Medford is a city in Jackson County. Destined to become the region’s largest city and a major economic hub, Medford's existence began in 1883 when the railroad came to Southern Oregon. The city sits in the Rogue Valley rain shadow between the Cascade Range and Siskiyou Mountains.
By the end of 2013, the city had a total population of just about 77,900 and a total metropolitan area wide of 208,545. Medford is the 4th largest metropolitan area in Oregon. Medford is the county seat of Jackson County. The racial makeup of the city is about 86.0% White, , 1.5% Asian, 1.2% Native American, 0.9% African American, 0.5% Pacific Islander, 6.0% from other races.
Medford's climate is considerably warmer, both in summer and winter, than its latitude would suggest. Summers are akin to Eastern Oregon and winters resemble the coast.
In the past, Medford's economy was fueled by agriculture: pears, peaches, grapes, and timber products; today it is driven primarily by the health care industry. As Medford is also a retirement destination, assisted living and senior services have become an important part of the economy.
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 about 1,700 year round and 6,700 seasonal employees in the Medford area.