Bend, Oregon | |
|---|---|
 Downtown Bend | |
| Motto: Bend: Living at Its Best | |
 Location in Bend inDeschutes County, Oregon | |
| Coordinates:44°03′29″N121°18′55″W / 44.05806°N 121.31528°W /44.05806; -121.31528 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Deschutes |
| Platted | May 28, 1904 |
| Incorporated | January 4, 1905 |
| Area | |
• City | 35.046 sq mi (90.769 km2) |
| • Land | 34.801 sq mi (90.135 km2) |
| • Water | 0.245 sq mi (0.635 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,642 ft (1,110 m) |
| Population | |
• City | 99,178 |
• Estimate (2023)[4] | 104,557 |
| • Rank | US:311th OR:6th |
| • Density | 2,980/sq mi (1,151/km2) |
| • Urban | 106,988 (US:305th) |
| • Metro | 260,919 (US:192nd) |
| Demonym | Bendite[5][6] |
| GDP | |
| • Metro | $15.446 billion (2023) |
| Time zone | UTC–8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC–7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 97701, 97702, 97703, 97707, 97708, 97709 |
| Area codes | 541 and 458 |
| FIPS code | 41-05800 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409832[2] |
| Website | bendoregon.gov |
Bend is a city incentral Oregon and thecounty seat ofDeschutes County, Oregon, United States. It is located to the east of theCascade Range, on theDeschutes River.
The site became known by pioneers as afordable crossing point of the river, where it ran through a bend. An 1870s ranch popularized the name "Farewell Bend", with the post office later distinguishing the area as Bend. It was incorporated as a city in 1905, starting off as alogging town. In 1910,Mirror Pond was created as a dammed river reservoir to provide energy. In 1950, the two major logging companies were consolidated due to depleted timber, causing an economic drop. In later decades, it experienced rapid growth as a center of recreation.
Situated in thehigh desert, Bend is bordered by theDeschutes National Forest to the southwest. Economically, it is atourist destination, featuring recreational attractions (e.g.breweries,an amphitheater, andthe last Blockbuster video-rental store) as well as outdoor sports, includingmountain biking,fishing,hiking,camping,rock climbing,white-water rafting,skiing,paragliding, andgolf.
Bend is Central Oregon's most populous city. In the2020 census, it had a population of 99,178,[3] with the eponymousmetropolitan statistical area (MSA) population totaling 247,493. This makes the city and MSA thesixth-most populous city and fifth largest metropolitan area in Oregon, respectively.
American Indian tribes hunted and fished in the area. In late 1824, members of a fur-trapping party led byPeter Skene Ogden visited the area.John C. Frémont,John Strong Newberry, and other United States Armysurvey parties came next. SubsequentAmerican pioneers heading further west passed through the area andforded theDeschutes River at a canyonless double bend, which may have actually been referred to as "Farewell Bend".[8] The area was settled byEuro-Americans in the 1870s. John Young Todd, aMissourian who participated in theMexican War (and for whomTodd Lake is named), purchased a land claim in the area and named it "Farewell Bend Ranch". Todd sold this to John Sisemore in 1881, who applied for a post office in 1886.[9] Because the name "Farewell Bend" was already in use, it was shortened to "Bend" by theUnited States Post Office Department.[9]
.jpg)
Constructed in May 1901, thePilot Butte Development Company's little plant was the first commercial sawmill in Bend, also providing the town's firstirrigation.[9] The original location was at the rear of thePilot Butte Inn of later years. Steidl and Reed also set up a small mill in Bend in 1903. This was on the Deschutes River just below the Pioneer Park area. The mill was operated by water power.[10]
A small community developed around the area. In 1904, a city was incorporated by a general vote of the community's 300 residents; it wasplatted by Pilot Butte Development Company on May 28, 1904.[8] On January 4, 1905, the city held its first official meeting as an incorporatedmunicipality, appointing A. H. Goodwillie as its first mayor.
In 1910,Mirror Pond was created by the construction of the Bend Water, Light & Power Company dam on the Deschutes River in Bend. The dam provided the city with its initial source of electricity. The dam has been owned by Pacific Power since 1926 and still produces electricity that supplies approximately 200 Bend households.[11] In 1916,Deschutes County was formed from the western half ofCrook County and Bend was designated as thecounty seat.[12] In 1929, Bend amended the charter and adopted thecouncil–manager form of government.
