Bend, Oregon
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| Bend, Oregon | |
 |
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| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| County | Deschutes County |
| Incorporated | January 4, 1905 |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Dave Abernethy |
| Area | |
| - City | 83.5 km² (32.2 sq mi) |
| - Land | 82.9 km² (32.0 sq mi) |
| - Water | 0.6 km² (0.2 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,104.3 m (3,623 ft) |
| Population (2006) | |
| - City | 75,290 (est) |
| - Density | 627.4/km² (1,625/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| Website: www.ci.bend.or.us | |
Bend is a city in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. The name Bend was derived from "Farewell Bend," the designation used by early pioneers to refer to the location along the Deschutes River where the town eventually was platted, one of the few fordable points along the river. It is the principal city of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 52,029 at the 2000 census, though it has grown to over 75,290 as of 2006.[1]
Bend is located on the edge of the Cascade Range Ponderosa Pine forest on the west as it transitions into the Great Basin high desert plateau, characterized by junipers, sagebrush, bitter-brush, and little water. Originally a logging town, Bend has become identified as a jump-off point for multiple outdoor sports, such as mountain biking, fishing, hiking, camping, rock climbing, skiing, and golf.
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[edit] History
Until the winter of 1824, the Bend area was known only to Native Americans who hunted and fished there. That year, members of a fur trapping party led by Peter Skene Ogden visited the area. John C. Fremont, Dr. John Strong Newberry, and other Army survey parties came next. Then pioneers heading farther west passed through the area and forded the Deschutes River at Farewell Bend.
Actual settlement did not occur until the early 1900s with the founding of the Pilot Butte Development Company by Alexander M. Drake. A small community developed around the bend in the river, and in 1904 a city was incorporated by a general vote of the community's 300 residents. On January 4, 1905, the city held its first official meeting as an incorporated municipality, appointing A. H. Goodwillie as the first mayor. Twelve years later, Deschutes County was formed from the western half of Crook County and Bend was designated as the county seat. In 1929, Bend amended the charter and adopted the manager/council form of government.
The settlement was originally known as Farewell Bend.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 83.5 km² (32.2 mi²). 82.9 km² (32.0 mi²) of it is land, and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (0.68%) is water.
Inside the city limits is Pilot Butte State Park, an extinct cinder cone. It is reached by Highway 20.
Just south of Bend is Newberry National Volcanic Monument easily reached on U.S 97. Bend is located at (44.056434, -121.308085)GR1. Elevation 3,623 feet.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 52,029 people, 21,062 households, and 13,395 families residing in the city. The population density was 627.4/km² (1,624.8/mi²). There were 22,507 housing units at an average density of 271.4/km² (702.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.98% White, 0.28% African American, 0.79% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.75% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.61% of the population.
There were 21,062 households, out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42, and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,857, and in 2006 the median income for a family of four is $58,800. Males had a median income of $33,377 versus $25,094 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,624. About 6.9% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
Bend is central Oregon's most populated city, with a population of 70,328 in 2006.
[edit] Economy
Tourism is one of Bend's largest sectors. The Mount Bachelor ski resort brings in tourists from all over Oregon, Washington, and California. The nearby Cascade Lakes are also a large draw for tourists. Recreational activities include downhill and cross country skiing, hiking, biking, rafting, golfing, camping, fishing, picnicking, rock climbing, and general sightseeing.
Bend is also home to the Deschutes Brewery, the largest of several microbreweries in the city. Since 2004, Bend has also hosted the Bend Film Festival [1].
In 2005, Bend's economic profile comprised five industry categories: tourism (7,772 jobs); healthcare and social services (6,062 jobs); professional, scientific and technical services (1,893 jobs); wood products manufacturing (1,798 jobs); and recreation and transportation equipment (1,065 jobs).
Much of Bend's rapid growth in recent years is also due to its attraction as a retirement destination.
[edit] Major companies
As of 2005, the top 20 regional employers (EDCO, 2005)[2] were:
- St. Charles Medical Center (2,337 employees)
- Bright Wood Corporation (1,466)
- Les Schwab Tire Center (1,142)
- Sunriver Resort (870, seasonal)
- Mt. Bachelor, Inc (750, seasonal)
- T-Mobile (674)
- Beaver Motor Coaches (654)
- iSKY (625)
- Clear Pine Mouldings, Inc. (597)
- JELD-WEN Windows & Doors (521)
- Eagle Crest Partners, Ltd. (500, seasonal)
- Safeway (490)
- Hap Taylor & Sons (465)
- Bend Memorial Clinic (460)
- Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing (447)
- Wal-Mart (445)
- Fred Meyer (411)
- Woodgrain Millwork (365)
- Black Butte Ranch (350)
- Kah-Nee-Ta (350, seasonal)
Other companies include:
- American Licorice Company
- Deschutes Brewery
- Edge Wireless
- Leverage Factory
- Sony Computer Entertainment America
[edit] Education
The Bend area is served by the Bend-La Pine School District. There are four high schools (Mountain View High School (Oregon), Marshall, Bend High School and Summit High School (Oregon)) (grades 9-12), four middle schools (grades 6-8), (Cascade Middle School, Pilot Butte Middle School, High Desert Middle School, and Sky View Middle School), 12 elementary schools (grades K-5), and three magnet schools. There are several private schools within the area as well, including Seven Peaks and St. Frances of Assisi (grades preschool-8) and Morningstar Christian and Trinity Lutheran (grades preschool-12). Central Oregon Community College (COCC) and the Bend campus of Oregon State University (OSU) serve the community with both two- and four-year programs.
