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5179 CRATER LAKE HWY • CENTRAL POINT, OR
Emergency: 911   REPORT A CRIME

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September 22, 2023
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History

The Territorial Legislature created Jackson County on January 12, 1852, from the south-western portion of Lane County and the unorganized area south of Douglas and Umpqua Counties. The county was named after President Andrew Jackson.  John D. West was appointed to serve as the first Sheriff of Jackson County about five months after the county was formed.

Jackson County's borders originally ran south to California, west to the Pacific Ocean, and east to Lane County, and north to Umpqua and Douglas Counties. Over the years, the boundaries of the county were changed reflecting the creation of Coos, Curry, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, and Wasco Counties.

Jacksonville was designated as the first county seat in 1853. However, the city declined due to diminishing returns in the local goldfields and the construction in the 1880s of the Oregon and California Railroad, which bypassed the city. Medford, located five miles east of Jacksonville, benefited from the location of the railroad and the accompanying commerce and development. Jacksonville fended off suggestions to move the county seat until 1926 when Medford was selected as the county seat.

The historic Jacksonville Museum was the original location of the Sheriff’s Office & Jail. It remained there until 1926. Presently, the Main Sheriff’s Office is located at 5179 Crater Lake Highway in Central Point, and the Jackson County Jail is located at 787 W 8th St, Medford. The JC Jail was built in 1981.

hostorical photos

Past Sheriffs of Jackson County

Corey Falls  2015-2016
Mike Winters 2003 - 2014
Robert Kennedy 1995 - 2003
C.W. Smith 1983 - 1995
Duane Franklin 1975 - 1983
Dearmond Leigh 1963 -1975
Paul Bettiol 1962 - 1963
Joseph D Walsh 1959 - 1962
Howard Gault 1945 - 1959
Syd I Brown 1935 - 1945
Walter J Olshied 1933 - 1935
Gordon Schermerhorn 1933 - 1933
Ralph G Jennings 1925 - 1933
C.E. Terrill 1919 - 1925
Leslie W Stansell 1918 - 1919
Ralph G Jennings 1917 - 1918
William Singler 1913 - 1917
August D Singler 1913 - 1913
Wilbur A Jones 1908 - 1913
David H Jackson 1906 - 1908
Joseph M Rader 1902 - 1906
Alexander Orine 1898 - 1902
Albert S Barnes 1896 - 1898
Sylvester Patterson 1894 - 1896
John E Pelton 1892 - 1894
James G Birdsey 1888 - 1892
Bradford W Dean 1886 - 1888
Abraham S Jacobs 1882 - 1886
William Bybee 1878 - 1882
John W Manning 1874 - 1878
Thomas T McKenzie 1872 - 1874
Henry Klippel 1870 - 1872
Thomas G Reams 1864 - 1870
William A Owen 1864 - 1868
William H. S. Hyde 1861- 1864
Legrand J Ducan 1859 - 1861
Thomas Pyle 1854 - 1859
Mathew Kennedy 1853 - 1854
John D West 1852 - 1853