Living in White City, Oregon

What is Living in White City Like?

White City is an unincorporated community of approximately 9,000 residents located along Highway 62, roughly 9 miles north of Medford and 4 miles south of Eagle Point. As a census-designated place rather than an incorporated city, White City is governed at the county level and offers some of the most affordable housing in Jackson County, making it a practical entry point for first-time buyers, families, and workers commuting to Medford. The community sits at the junction of Highway 62 and Highway 140, providing quick access to Medford, the Upper Rogue River corridor, and Crater Lake National Park.

White City's origins are deeply rooted in World War II history. In 1942, Congress appropriated $27 million to transform the Agate Desert into Camp White, a major Army training cantonment named after Oregon General George A. White. At its peak, the camp occupied nearly 50,000 acres and housed close to 40,000 people, making it the second-largest city in Oregon at the time. An estimated 100,000 troops trained at Camp White before the camp was decommissioned in 1945. The former Station Hospital was transferred to the Veterans Administration and today operates as the Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics, whose Administration Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. Much of the old building core became the White City Industrial Park, which remains a significant employment hub for the region today.

White City's dining options are primarily casual and convenient, reflecting its working community character — think local taquerias, bento spots, and quick-service staples along Highway 62. For a more elevated dining experience, the Talon Grill at the Resort at Eagle Point and Kriselle Cellars tasting room are both just minutes away and well worth the short drive.

White City is bordered by two exceptional natural areas. The Kenneth Denman Wildlife Area covers more than 1,700 acres of wetlands, grasslands, and riparian zones, popular for walking, hunting in season, and wildlife viewing — especially birdwatching during spring and fall migrations. The Denman Interpretive Trail loops through six distinct ecosystems, offering an accessible introduction to the area's natural and cultural history, from its Takelma Native American origins to its use as a WWII training ground. Adjacent to the wildlife area, TouVelle State Recreation Site sits on the banks of the Rogue River and offers fishing for salmon, steelhead, and trout, a boat ramp, swimming, and picnicking. The Upper and Lower Table Rocks are a short drive north, and Crater Lake National Park is approximately an hour away via Highway 62.

Top Neighborhoods in White City

Pros & Cons of Living in White City