State of Jefferson Recent News

The mythical "State of Jefferson" is a product of history and local lore. But it is also a very real symbol of the urban-rural divide felt by many residents of Southern Oregon and Northern California. We've collected here media accounts of the various attempts to revive the effort to make The State of Jefferson  the 51st state.

Mapping The World's Disputed Countries

By & • Apr 25, 2017
Wikimedia

The world is full of populations of people who wish or demand that they had their own countries. 

Think Taiwan, Tibet, and Crimea, for starters.  But there are many more... enough to fill a book, it turns out.  And that is Nick Middleton's An Atlas of Countries That Don't Exist. 

There are examples you've heard of, like the three above.  Many more will surprise you, like the Native American lands declared independent in the middle of the United States. 

OPB's Oregon Experience Provides A Third-Party Take On The State Of Jefferson

By & Charlotte Duren • Nov 14, 2014

What does the world just outside the "State of Jefferson" make of our corner of the world? 

We'll soon find out.  Oregon Public Broadcasting's "Oregon Experience" documentary series just put the finishing touches on a half-hour look at the Jefferson idea and history. 

The airing on OPB's TV network is accompanied by public screenings this week in Klamath Falls and Ashland (tonight, November 14). 

Plan To Make 6 States Out Of California May Head To Ballot

By Bill Chappell • Jul 15, 2014

Backers of a plan to cut California into six states say they now have enough signatures from supporters to get their proposal on a general-election ballot in the state. The plan would create new states with names like Jefferson, Silicon Valley and South California.

A Real Tourism Campaign For Our Mythical State

By & Charlotte Duren • May 1, 2014
Traveljefferson.com

Forget the political implications of a "State of Jefferson" for a moment. 

What would that state be like as a tourism destination?  Spectacular! 

And an effort to promote the many attractions of the region is starting up under the name Travel Jefferson.

VENTSday: Evolution Politics + Cutting Up California

By & Charlotte Duren • Jan 8, 2014
guernicamag.org

If you believe in evolution, does that make you a Democrat? 

That IS the general trend in America, and one of the topics in this week's VENTSday segment, the other being a new plan for dividing California.

Modoc County Votes To Secede

By Barbara Dellenback • Sep 25, 2013
publicceo.com

Modoc County California officials have joined Siskiyou County in voting to secede from the state. The Redding Record-Searchlight reports supervisors voted unanimously yesterday (Tuesday) in favor of secession. The vote comes just weeks after neighboring Siskiyou County supervisors began the movement.

The goal is to form the new State of Jefferson and include part of Southern Oregon. Some of the residents in the counties along the California-Oregon boarder feel that those in the urban centers of state government ignore their needs.

Rural County Wants To Secede From California

By editor • Sep 11, 2013

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Let's talk next with a man who wants to secede from his state. The Board of Supervisors of a northern California county voted this week to take their county out of California. Michael Kobseff is one of the supervisors who voted yes in Siskiyou County with an eye to joining other counties in northern California, as well as southern Oregon, to form their own state. He's on the line. Welcome to the program, sir.

MICHAEL KOBSEFF: Thank you.

Siskiyou Secession Talk

By & Charlotte Duren • Sep 10, 2013
publicceo.com

The "State of Jefferson" concept never translated into an actual state, but the idea is alive and well.  Siskiyou County Supervisors recently voted to pursue seceding from California, due to frustrations with a perceived lack of attention from the federal and state governments.  How far will it go?  You'll hear from supervisors pro and con.