More than 4 million Veterans return from active military careers to reside in rural communities. At VA, we work to meet these Veterans where they live and promote the opportunities to find happy homes in these rural communities around the country.
Like the Veterans you’ll serve when you join our team, these rural communities are as diverse and exciting as you can imagine. You may find an opportunity to be closer to family and friends, or just enjoy a greater sense of privacy. Perhaps the lower cost of living or even the allure of open space appeals to you.
Today, we’ll explore the Roseburg VA Medical Center and richly scenic Roseburg, Oregon.
The history of Roseburg VA Medical Center
Roseburg VA Medical Center can trace its history back to the first federal medical facility in the region, which was built in 1856 at Fort Umpqua. The wood frame building was a combination of hospital and billiards hall, and served the soldiers stationed at that outpost until it was abandoned in 1861.
Three decades later, as Oregon residents sought to support their aging Veterans who required medical care, the state authorized the Oregon State Soldiers Home on West Harvard Street in Roseburg.
In 1933, Roseburg VA Medical Center replaced the Oregon State Soldiers Home, housing 69 Veterans that were moved into the new facilities. Gradually, the facilities expanded, including the opening of a psychiatric ward capable of housing 670 patients in 1937.
In the decades that followed, medical, nursing, and surgical wards, as well as an alcohol rehabilitation center and expanded medical facilities, shaped the current face of Roseburg VA. In 2023, a hospice care patient care facility was opened at the location.
Today, Roseburg VA is the namesake of the Roseburg VA Health Care System, which serves Veterans in the VA Northwest Health Network, and includes medical centers and clinics in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
Roseburg, Oregon
Roseburg is situated at the heart of the Hundred Valleys of the Umpqua in southwestern Oregon. The land was populated by native peoples for generations, and it wasn’t until the 1840s that the first outside settlers began exploring the region.
The founding of the town can be traced to a settler named Aaron Rose. Rose and his family settled on the land in 1851 and their home became a tavern and stopping place for the many travelers who followed the old Oregon-California Trail.
The community that followed grew from stagecoach stop to railroad station, and the influx of new residents saw developments in agriculture, ranching, mining, timber harvesting, and more. Over the decades, Roseburg has hosted brickyards, breweries, canning plants, woodworking, furniture making, and electronics industries.
Today, the city of 23,000 residents embraces outdoor recreation, boasting numerous park areas, including tennis courts, soccer and ball fields, a 9-hole golf course, a skate park, a disc golf course, a dog park, and walking trails. All this takes advantage of a regional climate comparable to Italy and Southern France: moderate winters, early springs, warm summers, and crisp falls.
Throughout the year, Roseburg offers many events and festivals, including Roseburg Hometown 4th of July Fireworks, Graffiti Week, Music on the Half Shell Summer Concert Series, Movies in the Park, the Umpqua Valley Festival of Lights, and more.
Jobs in the Roseburg VA Medical Center
Roseburg VA Medical Center stands as a teaching hospital that provides a full range of services, with state-of-the-art technology as well as education and research. The facility provides professional training in most major medical and surgical specialties and subspecialties.
Find more about the available jobs at Roseburg here.
Work at VA
Find a community that’s right for you, and help us promote the health and well-being of rural Veterans with a career at VA.
- LEARN more about our work with rural Veterans.
- EXPLORE the benefits of working at VA.
- SEARCH for your new career.
NOTE: Positions listed in this post were open at the time of publication. All current available positions are listed at USAJOBS.gov.
