A Brief History of the City of Ashland

Ashland has long been a natural place of assembly.  Indigenous peoples of nomadic hunting-gathering tribes convened on the site of the current town for thousands of years before European-American settlers first arrived in the mid-nineteenth century. (click here to read more)

The Land of Pears: History of the Local Fruit Industry

The first pioneer settlers in the Rogue Valley quickly recognized the agricultural possibilities of the valley and small orchards were established by 1860.  Small farms were widely dispersed near streams on the valley floor, to take advantage of water in the hot, dry summers typical of the area and settlers raised mostly common field crops, cattle, and sheep, using the neighboring hills and mountains for grazing lands. (click to read more)

The history of Southern Oregon University is closely tied to the history of Ashland.   A school which opened in 1857, only five years after the arrival of first pioneers to the valley, was the town’s first effort at establishing an educational program.  It had a roster of 22 students and was housed in the home of a private citizen. (click to read more)

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Ashland's Jewel: Lithia Park

Often referred to as “The Crown Jewel of Ashland,” Lithia Park is a 93-acre area of beautifully maintained lawns, ponds, gardens, a playground and tennis courts, as well as rugged hiking trails—all centered on scenic Ashland Creek. (click to read more)