Shady Cove is a city in
Jackson County,
Oregon
Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
, United States. The population was 2,904 at the
2010 census.
History
The city of Shady Cove was incorporated in 1973. Before that, the nearby towns of
Trail
A trail, also known as a path or track, is an unpaved lane or small road usually passing through a natural area. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, a path or footpath is the preferred term for a pedestrian or hiking trail. Th ...
to the north and
Eagle Point to the south were the historic population centers. Etna, the town's precursor, lay between.
Settlers started moving into the area, spreading out from Trail, in the 1870s.
In 1882, the post stopped in Etna for the first time,
though the Postal Service did not establish an office in a place called Shady Cove until September 12, 1939, a Mrs. Lillian Hukill as postmistress.
The city's name has no clear origin. It is possible that a man named Barnes established a town site he called "The Cove".
However, according to Barbara Hegne, a local historian, the name for Shady Cove came from a speculative operation by some
Medford businessmen. They bought some land for summer homes on the east side of the river and called their business the "Shady Cove Country Club".
The first bridge over the
Rogue River in Shady Cove was built in 1921
and washed away by the
Christmas flood of 1964
The Christmas flood of 1964 was a major flood in the United States' Pacific Northwest and some of Northern California between December 18, 1964, and January 7, 1965, spanning the Christmas holiday.
Considered a 100-year flood,
it was the wor ...
.
The already above-average rainfall for the year was followed by a historic warm-temperature storm, called a
Pineapple Express
Pineapple Express is a non-technical term for a meteorological phenomenon characterized by a strong and persistent large-scale flow of warm moist air, and the associated heavy precipitation both in the waters immediately northeast of the Hawaii ...
. According to a local resident, the bridge was knocked out by a log jam started when an old growth
Douglas fir
The Douglas fir (''Pseudotsuga menziesii'') is an evergreen conifer species in the pine family, Pinaceae. It is native to western North America and is also known as Douglas-fir, Douglas spruce, Oregon pine, and Columbian pine. There are three va ...
was trapped by rising waters against the steel of the bridge. The structure held for roughly seven hours as logs piled up behind it until nine in the evening on December 23, when the bridge washed away. The Dodge and
Touvelle bridges further downstream were both damaged, and there was no easy way to get into the town until the placement of a temporary
Bailey bridge
A Bailey bridge is a type of portable, pre-fabricated, truss bridge. It was developed in 1940–1941 by the British for military use during the Second World War and saw extensive use by British, Canadian and American military engineering units. A ...
three months later. Initially, the Shady Cove School functioned as a refuge and a food distribution point.
The flood control dam at
Lost Creek Lake was installed in 1977 to mitigate future catastrophic flooding.
Geography
Shady Cove is in northern Jackson County, on both sides of the
Rogue River.
Oregon Route 62
Oregon Route 62 is an Oregon state highway that runs between the city of Medford, and U.S. Route 97 between Chiloquin and Klamath Falls. The highway approaches Crater Lake National Park from the south, and is known as the Crater Lake Highway. W ...
is the main road through the community, leading north to
Trail
A trail, also known as a path or track, is an unpaved lane or small road usually passing through a natural area. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, a path or footpath is the preferred term for a pedestrian or hiking trail. Th ...
and south to
Medford, the Jackson
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...
. The west boundary of
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake National Park is an American national park located in southern Oregon. Established in 1902, Crater Lake is the fifth-oldest national park in the United States and the only national park in Oregon. The park encompasses the caldera of ...
is to the northeast via Route 62.
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, Shady Cove has a total area of , of which is land and is water.
Economy
Early in the town's history, the lumber trade drove the economy.
However, Wilson's Lumber Mill was destroyed in the 1964 flood, and was not rebuilt.
By the 1980s, the lumber trade left the town. Tourism replaced timber, and now the major industry of the town is in the service sector focused on the presence of the Rogue River. Tourist opportunities include rafting and year-round fishing.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2010, there were 2,904 people, 1,291 households, and 819 families residing in the city. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was . There were 1,459 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.5%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 0.3%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.7%
Native American, 0.3%
Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.6% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 2.7% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race were 4.7% of the population.