The 1950 closure of Shevlin-Hixon Lumber Company (which was sold toBrooks-Scanlon), due to a lack of significant timber, caused the largest economic drop in the region since theGreat Depression.[13] In later decades, it experienced rapid growth as a center for both recreation and retirement.
On August 28, 2022,a mass shooting occurred at aSafeway grocery store in Bend. Two senior citizens, one of whom was an employee at the store, were killed, and two others were wounded before the gunman committedsuicide.[14]
Bend sits on the boundary of theEastern Cascades Slopes and Foothills, aLevel III ecoregion designated by theUnited States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in theU.S. states ofOregon,Washington, andCalifornia, and theDeschutes River Valley, a Level IV ecoregion within theBlue Mountains Level III ecoregion.[15]
The Deschutes River runs through Bend, where it is dammed to form Mirror Pond.[11] Bend's elevation is 3,623 feet (1,104 metres) above sea level.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 35.046 square miles (90.77 km2), of which 34.801 square miles (90.13 km2) is land and 0.245 square miles (0.63 km2) is water.[1]
Inside the city limits isPilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint, an oldcinder cone. Bend is one of three cities in thecontinental U.S. (withPortland, Oregon, andJackson, Mississippi) to have anextinct volcano within its city limits.[16] It is reached byU.S. Route 20. A lesser known characteristic of Bend, theHorse Lava Tube System enters and borders the eastern edge of the city.[17][18] Just south of Bend isNewberry National Volcanic Monument onU.S. Route 97.
| Bend, Oregon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bend is often referred to locally as part of Oregon’s “high desert,” reflecting its elevation and relative dryness compared to the west side of the Cascades. In theKöppen climate classification, however, Bend has acold semi-arid climate (BSk). The city receives about 10.6 in (270 mm) of precipitation annually, considerably more than the roughly 3 inches (76 mm) that would define a true desert at its elevation and temperature, placing it in thesteppe rather than desert category.[19][20]
While the city center of Bend has a cold semi-arid climate, areas immediately to the west rise quickly into the Cascades, where precipitation is much higher and the climate grades into adry-summer continental type (Dsb).
In Bend, annual average snowfall is 21.6 inches (54.9 cm).[21] The winter season provides a mean temperature of 32.1 °F (0.1 °C) in December.[21] Nighttime temperatures are not much lower than daytime highs during the winter. Annually, the lowest nighttime temperature is typically −5 °F (−21 °C) to −10 °F (−23 °C) (Zone 6).[22]
Central Oregon summers are marked by their very large diurnal temperature ranges, with a July daily average of 64.5 °F (18.1 °C), and an averagediurnal temperature variation approaching 35 °F (20 °C).[21] Hard frosts are not unheard of during the summer months. Autumn usually brings warm, dry days and cooler nights. Bend is known for its annualIndian summer.
Bend's growing season is short; according to theU.S. Department of Agriculture'sNational 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.[23] Based on 1981–2010 normals, the average window for freezing temperatures is September 13 through June 19.
| Parameter | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean number of days Max 90 or more | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 15.7 |
| Min 32 or less | 25.0 | 24.2 | 24.1 | 19.4 | 9.0 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 3.3 | 13.9 | 20.6 | 26.2 | 167.9 |
| Max 32 or less | 4.6 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 4.6 | 13.5 |
| Min 0 or less | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 1.8 |
| Climate data for Bend, Oregon (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1901–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 71 (22) | 76 (24) | 83 (28) | 93 (34) | 93 (34) | 107 (42) | 104 (40) | 103 (39) | 100 (38) | 91 (33) | 77 (25) | 68 (20) | 107 (42) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 57.3 (14.1) | 59.8 (15.4) | 67.6 (19.8) | 76.3 (24.6) | 83.3 (28.5) | 88.9 (31.6) | 94.8 (34.9) | 94.9 (34.9) | 90.0 (32.2) | 80.2 (26.8) | 66.2 (19.0) | 55.0 (12.8) | 96.5 (35.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 42.5 (5.8) | 45.7 (7.6) | 51.7 (10.9) | 57.7 (14.3) | 66.3 (19.1) | 73.7 (23.2) | 83.8 (28.8) | 83.3 (28.5) | 75.8 (24.3) | 63.0 (17.2) | 49.1 (9.5) | 41.0 (5.0) | 61.1 (16.