Prineville, Oregon
Now home to Facebook and Apple, Prineville is the oldest community in Central Oregon, and one of the state's first incorporated cities. Prineville’s origins are tied to the land in agriculture, forest products, the railroad, and manufacturing. Community leaders are united in their efforts to grow and diversify Crook County’s economic base, assuring long-term vitality through the creation of family-wage jobs.
Prineville is a community with a strong identity, leaders with the town’s interests at heart and residents that are very engaged in civic activities. Spring comes earlier and Fall stays later in Prineville, making near-year round golfing a popular attraction for visitors and residents alike. Summer temperatures are typically in the upper 80s to low 90s (Fahrenheit) with lows in the 40s and 50s. Winter temperatures range from highs in the 40s to lows in the 20s. With a strong heritage in agriculture - rodeos, county fair, and outdoor recreation are very popular in Crook County. The town is also the gateway to the Ochoco National Forest, Painted Hills National Monument, and a host of lakes and reservoirs popular with boaters and fishermen.
Prineville has a rich history of logging and wood products and known for its well-trained blue collar workforce. However, employment is concentrated in several major areas: wood products, Les Schwab, healthcare, and local government. Several ground transport companies provide excellent service and rates for transport to and from major markets. Outside the manufacturing and distribution sectors, agriculture still plays an important economic and cultural role for residents of the town and Crook County. New destination resorts offer another form of tourism and revenue for the county.
Despite the Prineville Railroad losing much of its business after the fall of the timber industry, community leaders have renewed their efforts to make it viable again. With the large railroad companies making fewer stops in smaller communities, Prineville is currently creating a Freight Depot, with the goal of becoming a regional transportation and storage hub for all of Central Oregon. The State of Oregon has awarded the Freight Depot several million dollars in grants for the project.
Another attractive aspect of doing business in Prineville is the low cost and abundance of industrial lands. Prineville boasts over 2,000 acres of industrial land, much of it ready for development, ranging in price from $0.50 sf to $2.50 sf. With large tracts of land also available, and a large supply of electric power, companies with big power requirements may consider Prineville for relocation or expansion.
With an enterprise zone and a renewable energy zone in place, Crook County offers tax incentives to qualifying companies to help offset the cost of doing business. Other state programs are also available, including the Strategic Investment Program, which offers income tax abatement.
Recent upgrades to the telecommunications infrastructure offer companies with certain technology requirements the opportunity to consider Prineville. Four different companies offer commercial and resident services with business class fiber, high speed access, and WiFi.
Go to our Photo Gallery to see more of Crook County and Prineville. Download a copy of the comprehensive 2008 Prineville Profile.
Prineville Stats at a Glance
| Prineville, Oregon (Crook County) |
| Elevation: |
2868 feet
|
| Population (July 2008) |
9,235 (Prineville); 20,978 (Crook County) |
| Median Resident Age |
34.6 |
| Estimated Median Hh Income (2011) |
$79,900 |
| Median single family home price (YTD thru Dec 2008) |
$94,540 (Crook County) |
| Average household size |
2.61 |
| Property Tax Rate 2011/12 |
$13.51 per $1,000 of assessed value |
| Assessed Property Value 2008 |
$1,541,855,903 (Crook County) |
| Telecommunications Infrastructure |
BendBroadband (commercial), Crestview Cable (residential & commercial), Quantum Communications (commercial), Qwest (residential & commercial) |
| Top Five Private Largest Employers (in 2007, in order) |
Les Schwab, Crook County School District, Central Oregon Trucking, Pioneer Memorial Hospital, Mid Oregon Personnel
|
| Top 5 Crook County Taxpayers in 2011-12 (in order) |
Brasada Ranch, Les Schwab, Clear Pine Moulding, O'Ryan Ranches, Ochoco Lumber
|
Prineville Quick Links
| Prineville, Oregon (Crook County) |
|
Prineville/Crook County Economic Development, Inc. |
Russ Deboodt, Manager 541-233-2015
187 NE 2nd Street, Prineville OR 97754 |
|
Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) |
Roger Lee, Executive Director
541-388-3236
109 NW Greenwood Ave., Suite #102, Bend OR 97701 |
|
City of Prineville |
541-447-5627
387 NE 3rd Street, Prineville OR 97754 |
| Crook County |
541-447-6555
300 NE 3rd Street, Prineville OR 97754
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|
Prineville/Crook County Chamber of Commerce |
541-447-6304
785 NW 3rd St, Prineville OR 97754 |
|
Work Source Oregon / Oregon Employment Department Office |
541-447-3119 / 541-447-8076
2321 NE 3rd Street, Prineville OR 97754 |
|
The Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC) |
541-548-8163
2363 SW Glacier Place, Redmond OR 97756 |
| MidOregon Personnel Services |
541-447-1299
187 NW 2nd Street, Prineville OR 97754 |
|
Central Oregonian newspaper |
541-447-6205
558 N. Main Street, Prineville OR 97754 |