Bend Profile

Population
It’s hard to imagine that at the point of the 2000 U.S. Census, Bend had just crossed the 50,000 population mark with 52,029 residents. Eight short years later, the city surpassed the 80,000 mark with 80,995 residents.

Bend has a deserved reputation for attracting lifestyle migrants – urban dwellers those who seek amenities typically associated with a larger metropolitan area but yearn for the recreational pursuits of the great outdoors, a beautiful setting, and an accessible community feeling. As such, the city attracts families and entrepreneurs from all of the West Coast metro areas and some from other major population centers. Many residents remark that for its population size, Bend has retained its small town atmosphere and 'feels' smaller than its actual size would suggest. Bend has been adopted as a gateway by for many outdoor sports, including mountain biking, skiing and snow boarding, dog racing, fishing, hiking, rock climbing, water-water rafting, and golf, by professionals and amateurs alike. There is also a sizable cluster of individuals drawn to Bend for artistic pursuits, ranging from photography to sculpture, from water color to metal working.  

Development
Economically, Bend started as a logging town, but began a transition to a more varied, sustainabile economy in the 1980s when it became apparent that the lumber mills would no longer be vital. Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) was born in those dark days of the ‘80s that long time residents describe as a time when many downtown businesses were boarded up.

Far from an “Aspen” or “Jackson Hole”, Bend’s lifestyle and quality workforce is a draw for many successful companies in the aviation, manufacturing, renewable energy, high-tech, and recreation equipment sectors. Many of Bend's companies are owner-operated and in the small to midsize range, typically with 10 to 50 employees.  Companies like Cessna-Bend, Breedlove Guitars, PV Powered, G5 Search Marketing, Deschutes Brewery and Bend Research provide solid employment and bring in vital traded-sector dollars to Bend’s economy. Further, because the city has attracted significant managerial and C-level talent, the area has been a hotbed of entrepreneurial activity in technology, biosciences, renewable energy, and related fields with small business start-ups.

In 2007, the City of Bend undertook an expansion of its Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) that is expected to be finalized in mid 2009. The first expansion in twenty years, the new UGB will enlarge the city considerably and offer more industrial and commercial land for new businesses and for expansion.

Livability
Bend has experienced exponential growth in the past decade that has brought with it big city amenities one would not expect in a city of over 80,000 people. Top-rated restaurants, boutique shops mixed with national retailers, a vibrant music scene, and year-round festivals give tourists and locals plenty to do. Add to this unparalleled access to outdoor recreation, an award-winning parks system, and a sound school system, one can understand why Bend is constantly at the top of any list for livability. See our section Central Oregon in the News, for what regional and national publications have to say about living in Central Oregon. 

History
Around the turn of the 20th century, trappers, ranchers, and loggers carved out a living near the town that eventually became the Deschutes County Seat. Then, as now, Bend is the commercial, retail, and service center for a region that nearly stretches from the Washington State line to the California border. With the arrival of a rail line to Bend in 1911, lumber and agricultural products could be economically shipped to outside markets.

By the 1920’s three mills operated by Shevlin-Hixon and two operated by Brooks-Scanlon dominated the local economy and brought significant population and employment growth. By the 1950’s, timber resources began to show signs of strain, when Shevlin-Hixon closed all three mills and sold its Central Oregon holdings to Brooks-Scanlon. In an effort to better utilize the declining supply of wood fiber, timber companies diversified into moldings, particleboard and plywood manufacturing during the 1960's and 70's.

In the early 1980’s the community hit an economic low point with nearly a quarter of the workforce unemployed. About this time community leaders pursued tourism development as an additional leg to its economic foundation and as a tool for broader diversification efforts. Success of this strategy has been felt through the 1990's as the community attracted new investment in nearly all sectors. A “critical mass” of quality amenities for both residents and visitors has also built an industry presence in computer software and hardware, medical equipment, aerospace, and recreation equipment manufacturing.

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BEND Stats at a Glance

Bend, Oregon
Elevation:	3623’
Population (July 2008)	80,995
Median Resident Age	35.5
Estimated Median Hh Income (2007)	$53,365
Median single family home price (YTD thru Dec 2008)	$289,450
Average household size	2.35
Property Tax Rate 2007/2008	$15.2536 per $1000 assessed value
Assessed Value 2008	$7,679,724,149
Telecommunications Infrastructure	BendBroadband, BendTel, Qwest, Quantum Communications, Clearwire, Integra
Top Five Private Largest Employers (in 2007, in order)	St. Charles Medical Center, Les Schwab, Mt. Bachelor, TRG Customer Solutions, Bend Memorial Clinic
Top 5 Deschutes County Taxpayers in 2008-09 (in order)	Cascade Natural Gas Corp., Qwest Corp., Gas Transmission Northwest Corp., PacifiCorp (PP&L), Pronghorn Investors LLC

Bend Quick Links

Bend, Oregon (Deschutes County)
Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO)	541-388-3236 Roger Lee, Executive Director Eric Strobel, Business Development Manager   109 NW Greenwood Ave., Suite #102, Bend OR 97701
City of Bend (City Hall)	541-388-5505 710 NW Wall Street, Bend, Oregon 97701
Deschutes County  (Administrative Offices)	541-385-6570 1300 NW Wall St., Bend OR 97701
Bend Chamber of Commerce	541-382-3221 777 NW Wall Street, Bend OR 97701
Bend Visitor & Convention Bureau	877-245-8484 917 NW Harriman Street, Bend OR 97701
Central Oregon Visitors Association (COVA)	800-800-8334 661 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 1301, Bend OR 97702
Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC)	541-548-8163 2363 SW Glacier Place - Redmond, OR 97756
Worksource Oregon	541-388-6070 1645 NE Forbes, Bend OR 97701
The Bulletin newspaper	541-382-1811 1777 SW Chandler Avenue, Bend, OR 97702
Cacade Business News	541-388-5665 404 NE Norton Avenue, Bend OR 97701
Bend Airport	541-389-0258 Physical Address: 63136 Powell Butte Hwy, Bend OR 97701 Mailing Address: PO Box 431, Bend OR 97709