Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 17, 2026

Merlin, Oregon

Merlin is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Josephine County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2020 census, Merlin had a population of 1,690. The area is known for sport fishing and whitewater rafting on the Rogue River. Merlin's ZIP code is 97532.

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Jul 17, 2026
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Merlin, Oregon
Census-designated place
Merlin
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Merlin
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Coordinates: 42°31′04″N 123°25′13″W / 42.51778°N 123.42028°W / 42.51778; -123.42028
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyJosephine
Area
1
 • Total
4.17 sq mi (10.79 km2)
 • Land4.16 sq mi (10.77 km2)
 • Water0.0077 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation
907 ft (276 m)
Population
 (2020)2
 • Total
1,690
 • Density406.5/sq mi (156.94/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
97532
Area codes458 and 541
FIPS code41-47650
GNIS feature ID1166680

Merlin is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Josephine County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2020 census, Merlin had a population of 1,690.3 The area is known for sport fishing and whitewater rafting on the Rogue River. Merlin's ZIP code is 97532.

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

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.5

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

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
20201,690—
U.S. Decennial Census62
References

References

  1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  2. "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  3. "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  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. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Merlin CDP, Oregon". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 1, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  6. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.