Merlin, Oregon

Merlin is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Josephine [County, Oregon|Josephine County], Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 [United States Census|2010 census] it had a population of 1,615. 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 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.

Geography

Merlin is located northwest of Grants [Pass, Oregon|Grants Pass]. It sits in the valley of Jumpoff Joe Creek, east of where that stream joins the Rogue River. According to the U.S. [Census Bureau], the Merlin CDP has a total area of, of which, or 0.19%, are water.
Merlin lies at an elevation of about above MSL.