city, Douglas county, southwestern Oregon, U.S., on the Pacific Coast near the mouth of the Umpqua River at its confluence with the Smith River. Founded in 1912 by Alfred Reed, the city developed as a shipbuilding and timber-shipping centre; shellfish cultivation is a mainstay of the modern economy. The city is the headquarters of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area, 3 miles (5 km) east of Reedsport, shelters rare Roosevelt elk, as well as nutria, black-tailed deer, and migratory waterfowl. The area's natural history and early settlement are the focus of exhibits at the Umpqua Discovery Center. Inc. 1919. Pop. (1990) 4,796; (2000) 4,378.