Prospect, Oregon
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyJackson
Unit prefImperial
Area total3.50 sq mi
Area land3.50 sq mi
Area water0.00 sq mi
Area total9.07 km²
Area land9.07 km²
Area water0.01 km²
Population as of2020
Population total449
Population density49.52 km²
Population density128.25 sq mi
Time zonePacific (PST) (UTC-8)
Time zone (DST)PDT (UTC-7)
Elevation2605 ft
Coordinates42°45′12″N 122°29′16″W
ZIP code97536
FIPS code41-60100
GNIS feature ID2611775[1]

Prospect is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Jackson County, in the U.S. state of Oregon. It lies along Oregon Route 62 on the Rogue River, in the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest.[2] As of the 2020 census it had a population of 449.[3]

History

Prospect began as a logging town; its first sawmill began operating in 1870.[4] Prospect had a post office established in 1882 that was first named "Deskins" after the first postmaster.[5] In 1888, there was a mill named Deskins Sawmill. The name of the community was changed to "Prospect" in 1889 because of plans made to run a railroad up the Rogue River, which would ostensibly improve the community's prospects.[5]

The Prospect Hotel, which opened in 1892, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.[4][6]

Local events and sites of interest

On the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, Prospect holds the Mill Creek Memorial festival. It honors veterans with a parade, a flag retirement ceremony, live music and games for children. All the proceeds go to a fund to help veterans.

In July Prospect hosts an airplane "fly-in" that helps support the Jackson County Search and Rescue, and in August a jamboree and timber carnival (a festival that includes lumberjack contests such as log rolling) are held.[4]

On the last weekend in September, Prospect hosts Music in the Mountains, a two-day festival of bluegrass, country, folk and Americana music on the grounds of the Prospect Hotel.[7]

Prospect is the site of Prospect State Airport , which has one asphalt runway. It is used for general aviation operations, totaling about 1200 annual movements.[8] The Prospect State Scenic Viewpoint is nearby.[9]

Climate

This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F (22.0 °C). According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Prospect has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.[10]

References

  1. ^
  2. ^ "United States Topographic Map". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved February 18, 2016. – via Acme Mapper.
  3. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Prospect CDP, Oregon". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  4. ^ "Prospect". Shady Cove – Upper Rogue Chamber. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  5. ^ McArthur, Lewis A. & Lewis L. McArthur (2003 [1928]). Oregon Geographic Names. 7th ed. Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. pp. 786–87. ISBN 0-87595-277-1.
  6. ^ "Oregon National Register List". Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. June 6, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2007.
  7. ^ "Prospect Hotel Music Festival". Prospect Hotel. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  8. ^ "Prospect State Airport". Oregon Airports : State of Oregon. Oregon Department of Aviation. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  9. ^ Oregon Atlas & Gazetteer. 7th ed. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. 2008. p. 62. ISBN 978-0-89933-347-2.
  10. ^ "Prospect, Oregon". Weatherbase. Canty Media. Retrieved August 31, 2015.