Merlin is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Josephine County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 1,615.[3] The area is known for sport fishing and whitewater rafting on the Rogue River. Merlin's ZIP code is 97532.

Merlin, Oregon
Merlin is located in Oregon
Merlin
Merlin
Merlin is located in the United States
Merlin
Merlin
Coordinates: 42°31′04″N 123°25′13″W / 42.51778°N 123.42028°W / 42.51778; -123.42028
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyJosephine
Area
 • Total4.17 sq mi (10.79 km2)
 • Land4.16 sq mi (10.77 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation
907 ft (276 m)
Population
 • Total1,690
 • Density406.45/sq mi (156.94/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
97532
Area code(s)458 and 541
FIPS code41-47650
GNIS feature ID1166680

A new railroad station in this location in 1883 was called "Jump Off Joe" for a local stream. The station was renamed "Merlin" in October 1886. The name came from a railroad civil engineer who named it for the merlins (a type of falcon) he saw in the area. "McAllister" post office was established about a mile north of Merlin in 1885, then moved to the vicinity of the railroad station and renamed Merlin in 1891.[4]

Geography

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Merlin is located 9 miles (14 km) northwest of Grants Pass. It sits in the valley of Jumpoff Joe Creek, 4 miles (6 km) east of where that stream joins the Rogue River. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Merlin CDP has a total area of 4.27 square miles (11.07 km2), of which 0.01 square miles (0.02 km2), or 0.19%, are water.[3]

Merlin lies at an elevation of about 277 m (909 ft) above MSL.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
20201,690
U.S. Decennial Census[5][2]

References

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  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Merlin CDP, Oregon". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  4. ^ McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. p. 637. ISBN 978-0875952772.
  5. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.