Merlin, Oregon
Unincorporated community in the state of Oregon, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Merlin is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Josephine County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2020 census, Merlin had a population of 1,690.[3] The area is known for sport fishing and whitewater rafting on the Rogue River. Merlin's ZIP code is 97532.
Merlin, Oregon | |
|---|---|
  Merlin  Merlin | |
| Coordinates: 42°31′04″N 123°25′13″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Josephine |
| Area | |
• Total | 4.17 sq mi (10.79 km2) |
| • Land | 4.16 sq mi (10.77 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0077 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 907 ft (276 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 1,690 |
| • Density | 406.5/sq mi (156.94/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code | 97532 |
| Area codes | 458 and 541 |
| FIPS code | 41-47650 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1166680 |
A new railroad station in this location in 1883 was called "Jump Off Joe" for a local stream. The station was renamed "Merlin" in October 1886. The name came from a railroad civil engineer who named it for the merlins (a type of falcon) he saw in the area. "McAllister" post office was established about a mile north of Merlin in 1885, then moved to the vicinity of the railroad station and renamed Merlin in 1891.[4]
Geography
Merlin is located 9 miles (14 km) northwest of Grants Pass. It sits in the valley of Jumpoff Joe Creek, 4 miles (6 km) east of where that stream joins the Rogue River. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Merlin CDP has a total area of 4.27 square miles (11.07 km2), of which 0.01 square miles (0.02 km2), or 0.19%, are water.[5]
Merlin lies at an elevation of about 277 m (909 ft) above MSL.
