About Talent
Small town, big ideas, bright future!
Talent is a small artsy town in Oregon about 4 miles from Ashland and only 7 miles from Medford. A perfect center spot! This little town has a very friendly and active community full of artists, farmers and crafters and is surrounded by scenic beauty. Enjoy the pleasantries and entertainment of the downtown area where there are many excellent cafes, restaurants and shops as well as the Camelot Theater. Or take a peaceful drive out into the beautiful rolling hills and mountains speckled with wineries and organic farms. The Talent Chamber of Commerce plays an important role as a major community resource. With population of approximately 7000, Talent is the quintessential Small Town, with artists, makers, farmers, families and citizens who love to be involved in making Talent the best little town it can be! Find out more about the “Downtown Valley View Development Project” which has been in the works since 2005 HERE.
The Talent Patio Village in downtown Talent is a 384 unit affordable housing community. Very low, low, and moderate income families, elderly persons, and persons with disabilities are eligible to live at this property. You can learn more and apply for the waiting list HERE.
Parks and Recreation
Talent is surrounded by natural beauty including trails, parks, creeks and more. Take on the Wagner Butte Trail – a 9.4 mile hike with an elevation gain of 2352 feet – and get a load of the views of Mount Shasta and Mount McLoughlin while enjoying beautiful wildflowers and manzanita trees.
Talent’s 12-acre community park, Chuck Roberts, is the jewel of the parks system and Talent’s recreation hub with tennis courts, playground, open grass fields for sports or picnicking and the water park for little kids in the summer months! But many smaller parks play vital roles too. The dog park helps keep the canine family members happy and healthy. The skatepark attracts teens from all over town. We have neighborhood parks with playgrounds. One of the parks, Lynn Newbry, is located along Bear Creek, a major tributary of the Rogue River. It’s a place for bird watching and salmon viewing. Two other parks, located along smaller Wagner Creek, serve as havens for quiet contemplation of nature.
Talent Historical Society researches and preserves the history of the Talent area in Southern Oregon. They offer a collection of historical archives to help local residents and visitors become better acquainted with our area’s rich history. THS is one of only 3 small town historical societies left in the region and is proud to have its own museum & educational events all year long. Stop by and buy the book, “Talent Oregon” by Jan Wright which is filled with hundreds of photographs. The city of Talent hosts a variety of committees and organizations that are heavily involved in the community of Talent such as Together for Talent, the Talent Public Art Committee and more.
Schools
The town of Talent shares school districts with their neighboring town to the north, Phoenix.
- Orchard Hill Elementary
- Phoenix Elementary
- Talent Elementary
- Talent Middle School
- Phoenix High School
Dining and Shopping
Downtown Talent is home to some excellent boutique shops and dining experiences. Some of the most popular restaurants are the Pump House, Arbor House and Grotto Pizza. If you’re looking for a great cafe, check out the Talent Cafe and/or Downtowne Coffee House.
Entertainment
Talent’s most well-known center for entertainment is the Camelot Theatre. Camelot is a semi-professional community theatre serving Southern Oregon and the Rogue Valley, and it has become the principal attraction and heart of Talent, Oregon. The Camelot Theatre puts on 14-15 shows a year and they also offer learning programs such as a 6-week Musical Conservatory summer program for young theatre artists.
During the warmer months, embark on a getaway for the grownups only 4-5 minutes out of town to Pascal Winery.