In the early 1800s, the Rogue River flowed through a rugged and untamed land that was home to a handful of Tutuni and Shasta bands of Native Americans. In the 1840s, thousands of pioneers and fortune-seekers passed through this land seeking gold in California, and towns sprang up at river crossings, mill sites, and other gathering places. The present-day town of Rogue River began as one of these early river settlements, and its history is reflected in its three names. It was originally named Tailholt in 1850, renamed Woodville in 1910, and two years later took the name Rogue River. The town served as a stage stop on the California-Oregon stage route and later as a depot for the Southern Pacific Railway. As settlement and industry boomed, Rogue River steadily grew, and it is now a welcome stop for travelers and a peaceful retreat for many who work in nearby larger communities.