Grants Pass, Oregon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Grants Pass, Oregon
City
City of Grants Pass, Oregon
Motto(s):  Live Rogue; It's the Climate
Location in Josephine County and the state of Oregon
Grants Pass, Oregon Location in Oregon Show map of Oregon Grants Pass, Oregon Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Oregon
County	Josephine
Incorporated	1887
Area
• Total	11.68 sq mi (30.25 km2)
• Land	11.52 sq mi (29.83 km2)
• Water	0.16 sq mi (0.42 km2)
Elevation	960 ft (290 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	39,194
• Density	3,402.12/sq mi (1,313.58/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (Pacific)
ZIP codes	97526, 97527, 97528, 97543
Area codes	541 and 458
FIPS code	41-30550
GNIS feature ID	1142947

Grants Pass is a city in Josephine County, Oregon, United States. It is the main city, or county seat, of Josephine County. The city is located on Interstate 5, which is a major highway. You can find it northwest of Medford, right along the beautiful Rogue River. In 2020, about 39,194 people lived there, making it the 15th largest city in Oregon.

History of Grants Pass

Early Settlers and Naming the City

In the 1820s, early hunters and trappers from the Hudson's Bay Company traveled through this area. They followed a path called the Siskiyou Trail. Later, in the late 1840s, American settlers used the Applegate Trail to pass through on their way to the Willamette Valley.

The city's name, Grants Pass, was chosen to honor General Ulysses S. Grant. This was after his big success in the Vicksburg Campaign during the American Civil War. The Grants Pass post office first opened on March 22, 1865. The city itself officially became a city in 1887.

Sugar Factory and Changes

Around 1916, a sugar beet factory was built in Grants Pass. It was part of a company called the Oregon–Utah Sugar Company. However, the factory didn't operate for long. There weren't enough workers or enough sugar beets planted. So, the machinery was moved to another city in Washington state a few years later.

Geography and Climate

Where is Grants Pass?

Grants Pass is located in the Rogue Valley, a beautiful area in Oregon. The famous Rogue River flows right through the city. U.S. Route 199 also passes through Grants Pass and connects with Interstate 5. The city covers about 11 square miles, with most of that being land and a small part being water.

Grants Pass Weather

Welcome sign in Grants Pass

Grants Pass has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. This means it has sunny, dry, and hot summers. Evenings in summer cool down a lot. For example, in August, the average high temperature is about 90.6°F, but the low is around 54.9°F.

Winters are cool and quite rainy, but it doesn't snow very often. In January, the average high is about 47.6°F, and the low is around 35.3°F. Grants Pass gets about 31 inches of rain each year. Most of this rain falls between November and March.

The mild winters and dry summers help unique plants grow here. You can find trees like madrone and different kinds of oak.

The hottest temperature ever recorded was 115°F on July 4, 2022. The coldest was -3°F on December 21, 1990. On average, there are about 51 days a year when the temperature reaches 90°F or higher. About eight of those days reach 100°F or more.

Population and People

Population in 2010

In 2010, Grants Pass had 34,533 people living in the city. There were 14,313 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. About 30.7% of these households had children under 18 years old.

The average age of people in Grants Pass in 2010 was 39.3 years old. About 24.3% of the residents were under 18. Also, 18.6% of the people were 65 years old or older. Slightly more than half of the population (52.7%) was female, and 47.3% was male.

Economy and Jobs

For a long time, the main industry in Grants Pass was lumber. Many people worked in cutting down trees, processing wood, and making lumber products. However, starting in the early 1970s, the lumber industry began to decline in the whole region.

Since then, Grants Pass has changed its focus. Now, a lot of jobs are in the service industry. This includes areas like outdoor sports and recreation, as well as healthcare.

Arts and Culture

Caveman statue next to the visitor center

Jetboat on the Rogue River at Grants Pass

Fun Events in Grants Pass

• Boatnik: Every year on Memorial Day weekend, Grants Pass hosts Boatnik. This exciting event includes hydroplane boat races and a carnival. It takes place in Riverside Park.
• Josephine County Fair: The city also hosts the Josephine County Fair, usually in late August. It's a fun event for everyone!
• First Friday Art Nights: On the first Friday of every month, many stores downtown have art shows and special events. It's a great way to see local art and enjoy the city.

