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History of Bend
Deschutes County, Oregon, is home to the city of Bend, which is rooted beside the famed Deschutes River at the eastern foot of the Cascade Range. The name of this city stems from the nickname “Farewell Bend,” a moniker once utilized by pioneers to refer to the area alongside the Deschutes River where travelers would rest before embarking upon the rest of their journey. In later years, that area is where the town sprouted. In its earliest stages, the area of Bend, Oregon was a logging town. Today, this history has forged the way to its current tourist status as an attractive site for hiking, swimming, bird watching, camping, skiing, biking and other outdoor adventures.
Prior to 1824, only Native Americans hunted, fished and thrived in Bend, Oregon. However, in winter 1824, a fur trapping party led by Peter Skeen Ogden visited the area. Many French-Canadian fur trappers also welcomed the attractions of this central Cascade Mountain Range property. French-speaking fur trappers even named the Deschutes River “River of the Falls,” or Riviere des Chutes.
In later years, other pioneers such as John Fremont and miscellaneous army surveyors visited the region. John Young Todd built a bridge across the Deschutes River in 1860. However, true formalized settlement did not occur until the early 1900s, when Alexander Drake founded the Pilot Butte Development Company. As the business grew, a small community also developed in close proximity to the river. By 1904, the city’s residents incorporated the city. The city was incorporated with approximately 300 people. A.H. Goodwillie was appointed as the first mayor of the area on January 4, 1905.
Bend prospered in the early 1900s and even adopted its first fire protection system in 1905. In 1911, the Oregon Trunk Railroad was completed. James J. Hill and E. H. Harriman also helped to lay railroad tracks in the area. Those tracks helped open the door to burgeoning tourism, which aided the logging industry. By 1914, lumber companies emerged as the foundation of the local economy, thus giving rise to Bend’s history as a logging town.
Residents created Deschutes County in 1917. At that time, the county was created from a small portion of the western area of Crook County. Bend was selected as the county seat. Two years later, on February 24, 1919, the city’s Fire Department was created by the City Council.
Population and economic growth were gradual developments until Mt. Bachelor became a prime venue for skiing. This attraction stimulated the tourist economy, and eventually led to growth in the industrial and commercial sectors as well. As more and more jobs were created, the population of Bend also grew.
Today, visitors and residents alike are able to observe Bend’s pride in their rich history. Drake Park, for instance, is named after Alexander M. Drake, one of the community’s first settlers. Fortunately, the area is no longer solely dependent upon logging, but has now shifted to Tourism as it's primary revenue source. There has also been a great deal of effort by many who are working hard to attract mid-size companies to the area to help alleviate the dependency upon tourism as the only base industry in the area.
Bend - An outdoor recreation paradise!
A passion for recreation is what brings many people to Bend, Oregon. Located in the high desert of central Oregon, Bend is famous for its many forms of outdoor recreation. Kayakers and rafters shoot through the exciting triple waterfalls of the Deschutes River. The Deschutes, Metolius and Crooked Rivers also offer fantastic fly fishing, with more than 500 miles of streams and rivers stocked with trout and steelhead. Golfers have 20 top-rated courses nearby, offering every kind of golf challenge. Mountain bike cyclists can choose off road riding in uncrowded lush forests, high mountain peaks, lava fields or desert. Mt. Bachelor's ten lifts, six of them high speed, give alpine skiers 3,228 acres of skiing terrain.
Cross country skiing on the 56 kilometers of trails on Mt. Bachelor is a popular winter sport. Snowmobilers have 560 miles of groomed trails to choose from in the Deschutes National Forest, with 175 miles of that in the Bend District. World class rock climbing and miles of hiking trails at Smith Rock State Park makes it a popular retreat for climbers and hikers. Backcountry hikers and campers head into the solitude of the Three Sisters Wilderness, while others take a hike in the more than 2.5 million acres of national forests in the Bend area. Parks and picnicking abound in and around Bend. Almost all of the parks, lakes and rivers in the area have picnic areas. Bend has recreation for everyone!
Walking, shopping or dining in downtown Bend continues your quality recreational experience. Drake Park's Mirror Pond, the jewel of downtown Bend, is a small lake with ducks, Canadian geese, and a pair of swans from Queen Elizabeth's royal swannery in England. The wide stretches of green grass provide a restful counterpoint to the old brick and masonry buildings that compose Bend's business area. Galleries, restaurants, outdoor eateries, boutiques and specialty shops are all within easy walking distance. Farther from the downtown area are two regional shopping malls and a factory outlet complex.