[edit] Climate
Bend's climate is typical of the high desert with cool nights and sunny days. Annual precipitation averages 10-13 inches, which is part of the average snowfall of 34 inches. The winter season in Bend provides typical daytime temperatures in the 30s to 50s. Nighttime temperatures range anywhere from 22 to 51 degrees F.
A typical central Oregon summer is marked with daily temperatures in the 80s and 90s during the day, and the mid 40s and 50s during the night. Hard frosts are not unheard of during the summer months. Autumn usually brings warm, dry days and cooler nights, and Bend is known for its annual Indian summer.
[edit] Sites of interest
[edit] Sports
Bend is home to the Bend Elks of the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League. The Elks play at historic Vince Genna Stadium. It is also the home of the Central Oregon Hotshots of the International Basketball League. The Central Oregon Steelheaders, continually one of the top teams in the NW conference of the PASL, play at the Central Oregon Indoor Soccer Center in Bend.
Bend is the home of the professional cross-country ski team XC Oregon, which competes in races locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Top team members include: Brayton Osgood, Zach Violet, and Marshall Greene.
Bend's high school sports teams include the Summit Storm, Bend Senior High Lava Bears, and Mountain View Cougars.
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Airport
The nearest commercial airport is Roberts Field in Redmond, Oregon, 18 miles north. Bend Municipal Airport (KBDN) is located 5 miles northeast for general aviation.
[edit] Bus
Bend was previously the only metropolitan area west of the Mississippi without a public bus system. A measure that would have created a transit district was on the November 2004 ballot, but was defeated 53 to 41 percent. As of August 2006, however, funding was acquired and bus service began on a limited basis. Buses have been running since September 27, 2006.[3]
[edit] Media
[edit] Television
- KTVZ 21 (NBC)
- KFXO-LP 39 (FOX) - On April 17, 2006, the station launched a local news broadcast.
- KOHD 51 (ABC) - Chambers Communications (Eugene, Oregon) recently purchased a broadcast license for the market and will produce a local newscast in spring 2007.[4]
- KTVZ-CW (CW)
- KTVZ-TM (Telemundo)
- COTV 11 - Carries RSN (Resort Sports Network), local events (parades, city council meetings, candidate forums). Also home to Good Morning Central Oregon & La Comunidad. In addition, COTV airs local sports, including the Central Oregon Hotshots, Bend Elks, and local high school sports.
[edit] Newspaper
[edit] Notable residents
- Shannon Bex, member of the musical group Danity Kane
- Drew Bledsoe, NFL player[5]
- Dave Hunt, Christian author and founder of The Berean Call prophecy ministry
- Ryan Longwell, NFL player[5]
- Gerry Lopez, Hawaiian surfing legend
- Beckie Scott, 2002 Olympic Gold Medalist in Cross Country Skiing
- David Stoliar, sole survivor of an attack on the Struma, a ship carrying Jewish refugees from the Holocaust
[edit] Sister cities
Bend has two sister cities[6][7]:
[edit] References
- ^ PSU:Population Research Center
- ^ COEDC
- ^ Preusch, Matthew. "Fixed-route buses are coming to Bend", The Oregonian. Retrieved on November 8, 2006.
- ^ KOHD Official Website. Copyright 2006 by KOHD, Inc. Retrieved on February 4, 2007.
- ^ a b Fisher, David. "Bend Bulletin Market for $1 million homes swells", The Bulletin (Bend). Retrieved on November 8, 2006.
- ^ Oregon Sister Cities. Oregon Economic and Community Development Department. Retrieved on November 8, 2006.
- ^ Building a Bridge from Bend to Condega. Central Oregon Community College. Retrieved on November 8, 2006.
[edit] External links
- City of Bend, Oregon
- Bend Visitor and Convention Bureau
- Bend Chamber of Commerce
- Bend Weather Conditions
- Bend Community and Profile Trends Report from the City of Bend (pdf)
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
