Medford is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. As of July 1, 2013, the city had a total population of 77,677 and a metropolitan area population of 208,545, making the Medford MSA the 4th largest metro area in Oregon. The city was named in 1883 by David Loring, civil engineer and right-of-way agent for the Oregon and California Railroad for his home town of Medford, Massachusetts, and in recognition of its supposed position on the middle ford of Bear Creek. Medford is the county seat of Jackson County.