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Douglas County Overview
Douglas County
was named for U.S. Senator Steven A.
Douglas (1813-1861). Senator Douglas was a Democratic candidate
for the Presidency against Abraham Lincoln in 1860, and he was an
enthusiastic Oregon supporter in the Congress. When first created
on January 24, 1851, the County was part of Umpqua County. On January
7, 1852, the Territorial Legislature created new boundaries and
renamed it Douglas County.
The County extends from sea
level at the Pacific Ocean to 9,182 foot Mt. Thielsen in the Cascade
Mountains. It has the entire Umpqua River watershed within its boundaries,
and it contains nearly 2.8 million acres of commercial forest lands.
Approximately 25% of Douglas
County's labor force is employed in the forest products industry
which includes numerous sawmills and veneer plants, as well as one
pulp and one particle board plant, and numerous shingle, shake,
pole and other wood products plants. Agriculture is an important
factor in the economy with field crops, orchards, and livestock
as major products. The County Parks Department, the first in Oregon,
has over 50 parks in the system. They range from large facilities
with overnight camping to small boat launching access points.
Over 50% of the land area of
the County is owned by the Federal Government. These lands are managed
by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land management. The
2010 census counted 107,667 people in Douglas County. There are 12
incorporated cities in the County: Canyonville, Drain, Elkton, Glendale,
Myrtle Creek, Oakland, Reedsport, Riddle, Roseburg, Sutherlin, Winston,
and Yoncalla.
Facts About Douglas County
Established: |
January 7, 1852 |
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Location: |
Southwestern Oregon |
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Area:
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Average High
Temp:
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84 Fahrenheit |
48 Fahrenheit |
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Annual Rainfall: |
35 Inches (Roseburg) |
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Elevation:
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Population:
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County Seat:
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Roseburg |
479 Feet |
20,655 |
26,300 |
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Cities:
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Principal
Industries:
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Forest Products |
Tourism |
Agriculture |
Fishing |
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Points
of Interest:
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Crater Lake National Park |
Diamond Lake |
Douglas County Museum |
Galesville Dam |
Mt. Thielsen |
Oakland Historic District |
Oregon Dunes Nat'l Rec. Area |
Salmon Harbor |
Umpqua Lighthouse |
Vineyards and Wineries |
Wildlife Safari |
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Scenic
Drives:
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North Umpqua River and
Waterfalls |
Upper South Umpqua River |
Cow Creek - Glendale to
Roseburg |
Umpqua River - Elkton to
Reedsport |
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A Profile of Roseburg
Roseburg, Douglas County's largest
city, was first visited by settlers and gold seekers in the 1840's,
and was originally platted as the town-site of Deer Creek by Aaron
Rose in 1851. Three years later the town was officially platted,
renamed Roseburg, and became the County seat. A terminal on the
stagecoach line between Sacramento and Portland, the community of
less than 500 grew rapidly with the advent of the telegraph and
the Oregon & California Railroad. From its founding to the present
day, the area's greatest wealth has been its forests, which continue
to provide rich harvests. At the timber industry's height, following
World War II, there were 278 mills operating in the county. The
lush valleys of the Umpqua River have long yielded a variety of
crops and livestock, making agriculture the area's second largest
industry.
Location: Conveniently located
on Interstate 5, Roseburg is 67 miles south of Eugene, Oregon's'
second largest city, and 96 miles north of Medford. The town lies
approximately 80 miles east of the coastal communities of Reedsport
and Coos bay, connected to them by State Highways 38 and 42. State
Highway 138 follows the North Umpqua River east from Roseburg to
Diamond Lake at the summit of the Cascade Mountains, and to nearby
Crater Lake National Park.
Trade Area: With a population
of 21,181 (2010 census), Roseburg's retail, service, wholesale, and professional
firms serve an overall area population of about 65,000.
Form of Government: Roseburg
has a Council/Manager form of city government, with a Mayor elected
to preside over the Council. Douglas County is governed by a full-time
three-member Board of Commissioners, elected at large.
City Area: Roseburg corporate
limits cover nearly eight square miles, with an average elevation
of 465 feet above sea level. Douglas County is 5,062 square miles
in size.
Climate: Roseburg enjoys four
distinct seasons, low summer humidity, and a growing season of 217
days. The average rainfall for Roseburg is approximately 34 inches.
Snowfall is rare, and the area enjoys one of the lowest wind velocities
anywhere in the United States. Low and high temperatures range between
34 to 48 degrees Fahrenheit in January, 39 to 63 in April, 53 to
84 in July, and 43 to 67 in October.
Utilities: Electricity is provided
by Pacific Power in and around the city and by Douglas
Electric Cooperative in rural areas. Avista is the area's natural
gas company. The City of Roseburg Water department serves the city
and some outlying areas.
Newspaper, Radio & Television:
The News-Review (daily except Saturday) is Roseburg's major newspaper.
Several weeklies are published in the smaller surrounding communities.
There are four AM and two FM radio stations serving the area. Two
television stations are headquartered in Roseburg, and local cable
companies provide additional regional and satellite channels.
Hospitals: Two hospitals are
located in Roseburg. Mercy Medical Center and the Veterans Administration
Medical Center. Also available in the area are a specialized cancer
treatment center, several fully staffed emergency clinics, an outpatient
surgery center, two medical supply firms and accredited convalescent
and nursing centers.
Churches: Over 100 churches
and assemblies representing 50 denominations or religious organizations
serve the Roseburg area.
