Ruch, Oregon

Ruch, Oregon
Ruch is located in Oregon
Ruch
Ruch
Ruch is located in the United States
Ruch
Ruch
Coordinates: 42°14′14″N 123°2′29″W / 42.23722°N 123.04139°W / 42.23722; -123.04139
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyJackson
Area
 • Total6.74 sq mi (17.44 km2)
 • Land6.74 sq mi (17.44 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,527 ft (465 m)
Population
 • Total819
 • Density121.60/sq mi (46.95/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
97530
Area code(s)458 and 541
FIPS code41-64150
GNIS feature ID1148830

Ruch is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. It is located on Oregon Route 238, southeast of Grants Pass. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 840.[3]

Ruch was named after Casper M. Ruch, who bought a tract of land where the community now stands in 1896. He built a blacksmith shop, a store and a house. When he was appointed as a postmaster of the new post office in 1897 and allowed to name it. He named the post office after himself. The post office closed in 1939.[4]

There are two structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Ruch—McKee Bridge and Star Ranger Station.

The Ruch area is home to several Oregon wineries and in the Applegate Valley AVA, a sub-appellation of the Rogue Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area). A small elementary school, Ruch Elementary, is located near the center of the community. The school serves Kindergarten to 8th grade with the Cougars as their mascot.

The Applegate River runs through the southwest edge of the valley.

  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Ruch CDP, Oregon". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  4. ^ McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. p. 830. ISBN 978-0875952772.