Praying for Oregon Counties: Curry

Image by tdfugere from Pixabay

For they shall partake of the abundance of the seas
And of treasures hidden in the sand. Deuteronomy 33:19

Some of my family members have driven down Highway 101, the Oregon coast highway, to Curry County in the extreme southwest corner of Oregon and then on to California just across the county line. Usually those trips are to visit the redwoods in Northern California. I am more familiar with I-5, which passes to the east of Curry County, so haven’t seen much of this gem of the Oregon coast.

Established in 1855, it was split off from Coos County to the north. Curry County is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, California to the south, Josephine County to the east and just a touch of Douglas County on the northeastern corner. It is one of Oregon’s smaller counties in size, but there are about 13 people per square mile, so a bit more populated than the counties east of the mountains.

For many years travel along the southern Oregon coast was via boat or along coast roads. Curry County was a tad isolated from the rest of Oregon, even into the 20^thcentury. To visit the main towns – Gold Beach (the county seat), Brookings, Port Orford – one now travels down Highway 101. Curry County has the distinction of having the westernmost point of land in Oregon, Cape Blanco.

At first Curry County was explored by adventurers of various types, including the Spanish in the 1700’s. Cape Blanco and Port Orford are Spanish names. Some fur traders and explorers came through in the early 1800’s, but it wasn’t until gold was found along the beaches and rivers that settlers began to take an interest. Settlements were built and when the gold ran out, people turned to lumber, fishing and farming. 

Image by MustangJoe from Pixabay 

What do I know about Curry County? It is known for Port Orford Cedar, also called Lawson cypress, a unique evergreen. And for Myrtlewood, another species unique to the southern Oregon and northern California coast. I knew and appreciated this from my acquaintance with Oregon forestry, but I did not know Curry County produces most of the Easter lilies for the entire United States. 

In 1855 – 56 there was a violent and bloody conflict with the local Native Americans called the Rouge River War. While they did kill some settlers and burn homesteads, it ended badly for the Native Americans and they were relocated to reservations. 

An early report by the Presbyterian Church recounts the difficulty of establishing churches in those early days, and into the early twentieth century. Travel was difficult and the area large for the number of ministers trying to cover it. In fact, it appears in 1906 the Presbyterians had only one minister and a part-time lay preacher for the entire county. 

How to pray for Curry County?

There was a fair amount of bloodshed and bitterness (on both sides) during the Rogue River War. Repent like Daniel.

The county has a three-person Board of Commissioners - pray for them, and the other county officials. Curry County is in Oregon house and senate district one. To fine the names of state senators and representatives, check here.

Pray for the peace of Curry County, and blessings. Geographical isolation from the rest of the state might be a concern, and perhaps the sense of a lack of representation (Eugene is part of the same federal Congressional district four, and rural Curry would be outvoted by more urban Eugene). 

 For you [Curry County] shall go out with joy,

And be led out with peace;
The mountains and the hills
Shall break forth into singing before you,
And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree,
And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree;
And it shall be to the Lord for a name,
For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. Isaiah 55: 12 - 13

Margaret