Bend Oregon From Above
For a panoramic view of Bend and the volcanic peaks around it, take a walk or a drive to the top of Pilot Butte. From this 511 feet high volcanic cindercone, you can see a vista of the high desert region, including nine snowcapped Cascade peaks. A few of the peaks you'll see are the Three Sisters, Broken Top Mountain and Mt. Jefferson. An even finer view can be found at the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. This monument stretches from Paulina Peak to the Deschutes River and includes hiking trails, lava formations, obsidian fields, and waterfalls, as well as incredible scenery. Also in the Newberry Monument area is the 18 square mile Newberry Crater, which has two lakes, Paulina and East, two of Oregon's best mountain fishing lakes. Spelunking (cave exploring) in the lava tubes at Skeleton Cave, Arnold Ice Caves or Lava River Caves will show you how the underground half lives.
No one can accomplish all there is to do in Bend in one visit. Choose a few of the many opportunities waiting for you, and then, plan what you will do on your next trip to this recreation Mecca.
Bend Oregon Real Estate
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Bends Community Profile
A passion for recreation is what brings many people to Bend, Oregon. Located in the high desert of central Oregon, Bend is famous for its many forms of outdoor recreation. Kayakers and rafters shoot through the exciting triple waterfalls of the Deschutes River. The Deschutes, Metolius and Crooked Rivers also offer fantastic fly fishing, with more than 500 miles of streams and rivers stocked with trout and steelhead. Golfers have 20 top-rated courses nearby, offering every kind of golf challenge. Mountain bike cyclists can choose off road riding in uncrowded lush forests, high mountain peaks, lava fields or desert. Mt. Bachelor's ten lifts, six of them high speed, give alpine skiers 3,228 acres of skiing terrain.
Cross country skiing on the 56 kilometers of trails on Mt. Bachelor is a popular winter sport. Snowmobilers have 560 miles of groomed trails to choose from in the Deschutes National Forest, with 175 miles of that in the Bend District. World class rock climbing and miles of hiking trails at Smith Rock State Park makes it a popular retreat for climbers and hikers. Backcountry hikers and campers head into the solitude of the Three Sisters Wilderness, while others take a hike in the more than 2.5 million acres of national forests in the Bend area. Parks and picnicking abound in and around Bend. Almost all of the parks, lakes and rivers in the area have picnic areas. Bend has recreation for everyone!
Walking, shopping or dining in downtown Bend continues your quality recreational experience. Drake Park's Mirror Pond, the jewel of downtown Bend, is a small lake with ducks, Canadian geese, and a pair of swans from Queen Elizabeth's royal swannery in England. The wide stretches of green grass provide a restful counterpoint to the old brick and masonry buildings that compose Bend's business area. Galleries, restaurants, outdoor eateries, boutiques and specialty shops are all within easy walking distance. Farther from the downtown area are two regional shopping malls and a factory outlet complex.
Bend Oregon from above
For a panoramic view of Bend and the volcanic peaks around it, take a walk or a drive to the top of Pilot Butte. From this 511 feet high volcanic cindercone, you can see a vista of the high desert region, including nine snowcapped Cascade peaks. A few of the peaks you'll see are the Three Sisters, Broken Top Mountain and Mt. Jefferson. An even finer view can be found at the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. This monument stretches from Paulina Peak to the Deschutes River and includes hiking trails, lava formations, obsidian fields, and waterfalls, as well as incredible scenery. Also in the Newberry Monument area is the 18 square mile Newberry Crater, which has two lakes, Paulina and East, two of Oregon's best mountain fishing lakes, spelunking (cave exploring) in the lava tubes at Skeleton Cave, Arnold Ice Caves or Lava River Caves will show you how the underground half lives.
No one can accomplish all there is to do in Bend in one visit. Choose a few of the many opportunities waiting for you, and then, plan what you will do on your next trip to this recreation Mecca.
Are you looking for more information about Bends businesses or chamber of commerce? Clink on the link below and take a look at Bend Chamber Commerce.
Visitors Resources
If you need other visitor resources please check out Visit Bend or Visit Central Oregon. Alternatively if you just want to learn more about Bend's history we have a link for that as well!
The Deschutes County Fairgrounds is always a busy place. With so many concerts and events being held out here year round it is sure stop when visiting Central Oregon.
Need information on the Bend and Lapine School Districts? Please use the links below to find out more about our great schools.
Need help getting around? Central Oregon offers a great transportation system. Bend also offers a few different alternative cab companies for your convenience.