Reedsport : Oregon
Reedsport is a city located in Douglas County, Oregon. It was named for a local settler, Alfred W. Reed, who founded the city in 1912. As of the 2000 census, it had a total population of 4,378.
History
According to the Oregon Blue Book, Reedsport was “established” on the estuary of the Umpqua River on January 7, 1852. The post office was created July 17, 1912.
Built on marshy ground, for much of its history Reedsport has struggled with frequent flooding; most of its early buildings were elevated 3 to 8 feet above town. Following a devastating flood in 1964, a dike was constructed to protect the lower town.
In the last quarter of the 20th century, Reedsport has struggled with the collapse of the Oregon timber industry. Although the U.S. Forest Service maintains a local office in the town, Reedsport’s historic connection with the timber industry ended in 1999 with the closing of the International Paper plant in nearby Gardiner.
