Early Hudson's Bay Company hunters and trappers, following the Siskiyou Trail, passed through the site beginning in the 1820s. In the late 1840s, settlers (mostly American) following the Applegate Trail began traveling through the area on their way to the Willamette Valley. The city states[9] that the name was selected to honor General Ulysses S. Grant's success at Vicksburg. The Grants Pass post office was established on March 22, 1865.[10] The city of Grants Pass was incorporated in 1887.[11]
Grants Pass is located in the Rogue Valley; the Rogue River runs through the city. U.S. Route 199 passes through the city, and joins Interstate 5. The city has a total area of 11.03 square miles (28.6 km2), of which 10.87 square miles (28.2 km2) is land and 0.16 square miles (0.41 km2) is water.[17]
Summer days are sunny, dry and hot, with dramatic cooling at night; the average August high temperature is 90.6 °F (32.6 °C) and the low is 54.9 °F (12.7 °C). Winters are cool and fairly rainy, with only occasional snow; the average January high temperature is 47.6 °F (8.7 °C) and the low is 35.3 °F (1.8 °C). Grants Pass receives roughly 31 inches (790 mm) precipitation per year, with three-quarters of it occurring between November 1 and March 31. The mild winters and dry summers support a native vegetation structure quite different from the rest of Oregon, dominated by madrone, deciduous and evergreen oak, manzanita, pine, bush chinquapin, and other species that are far less abundant further north.[19]
The record high temperature of 115 °F (46 °C) was on July 4, 2022. The record low temperature of −3 °F (−19 °C) was on December 21, 1990.[20][21] There are an average of 51.3 afternoons annually with highs of 90 °F (32 °C) or higher, eight afternoons reaching at least 100 °F (38 °C), and 77.5 mornings annually with lows of 29 °F (−2 °C) or lower.
Measurable precipitation falls on an average of 110 days annually. The wettest rain year on record was from July 1955 to June 1956 with 50.69 inches (1,288 mm) of precipitation, and the driest from July 1923 to June 1924 with 13.43 inches (341 mm). The most precipitation in one month was 20.63 inches (524 mm) in December 1996, and the most precipitation in one day was 5.27 inches (134 mm) on October 29, 1950 – part of a two-day fall of 9.38 inches (238 mm) and ending a five-day fall of 11.26 inches (286 mm). There is an average of only 4.6 inches (0.12 m) of snow annually. The most snowfall in one month was 34.1 inches (0.87 m) in February 1917.[22]
Climate data for Grants Pass, Oregon (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present)
As of the census of 2010,[28] there were 34,533 people, 14,313 households, and 8,700 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,176.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,226.6/km2). There were 15,561 housing units at an average density of 1,431.6 per square mile (552.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.9% White, 1.2% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.5% African American, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 2.3% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.5% of the population.
There were 14,313 households, of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.2% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.94.
The median age in the city was 39.3 years. 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.6% were from 25 to 44; 25% were from 45 to 64; and 18.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.
2000 census
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 23,003 people, 9,376 households, and 5,925 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,033 inhabitants per square mile (1,171/km2). There were 9,885 housing units at an average density of 1,303.3 per square mile (503.2/km2). By 2008, the city's population had increased to 33,239. According to U.S. Census figures from the 2006-2008 American Community Survey, the racial composition of the city's population was 93.6% white, 0.2% black, 1.6% American Indian, 1.1% Asian, 1.2% other race, and 2.3% two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos, who may be of any race, formed 7.2% of the city's population.
There were 9,376 households, out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,197, and the median income for a family was $36,284. Males had a median income of $31,128 versus $23,579 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,234. About 12.2% of families and 34.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.8% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
Government and politics
The city council has 8 members as of 2019, representing 4 wards and are elected to 4 year terms by the city. The city council and mayor are not paid, and they volunteer their time. The council oversees the city government and chooses the city manager. The mayor's job is to provide leadership and preside over city council meetings. The Mayor can also issue vetoes and make a tiebreaker vote.
Grants Pass is conservative leaning and represented in the United States House of Representatives by Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario). At the state level of politics, Grants Pass is represented in the Oregon Senate by Art Robinson (R-Cave Junction) who holds Oregon's 2nd Senate district,[29] and represented in the Oregon House of Representatives by Lily Morgan (R-Grants Pass) holding Oregon's 3rd House district[30] and Duane Stark (R-Grants Pass) holding Oregon's 4th House district.[30]
Economy
The lumber industry was the major employer for Grants Pass up until the early 1970s. At that point the entire region started to see a steady decline in all lumber harvesting, production, and processing. Since then there has been a shift to a large service industry sector covering areas of outdoors/sports/recreation and health care infrastructure. This is augmented by multiple small and medium businesses and growth in marijuana-related businesses due to state legalization.
Arts and culture
Caveman statue next to the visitor centerJetboat on the Rogue River at Grants Pass
Annual cultural events
Boatnik, a hydroplane boat race and carnival event, is held every Memorial Day weekend in Riverside Park.[31]
They also host the Josephine County Fair which usually occurs in late August.[32]
Museums and other points of interest
The historic Rogue Theatre downtown has been transformed into a performing arts venue that hosts mostly local acts.[33] The Grants Pass Towne Center Association's "Back to the '50s" Celebration includes free concerts, a nearly 600-vehicle Classic Car Cruise, poker runs, and thematic shopping in the town's downtown historic district.[34]
Year round, there are First Friday Art Nights. On the first Friday of every month, many of the city's downtown stores hold art shows and promotional events.[35]
The Caveman Bridge on 6th Street was built by Conde McCullough in 1933. The through arch design bridge has been a landmark of Grants Pass for many years, and the bridge was refurbished in 2019. The Redwood Empire sign at the beginning of the bridge has also been a landmark for many years, and it was redone in 2021 due to a car crash.[37]
The Redwood Empire sign on 6th StreetThe Caveman Bridge over the Rogue River on 6th Street
Parks and recreation
Grants Pass has numerous and diverse parks and green spaces.[38] Notable city-run parks include Riverside Park, summer home to the local Concerts in the Park series, and the Reinhart Volunteer Park, a park largely built through the efforts of community volunteers and featuring facilities for many sports.[39][40] In addition, the BLM run Cathedral Hills recreation area on the outskirts of Grants Pass is home to several endangered species of plants, the largest whiteleaf manzanita in the state as well the tallest knobcone pine.[41] Grants Pass is a Tree City USA Community and has been for 35 years.[42]
The City of Grants Pass is served by individual departments, each with their own respective buildings. The city has a Department of Public Safety as well.[46]
Media
Newspapers
The Grants Pass Daily Courier is the region's newspaper. The newspaper was established in 1885 with the name "Grant's Pass Courier" and then "Rogue River Courier." After the newspaper became a daily, the name was changed to what it is today.
The other paper of record in Josephine County is the Illinois Valley News in Cave Junction established in 1937.