Cool Places to Visit

• Rogue Theatre: The historic Rogue Theatre downtown is now a performing arts center. It often features local artists and shows.
• "Back to the '50s" Celebration: The Grants Pass Towne Center Association puts on a "Back to the '50s" Celebration. This event includes free concerts, a huge classic car cruise with almost 600 vehicles, and special shopping in the historic downtown area.
• Post Office Murals: The Grants Pass post office has two special murals painted in 1938. These murals are called "Rogue River Indians" and "Early and Contemporary Industries." They are part of a historical art project.
• Caveman Bridge: The Caveman Bridge on 6th Street is a famous landmark in Grants Pass. It was built in 1933 and has a unique arch design. The bridge was updated in 2019.
• Redwood Empire Sign: Near the Caveman Bridge, you'll see the Redwood Empire sign. It's been a landmark for many years and was recently redone in 2021.

The Redwood Empire sign on 6th Street

The Caveman Bridge over the Rogue River on 6th Street

Parks and Outdoor Fun

Grants Pass has many different parks and green spaces.

• Riverside Park: This park is a popular spot, especially in summer. It's home to the "Concerts in the Park" series.
• Reinhart Volunteer Park: This park was mostly built by community volunteers. It has great facilities for many sports.
• Cathedral Hills: On the edge of Grants Pass, you'll find the Cathedral Hills recreation area. It's managed by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management). This area is special because it has rare plants, including the largest whiteleaf manzanita and the tallest knobcone pine in Oregon.

Grants Pass is also recognized as a Tree City USA Community. It has held this title for 35 years, showing its commitment to trees and green spaces.

Education in Grants Pass

Students in the Grants Pass area go to public schools managed by two main districts:

• Grants Pass School District: This includes Grants Pass High School.
• Three Rivers School District: This district includes schools like Illinois Valley High School, North Valley High School, Rivers Edge Academy Charter School, and Hidden Valley High School.

For higher education, Rogue Community College (RCC) has its main campus, called Redwood Campus, south of Grants Pass. There are also other RCC campuses in nearby Medford and White City.

Media and News

Newspapers

The main newspaper for the region is Grants Pass Daily Courier. It started in 1885. Another newspaper in Josephine County is the Illinois Valley News, which began in 1937.

Radio Stations

Grants Pass has many radio stations that play different types of music and news.

• AM Stations: You can listen to news and information on KAGI 930 JPR, or classic hits and talk shows on KAJO 1270.
• FM Stations: There are many FM stations, including religious music (KDOV 88.1, KLXG 91.1, KAWZ 103.1, KGPZ-LP 106.7, KJCR-LP 107.9), Top 40 hits (KTMT-FM 92.1, KIFS 93.1, KLDR 98.3), country music (KRRM 94.7, KRWQ 98.7, KAKT 104.7), classic rock (KBOY-FM 96.1), active rock (KROG 96.9), news/talk (KCMD 99.3, KMED 106.3), classic hits (KLDZ 100.7, KCNA 102.7), and adult contemporary (KCMX-FM 107.1).

Transportation

Roads

Several important roads pass through Grants Pass, making it easy to travel to and from the city:

• Interstate 5
• U.S. Route 199
• Oregon Route 99
• Oregon Route 238

Bus and Rail

• Bus: You can travel by bus using Greyhound Lines.
• Rail: The Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad also serves the area.

Airports

For air travel, people in Grants Pass use:

• Rogue Valley International–Medford Airport (a larger airport nearby)
• Grants Pass Airport (a smaller local airport)

Famous People from Grants Pass

Many interesting people have connections to Grants Pass! Here are a few:

• David Anders: An actor.
• Carl Barks: A famous writer and artist, known for his work with Disney comics.
• Ty Burrell: An actor, known for his role in the TV show Modern Family.
• Brandon Drury: A professional baseball player.
• Helen Chenoweth-Hage: A former U.S. Representative from Idaho.
• Kevin Hagen: An actor.
• Merrill McPeak: A former Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.
• Russell Myers: A cartoonist who created the comic strip Broom-Hilda.
• Josh Saunders: A professional soccer player.

NFL Players from Grants Pass

Several players from Grants Pass have played in the National Football League (NFL):

• Pat Beach
• Tom Blanchard
• Dick James
• Jerry Sherk
• Don Summers
• Al Wistert

Sister City

Grants Pass has a sister city relationship with Rubtsovsk in Russia. This means the two cities have a special connection to promote cultural understanding and exchange.

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See also

In Spanish: Grants Pass para niños