Welcome to Grants Pass...
The city of Grants Pass in Josephine County, Oregon is “where the Rogue River runs.” The river has provided continued sustenance to each passing generation. First, to the region’s original inhabitants, the Takilma and Shasta Native American Indian tribes, and then to the Hudson Bay trappers who passed through the Rogue River Valley between 1825 and 1843. The river then played host to the settlers who arrived along the southern route of the Oregon Trail, which was established in 1846 by the Applegate brothers. The Trail passed through this river valley making its way north along what is now the I-5 corridor toward the Willamette River Valley. The growth of Grants Pass was catalyzed by the discovery of gold in Southern Oregon in 1851, twenty-five miles south of Grants Pass along the Illinois River, a tributary of the River Rogue, causing a major migration to this area. In 1865 the city got its name as a result of the capture of Vicksburg by General U.S. Grant. About the time the news arrived in Southern Oregon, men engaged in improving the road over the low hills north, celebrated the victory by naming the summit “Grants Pass”. Grants Pass has grown to be a city of 25,000 people and is a center of commerce, culture and industry. Visitors will enjoy the historic downtown with its antique shops, art galleries, restaurants, live theatre and music venues and seasonal festivals and outdoor recreation enthusiasts will find that Grants Pass is the departure point for most Rogue River guided fishing and boating trips.
Visitor Information
Elevation: 948 feet
Population: 25,000 people
Zip Code: 97526 & 97527
Local Spotlight
Growers Market
Mileage Chart
Ashland: 41
Bend: 191
Portland: 246
San Francisco: 390
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