Roseburg Council Talks Brochure Wording, Keeps “Timber Capital Of The World” Identity

ROSEBURG, Ore. — A single line in Roseburg’s draft city manager recruitment brochure led to a small but notable discussion during Monday night’s City Council meeting.

The brochure, included in the May 11 council packet, describes Roseburg as being “once known as the Timber Capital of the Nation.” During the council’s discussion, city officials said the phrase should instead read “Timber Capital of the World.”

The wording came up as councilors reviewed recruitment materials for the city’s next city manager. The brochure is meant to introduce Roseburg to potential candidates, giving them a sense of the community beyond the job description.

Council members also said they had done some research to verify that Roseburg is still known as the Timber Capital of the Nation. While the draft brochure used that wording, the discussion made clear that city officials wanted the city’s longtime “Timber Capital of the World” identity reflected in the final recruitment material.

In its opening section, the draft brochure describes Roseburg as a community of 23,910 residents along the Umpqua River and the Interstate 5 corridor. It also notes the city’s role as the county seat of Douglas County, a regional center for retail, government and medical services, and a place where the daytime population grows to nearly 60,000.

The timber reference is only one part of the brochure, but it stood out because the phrase has long been tied to Roseburg’s public identity. Timber helped shape the city’s economy, growth and reputation, and the industry remains part of how Roseburg tells its story.

The brochure also highlights much of what the city hopes will appeal to candidates, including the Umpqua Valley, nearby mountains, rivers, forests, wineries, local parks, downtown businesses, Umpqua Community College and the Douglas County Fairgrounds.

The discussion did not establish a new title or formal designation for the city. Instead, it clarified how Roseburg wants to describe itself in materials being used to recruit its next city manager.

For residents who have heard different versions over the years, the exchange showed that city officials are still paying attention to the wording and history behind Roseburg’s timber identity.