There were 1,291 households, of which 19.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.6% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.69.
The median age in the city was 51.8 years. 16.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.2% were from 25 to 44; 33.1% were from 45 to 64; and 26.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.6% male and 50.4% female.
2000 census
As of the census
of 2020, there were 3,080 people, 989 households, and 689 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,153.4 people per square mile (445.4/km). There were 1,107 housing units at an average density of 553.5 per square mile (213.7/km). The racial makeup of the city was 95.23% White, 0.30% African American, 2.25% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.30% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.90% of the population.
There were 993 households, out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.73.
In the city, the population was 21.6% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,429, and the median income for a family was $38,819. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $23,533 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the city was $17,564. About 6.4% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.
2020 census
As of the census
of 2020, there were 3,119 people, 1,627 households, and 709 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,630 people per square mile (445.4/km). There were 1,506 housing units at an average density of 553.5 per square mile (213.7/km). The racial makeup of the city was 89.3%% White, 0.30% African American, 0.90% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 2.50% from other races, and 6.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.60% of the population.
There were 1,506 households, out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.73.
In the city, the population was 13.6% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 31.1% from 45 to 64, and 28.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 57.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,967, and the median income for a family was $46,838. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $23,533 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the city was $17,564. About 14.7% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 30.6% of those under age 18 and 0% of those age 65 or over.
Services
The city of Shady Cove is governed by a
mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...
and a four-member
council
A council is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions. A council may function as a legislature, especially at a town, city or county/shire level, but most legislative bodies at the state/provincial or natio ...
. The city employs a floodplain manager, in keeping with a 2007 FEMA decision.
The town is home to Jackson County Fire District number 4, staffed by three captains, four fire fighters, and approximately twelve volunteers. The fire department is equipped to provide "emergency fire and medical response, and swift water and high angle rescue services to the Shady Cove and Upper Rogue area."
The department was established in 1956 and is tasked with 34 square miles of
Jackson County, Oregon
Jackson County is one of the Oregon counties, 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 223,259. The county seat is Medford, Oregon, Medford. The county Oregon Geographic Names, ...
. The district responds to around 1,000 incidents a year. Greg Winfrey is the fire chief in the district as of February 2018.
The town's library has regular hours and community programming. However, the hours are not commensurate with full business days, as the branch is open three days a week for a total of 18 hours every week. After the April 2007 termination of a federal program for counties reliant on a declining lumber industry and the defeat of a May 2007 property tax levy that would have closed much of the deficit, the libraries were privatized by LSSI, a for-profit company headquartered in Maryland.
The city has a community center that offers a food pantry, a thrift store, youth activities and a lunch program on Wednesdays. The community center is staffed by volunteers.
There are two parks within city limits. One, Aunt Caroline's Park, is run by the city, and is named for Caroline Drexler, a pioneer woman of Etna.
The other, Upper Rogue Regional Park, is run by the county, and has a parking fee for use of the boat ramp, day use area, and playground. The county also runs the Riverhouse, a popular wedding and event venue that can be rented all year. Both parks have toilets and parking areas.
Shady Cove is part of Jackson County school district number 9, which includes Eagle Point, White City, and the surrounding areas. The school in town is the Shady Cove School, and serves grades K-8.
In 2012, the school was within the top 5% of Oregon schools that receive title 1 funds.
References
External links
City of Shady Cove official websiteEntry for Shady Covein the ''
Oregon Blue Book
The ''Oregon Blue Book'' is the official directory and fact book for the U.S. state of Oregon prepared by the Oregon Secretary of State and published by the Office of the Secretary's Archives Division.
The ''Blue Book'' comes in both print and on ...
''
Eagle Point School District serving Shady Cove
Jackson County Fire District 4
{{authority control
Cities in Oregon
Cities in Jackson County, Oregon
1972 establishments in Oregon
Populated places established in 1972