Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon
Downtown Bend
Downtown Bend
Motto: 
Bend: Living at Its Best
Location in Bend in Deschutes County, Oregon
Location in Bend in Deschutes County, Oregon
Coordinates: 44°03′29″N 121°18′55″W / 44.05806°N 121.31528°W / 44.05806; -121.31528
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyDeschutes
PlattedMay 28, 1904
IncorporatedJanuary 4, 1905
Government
 • MayorMelanie Kebler (D)
Area
 • City
35.046 sq mi (90.769 km2)
 • Land34.801 sq mi (90.135 km2)
 • Water0.245 sq mi (0.635 km2)
Elevation3,626 ft (1,105 m)
Population
 • City
99,178
 • Estimate 
(2023)[4]
104,557
 • RankUS: 311st
OR: 6th
 • Density2,981.0/sq mi (1,151.0/km2)
 • Urban
106,988 (US: 305th)
 • Metro
260,919 (US: 192nd)
DemonymBendite[5][6]
Time zoneUTC–8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC–7 (PDT)
ZIP Codes
97701, 97702, 97703, 97707, 97708, 97709
Area code(s)541 and 458
FIPS code41-05800
GNIS feature ID1137914[2]
Websitebendoregon.gov

Bend is a city in Central Oregon and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. It is located to the east of the Cascade Range, on the Deschutes River.

The site became known by pioneers as a fordable 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 a logging 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 high desert, Bend is bordered by the Deschutes National Forest to the southwest. Economically, it is a tourist destination, featuring recreational attractions (e.g. breweries, an amphitheater, and the last Blockbuster video-rental store) as well as outdoor sports, including mountain biking, fishing, hiking, camping, rock climbing, white-water rafting, skiing, paragliding, and golf.

Bend is Central Oregon's most populous city. In the 2020 census, it had a population of 99,178,[3] with the eponymous metropolitan statistical area (MSA) population totaling 247,493. This makes the city and MSA the sixth-most populous city and fifth largest metropolitan area in Oregon, respectively.

  1. ^ "2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bend, Oregon
  3. ^ a b "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference USCensusEst2023 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Renaissance Bendites: Two among us who do it all". The Source Weekly. October 17, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  6. ^ Jasper, David (April 19, 2013). "Bendites show at ceramic showcase". The Bulletin. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2013.