The logging industry have fueled the development of many communities in Jefferson, and continue to play an integral part in the economic prosperity of the region. Redwood trees were logged heavily, and thus have had their original extent reduced. Today most redwood forests are protected in national parks.
The fishing industry has historically been prosperous (though it has been steadily declining due to overfishing). Arctic , nutrient rich waters flow along the coast, creating prime conditions for a thriving aquatic ecosystem. Rivers also provide some fish resources, particularly salmon. Unfortunately, this resource is also declining dwindling due to dams.
Oregon produces 95% of its own cranberries as well as 5% of the national supply of cranberries in the city of Bandon. The annual cranberry festival also attracts tourists to the area, which is often called "Bandon by the Sea" because of its oceanside location.
Gold extraction is all but gone now, except for the occasional hobby gold panner. The gold rush is, however, still an important economic asset, though not so much as the extraction of gold itself as the lore it provides for the tourist industry. Tourism also depends heavily on the natural beauty of the area, especially along the coast and in the trinity alps region.
Large scale farms in Jefferson tend to suffer from labor shortages. This has been exacerbated recently with tighter border controls, and is one of the reasons most farms in the area focus on organic production and local distribution. Small scale farms require less labor and are able to produce higher quality goods, but suffer from higher costs.
Most extracting activities, including forestry, fishing, hunting, and mining take place in eastern counties, such as Modoc county, Lake county, and Lassen county.
image sources:
http://flickr.com/photos/61165888@N00/518390797/
http://flickr.com/photos/rachelsphotos/94849487/