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 33.6 (0.9) | 35.0 (1.7) | 39.7 (4.3) | 44.1 (6.7) | 51.6 (10.9) | 57.8 (14.3) | 66.2 (19.0) | 65.5 (18.6) | 58.5 (14.7) | 48.3 (9.1) | 38.6 (3.7) | 32.1 (0.1) | 47.6 (8.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 24.6 (−4.1) | 24.3 (−4.3) | 27.6 (−2.4) | 30.5 (−0.8) | 37.0 (2.8) | 42.0 (5.6) | 48.6 (9.2) | 47.8 (8.8) | 41.3 (5.2) | 33.7 (0.9) | 28.2 (−2.1) | 23.3 (−4.8) | 34.1 (1.2) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 7.3 (−13.7) | 8.8 (−12.9) | 16.6 (−8.6) | 20.6 (−6.3) | 25.3 (−3.7) | 31.1 (−0.5) | 38.5 (3.6) | 37.5 (3.1) | 29.1 (−1.6) | 19.7 (−6.8) | 12.3 (−10.9) | 5.9 (−14.5) | −1.6 (−18.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −26 (−32) | −26 (−32) | −13 (−25) | 8 (−13) | 11 (−12) | 21 (−6) | 27 (−3) | 22 (−6) | 12 (−11) | 0 (−18) | −14 (−26) | −25 (−32) | −26 (−32) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 1.41 (36) | 0.99 (25) | 0.70 (18) | 0.79 (20) | 0.97 (25) | 0.68 (17) | 0.44 (11) | 0.35 (8.9) | 0.31 (7.9) | 0.65 (17) | 1.26 (32) | 2.01 (51) | 10.62 (270) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 6.4 (16) | 5.5 (14) | 1.5 (3.8) | 0.7 (1.8) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.2 (0.51) | 2.0 (5.1) | 5.3 (13) | 21.6 (55) |
| Average precipitation days | 8.7 | 7.1 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.3 | 3.8 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 7.0 | 8.8 | 63.0 |
| Average snowy days | 4.2 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 3.6 | 13.9 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 173.6 | 159.6 | 235.6 | 300.0 | 327.0 | 339.0 | 372.0 | 368.9 | 324.0 | 207.7 | 189.0 | 167.4 | 3,163.8 |
| Mean dailysunshine hours | 5.6 | 5.7 | 7.6 | 10.0 | 10.9 | 11.3 | 12.0 | 11.9 | 10.8 | 6.7 | 6.3 | 5.4 | 8.7 |
| Percentagepossible sunshine | 60 | 54 | 63 | 74 | 74 | 73 | 79 | 86 | 86 | 60 | 65 | 61 | 70 |
| Source 1: NOAA[21][24] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Weather Atlas[25] | |||||||||||||
There are 13 officially recognized neighborhood districts:[26]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 536 | — | |
| 1920 | 5,415 | 910.3% | |
| 1930 | 8,848 | 63.4% | |
| 1940 | 10,021 | 13.3% | |
| 1950 | 11,409 | 13.9% | |
| 1960 | 11,936 | 4.6% | |
| 1970 | 13,710 | 14.9% | |
| 1980 | 17,263 | 25.9% | |
| 1990 | 20,469 | 18.6% | |
| 2000 | 52,029 | 154.2% | |
| 2010 | 76,639 | 47.3% | |
| 2020 | 99,178 | 29.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 104,557 | [4] | 5.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[27] 2020 Census[3] | |||
Bend is the principal city of theBend Metropolitan Statistical Area and the former Bend-Prineville CSA, aCombined Statistical Area that included theformer Bend metropolitan area (Deschutes County) and thePrineville micropolitan area (Crook County). In 2023, theOffice of Management and Budget combined the former CSA with adjacentJefferson County to form the newBend metropolitan area,[28] which had a combined estimated population of 260,919 by theUnited States Census Bureau as of that year.
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[29] | Pop 2010[30] | Pop 2020[31] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 47,660 | 66,911 | 81,355 | 91.60% | 87.31% | 82.03% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 139 | 33 | 445 | 0.27% | 0.43% | 0.45% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 366 | 486 | 466 | 0.70% | 0.63% | 0.47% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 513 | 918 | 1,602 | 0.99% | 1.20% | 1.62% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 39 | 89 | 141 | 0.07% | 0.12% | 0.14% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 44 | 80 | 548 | 0.08% | 0.10% | 0.55% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 872 | 1,566 | 5,521 | 1.68% | 2.04% | 5.57% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2,396 | 6,256 | 9,100 | 4.61% | 8.16% | 9.18% |
| Total | 52,029 | 76,639 | 99,178 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2020 census, there were 99,178 people, 40,969 households, and 25,421 families residing in the city.[32] Thepopulation density was 2,949.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,138.9/km2). There were 44,449 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 84.5%White, 0.5%African American, 0.7%Native American, 1.6%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 3.6% from some other races and 9.0% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.2% of the population.[33] 20.8% of residents were under the age of 18, 5.1% were under 5 years of age, and 17.0% were 65 and older.
