Jackson County, Oregon Competitors

Perfectly placed in the Willamette Valley, 90 miles south of Portland and 40 miles north of Eugene, Benton County has easy access to urban areas with ample opportunities for cultural activities. Combined with outdoor recreation galore in the Cascade Range 80 miles to the east and the Coastal Range and the Pacific Ocean 50 miles west, the county’s 90,000 residents like to say they “have it all.” Voters elect three County Commissioners and a Sheriff to four-year terms. The District Attorney is also elected to a four-year term and is a state official. The County Commissioners are assisted in their administrative responsibilities by the County Administrator, who is responsible for implementing County policy, managing operations, budget, and supervising Department Directors. With a ’21-’23 total budget of approximately $349.8 million and 564 employees, Benton County provides a breadth of services through its departments of Assessment, Board of Commissioners, Community Development, District Attorney, Fairgrounds, Records and Elections, Financial Services, Health Centers, Health Department, Human Resources, Information Technology, Juvenile, Natural Areas and Parks, Public Works, and the Sheriff’s Office. In addition to Oregon State University and local entrepreneurship, Benton County’s economy is driven by the tech and health industries and regional agriculture. Traditionally, county Ag has focused on grass seed, Christmas trees, wine grapes, seed crops, organic produce, lumber, sheep, cattle and dairy, but recent years have seen large upswing in hazelnuts and marijuana. The community’s passion for supporting a thriving local economy allow the county to boast chefs, restaurateurs, winemakers, brewmasters and distilleries committed to locally grown ingredients with a strong focus on sustainability.

The City of Ashland is a community of approximately 21,000 residents located near the south end of the Rogue Valley along Interstate 5 in Southern Oregon. Just 16 miles north of the Oregon-California border and a little more than a two-hour drive west to the Pacific Ocean, Ashland is nestled in the foothills of the Siskiyou Mountains and is one of the most scenic and picturesque communities in the Pacific Northwest. Nearby recreational and outdoor amenities include lakes, mountain trails for hiking and biking, downhill skiing runs, and beautiful, and the historical Lithia Park. Ashland is also home to Southern Oregon University and a public school district consistently rated among the top 100 school districts in the nation. Ashland has managed to maintain a strong sense of community, in part because of the quality services it offers to its citizens.

Klamath County is a local government employer located in Klamath Falls, Oregon.