BEND, OREGON

'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, white-water rafting, skiing, and golf.

Contents

History

Geography

Demographics

Economy

Major companies

Education

Climate

Sites of interest

Sports

Transportation

Airport

Bus

Media

Television

Newspapers

Periodicals

Notable residents

Sister cities

References

External links

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.

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. Bend is the only city besides Portland, Oregon to have an extinct volcano within its city limits.^[2] 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). Elevation 3,623 feet.

Demographics

As of the census 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.

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. The rapid population growth has fostered organizations such as Central Oregon Landwatch and Oregon Solutions [2].

Major companies

As of 2005, the top 20 regional employers (EDCO, 2005)^[3] 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)

★ Knife River Corporation (formerly 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

Education

The Bend area is served by the Bend-La Pine School District. There are four high schools (Mountain View High School, Marshall, Bend High School, and Summit High School) (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.

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.

Sites of interest

★ High Desert Museum

★ Tower Theatre (External link)

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: Colin Mahood, Evelyn Dong, Brayton Osgood, Zach Violett, and Marshall Greene.
Bend's high school sports teams include the Summit Storm, Bend Senior High Lava Bears, and Mountain View Cougars.

Transportation

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.

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 the B.A.T. (Bend Area Transit) bus service began on a limited basis. Buses have been running since September 27, 2006.^[4]
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. As of Summer 2007, not a single bus purchased is in operation and litigation is underway.^[5] The city has employed 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 to build a bus barn capable of housing 35 buses for maintenance and storage. The proposed bus barn is on city owned cemetary 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 cemetary use or park space. The issue remains unresolved.

Media

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.^[2]

★ 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.

Newspapers

★ ''Bend Bulletin'' [3]

★ ''Bend Weekly'' [4]

★ ''The Source Weekly'' [5]

★ ''Central Oregon Family News'' [6]

Periodicals

★ ''Bend Living'' [7]

Notable residents

★ Shannon Bex, member of the musical group Danity Kane

★ Drew Bledsoe, NFL player^[7]

★ Jon Fogarty, professional race car driver currently with GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing

★ Jere Gillis, former NHL player.

★ Dave Hunt, Christian author and founder of The Berean Call prophecy ministry

★ Ryan Longwell, NFL player

★ 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

★ Chris Horner, ProTour road cyclist currently riding for Predictor-Lotto.

★ Conrad Stoltz, two-time World Xterra off-road triathlon champion is a summer resident.

Sister cities

Bend has two sister cities^[2][2]:

★ Condega, Nicaragua

★ Fujioka, Japan

References

1. PSU:Population Research Center
2.
3. COEDC
4. Fixed-route buses are coming to Bend Matthew Preusch
5. Why Aren't Any Of Bend's Big Blue Buses On The Road? Peter Sachs
6.
7.
8.
9.

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)