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Oregon Turns 166: A Valentine’s Birthday and Josephine County’s Remarkable History Josephine County has long been a hotspot of history, adventure, and a little bit of mischief.

By: Leaf Barret This February 14th, while couples across the country are celebrating love, Oregonians have another reason to pop a bottle of locally made Pinot Noir—our great state is turning 166 years old! That’s right, Oregon officially became the 33rd state in the Union on February 14, 1859, earning the unique distinction of being the only U.S. state to join on Valentine’s Day. And while Oregon’s vast landscape, ranging from its misty coastline to the high desert— offer plenty of beauty, we here in Josephine County know that our little slice of heaven has some pretty amazing history of its own. So, in honor of Oregon’s birthday, let’s take a look back at how this wild and wonderful place came to be, from its rugged frontier days to the quirks that make Josephine County stand out today. The Birth of Oregon: A Valentine’s Day Gift to the Union Long before Oregon became an official state, it was already making a name for itself as part of the Oregon Trail, the historic route that lured thousands of settlers westward with promises of fertile farmland and a fresh start. Before the pioneers arrived, however, the land belonged to Native American tribes such as the Kalapuya, Chinook, Klamath, Nez Perce, Umatilla, Modoc, and many others, who lived

Gold Fever Hits Southern Oregon Like much of the American West, Josephine County was shaped by the Gold Rush. Miners flooded the area in the 1850s, drawn by rumors of gold buried in the rivers and hills. The boomtown of Sailor Diggings (later called Waldo) was one of the first settlements, and places like Grave Creek, Galice, and Althouse became known for producing impressive amounts of gold. One particularly colorful figure from this era was Dutch Bill, a mysterious prospector who struck it rich along the Illinois River. His name and legend still linger in the region today.

in harmony with Oregon’s rich natural environment for thousands of years. The influx of settlers brought immense change, with treaties, conflicts, and forced relocations reshaping the state’s cultural and political landscape. Oregon initially became a U.S. territory in 1848, but statehood was a harder sell. It took over a decade before Congress finally admitted Oregon into the Union in 1859—right in the thick of tensions leading up to the Civil War. Interestingly, Oregon was founded as a "free state" (meaning slavery was illegal), but

it also passed exclusion laws that barred Black Americans from settling here. It wasn’t exactly the most inclusive beginning, but thankfully, Oregon has evolved into a much more progressive and diverse place over the years. Josephine County: The Gold Rush, Outlaws, and More While the story of Oregon’s statehood is fascinating, we here in Josephine County have our own thrilling tales to tell. Founded just four years before Oregon became a state, in 1853,

The Outlaw Days: Jesse James and the Wild West The Gold Rush brought fortune seekers, but it also attracted outlaws, gamblers, and gunfighters. Some say that members of Jesse James' gang even hid out in the backcountry of Josephine County, using the rugged terrain as a perfect escape route from law enforcement. Additionally, the famous Wolf Creek Inn & Tavern, which still stands today, was once a favorite stop for stagecoach travelers—and possibly a few train robbers as well. The tavern, built in the 1880s, still operates and is rumored to be haunted. (A dinner and ghost tour, anyone?)

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Not All States Observe President's Day Some States Skip the Federal Holiday By: Leaf Barret President’s Day is a widely recognized and celebrated holiday across the United States, observed on the third Monday of February each year. It is intended to honor the birthdays of George Washington, the first U.S. president, as well as Abraham Lincoln, who also was born in February. However, despite its widespread observance, not all states recognize President's Day as a public holiday. In fact, several states—including Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Rhode Island—do not observe it as a state holiday, leaving residents in those states without a day off in honor of U.S. presidents. The reasons behind this vary, with historical, legal, and cultural factors influencing the decisions of individual states. For many, the holiday is primarily associated with a day of sales and discounts rather than a serious observance of presidential history. While the federal government mandates that federal offices and government workers observe the day, states are not required to follow suit. As a result, state governments have the freedom to either adopt or reject the observance of the holiday. Delaware, for example, celebrates a variety of state-specific holidays, but President's Day

is not one of them. The state instead places its focus on other holidays, including Memorial Day and Labor Day, and chooses to recognize Washington’s Birthday separately, without combining it into the broader President's Day celebration. Similarly, Florida does not observe President's Day as a state holiday, instead opting to celebrate its own public holidays that are more regionally significant, such as Florida’s Admission Day. In Iowa and Kansas, President’s Day is also not on the calendar as an official state holiday. Although the federal government recognizes the day, state workers in these two states do not receive time off, and businesses continue with their usual operating hours. Kansas, like many other states, has decided to celebrate Presidents’ Day on an unofficial level, but the day is not marked by state-sanctioned closures or events.

States such as Kentucky and Louisiana are examples of states that have chosen to leave President's Day off the list of recognized holidays for a different reason: they already observe numerous holidays throughout the year, including state-specific days such as Commonwealth Day in Kentucky. As a result, the importance of adding another holiday like President's Day is minimal in these states, where local customs and historical dates take precedence. North Carolina and Rhode Island also do not recognize President’s Day as a formal holiday. North Carolina, for instance, celebrates Washington’s Birthday in an unofficial capacity, often combined with other holidays like Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Similarly, Rhode Island has opted not to officially observe President’s Day, continuing to recognize holidays with more direct relevance to

its local population. In many of these states, the decision not to observe President's Day is largely due to a combination of fiscal and logistical reasons. Local governments may see no compelling reason to observe the holiday, particularly when budget constraints or pre-existing holidays already provide ample time off for employees. The lack of formal observance does not necessarily mean that residents in these states don’t acknowledge or celebrate the holiday, as many private businesses and schools still follow the federal pattern by offering sales, special promotions, or closing for the day. Though the holiday is officially recognized by the federal government and many states, the absence of President's Day in certain states reflects the decentralized nature of holiday observances in the U.S. Despite this, President's Day remains a significant occasion for most Americans, marked by a day off for federal workers, educational activities, and discounts for consumers nationwide.