As of the2010 census, there were 76,639 people, 31,790 households, and 19,779 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,322.0/sq mi (896.5/km2). There were 36,110 housing units at an average density of 1,093.9/sq mi (422.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.3%White, 0.5%African American, 0.8%Native American, 1.2%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 3.4% fromother races, and 2.6% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino residents of any race were 8.2% of the population.
There were 31,790 households, of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% weremarried couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.8% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.91.
The median age in the city was 36.6 years. 23.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30% were from 25 to 44; 25.1% were from 45 to 64; and 12.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.
As of the2000 census, 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 sq mi (627.4/km2). There were 22,507 housing units at an average density of 702.9 per 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. Theper capita income for the city was $21,624. About 6.9% of families and 10.5% of the population were below thepoverty 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. TheMount Bachelor ski resort brings in tourists from all over Oregon, Washington, and California. The nearbyCascade 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. Transient room tax revenues from July 2024 to March 2025 exceeded $7.8 million.[34]
The transient room tax is used in partnership with Visit Bend and the Bend Economic Development Advisory Board to convert visitors to Bend into residents and business owners.[35][36] In 2011, Visit Bend reported that families are the largest demographic that visit Bend (35%), while couples with no children make up the second largest portion (24%) of visitors to the city.[37] During the same year, tourism generated $570 million and employed 16% of the city's workforce.[37] Brauns, L. (November 21, 2021). According to a 2019 economic impact data from Travel Oregon, “the local tourism industry employs 10,000 people and brings in more than $1 billion into the regional economy”[38]
Room taxes attributed to tourism in Bend is divided up to be given back to the community. Bend, Oregon depends on $7 million in the room tax income that essentially funds services for Streets, Fire, and Police. $3 million are specifically contributed to the Bend Sustainability Fund and then the Bend Cultural Tourism fund.[34][39] As of April 2021, the Bend City Council has agreed to spend an undisclosed portion of the $3 million to maintain some of the trails in the city.[40]
Bend is home to theDeschutes Brewery, the eighth-largest craft brewery in the nation and the largest of over a dozenmicrobreweries in the city.[41] Each year the city hosts many events celebrating its brewing culture, including the Bend Oktoberfest, the Little WoodyBarrel Aged Brew and Whiskey Fest, Bend Brewfest, and Central Oregon Beer Week. Beer aficionados can also visit many of the breweries along the Bend Ale Trail. As of 2024, there were over 30 breweries in Bend[42][43][44] and 4 hard cider companies. Since 2017, Bend's Worthy Brewing has hosted an observatory with a 16-inch reflectingRitchey–Chrétien telescope.[45][46]
According to the City's 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,[47][48] the largest employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | Product or Service | # of Employees | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Charles Health System | Health care | 3,506 | 3.6% |
| 2 | Bend-La Pine School District | Education | 2,300 | 2.3% |
| 3 | Deschutes County | Government | 1,284 | 1.3% |
| 4 | Mount Bachelor | Resort | 1,081 | 1.1% |
| 5 | City of Bend | Government | 717 | 0.7% |
| 6 | United States Forest Service | Government | 615 | 0.6% |
| 7 | Bend Park and Recreation District | Government | 591 | 0.6% |
| 8 | Oregon State University–Cascades | Education | 470 | 0.5% |
| 9 | Lonza Group | Pharmaceutical | 463 | 0.5% |
| 10 | Central Oregon Community College | Education | 450 | 0.5% |
| — | Total employers | — | 11,477 | 11.7% |
In 2005, Bend's economic profile comprised five industry categories: tourism (7,772 jobs);healthcare andsocial 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).[49]
In 2019, the officially licensedBlockbuster Video in the city becamethe last remaining one in the world.[50][51]
Much of Bend's rapid growth in recent years is also due to its attraction as aretirement destination.[52]
Bend has also become a commuter town for a number of tech workers in theSan Francisco Bay Area andSeattle metropolitan area despite theextreme commute, due to its appeal to the outdoors as well as its relatively cheap cost of living compared to the skyrocketing rent and housing prices of the Bay Area and Seattle.[53][54]
