Midway between San Francisco and Seattle, Jackson County lies just North of the California border, surrounded by the Siskiyou and the Cascade Mountains. Money magazine named Medford, located at the heart of Jackson County as "one of the best places to retire" attesting to a rich cultural life and plentiful outdoor activities surrounded by the beauty of the Northwest. Residential and commercial development have enjoyed a sustained growth for many years in this community that still offers small-town charm with big-city benefits. Southern Oregon is a great place to live. The quality of life offered here is second to none, with the vibrant cultural and recreational opportunities, the friendly people and the mild climate.  Of the many reasons many people decide to move here, here are 10 of the top: 1.      Climate             2.      Real Estate 3.      Arts and Culture 4.      Outdoor Recreation 5.      Activities for the Enthusiast 6.      Education 7.      Healthcare 8.      Small Business Opportunities 9.      Shopping 10.    No Sales Tax   1. Climate The temperature is moderate and the seasons gloriously distinctive.   Summers are warm and sunny, winters bring sporadic showers and an occasional dusting of snow.    Summer: 70F-100F             Winter: 30F-65F       Elevation:   1569 ft   Annual Rainfall: 20 inches 2.   Real Estate Real Estate Values continue to rise in Southern Oregon.  A wide variety of homes and apartments to choose from to fit every lifestyle.  3. Arts & Culture Southern Oregon has an exciting, growing arts and culture scene.   A ward-winning theater, soothing outdoor concerts and other works of art.   Britt Festival in Jacksonville and the Ginger Rogers Theatre in Medford and the Shakespere theatre in Ashland add to the rich artistic culture that Southern Oregon has become known for.   People travel from all over specifically to enjoy the cultural life of Southern Oregon.      4. Outdoor Recreation There is an abundance of recreational opportunities, including hiking, biking, and water sports at nearby lakes. Snow skiing, ice skating, camping, fishing and river rafting add to the list of outdoor activities.  5. Golf and Wineries and Birding Abound for the Enthusiast! Golf:   You can schedule a day on the course nearly 12 months out of the year when visiting Southern Oregon! Whether you’re golfing the greens year-round, practicing your putt, or just outdoors for some fresh air and exercise, there’s nine courses to keep your club swinging. Play a round on a course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., a meticulously crafted 175-acre course rated 4 ½ stars by Golf Digest. Wineries:   Southern Oregon is one of the finest wine producing regions in the country. Many different varieties of wine grapes are grown here. Southern Oregon climate varies from cool and wet to warm and dry, and variety of soils make this a premium wine making region. Southern Oregon offers an excellent selection of wines such as Claret and Pinot Noir, Mescolare, Chardonnay, Merlot, Viognier, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Spanish and French wine grapes.   Birding: Oregon/Northern California state line, the Klamath Basin Birding Trail  (KBBT) includes 47 birding locations where birding enthusiasts can spot more than 350 species among the mountains and marshes of the area. There are eight state and federal wildlife refuges in the Klamath Basin, and 80 percent of the waterfowl that travel the Pacific Flyway come through this area (including one of the largest concentrations of Bald Eagles in the continental US). The Klamath Basin was rated on Sunset Magazine's list of "Fantastic Five Birding Destinations in the West." 6 . Education:  Oregon residents will find a wide variety of public, private and charter schools. Test scores are improving throughout the state, schools are safe, and computers are highly available. Jackson County and Josephine County is home to Rogue Community College and Southern Oregon University , as well as many reputable trade schools.        7.   Hospitals, Health Care and Retirement facilities:  The people of Southern Oregon enjoy the peace of mind that comes with the area’s advanced medical facilities.  The Rogue Valley has the most comprehensive medical facilities found between Portland and San Francisco.  People who adopt our Northwest style of living are well served by two hospitals, a surgery center, a 24-hour emergency airborne system called Mercy Flights, as well as other medical support. 8.  Small Business Opportunities:  Check with the Small Business Association.  Southern Oregon. 9.  Shopping:  We have an ever growing number of shopping.  The Rogue Valley Mall, in addition to an enormous amount of strip malls and local franchises.  In addition, small boutiques and specialty shops.  10. No Sales Tax .  Yes, you read correctly. Oregon has no sales tax.    Contact Chris and Kim Knox to start searching for your home!  Area Info Oregon, state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. It is bordered by Washington, across the Columbia R. (N), Idaho, partially Area, 96,981 sq mi (251,181 sq km). Pop. (2000) 3,421,399, a 20.4% increase since the 1990 census. Capital,Salem. Largest city,Portland.  Motto, The Union. State bird,Western meadowlark. State flower, Oregon grape. State tree,Douglas fir. Oregon's major sources of farm income are greenhouse products, wheat, cattle (huge herds graze on the plateaus E of the Cascades), and dairy items. Hay, wheat, pears, and onions are important, and the state is one of the nation's leading producers of snap beans, peppermint, sweet cherries (orchards are particularly numerous in the N Willamette Valley), broccoli, and strawberries. Oregon has developed an important and growing wine industry since 1980.  Abundant, cheap electric power is supplied by numerous dams, most notably those on the Columbia River Bonneville Dam, The Dalles Dam, and McNary Dam. The John Day Dam is one of the largest hydroelectric generators in the world. The dams also aid in flood control and navigation. The Bonneville Dam, in the steep gorge where the Columbia River pierces the Cascades, enables large vessels to travel far inland, and although river traffic is less vital than formerly, the Columbia River cities still serve as transport centers to the east.  Oregon's river resources are one of its greatest assets. Its salmon-fishing industry, centered around Astoria, is one of the world's largest; other catches are tuna and crabs. Although mining is still underdeveloped, Oregon leads the nation in the production of nickel.  A bustling theatrical town (Ashland) featuring the Tony-Award winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the country's deepest lake, Crater Lake, the Oregon Caves National Monument, world-class fishing and rafting rivers, year-round golf, mountains for skiing, biking and hiking only begin to make up the many pieces of picturesque Southern Oregon. Indulge on chocolates to your heart’s content at the Ashland Chocolate Festival, taste world-famous artisan cheeses at the Rogue-Creamery, and explore the bounty of good wine and fine restaurants. The region is home to dozens of museums, including Favel Museum and Southern Oregon History Center, and a host of art galleries, theaters and antique malls.  Known as a town with a wealth of activities, scenic beauty and old-fashioned hospitality. Visitors who have traditionally come to experience world-class fishing, white water rafting and the popular jet boat excursions, are now discovering so much more. An historic downtown district offers an array of antique, craft and specialty shops as well as museums and art galleries. One of Oregon's largest growers and crafters markets is in full-swing twice weekly from early spring into the fall. Annual celebrations such as Boatnik, Art along the Rogue, the Magical, Musical Christmas Murals, and the not-to-be-missed summer public art festivals make a move to Southern Oregon hard to resist.