Shady Cove, Oregon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shady Cove, Oregon
City
Shady Cove City Hall
Nickname(s):  The Jewel of the Upper Rogue
Motto(s):  "And a River Runs Through It!"
Location in Oregon
Country	United States
State	Oregon
County	Jackson
Incorporated	1972
Area
• Total	2.05 sq mi (5.30 km2)
• Land	1.95 sq mi (5.04 km2)
• Water	0.10 sq mi (0.26 km2)
Elevation	1,406 ft (428.6 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,081
• Density	1,583.25/sq mi (611.26/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (Pacific)
ZIP code	97539
Area code(s)	541
FIPS code	41-66550
GNIS feature ID	1158474

Shady Cove is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. It is often called "The Jewel of the Upper Rogue" because of its beautiful location. In 2020, about 3,081 people lived here. The city is located along the famous Rogue River, which is a popular spot for fishing and rafting.

History of Shady Cove

Shady Cove officially became a city in 1973. Before that, the nearby towns of Trail to the north and Eagle Point to the south were the main centers for people living in the area. An older settlement called Etna was located between them.

People started moving into this area from Trail in the 1870s. A post office was first set up in Etna in 1882. However, the official "Shady Cove" post office opened much later, on September 12, 1939. A woman named Mrs. Lillian Hukill was the first postmistress. The exact reason for the name "Shady Cove" isn't fully clear. Some believe a man named Barnes created a town site he called "The Cove." Another idea, from local historian Barbara Hegne, is that the name came from some businessmen from Medford. They bought land for summer homes by the river and named their project the "Shady Cove Country Club."

The Great Flood of 1964

The first bridge across the Rogue River in Shady Cove was built in 1921. Sadly, it was washed away by a huge flood in 1964. This event is known as the Christmas flood of 1964. There had already been a lot of rain that year. Then, a very warm storm, called a Pineapple Express, hit the area. This type of storm brings a lot of moisture from the Pacific Ocean.

A local resident shared that a giant Douglas fir tree got stuck against the bridge as the river rose. Logs piled up behind it for about seven hours. Finally, on the evening of December 23, the bridge was swept away. Other bridges downstream were also damaged. It was very hard to get into Shady Cove until a temporary bridge was put in place three months later. The Shady Cove School helped by becoming a safe place and a food distribution center. To prevent such big floods in the future, the Lost Creek Lake dam was built in 1977.

Geography and Location

Shady Cove is in the northern part of Jackson County, Oregon. It sits on both sides of the Rogue River. Oregon Route 62 is the main road that goes through the city. This road leads north about 2 miles (3.2 km) to Trail. It also goes south about 21 miles (34 km) to Medford, which is the main city in Jackson County. The western edge of Crater Lake National Park is about 43 miles (69 km) northeast of Shady Cove, also along Route 62.

The United States Census Bureau says that Shady Cove covers a total area of about 2.01 square miles (5.21 km²). Most of this area, about 1.91 square miles (4.95 km²), is land. The rest, about 0.10 square miles (0.26 km²), is water, mainly from the Rogue River.

Economy and Tourism

In the early days of Shady Cove, the main business was the lumber trade. However, the Wilson's Lumber Mill was destroyed in the 1964 flood and was never rebuilt. By the 1980s, the lumber industry had mostly left the town.

Today, tourism is the biggest industry in Shady Cove. The city's economy now focuses on services related to the Rogue River. Many visitors come to Shady Cove for fun activities like rafting and fishing, which are popular all year round.

Population and People

The population of Shady Cove has grown over the years. In 2010, there were 2,904 people living in the city. By 2020, the population had increased to 3,081 people.

Life in Shady Cove

In 2020, there were about 1,627 households in Shady Cove. Many of these were families, with 56.4% being married couples living together. About 24.3% of households had children under 18 living with them.

The average age of people in Shady Cove in 2020 was 57.4 years. About 13.6% of the residents were under 18 years old. About 28.9% of the population was 65 years or older.

Community Services

The city of Shady Cove is run by a mayor and a four-member council. They work to make sure the city runs smoothly. The city also has a special manager for floodplains, which helps protect the area from floods.

Fire and Rescue Services

Shady Cove is home to Jackson County Fire District number 4. This fire department has three captains, four firefighters, and about twelve volunteers. They provide emergency fire and medical help. They also offer special rescue services for swift water and high places in the Shady Cove and Upper Rogue area. The department started in 1956 and covers 34 square miles (88 km²) of Jackson County, Oregon. They respond to around 1,000 incidents each year.

Library and Community Center

The town's library has regular hours and offers programs for the community. It is open three days a week for a total of 18 hours. After some funding changes, the libraries in the area are now managed by a private company.

Shady Cove also has a community center. This center helps people by offering a food pantry and a thrift store. It also has activities for young people and a lunch program on Wednesdays. Volunteers help run the community center.

Parks and Recreation

There are two parks within Shady Cove. One is Aunt Caroline's Park, which is managed by the city. It is named after Caroline Drexler, an early pioneer woman from Etna. The other park is Upper Rogue Regional Park, which is run by the county. This park has a fee for parking if you want to use the boat ramp, day use area, or playground. The county also manages the Riverhouse, a popular place for weddings and events that can be rented all year. Both parks have restrooms and parking areas.

Schools in Shady Cove

Shady Cove is part of Jackson County school district number 9. This district also includes Eagle Point, White City, and nearby areas. The school in Shady Cove is called Shady Cove School. It serves students from kindergarten through 8th grade. In 2012, Shady Cove School was recognized as one of the top 5% of Oregon schools that receive special funding to help students.

See also

In Spanish: Shady Cove para niños