Sources
Help build the largest human-edited directory on the web.
Submit a site - Become an editor
Wikipedia. Licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Are you an expert in this subject? Join the discussion and share your knowledge at Wikipedia.org.
Bend, Oregon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bend, Oregon | |
 |
|
| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| 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 (2006) | |
| - Total | 75,290 (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 | 41-05800GR2 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1137914GR3 |
| 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 eastern edge of the Cascade Range Ponderosa Pine forest 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 starting point for multiple outdoor sports, such as mountain biking, fishing, hiking, camping, rock climbing, white-water rafting, skiing, and golf.
Contents |
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 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.
Bend's elevation 3,623 feet.GR1
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 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.[2] It is reached by U.S. Route 20.
Just south of Bend is Newberry National Volcanic Monument on U.S. Route 97.
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.
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.[3]
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.[4]
As of 2005, the top 20 regional employers (EDCO, 2005)[5] 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
- Epic Aircraft (>200)
- Leverage Factory
- Sony Computer Entertainment America
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.[6] This figure is about 70% more than the proportion of construction and real estate jobs in the Oregon and national economies.[7] 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.[8]
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.[9] Median home prices in the Bend MSA increased by over 80% in the 2001-2005 period.[10]
In June 2006, Money magazine named the Bend MSA the fifth most overpriced real estate market in the United States.[11] 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.[12][13]
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, St. Frances of Assisi, Morningstar Christian, and Trinity Lutheran. 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.
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. According to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, the average annual minimum temperature in Bend is -5 to -10 degrees Fahrenheit (-20.6 to -23.3 Celsius).[14]
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. 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 degrees Fahrenheit.[15]
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.[16]
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, Evelyn Dong, Brayton Osgood, Zach Violett, and Marshall Greene.[17]
Bend is also home to over 300 miles of mountain bike trails.
The nearest commercial airport is Roberts Field in Redmond, 18 miles 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 five miles 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 Columbia Aircraft.
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.[18]
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.[19] 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 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.
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 Oregon Route 372 which provides access to Mount Bachelor.
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.
- 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.[20]
- 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.
- Shannon Bex, member of the musical group Danity Kane
- Drew Bledsoe, NFL player[21]
- John Chambers, CEO of Cisco Corporation is a part-time resident
- Chance Daniels, professional poker player
- Jon Fogarty,[citation needed] professional race car driver currently with GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing
- Jere Gillis, former NHL player.
- Chris Horner, ProTour road cyclist currently riding for Astana.
- Stan Humphries, former NFL quarterback
- Dave Hunt, Christian author and founder of The Berean Call prophecy ministry
- Phil Knight, former CEO of Nike is a seasonal resident
- Ryan Longwell, NFL player[21]
- 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
- Conrad Stoltz, two-time World Xterra off-road triathlon champion is a summer resident.
- Mickey Tettleton, former Major League Baseball player
- Jimmy Torres, songwriter and guitar player for 60's rock band The String-A-Lings
- Bruce Willis, Hollywood actor is a part-time resident
Bend has two sister cities[22][23]:
- ^ PSU:Population Research Center
- ^ Mt. Tabor Park. Portland Parks & Recreation. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
- ^ Bend Film Festival
- ^ Oregon Solutions
- ^ COEDC
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ [4]
- ^ [5]
- ^ [6]
- ^ [7]
- ^ http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/14/real_estate/housing_market_affordability/index.htm
- ^ [8]
- ^ [9]
- ^ [10]
- ^ XC Oregon
- ^ Preusch, Matthew. "Fixed-route buses are coming to Bend", The Oregonian. Retrieved on 2006-11-08.
- ^ Sachs, Peter. "Why Aren't Any Of Bend's Big Blue Buses On The Road?", Bend Bulletin. Retrieved on 2007-08-28.
- ^ KOHD Official Website. Copyright 2006 by KOHD, Inc. Retrieved on 2007-02-04.
- ^ a b Fisher, David. "Bend Bulletin Market for $1 million homes swells", Bend Bulletin. Retrieved on 2006-11-08.
- ^ Oregon Sister Cities. Oregon Economic and Community Development Department. Retrieved on 2006-11-08.
- ^ 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) |
- City of Bend, Oregon (official website)
- Bend Visitor and Convention Bureau
- Bend Chamber of Commerce
- Bend Weather Conditions
- Bend Community and Profile Trends Report from the City of Bend (pdf)
- Bend, Oregon is at coordinates Coordinates:
|
Deschutes County, Oregon |
||
|---|---|---|
| County seat: Bend | ||
| Cities |
 |
|
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
