City of Medford

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address:451 West 6th Street  Medford, OR 97501 phone:541-774-2000 fax:541-618-1700 website:City of Medford email:

Events Calendar

Thursday, November 12th

City Council Study Session Meeting

when:12:00pm, Medford, OR
venue:Medford City Hall

Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting

when:5:30pm, Medford, OR
venue:Medford City Hall

Tuesday, November 17th

Multicultural Commission Meeting

when:All Day, Medford, OR
venue:Medford City Hall

Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting

when:All Day, Medford, OR
venue:Medford City Hall

Wednesday, November 18th

Land Development Committee Meeting

when:All Day, Medford, OR
venue:Medford City Hall

City Goals :

# Provide timely, professional, and effective customer service.
# Ensure current and future financial stability.
# Remain proactive to future issues facing the City.
# Facilitate external and internal communications.
# Maintain a quality work environment for City employees.

History :

Medford owes its origin in the early 1880's to the decision of the Oregon & California Railroad to run its line through the center of the Bear Creek Valley. It was at the "middle ford" of Bear Creek that the railroad, working south from Portland, planned to cross the stream and start a new town. The name first chosen for the new town site was Middle Ford. But railroad engineer David Loring was from Medford, Massachusetts, and he soon shortened the name to Medford. The railroad tracks reached Medford in January 1884. By the end of that year a substantial town had arisen and a school district had been established. Medford was incorporated as a town on February 24, 1885. A board of trustees, forerunner of the current City Council, was formed, and the City's first ordinances were adopted. Since 1955, Medford has operated under the Council-Manager form of government. The Mayor and an eight-member City Council serve as the governing body, appointing and providing direction to a City Manager, who serves as chief administrative officer over eleven City departments.

In its first 110 years, Medford has grown from a small town with unpaved roads to the largest City in Southern Oregon and the seat of Jackson County Government. With a current population of over 68,000, the City continues to grow and flourish. Once primarily dependent on timber and agriculture, Medford is a thriving regional trade center with a growing residential population, expanding medical facilities, growing retail opportunities, expanding economic development, increasing tourism and abundant recreational opportunities.

Latest News

Medford Police Department News: Accidental Gunshot Wound to 4-Year-old Boy

On November 7, 2009 at approximately 1500 hours, the Medford Police Department, Medford Fire Department and Mercy Flights Ambulance Service responded to the report of a 4-year-old... Read more

Medford Police Department News - Detectives Continue Investigating Double Stabbing

Detectives continue to investigate the stabbing of two men at a birthday party held at the Ramada Inn, 2250 Biddle Road, on the evening of 11/07/09.  Investigators have... Read more

Medford Police Department News - Assault I Ramada Inn

Crime: Assault I x 2
Location: Ramada Inn – 2250 Biddle Rd., Medford
Date of Incident: 11/07/2009    
Case #: MPD 09-17248
On 11-07-2009 at about 10:00 pm,... Read more