Bend, Oregon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bend, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Location in Oregon
Coordinates: 44°3′23″N 121°18′29″W / 44.05639, -121.30806
Country United States
State Oregon
County Deschutes
Incorporated January 4, 1905
Government
 - Mayor Bruce Abernethy
Area
 - Total 32.2 sq mi (83.5 km²)
 - Land 32.0 sq mi (82.9 km²)
 - Water 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km²)
Elevation 3,623 ft (1,104.3 m)
Population (2007)
 - Total 77,780 (est)
 - Density 1,624.8/sq mi (627.4/km²)
Time zone PST (UTC-8)
 - Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7)
Area code(s) 541
FIPS code 41-05800[1]
GNIS feature ID 1137914[2]
Website: www.ci.bend.or.us

Bend is a city in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. It is Central Oregon's largest city, and is the de facto metropolis despite its modest size, within a large radius due to the low population density of the region. The city is the county seat of Deschutes County. 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 77,780 as of 2007.[3]

Bend is located on the eastern edge of the Cascade Range along the Deschutes River. Here the Ponderosa Pine forest transitions into the Great Basin high desert plateau, characterized by arid land, junipers, sagebrush, and bitter-brush. Originally a crossing point on the river, settlement began in the early 1900s. Bend was incorporated as a city in 1905. Economically, it started as a logging town, with Bend now identified as a gateway for many outdoor sports, such as mountain biking, fishing, hiking, camping, rock climbing, white-water rafting, skiing, and golf.

Contents

[edit] History

Downtown circa 1920
Downtown circa 1920

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.

For at least 12,000 years, 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. Frémont, 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 area within 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. The settlement was originally called "Farewell Bend", which was later shortened to "Bend" by the U.S. Postal Service. Twelve years later, Deschutes County, Oregon 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 council-manager form of government.

[edit] Geography

Bend's elevation 3,623 feet (1,104 m).[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 32.2 square miles (83.5 km²). 32.0 square miles (82.9 km²) of it is land, and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (0.68%) is water.

Inside the city limits is Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint, an extinct cinder cone. Bend is the only city in the continental U.S. besides Portland, Oregon to have an extinct volcano within its city limits.[5] It is reached by U.S. Route 20.

Just south of Bend is Newberry National Volcanic Monument on U.S. Route 97.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 52,029 people, 21,062 households, and 13,395 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,624.8 people per square mile (627.4/km²). There were 22,507 housing units at an average density of 702.9/sq mi (271.4/km²). 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. Hispanics or Latinos 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.

The age distribution was 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.

[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.[6]

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. The rapid population growth has fostered organizations such as Central Oregon Landwatch and Oregon Solutions.[7]

[edit] Major companies

As of 2005, the top 20 regional employers (EDCO, 2005)[8] were:

Other companies include:

[edit] Construction and real estate

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis, in 2005 construction and real estate accounted for 17.3% of all jobs in the Bend metropolitan statistical area (MSA), which constitutes all of Deschutes County.[9] This figure is about 70% more than the proportion of construction and real estate jobs in the Oregon and national economies.[10] However, construction activity in Bend appears to be slowing - the number of building permit applications received by the Bend City Building Division fell from 826 in August 2006 to 533 in August 2007, a 35% decrease.[11]

A large influx of new residents drawn by Bend's lifestyle amenities, along with the low interest rates and easy lending that fostered a national housing boom in 2001-2005, resulted in increased activity in Bend's construction and real estate sectors and have caused the rate of home price appreciation in Bend to grow substantially during that period.[12] Median home prices in the Bend MSA increased by over 80% in the 2001-2005 period.[13]

In June 2006, Money magazine named the Bend MSA the fifth most overpriced real estate market in the United States.[14] By September 2006, the Bend metro area ranked second in the list of most overpriced housing markets, and in June 2007 it was named the most overpriced housing market in America.[15][16]

According to Real Estate site Zillow.com true values of homes in Bend decreased by 14.4% in 2007.[17] It is predicted to have a 7.9% decrease in 2008.[18]

[edit] Education

The Bend area is served by the Bend-La Pine School District. There are four high schools (Bend, Marshall, Mountain View, and Summit), four middle schools, (Cascade, High Desert, Pilot Butte, and Sky View), 12 elementary schools, and three magnet schools. There are several private schools within the area as well, including Seven Peaks, Waldorf School of Bend, St. Frances of Assisi, Morningstar Christian, and Trinity Lutheran [3]. Central Oregon Community College (COCC) and the OSU-Cascades Campus of Oregon State University (OSU) serve the community with both two- and four-year programs.

[edit] Climate

Drake Park during the winter.
Drake Park during the winter.

Bend's climate is typical of the high desert with cool nights and sunny days. Annual precipitation averages between 10 in (250 mm) and 13 inches (330 mm), which is part of the average snowfall of 34 in (860 mm).[citation needed] The winter season in Bend provides typical daytime temperatures between 30 °F (−1 °C) and 50 °F (10 °C).[citation needed] Nighttime temperatures range anywhere from 22 °F (−6 °C) to 51 °F (11 °C).[citation needed] According to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, the average annual minimum temperature in Bend is −5 °F (−20.6 °C) to −10 °F (−23.3 °C).[19]

A typical Central Oregon summer is marked with daily temperatures around 80 °F (27 °C) to 90 °F (32 °C) during the day, and around 40 °F (4 °C) to 50 °F (10 °C) during the night.[citation needed] 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. According to the Western Regional Climate Center of the Desert Research Institute, the mean of the monthly average maximum temperatures in July, the hottest month in Bend, between 1928 and 2006 was 82.09 °F (27.83 °C).[20]

Bend's growing season is quite short due to a brief frost-free period. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Resources Conservation Service, in half of the years between 1971 and 2000, the USDA weather station in Bend recorded the last below-freezing temperatures after July 3 and the first below-freezing temperatures before August 31.[21]

[edit] Sites of interest

Historic Tower Theatre in downtown Bend
Historic Tower Theatre in downtown Bend

[edit] Sports

Bend is home to the Bend Elks of the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League. The Elks play at historic Vince Genna Stadium. Bend 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: Colin Mahood, Josh Smullin, Evelyn Dong, Brayton Osgood, Zach Violett, and Marshall Greene.[22]

Bend is also home to over 300 miles of mountain bike trails.

