About The Area

The Southern Oregon coast is a mecca of recreational opportunities with something for everyone; world class river and ocean fishing, tide-pooling and beachcombing, whale watching, crabbing and clamming, hiking, biking, museums and art galleries, jet boat cruises up the Wild and Scenic Rogue River, local festivals, summer theatre, world champion wind surfing, golfing, camping, skate boarding park, concerts, dining, nearby casinos, and fabulous sunsets. Explore our beautiful shores and activities in a secure small town setting.



Curry County is situated along the Pacific Coast in the southwest corner of Oregon. It is bounded on the south by California, on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the north by Coos County, and on the east by Josephine County. The county contains 1,648 square miles.

Upon creation of Curry County, the Territorial Legislature fixed the county seat temporarily at Port Orford until the citizens of the county could determine a permanent site. In 1859, following an informal vote of county citizens during the general election, Ellensburg was designated the county seat. In 1891 Ellensburg was renamed Gold Beach because of the gold and other minerals found in the sands in this area and to eliminate confusion with the city of Ellensburg located in the state of Washington.

In 1852, explorers discovered gold and other precious metals in the rivers and along the beaches of this area. Initially, settlement in the county was concentrated along the coast and depended primarily on water transport. The slow development of inland transportation routes kept the county relatively isolated well into the twentieth century. While there is still mining of cobalt, nickel, and chromium in the southern part of the county, most of the county's economy has reoriented to agriculture, recreation, tourism and forest products. Port Orford cedar (Lawson Cypress) and myrtlewood are important export commodities.

The county has excellent grazing areas for raising cattle and sheep as well as favorable environmental conditions for the production of blueberries, cranberries, and horticultural nursery stock. The Harbor Bench area of southern Curry and northern Del Norte counties produces ninety percent of all Easter lilies raised in the United States. Vacation and recreational possibilities in the county draw tourists to the area and provide additional economic diversity.

To find out more about relocating into the area, we encourage you to use the following resources:

Newspapers

●Curry Coastal Pilot
●Curry County Reporter
●Port Orford Beacon

Local Government:

●Curry County Government
●City of Gold Beach
●City of Brookings
●City of Port Orford

The following resources may also prove helpful:

●Gold Beach Link - a comprehensive of guide of places to explore, places to eat & drink, events, where to stay and shop, real estate for sale, local news and videos
●Gold Beach Chamber of Commerce
●Gold Beach Tourist Information
●Brookings Chamber of Commerce
●Port Orford Chamber of Commerce
●North Curry County Tourist Information