The Applegate Valley & Historic Jacksonville Experts
Serving our Community since 1966
Historic Jacksonville
Population: 2,900
Jacksonville, born in 1851 after the discovery of gold, was the first China town in Oregon. Millions worth of gold has been mined and it was the most important stop between San Francisco and Portland during the Historic Gold Ruch. Jacksonville became one of the many forgotten boomtowns when it was bypassed by the railroad and lost its county seat to neighboring Medford in 1927. It experienced a population drop from its peak of 15,000 to 1,500 and during that time “Dogpatch” was the kindest of the long string of Jacksonville nicknames. Jacksonville took an uphill turn when it was designated a National Historic District in 1966 due to the amount of surviving and unaltered commercial and residential buildings.
A nonprofit performing arts festival, the Britt Festivals are held in the Britt Gardens and Amphitheater in downtown Jacksonville. The Britt is considered one of the premier performing arts festivals in the Northwest and each year attracts high profile and local artists alike to perform in the natural beauty that surrounds the garden. The main mission of the Britt Institute is "to invite audiences and artists to celebrate the joy of live performances, the power of community, and the magic of the Britt Experience."
Dating back to the 1850's, the Jacksonville Historic cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in the state of Oregon. Well kept by local volunteers, its a great way to get a walk through the past.
Jacksonville Trail System
This local trail system was formed and is now run by our local non-profit, citizen based, Jacksonville Woodlands Association. With over 300 acres of land this association is dedicated to the preservation and education of the natural lands surrounding our quaint town.
