Douglas County

Oregon

Douglas County, Oregon

Population

111,551

Indigenous Peoples

Major Waterways

Major Employers

Major Attractions

Recreational Activities

  • ATV/OHV riding & dune buggy tours
  • Bicycling
  • Birding
  • Camping
  • Disc golf
  • Fishing, crabbing, & clamming
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Kayaking, rafting, boating, & paddleboarding
  • Picnicking
  • Sandboarding/sledding
  • Skiing, snowmobiling, & snowboarding
  • Swimming
  • Wildlife viewing

Summary

Located in southwestern Oregon, the expansive Douglas County stretches all the way from the Pacific Ocean coastline to the Cascade mountains, making it the fifth-largest county in Oregon.

The county offers a geographical smorgasbord of lush forests, coastal dunes, river valleys, and stunning mountains. Elevation across the county ranges from sea level up to 9,182 feet at Mt. Thielsen.

Serving as the county seat, Roseburg is the most populous of the dozen cities in the county. The other cities are Canyonville, Drain, Elkton, Glendale, Myrtle Creek, Oakland, Reedsport, Riddle, Sutherlin, Winston, and Yoncalla.

Douglas County is bordered by six counties: Coos County to the west; Curry County to the southwest; Josephine and Jackson Counties to the south; Klamath County to the east; and Lane County to the north.

The Umpqua Indians originally inhabited the region, with archaelogical evidence suggesting human presence as far back as 8,000 years. They lived in proximity to the Yoncalla Kalapuya, who are primarily associated with the Willamette Valley.

The majority of Umpqua Tribe members were relocated to the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation following the Rogue River Wars of 1855–56. Seven families evaded federal authorities, however, hiding in the hills for decades. Their descendants would later become the federally recognized Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians. Today, the tribe manages Seven Feathers Casino in Canyonville.

The 1850 Donation Land Claim Act drew European-Americans to the area, granting up to 640 acres to settlers who agreed to cultivate the land for four years. That decade also saw modest gold discoveries, sparking the arrival of miners.

Formed in 1852, the county is named for Stephen A. Douglas—most famous as Abraham Lincoln’s opponent in the Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858—due to his support of Oregon statehood.

Timber harvesting was to become the region’s dominant industry, with Roseburg garnering accolades as a timber capital. The Southern Pacific Railroad’s arrival in the late 1800s led to a thriving logging industry, which continued to grow until the Great Depression curtailed demand. The 1936 erection of the Roseburg Lumber Company and 1941 formation of the Douglas County Lumber Company led to the rekindling of this industry, which further benefited from steam power and mechanization.

Today, the Umpqua Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) is widely lauded for its sublime wines. Established in 1961, Hillcrest Vineyard is not only Oregon’s oldest estate winery, but it is also credited with carving out Oregon’s reputation for pinot noir.

The county’s blossoming wine industry adds to its already abundant tourist offerings, which include Wildlife Safari; Douglas County Museum of Natural and Cultural History; Umpqua Lighthouse State Park and Museum; and Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.

Douglas county’s richly variegated geographic landscape makes for a plethora of recreational activities, from sandboarding the otherworldly dunes to snowboarding the Cascade mountains to whitewater-rafting the North Umpqua River to hiking the verdant Umpqua National Forest.

Whether you're seeking to value your oceanfront home or your commercial building in one of Douglas County’s charismatic rural communities, Phoenix Appraisal Network is here to help with values you can trust.

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