Medford Celebrates 140 Years of Growth and Transformation

Published on February 24, 2025

The City of Medford is celebrating its 140th birthday today, February 24, marking a journey from a small railroad town to Southern Oregon’s largest city and economic hub.

The town began in 1883, when four property owners deeded part of their land to the Oregon and California Railroad, establishing a depot and surrounding town. By 1884, a small business district had formed, and by 1885, Medford officially incorporated.

As the town grew into a city, railroad connections and access to distant markets attracted forward-thinking individuals from across the country. The transportation network also fostered the growth of the orchard industry, and hundreds of thousands of apple and pear trees were planted. By the early 1900s, commercial fruit became the Rogue Valley’s major export.

Promoters widely advertised the area as an agricultural mecca, and Medford became one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. By 1910, there was such a housing shortage that a tent city grew up on the edge of town.

Between 1909 and 1911, many of Medford’s most impressive buildings, including Sacred Heart Hospital, were built. By 1912, Medford supported a high school, three elementary schools, a city park, a new passenger depot, and a Carnegie library.

The city boasted modern amenities, including electricity, telephone service, and over 18 miles of paved streets. The economy was strong, Medford’s four banks prospered, and life was good until the Orchard Boom went bust.

World War II brought another period of transformation as Medford changed into a military town with the establishment of Camp White and an influx of soldiers. As construction began on the Army training base, around 10,000 workers—followed by nearly 40,000 soldiers—flooded the area, bringing prosperity back to the city.

Increased demand for lumber during and after the war boosted Medford’s timber industry, with railroad access and expanding mills making it a regional focus for wood products. While timber production drove the local economy from the 1940s to mid-1970s, economic and environmental issues eventually ended the city’s lumber reign.

As the wood industry declined, the healthcare industry grew. The construction of two major hospitals—Rogue Valley Memorial in 1958 and Providence in 1966—set Medford well on its way to becoming the major regional medical center that it is today.

As Medford celebrates 140 years, the once-small railroad town now stands as Southern Oregon’s largest center of activity. With a population of nearly 85,000, Medford now boasts a diverse economy, including healthcare, agriculture, transportation, retail, and outdoor recreation.

(Postcard image looking east at Front and Main streets ca. 1908, courtesy of Vicki Bryden).