Bend, Oregon

Bend is a city located in Deschutes County, Oregon. The name Bend was derived from "Farewell Bend," the designation used by early pioneers to refer to the location along the Deschutes River[?] where the town eventually was platted, one of the few fordable points along the river. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 52,029.

Geography Bend is located at 44°3'23" North, 121°18'29" West (44.056434, -121.308085)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 83.5 km² (32.2 mi²). 82.9 km² (32.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.68% water.

Demographics As of the census of 2000, there are 52,029 people, 21,062 households, and 13,395 families residing in the city. The population density is 627.4/km² (1,624.8/mi²). There are 22,507 housing units at an average density of 271.4/km² (702.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 93.98% White, 0.28% African American, 0.79% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.75% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. 4.61% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 21,062 households out of which 31.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% are married couples living together, 9.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% are non-families. 26.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.42 and the average family size is 2.92.

In the city the population is spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $40,857, and the median income for a family is $49,387. Males have a median income of $33,377 versus $25,094 for females. The per capita income for the city is $21,624. 10.5% of the population and 6.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 13.8% are under the age of 18 and 5.8% are 65 or older.

History The Bend area was first explored in the mid-1830s by beaver hunters. Peter Skene Ogden[?], John C. Fremont, and John Newberry[?] are some of the earliest white men to travel to the unknown land. Actual settlement of the area did not occur until the early 1900s with the founding of the Pilot Butte Development Company by Alexander M. Drake[?].

Bend was incorporated in 1904 by a general vote of the community's 300 residents. January 4, 1905 the city held its first official meeting as an incorporated municipality, appointing A. H. Goodwillie[?] as the first mayor. Twelve years later, Deschutes County was formed from the western half of Crook County and Bend was designated as the county seat. In 1929, Bend amended the charter and adopted the manager/council form of government.