Central Oregon Redmond Real Estate with Charlie and Virginia Dougherty of Remax

For additional statistical information on Bend and Central Oregon, please see Central Oregon Economic Development Council’s web page at http://www.coedc.org.

Bend, county seat of Deschutes County, is located near the center of Oregon at the foot of the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains. Bend covers 21 square miles with an altitude of 3,628 feet. It is noted for its scenic setting, mild climate, year-round recreational opportunities, and growing economy.

Until the winter of 1824, this area was known only to native Americans who hunted and fished here. Members of a fur trapping party led by Peter Skene Ogden were the earliest visitors. John Fremont and other Army survey parties came next. Then pioneers heading further west came through and forded the Deschutes River at "Farewell Bend". A small community developed around the bend in the river and in 1904 a city was incorporated with approximately 300 citizens. The Oregon Trunk Railroad was completed in 1911 and the community of Bend began to grow. 1914 brought two major lumber companies and timber became the mainstay of the local economy. Mt. Bachelor ski area became the catalyst for the visitor industry which simultaneously generated industrial and commercial expansion. Wood products are still the leading economic factors with tourism also being the second largest industry. Other diversified industries are developing. Bend is also the retail center of Central Oregon.

Bend enjoys the predominately dry climate of the high desert. Sunny days, low humidity and cool nights provide the most common weather pattern. The average annual precipitation in Bend is about 12 inches.

1998/1999 SCHOOL VACATION SCHEDULES FOR OREGON, IDAHO,
WASHINGTON AND CALIFORNIA

The Bend area is served by 9-1-1 Center for Ambulance, Fire, Police, and Deschutes County Sheriff emergencies. Air Life is also available.

The Bend Department has 48 sworn officers and 16 staff. 388-5550 (non-emergency).

(City of Bend and Rural Fire District #2) 55 paid staff, 30 volunteers (4 stations). 388-5533 (non-emergency).

There are ten banks with 22 branches, two Savings and Loan Associations and 3 Credit Unions.

The City of Bend adopted the City Manager-Council form of government in 1929. The current system includes a hired City Manager and seven elected councilors with one serving as Mayor.

Top-notch professionals and superb facilities are the hallmark of Bend’s health care system. The community’s patient/physician ratio assures timely access to professional care, whatever the need.

St. Charles Medical Center, 2500 NE Neff Road, 382-4321; a modern, comprehensive 181 bed facility incorporating the latest medical technology. A total of 200 physicians are members of the St. Charles Medical Center staff. Specialties include radiation oncology, neurology, neurosurgery, open heart surgery, radiology, urology, pathology, emergency medicine, rehabilitative medicine, family practice, cardiology, dermatology, orthopedics, psychiatry and men’s and women’s health services, maternity, neonatology and critical care among others. St. Charles is also a Level II trauma center and operates Air Life. www.scmc.org

The average price for a home in Bend is $139.551. The average price for a single family residence on rural acreage is $205,991. The value of rural property is determined to a large extent on the availability of water. The average time a house is on the market is between 90 - 200 days.

The approximate range for monthly cost of rentals in the Bend area is $400 - 550 for a two bedroom, one bath unit and about $750 for a three bedroom unit in either duplexes or apartments. The cost for a 3 bedroom single family house runs $700 and up.

The Bulletin, 1526 NW Hill St., publ. every day beginning 5/2/98. - 382-1811 www.bendbulletin.com

There are nine radio stations based in Bend and additional stations in the Bend reception area.

Bend KTVZ-Channel 21/Cable 5 an NBC affiliate; KOAB-TV: A part of the Oregon Public Broadcasting State Television and Radio Network, Channel 3/Cable 7; KFXO - Channel 39, a Fox affiliate.

Bend TV Cable System: 36 basic channels and four premium services including, HBO, Showtime, The Movie Channel, and Disney channels.

There are almost 100 congregations in the Bend area representing a wide variety of faiths and denominations.

1980 Census	17,263
1990 Census	20,469
1997 Est.	33,740

Bend Urban Growth Area

1996 Est. 45,000

Deschutes County

1980 Census 62,142

1990 Census 75,600

1997 Est. 101,200

Back to Top

RECREATION AND CULTURE

There are 33 developed city parks, including: Drake Park, 11 acres of lawn and trees bordering the Deschutes River, on Mirror Pond in downtown Bend and Juniper Park, with indoor and outdoor pools, whirlpool and sauna, weight room, playground, tennis courts, horseshoes, etc. For further information, contact Bend Park & Recreation District, 200 Pacific Park Lane, 389-7275.

There are numerous fitness/health clubs available to provide workouts from weightlifting to indoor tennis courts. Central Oregon Community College offers a gym and free public use of sports equipment.