In 2005 construction and real estate accounted for 17.3 percent of all jobs in the Bendmetropolitan statistical area (MSA), which constitutes all of Deschutes County.[55] This figure is about 70 percent more than the proportion of construction and real estate jobs in the Oregon and national economies.[56] 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 percent decrease.[57] New building permits dropped considerably during the 2008 financial crisis, and have remained in the 100-300 per month range since 2016.[58]
A large influx of new residents drawn by Bend's lifestyle amenities, along with the low interest rates and easy lending that fostered anational housing boom in 2001–05, resulted in increased activity in Bend's construction and real estate sectors and caused the rate of home price appreciation in Bend to grow substantially during that period.[59] Median home prices in the Bend MSA increased by over 80% in the 2001–05 period.[60]
In June 2006,Money magazine named the Bend MSA the fifth most overpriced real estate market in the United States.[61] 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.[62][63] The median home listing price in Bend is >$750,000 as of May 2025.[64]
The 2008−09 housing downturn had a strong effect on Bend's housing and economic situation. According to theSeattle Times,[65] single-family home prices dropped more than 40 percent from a peak of $396,000 in May 2007 to $221,000 in March 2009. Additional signs of the housing downturn include an April 2009 Deschutes county unemployment rate of 12.6 percent and in a tri-county area of Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties a 66 percent rise in homelessness from 2006 to 2,237.[65]
In May 2010, the Federal Housing and Finance Agency released a report in which Bend had the largest price drop in the country, 23 percent, from first quarter of 2009 to the first quarter of 2010.[66]
The city is becoming known for its burgeoning art scene, and is home to numerous visual and fine art galleries,[67] as well as the independent BendFilm Festival, which launched in 2004.[68]
There are numerouspublic art displays, including the Roundabout Art Route tour of outdoor sculptures throughout the city.[69]
Bend is home to theBend Elks of theWest Coast Collegiate Baseball League. The Elks play atVince Genna Stadium. Former minor league teams include theBend Rockies,Bend Bucks,Bend Phillies,Bend Timber Hawks, andBend Rainbows.
Bend is also the home of the Central Oregon Hotshots of theInternational Basketball League. The Central Oregon Steelheaders, continually one of the top teams in the NW conference of thePremier Arena Soccer League (PASL), play at theCentral Oregon Indoor Sports Center in Bend.
Bend is the home of the professionalcross-country skiing team XC Oregon, which competes in races locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.[70]
Bend has had success in landing major sporting events such as the 2008 and 2009 USA Winter Triathlon National Championships, the 2008 and 2009 XTERRA Trail Running National Championships, the 2009 and 2010United States National Cyclo-cross Championships, the 2009 and 2010 USA Cycling Elite Road National Championships and the 2013, 2015 and 2016USA Cross Country Championships.[71]
In 2019 and 2020, Bend hostedUSA Climbing's pro and youth National Bouldering Championships.[72][73]
A popular spot for cycling, Bend has over 300 mi (480 km) ofmountain bike trails and from 1980 to 2019 was the home to theCascade Cycling Classic, the nation's longest running stage race for road bicycle racing. In 2009, Bend was named the topmountain biking town in Mountain Bike Action magazine.[74][75] The trail network is always growing, most recently with the announcement of 20 miles of new single track and downhill trails.[76]
Bend is also home to the Deschutes County Rocks Boxing Team, a USA Boxing program ran by Level III USA Boxing coach Richard Miller, who is also the Golden Gloves & Silver Gloves President. February of each year Coach Miller hosts the Oregon State Golden Gloves Boxing Championship at Eagle Crest resort, a two-day event that highlights the best Olympic-bound boxers in the Northwest while bringing hundreds of boxing fans to the area. The program is non-profit and raises money for youth in the community.[77]
TheBend Park & Recreation District protects the parks, natural areas, recreational facilities, gardens, and trails of Bend.
Central Oregon Community College and theOSU-Cascades Campus ofOregon State University offer two- and four-year programs.
The Bend area is served byBend–La Pine School District. It contains six high schools (Bend,Marshall,Mountain View, La Pine, Caldera High School, andSummit). It also contains sixmiddle schools (Cascade, High Desert, Pilot Butte, Pacific Crest, La Pine and Sky View), and 19elementary schools which include threemagnet schools.