Bend is home of the Roughriders RFC. A mens division 3 Rugby Football Club.

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Air

The nearest commercial airport is Roberts Field in Redmond, 18 miles (29 km) north. Horizon Airlines, Skywest Airlines (flying as both United Express and Delta Connection) and Allegiant Airlines provide direct service to Portland, Eugene, Seattle, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The U.S. Forest Service operates an air base and training center for firefighting, and Butler Aircraft, a fixed-base operator, flies DC-4 aircraft for firefighting efforts.

Bend Municipal Airport (KBDN) is located 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of the city and serves general aviation. Several significant general aviation companies are based at Bend Airport, including Precise Flight, which develops oxygen systems, speed brakes, landing lights and other modifications for general aviation aircraft, Epic Aircraft and Cessna.

[edit] Bus

Bend was previously the only metropolitan area west of the Mississippi River 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 the B.A.T. (Bend Area Transit) bus service began on a limited basis. Buses have been running since September 27, 2006.[23]

However, B.A.T has not been without controversy. While B.A.T. has supporters, many in the community take issue with the transit system being developed after voters have twice said no at the ballot box.

The city council ordered used buses purchased without conducting due diligence. The buses have been plagued with maintenance problems to the degree that none have consistently been in service. During the of Summer 2007, not a single bus purchased was in operation (though several were due to weak A/C systems) and litigation is underway.[24] The city has filled the gaps with smaller buses previously used for the city's Dial A Ride system without any interruption to service or crowding complaints.

Additionally, plans were announced in July 2007 for building a bus barn capable of housing 35 buses for maintenance and storage.[citation needed] The proposed bus barn is on city owned cemetery property. Neighborhood opponents have protested at hearings against such a facility in a residential neighborhood within a block of an elementary school. They point to deed restrictions requiring the land be developed only for further cemetery use or park space. The issue remains unresolved.

[edit] Highways

Bend lies at the intersection of U.S. Route 20 and U.S. Route 97. The latter runs on an expressway alignment through the city known as the Bend Parkway; a business route for US 97 runs along 3rd Street. The city is also served by the Century Drive Highway No. 372 which provides access to Mount Bachelor.

[edit] Rail

A BNSF mainline runs north-south through the city; there are numerous spurs off of the mainline which serve industrial rail customers. The closest Amtrak service is in the town of Chemult, approximately 65 miles (105 km) to the south; this station is served by the Coast Starlight route.

[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.[25]
  • KTVZ-CW (CW)
  • KTVZ-TM (Telemundo)
  • COTV 11 - Carries RSN (Resort Sports Network), local events (parades, city council meetings, candidate forums). In addition, COTV airs local sports, including the Central Oregon Hotshots, Bend Elks, and local high school teams.

[edit] Newspapers

  • Bend Bulletin [4]
  • Bend Weekly [5]
  • The Source Weekly [6]

[edit] Periodicals

  • Bend Living [7]
  • Cascade Arts & Entertainment [8]
  • Cascade Business News [9]
  • Cascades East [10]

[edit] Notable residents

[edit] Sister cities

Bend has two sister cities[27][28]:

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ PSU:Population Research Center
  4. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  5. ^ Mt. Tabor Park. Portland Parks & Recreation. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  6. ^ Bend Film Festival
  7. ^ Oregon Solutions
  8. ^ COEDC
  9. ^ BEA : Local Area Personal Income
  10. ^ Economy endures in housing slump | The Bulletin
  11. ^ Welcome to the City of Bend Oregon Website - Statistics - Building Division
  12. ^ [1]
  13. ^ MONEY Magazine Real Estate: Bend
  14. ^ 'Overpriced' housing gets more overpriced - Jun. 13, 2006
  15. ^ More home markets 'extremely' overvalued - Sep. 21, 2006
  16. ^ Home valuations returning to normal - Jun. 15, 2007
  17. ^ [2]
  18. ^ Oregon Real Estate, Portland, Eugene, Salem, Medford, Corvallis, Bend
  19. ^ USNA - USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: North-West US
  20. ^ Monthly Average Maximum Temperature, BEND, OREGON
  21. ^ National Water & Climate Center - Climate Information
  22. ^ http://www.xcoregon.org XC Oregon
  23. ^ Preusch, Matthew. "Fixed-route buses are coming to Bend", The Oregonian. Retrieved on 2006-11-08. 
  24. ^ Sachs, Peter. "Why Aren't Any Of Bend's Big Blue Buses On The Road?", Bend Bulletin. Retrieved on 2007-08-28. 
  25. ^ KOHD Official Website. Copyright 2006 by KOHD, Inc. Retrieved on 2007-02-04.
  26. ^ a b Fisher, David. "Bend Bulletin Market for $1 million homes swells", Bend Bulletin. Retrieved on 2006-11-08. 
  27. ^ Oregon Sister Cities. Oregon Economic and Community Development Department. Retrieved on 2006-11-08.
  28. ^ Building a Bridge from Bend to Condega. Central Oregon Community College. Retrieved on 2006-11-08.
 This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2007)

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