Douglas County was created Jan. 7, 1852 from the portion of Umpqua County lying east of the Coast Range summit. Its boundaries remained unchanged until 1862, when it absorbed Umpqua County. Douglas County is bounded by Curry, Jackson, and Josephine Counties to the south; Wasco County to the east; Lane County to the north: and Coos County and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Douglas County was the 11th county created in Oregon and was named for US Senator Stephen A. Douglas.
Indians and whites skirmished between 1850 and 1853. General Joseph Lane and Rogue River Chief Joe signed a treaty which stopped hostilities temporarily. Due to treaty violations and murders of both whites and Indians, most of the southern Oregon tribes united in 1855 and fought the US regulars and local militia units for two years. The Rogue River War ended in 1856 and Indians were moved to the Grande Ronde and Siletz reservations.
The first meeting of the Douglas County Commission was held at Winchester in April, 1852. Winchester remained the county seat until 1854 when Deer Creek (later Roseburg) was made the seat by popular election. The same year, Reverend James H. Wilbur formed Umpqua Academy at the town of Wilbur. This was the only secondary school between the Willamette Valley and Sacramento, California.
Series Descriptions for Douglas County
1854
.1 cubic feet
Calendar Microfilm
Series used to assess real and personal property in order to determine tax liabilities.
1854-1857
.1 cubic feet
Calendar Microfilm
Series used to document county population and to report statistics to the territorial government. Census rolls show resident's name; number of legal voters, adult males and females, males aged 10 to 21, females aged 10 to 18, and males and females under age 10; totals; census date; and census taker's certification. Series is not arranged.
1855-1856
.25 cubic feet
Calendar Microfilm
Series documents the collection of assessed taxes. Tax roll entries show taxpayer's name, poll tax owed, county tax owed, school tax owed, territorial tax owed, and total tax owed. Some years also include "paid" notations. Series is not arranged.