Within Bend-LaPine, additional special schools include an environmentally focused middle school and high school called Realms. Charter schools include Desert Sky Montessori and the K-8 Bend International School.[78]
Private schools in the area include Eastmont School, Cascades Academy of Central Oregon, Seven Peaks, Waldorf School of Bend, St. Francis of Assisi, Morning Star Christian, and Trinity Lutheran School.
The nearest commercial airport isRoberts Field (RDM) inRedmond, 18 mi (29 km) north of Bend.Alaska Airlines,Avelo Airlines,Horizon Air andSkyWest Airlines (flying asAlaska Airlines,American Eagle,Delta Connection andUnited Express) provide direct service toBurbank,Seattle,Salt Lake City,Phoenix,Denver,Los Angeles,San Diego,Santa Rosa, andSan Francisco. TheU.S. Forest Service operates an air base and training center for firefighting.
Bend Municipal Airport (KBDN) is located 5 mi (8 km) northeast of the city and servesgeneral aviation. Several significant general aviation companies are based at Bend Airport, includingPrecise Flight, which developsoxygen systems,speed brakes,landing lights and other modifications for general aviation aircraft, andEpic Aircraft.
The Bend Hawthorne Transit Center is a hub for the Cascades East Transit center with connections tointercity bus services includingPacific Crest Bus Lines,POINT Intercity Bus Service, the People Mover, and the Central Oregon Breeze.[81]
Bend was previously the only metropolitan area west of theMississippi River without a publicbus system. Ameasure 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.[82]
During summer 2007, not a single bus purchased was in operation (though several were due to weak A/C systems) and litigation was underway.[83]
There are currently nine fixed bus routes offered by Cascades East Transit[84] in Bend. The city is also started experimenting with a shared-ride van in 2019.[85] The project was initially designed to find a replacement for a cancelled route that had limited riders.[86]
Bend lies at the intersection ofU.S. Route 20 andU.S. Route 97. The latter runs on anexpressway alignment through the city known as theBend Parkway; abusiness route for US 97 runs along 3rd Street. The city is also served by theCentury Drive Highway No. 372 which provides access toMount Bachelor.
In an effort to improve the safety of the city's non-driving residents, Bend has been implementingroundabouts within the city.[87]
ABNSF main line runs north–south through the city; there are numerous spurs off of the main line which serve industrial rail customers. TheSpokane, Portland and Seattle Railway ran passenger service six days a week on amixed train along that line from Bend toWishram, Washington until some point between 1968 and 1970.[88][89] The closestAmtrak station is inChemult, approximately 65 mi (105 km) to the south; it is served by the Seattle–Los AngelesCoast Starlight.
In 2016, Bend adopted the Transportation System Plan, which is a 20-year plan that strives to achieve a healthy, equitable future for the entire community. The city is using community input to help this plan move forward, using experiments and data to drive their decisions on how people move within the city while incorporatingland use throughout.[90]
In July 2019, Oregon State University Cascade launched a ride share program as part of a study called Ride Bend, which was active until March 2020. Ride Bend hired the transit company Downtowner to help set up and implement an on demand, app based, electric van service in Bend's west side. Part of Ride Bend's study was to see whether people prefer sharing rides to get to their destination over fixed bus routes.[91]
Ride Bend noticed that few people were usingpublic transportation within the city, and many bus systems, such as Cascades East Transit, had to cancel their services because not enough people were taking the bus. Ride Bend not only succeeded in getting people to use public transportation again, effectively helping withtraffic calming, but they also brought people to broader areas within the city.[91]
An estimated 40,000 people have moved to Bend since the Transportation System Plan was written, and most of them brought cars with them.[92]
While Ride Bend is directly addressing carbon emissions, plenty of other businesses surrounding Bend are reducing the amount of impact a car has on the environment after its use. Tires can be processed and reused, batteries and oil can be treated so no toxic waste gets put into thesurface runoff in the streets and landfill.[92]While the Transportation System Plan just began in 2016, the city looks towards a 20-year investment in creating a brighter future in transportation use and waste management.
Bend has multiplesister cities:
Fujioka Town (Toyota City), Aichi Japan[102][103]
Condega, Nicaragua[104]
Muzaffarabad, Pakistan[105][106]
Belluno, Veneto, Italy[107][108]
Media from Commons
Travel information from WikivoyageMunicipalities and communities ofDeschutes County, Oregon,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Salem (capital) | |||||||||
| Topics | |||||||||
| Society | |||||||||
| Regions |
| ||||||||
| Metro areas | |||||||||
| Largest cities | |||||||||
| Counties | |||||||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