SPORTS:

Professional sports are represented by the Bend Bandits (baseball), a Western League team. They play at Vince Genna Stadium from May-September. Community teams are popular and leagues are formed for a number of sports including; basketball, skiing, softball, soccer, and tennis.

ENTERTAINMENT:

Two theater groups provide plays and entertainment year-round. Concerts, ranging from jazz to classical, are held throughout the year with many held outdoors at Drake Park.

Two museums feature exhibits portraying the cultural and natural heritage of the area. There is a thriving art community supporting more than ten art galleries, juried expositions and art hop walking tours.

Other entertainment options include nightclubs, dance halls, movie theaters and coffee houses.

Bend has two regional shopping malls, several smaller malls, a factory outlet center, a thriving downtown shopping area and abundant specialty shops.

ANNUAL EVENTS:

Pole, Pedal, Paddle race (May), Cascade Festival of Music (August), Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration (July), Bend Summer Festival (July), Sunriver Music Festival (August). Calendar of Events information is available from the Bend Area Chamber of Commerce for additional events throughout the year.

Back to Top

TAXES

SALES TAX:

Oregon has no sales tax.

PROPERTY TAX:

An owner-occupied home in the City of Bend is taxed this year (1997-98) at: $15.7286 per $1000 of assessed valuation. Assessed value is 100% of Market Value. This year, the total tax on a home with an assessed value of $100,000 in Bend is $1,573.

ASSESSED VALUATION 1995-96:

Bend: $2.318 billion

Deschutes County: $7.65 billion

INCOME TAX:

Oregon has adopted most Federal Tax Laws passed before January 1,1989. For 1995, the Oregon Tax rates for taxable income on a "joint return" are:

5% $4,500 or less

7% $4,501 - $11,400

9% $10,001 +

CITY TAX INFORMATION:

1 (541) 388-5581

STATE TAX INFORMATION:

1 (503) 378-4988

FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION:

1 (800) 829-1040

Back to Top

TRANSPORTATION

HIGHWAYS:

Bend is situated on Highway 97, which provides a direct route north and south. State Hwy. 20 provides convenient access west to Salem, Eugene, and Interstate 5 and east to the Idaho border.

AIR SERVICE:

Redmond Municipal Airport: (Commercial & General Aviation) 16 miles north of Bend. Two airlines, Horizon Airlines and United Express provide 13 daily non-stop flights to Portland. Horizon Air provides 3 non-stop flights daily to Seattle. National, Hertz, Avis and Budget car rentals have outlets at the airport.
For more information see their Web site at www.flyrdm.com.

Bend Municipal Airport: (General Aviation) 5.5 miles northeast of Bend. Charters, service and car rentals.

Sunriver Resort Airport: (General Aviation) Seventeen miles south of Bend. Charters, service and car rentals.

RAILROADS:

AMTRAK provides passenger service through Chemult (60 miles south of Bend Burlington Northern and Union Pacific provide freight services to all points in the country.

COPR - City of Prineville Railway - Gateway to Central Oregon

MOTOR FREIGHT:

Common carrier service is provided by local carriers with service across the continent.

Back to Top

UTILITIES

ELECTRICITY:

Bend relies on a diversified supply of wholesale power generated by the Bonneville Power Administration and other Pacific Northwest sources. Companies servicing the Bend area include:
Central Electric Co-Op 389-1980
Pacific Power 1-(888) 221-7070

NATURAL GAS:

Natural gas service in the Central Oregon area is provided by:
Cascade Natural Gas 382-6464

REFUSE:

Bend Garbage & Recycling 382-2263
Cascade Disposal 382-6660

RECYCLING:

Curbside recycling collection is available to all residents with garbage collection services within the Urban Growth Boundary.
Bend Recycling Team 388-3638

TELECOMMUNICATIONS:

Fiber optic transmission facilities, provided by US WEST Communications, link the communities of Bend, Redmond and Madras with Portland.

US West Communications: Residential Services: 1-(800) 244-1111
Phone Books: USWest Dex: 1-(800) 244-1111
Western Directory Co. 317-0200
Cellular phone service is available through several companies.

WATER & SEWER

City of Bend www.ci.bend.or.us 388-5515

Bend municipal water is of exceptional quality. It exceeds EPA standards by wide margin in all categories. Its pH rating is 7.0; hardness is 20; temperature is 36-50 F. For detailed information, call the Bend Public Works Department, 388-5540.

Properties not served by the City of Bend are often supplied by private water companies with excellent water quality. Many rural properties have their own on-site wells and cisterns. Water rights are administered by the County Watermaster. Checking water rights is advisable before acquiring property. Call the Water Master at 388-6669.

Back to Top