Conventions & Tourism: The
Roseburg area is becoming an increasingly popular vacation destination
for both Oregonians and out-of-state visitors. Centrally located
to camping, fishing, the high Cascades and Crater Lake, as well
as the beautiful Oregon coast, the world-famous Wildlife Safari
and activities ranging from white water rafting to just plain relaxing,
Roseburg offers something for everyone. Umpqua Community College
and the Douglas County Fairgrounds provide meeting, exhibit and
convention facilities to complement the smaller meeting areas provided
by some of the city's motels. The Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce
can proved more information.
Professional Services: Roseburg's
professional community includes over 130 licensed physicians offering
many areas of specialty, more than 35 dentists, and many other medical
practitioners such as optometrists, chiropractors and physical therapists.
There are many attorneys, accountants, engineers, counselors, and
veterinarians, to name just some of the other professionals available.
Employment: Full details regarding
job availability can be obtained from the Oregon Employment Division,
846 S.E. Pine Street, Roseburg, Oregon 97470, (541) 440-3344. Personnel
services and training are also available through Umpqua Training
& Employment, 760 N.W. Hill Place, Roseburg, 672-7761, and several
private employment agencies. Don't forget to check our local Jobs
Listing page for current openings here at Douglas County.
Transportation: There is no
commercial air service to the Roseburg area, but private charters
and air freight are available through the Roseburg Municipal airport.
Commercial airlines serve Eugene and Medford, both less than two
hours from Roseburg. Major bus service is provided by Greyhound.
Central Oregon & Pacific offers rail freight services, and the
nearest AMTRAK connections are in Eugene. A number of motor freight
and truck lines serve the Roseburg area, and moving and storage
companies with agents in Douglas County include Bekins, Mayflower,
U-Haul and United Van lines.
Cultural Activities: A variety
of live theatrical and musical productions are presented throughout
the year by UACT (Umpqua Actors Community Theater) and the Umpqua
Community College theater department. Additional traveling groups
and school performances round out theatergoers' fare. Internationally
recognized musical entertainment is provided by the Roseburg Community
Concert Association and the Umpqua Symphony Association. Covered
bridges, mid-18800 restored homes and the Douglas County Museum
of History and Natural History add to the area's rich historic tradition.
The Umpqua Valley Arts Center features regular showing with works
of local artist for show and sale, as well as various workshops
and classes.
Recreational Opportunities:
The lakes, rivers and reservoirs of Douglas County provide ample
boating and fishing settings, while Roseburg's park system offers
everything from biking and running trails to Little League baseball
fields. The Central Douglas County YMCA has a wide variety of sports
and fitness equipment and activities, including two Olympic sized
swimming pools. Golf, bowling, tennis and soccer enthusiasts will
find facilities in Roseburg to their liking, too Over a dozen annual
fairs, festivals and rodeos, celebrating such events as forestry,
wildflowers and grape and melon harvests, are complemented by the
Pacific Racing Association's auto racing season, April to September,
on the Douglas County Fairgrounds Speedway track.
Agriculture: Douglas County's
agricultural production provides a diversity of jobs and income
with total annual gross sales of nearly $40 million. The mild climate
and rich variety of soil types contribute to the successful cultivation
of such crops as grapes, berries, nuts, melons, apples, plums and
nurseries growing everything from exotic plants to Christmas trees.
The area is a major sheep and cattle producer and other forms of
animal production include Arabian and quarter horses, llama, rabbits,
pygmy goats, long-eared donkeys, pigs, chinchilla and homing and
racing pigeons. Seven wineries produce award-winning varieties as
part of Oregon's burgeoning wine industry.
Education: Roseburg area schools
have a reputation for excellence and support from their patrons.
Roseburg School District No. 4 operates one four-year high school,
two middle schools and nine elementary schools. There are
several Private schools, nursery and daycare facilities, as well
as Phoenix School, a non-profit alternative school for bright under-achievers,
grades 7-12. Umpqua Community College is located five miles north
of Roseburg on the banks of the North Umpqua River. A two-year public,
comprehensive institution, UCC offers educational progress in adult
basic instruction, technical, vocational, liberal arts and pre-professional
transfer courses. Enrollment is approximately 1,200 full-time and
15,225 part-time students pursuing academic and life-enriching classes.
Industries: The wood products
industry has always been Douglas County's mainstay, as some of the
nation's largest timber stands continue to grow here. With 19 percent
of the total workforce directly employed in forest harvesting and
production, it is estimated that another 30 percent owe their jobs
to the necessary support services. Diversification of Douglas County's
industrial and economic base is being aggressively pursued, and
new enterprises provide additional employment for the highly skilled
and motivated labor force. Specialty electronics, research and development,
business forms, and unique law enforcement rain gear are just some
of the items manufactured in the Roseburg area. New firms with manufacturing
facilities in Douglas County include a major pleasure boat company,
an electrical cable manufacturer, and various secondary wood products
firms.
Business Assistance: A wide variety
of services for large and small businesses located in or considering
a move to the Roseburg area are available through the CCD Business
Development Corporation, the UCC Small Business Development Center,
Umpqua Training & Employment, the Douglas County Industrial
Development Board and the Umpqua Development Corporation.
Industrial Sites: The CCD Business
Development Corporation maintains an extensive inventory of available
industrial sites in the Roseburg area. A sampling of prime locations
is available in the Chamber of Commerce's "Community Profile."
A downtown retail space inventory is on file at the Chamber office
also. For more information, call the Chamber of Commerce at (541)
672-2648.
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