Jackson County Maps

U.S. Cellular Drive Test for 11-03-03

This map was part of a murder investigation. The suspects made numerous cellular telephone calls leading up to the time the victim was shot. This map shows telephone calls as points color-coded by the cell tower that received them and the cell tower sectors. There are three sectors for any given cell tower.

The suspects' calls before the time of the shooting matched the results of this drive test against the cell towers that received the phone calls. According to U.S. Cellular engineers and sheriff's deputies, this was one of the first investigations to use data in this manner. A pretrial briefing was held in which U.S. Cellular engineers explained how this information was collected. The judge ruled it would be admissible in court.

Butte Falls Volunteer Fire Department—Rural Subscriber Area

Located approximately 40 miles northeast of Medford in the Cascade Range of Southern Oregon, Butte Falls is Jackson County's smallest town with a population of approximately 375. This map conveys the community's rural nature—a few blocks of urbanization surrounded by forestland with a few rural residences located in the surrounding wildlands. The combination of wildfire-prone forestland and human encroachment poses an increasing threat of wildfire.

To protect the town and lightly populated surroundings from wildfires, Butte Falls Volunteer Fire Department established a rural subscription-based area. This map provides emergency responders with a view of the entire response area. Roads, structures, and all known street addresses are displayed on top of color aerial photography. It is a quick way for responders to locate their destination; determine the best approach from their base; and assess the surrounding area for potential water sources, fire breaks, and at risk structures. The map also stands as a reminder of the town's vulnerability to increasing wildfire risk.