Vitality and resilience have become some of the core principles for A Greater Applegate’s community building work. Vitality is the capacity for the continuation of a meaningful or purposeful existence, the power to live or grow. Resilience is the ability of people and their communities to anticipate and adapt amidst changing conditions and events. Vital and resilient communities enjoy a high quality of life, reliable systems, economic stability, and resources for present and future generations. These are not new concepts, they have been at play here for generations.
In the pre-settler days, the Applegate was known as the S’bink (Beaver River) and it was home to the Dakubedete and many other nearby and traveling Indigenous groups, bands, or tribes. They took fish and game and gathered acorns, nuts and berries. They camped along streams, building temporary dwellings using light pole frames covered with brush matting or bushes and ferns (Fowler and Roberts, 1994). They moved through and stewarded the landscape with low-intensity fire to enhance the productivity of food gathering areas that could be shared with permission by multiple Indigenous groups. They also gathered and traded thanks to the waterways that made travel possible from the coast to the inlands and back. Many of these groups were nomadic, and only stayed in any specific area for short periods (Lewis, 2021).
By 1859, the Applegate Valley was settled with farmers and ranchers striving to feed a booming population of miners. Their products included cattle, hogs, dairy, grain, vegetables and fruit crops. Horses powered mining, ranching and logging operations while also providing transportation. Until the 1950’s, mining was a source of income to many settlers all the way up the Valley and farmers continued to sustain the region (Johnson, 1979).
By the end of the 1970’s, much of the Applegate Valley land was broken up into smaller acreages. Residents worked in local logging or lumber mills, or they commuted to Grants Pass or Medford. Retirees moved into the valley, along with a few tourist businesses, real estate agents, and construction workers. Some things remain the same while others are changing. Recently, A Greater Applegate and the Wellington Wildlands Council underwent a research project with the University of Oregon to capture the current economic drivers of the Applegate.
By count of total jobs in 2021, the top industries in the Applegate Valley were:
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Educational services
- Construction
- Manufacturing (including beverages like wine and cider)
- Accommodation and Food Services
These data sets and more were presented at the State of the Applegate Community Summit in February where A Greater Applegate partnered with community leaders to present a comprehensive picture of the Applegate in 2024. We shared demographic and job data, the results of the local business survey, and information gathered in-house that includes Wander Applegate website traffic, occupancy rates on vacation rentals, and some fun facts like: How many pickle lemonades did Code 3 Coffee & Snacks sell this year? What were the most popular library books of 2024? How many hamburgers did the Lindsay Lodge sell this year?
Be on the lookout for more on these insightful reports. We will continue to work with the community on digesting the data and planning next steps to support the industries that are driving this economy via the Applegate Valley Business Network, the Wander Applegate program, our Food and Farm Network, and our Arts Working Group. You can also find the new and improved local business directory up on ApplegateConnect.org.
On the resilience end of things, the All Things Fire Fair! returned to the Applegate Valley Fire District #9 in Ruch on Saturday, March 8th, from 10:00am-4:00 pm. This second annual event helps us move towards a fire-adapted Applegate with a family-friendly atmosphere and a mix of informational tables, presentations, and live demonstrations focusing on wildfire and community preparedness and the role of individuals in protecting their homes and properties. Please stay tuned to A Greater Applegate’s youtube channel for videos from all the sessions (you can also find videos from our Water Security Education Day here as well!).
Abundance is only cultivated through diligence and consistency, which is how A Greater Applegate has been serving this community for nearly 30 years. Much like the valley we call home, this organization has not changed course to react to short-term political or cultural phenomena. We have remained committed to be impactful where we have influence and leverage—which is right here in the Applegate Valley. We are not reinventing the wheel, we are standing on the shoulders and ideas of the many Applegaters who have been building this community for decades. Thank you for joining us as we move towards vitality and resilience. We look forward to hearing from you and working together in 2025.
Megan Fehrman
Co-Executive Director
A Greater Applegate
541-702-2108
agreaterapplegate.org
