinna, actress, TV personality, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
• Ginger Rogers, Academy Award-winning actress and dancer; owned home in Medford
• Jaida Ross, 2024 Summer Olympics shot putter
• Charles Royer, former mayor of Seattle, and director of the Harvard Institute of Politics
• Mark Ryden, painter
• Braden Shipley, professional baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds
• Kyle Singler, retired professional basketball player
• Dick Skeen, former professional tennis player and teacher
• Vic Snyder, former U.S. Representative from Arkansas
• Jonathan Stark, former professional tennis player
• Scott Thurston, member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
• Kevin Towers, former general manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks
• Mike Whitehead, mixed martial artist
• Sandin Wilson, bass violinist and vocalist

• List of sundown towns in the United States

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Category:1883 establishments in Oregon

Category:Cities in Jackson County, Oregon

Category:Cities in Oregon

Category:County seats in Oregon

Category:Populated places established in 1883

Category:Sundown towns in Oregon