Josephine County is a county in Oregon, United States, in the southwestern part of the state along the California border. It had a population of 88,090 at the 2020 census and covers 1,642 square miles (4,250 km2) of land and water centred near 42°22′N 123°34′W.
Grants Pass is the county seat, and its postal code is 97526. The county has 2 incorporated cities and roughly a dozen unincorporated communities, no census-designated places of note, and no civil townships (Oregon counties are not subdivided into townships). Josephine County observes Pacific time.
Towns & Villages in Josephine County
Only two places in Josephine County are incorporated cities; everything else on this list is an unincorporated community, ranging from small crossroads settlements to former mining and timber camps along the Rogue and Illinois rivers.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grants Pass | City · seat | 39,911 | 97526 / 97527 |
| Cave Junction | City | 2,286 | 97523 |
| Merlin | Unincorp. | — | 97532 |
| Murphy | Unincorp. | — | 97533 |
| Selma | Unincorp. | — | 97538 |
| Williams | Unincorp. | — | 97544 |
| Wolf Creek | Unincorp. | — | 97497 |
| O’Brien | Unincorp. | — | 97534 |
| Wilderville | Unincorp. | — | 97543 |
| Kerby | Unincorp. | — | 97531 |
| Takilma | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Galice | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Holland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hugo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Leland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sunny Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wonder | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dryden | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fruitdale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| California Bar | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bridgeview | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Browntown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Placer | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pleasant Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rand | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Redwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Speaker | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Three Pines | Unincorp. | — | — |
Cave Junction, the county’s second city, sits at the mouth of the Illinois Valley near Oregon Caves National Monument; the community once known as “Kerbyville” (Kerby today) predates it as the valley’s original seat.
ZIP Codes
- 97526 — Grants Pass (west side)
- 97527 — Grants Pass (south side)
- 97528 — Grants Pass (PO Box only)
- 97523 — Cave Junction (also serves Holland, O’Brien area mail)
- 97532 — Merlin
- 97533 — Murphy (PO Box only)
- 97538 — Selma
- 97544 — Williams
- 97497 — Wolf Creek
- 97534 — O’Brien
- 97543 — Wilderville
- 97531 — Kerby
Smaller communities such as Takilma, Galice, Hugo and Sunny Valley share a neighboring town’s ZIP code rather than carrying their own.
Geography
Josephine County lies in the Klamath Mountains along the Rogue and Illinois rivers, at the southwestern edge of Oregon. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land makes up most of the county, and the Wild and Scenic Rogue River runs through its northern half. Oregon Caves National Monument, a marble cave system in the Siskiyou Mountains, sits near the California line.
The county borders Douglas County to the north, Jackson County to the east, Curry County to the west, and Siskiyou County and Del Norte County in California to the south.
Demographics
Josephine County had 88,090 residents at the 2020 census. Grants Pass, the county seat, is by far the largest community; Cave Junction is a distant second. Median household income in the county runs well below the Oregon median of $80,160, reflecting the county’s rural, timber-dependent economy. Population density is about 54 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Timber and wood products shaped the county for most of the 20th century, and forestry remains active on the surrounding federal land. Wine grapes are grown around the Applegate and Illinois valleys, sharing an appellation with neighboring Jackson County. Tourism tied to the Rogue River, Oregon Caves National Monument and Redwood Highway corridor supports lodging and outfitting businesses, and Grants Pass functions as the county’s retail and medical hub.
History
Territorial lawmakers created Josephine County on January 22, 1856, splitting it off from Jackson County during the region’s gold-rush years. The county is named for Virginia Josephine Rollins, credited as the first white woman to settle within its boundaries. Gold mining along the Illinois and Rogue rivers drew the county’s earliest towns, including Kerby and Waldo, before timber overtook mining as the dominant industry in the 20th century.
Getting There
Interstate 5 runs north-south through Grants Pass, and U.S. Route 199 (the Redwood Highway) connects Cave Junction to the California coast.
- Medford, Oregon — 30 miles east
- Roseburg, Oregon — 65 miles north
- Crescent City, California — 80 miles southwest
- Eugene, Oregon — 155 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, about 30 miles east of Grants Pass.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Josephine County?
It is in southwestern Oregon, along the California border, centred near Grants Pass.
What is the population of Josephine County?
88,090 at the 2020 census.
How big is Josephine County?
1,642 square miles (4,250 km2).
What is the county seat of Josephine County?
Grants Pass is the county seat.
How many towns are in Josephine County?
Two incorporated cities, Grants Pass and Cave Junction, plus about fifteen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Josephine County?
ZIP codes include 97526, 97527 and 97528 for Grants Pass, 97523 for Cave Junction, and smaller codes for Merlin, Murphy, Selma, Williams, Wolf Creek, O’Brien, Wilderville and Kerby.
What is Josephine County known for?
Oregon Caves National Monument, the Wild and Scenic Rogue River, and its gold-mining and timber history.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Oregon.