Myrtle Creek Real Estate-Myrtle Creek Homes For Sale

Myrtle Creek is a small-incorporated city, population 3601 at last count. It is located in south central Oregon beside Interstate 5 on the South Umpqua River. It is in Douglas County, where we are fortunate to be within one to two hours of the seashore, numerous lakes and mountain resorts. Our river gets its name from the Umpqua Indian Tribe who once populated the many valleys occupied by its tributaries. Oregon has many mini climate areas and ours is best described as "Oregon's banana belt". Mild summers and winters with snowfall a sometime thing that never stays on the ground for more than a day or so. Rainfall, about 34 to 36 inches a year. One gets the change of seasons here without extended hot or cold periods. Wood products form the major industry but we also have the only nickel mine in the United States on a nearby mountain and some years ago a small high-tech research firm made its home here. We are a "full service city" with our own sewer plant, water works, police and fire departments. Our police operate a 911 system and fire dispatch for the local area. The city has no bonded indebtedness...the result of a consistent conservative fiscal policy and our many citizen volunteers. About 30% of our population is of retirement age, giving the city a relatively stable, if limited, economic base. Myrtle Creek Municipal Airport (619 feet above sea level) is not very large, a 2650-foot runway with a built-in cross wind, but it is convenient and air taxi service is available. A fixed base operator is currently improving facilities with a new maintenance hangar and related services. We have two parks of which we are justly proud. The largest, Millsite Park, contains three ball diamonds, two soccer fields, a volleyball court, an RV parking area, kiosk, large fountain and patio. Summer concerts are conducted from our new band shell on Thursday evenings. Currently we are in the process constructing covered picnic shelter and re-assembling an historic covered bridge, which spans the creek behind Millsite Park. Evergreen Park, older and smaller, is considered by many to be the more restful of the two. It contains many mature species of Oregon trees, which spread their shade over the competition horseshoe area (12 teams at a time), the picnic areas, tennis courts and a tot-lot. City government consists of an elected council of five plus a mayor, all unpaid. A professional administrator conducts day-to-day operations. Various commissions and advisory boards help the council in their deliberations, spreading the work so that everyone contributes to the decisions affecting the city. Community organizations, Elks, Lions, Masons, Volunteer Firemen and just plain citizens generously donate time and effort, making this city a good place to live...democracy at its best! With the current Pacific Northwest timber harvest problems our community is facing a loss of work in that industry. This results in a need for economic diversification and we are endeavoring, locally at all levels, to encourage economic growth in light industry related businesses. A slow but growing movement. In order to aid in this effort cities, like Myrtle Creek, are extending tax and other benefits to small firms. To further expand our local industries we are taking a hard look at tourism and retirement housing possibilities. The area abounds with tales of the early settlers and their hardships. Our local rivers and streams were the scenes of extensive gold mining, efforts that persist to this day, although in a much reduced level of activity. The old Pioneer Cemetery, located on a hilltop within the city, is the resting place of more than a hundred of the early settlers. Many of the family names on the headstones can be found in our local telephone directory.