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SINCE YOU ASKED: Eagle Point, Central Point had different points Sunday Jan 15, 2017 at 12:01 AM I moved here three years ago. I recently asked a friend who has lived here over 30 years about Eagle Point and Central Point. But where's the point? She laughed because she had never thought about it. Get my point, guys? — Ken C., Phoenix   Even some of the dullards on the Since You Asked staff got your point, Ken. At SYA headquarters, we have a large book entitled "Oregon Geographic Names." Its well-worn pages attest to the many years that our grubby, ink-stained fingers have pored over this encyclopedia of all things Oregon. As to the "point" in Central Point, the book, on page 185, says the name for the community comes from two important pioneer wagon roads of the Rogue River Valley that crossed at a point near the center of the valley. One of those roads was the north-south road to and from the Willamette Valley, and the other was the road leading to Jacksonville and going northeast to Table Rock and Sams Valley. Central Point was named by pioneer Isaac Constant in 1852, according to the book. Constant lived near the crossroads. As for Eagle Point, on page 312 of "Oregon Geographic Names," the author describes a prominent rocky cliff east of town that was a favorite nesting place for eagles. So, guess what, Ken? This cliff was known as Eagle Point. "It is said that John Mathews suggested the name of this point for the post office, which was established in 1872 with Andrew McNeil as first postmaster," the book says. The name stuck, and from then on the town was known as Eagle Point. Now you can impress your neighbors with all your knowledge of this valley. — Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them.