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Deschutes County, OR
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 Established:
Dec. 13, 1916
Population: 130,500 (2003)
Elev. at Bend: 3628'
Area: 3,055 sq. mi.
Average Temp.: January 30.5°, July 65.5°
Assessed Value: $12,212,561,314
Real Market Value: $17,617,229,049
Annual Precipitation: 12"
Economy: Tourism, retail trade, forest products, recreational
equipment, aviation, software and high technology.
Incorporated Cities: Bend | Redmond | Sisters
Points of Interest: Smith Rock State Park, Mt. Bachelor ski
area, High Desert Museum, Lava Lands, Cascade Lakes Highway,
Lava River Caves State Park, Lava Cast Forests, Newberry Crater,
Pilot Butte, Three Sisters Wilderness, Central Oregon Community
College, Deschutes County Fairgrounds, Redmond Airport, Pine
Mountain Observatory.
General Information: French-Canadian fur trappers of the
Hudson’s Bay Company gave the name Riviere des Chutes (River of
the Falls) to the Deschutes River, from which Deschutes County
took its name. In 1916 Deschutes County was created from a part
of Crook County.
Deschutes County is the outdoor recreation capital of Oregon.
With noble, snow-capped peaks dominating the skyline to the west
and the wide-open high desert extending to the east, the beauty
and uniqueness of Deschutes County captures the awe of locals
and visitors alike. Deschutes County has grown into a bustling,
exciting place where progress and growth are hallmarks.
During the past ten years, Deschutes County has experienced the
most rapid growth of any county in the state largely due to its
invigorating climate and year-round recreation activities.
Central Oregon offers downhill and cross-country skiing,
snowboarding, fishing, hunting, hiking, rockclimbing, whitewater
rafting, and golfing. Deschutes County is the host of diverse
annual events including the Cascade Festival of Music, the Art
Hop, Cascade Children’s Festival, Pole Pedal Paddle, Sisters
Rodeo, Sunriver Sunfest, and the Cascade Cycling Classic.
County Officials: Commissioners—Mike Daly (R) 2009, Bev Clarno
(R) 2007, Dennis R. Luke (R) 2007; Dist. Atty. Mike Dugan (NP)
2007; Assess. Scot Langton (NP) 2007; Clerk Nancy Blankenship
(NP) 2007; Sheriff Les Stiles (NP) 2009; Surv. Jeff Kern; Treas.
Marty Wynne (D) 2007.
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County History |
Deschutes County was created from the western portion of
Crook County on December 13, 1916. It was named for the
Deschutes River which flows through the county. Early fur
traders had called the river Riviere des Chutes which means
"River of the Falls." The county encompasses 3,055 square miles
and is located in the central portion of the state.
Geographically, the county includes portions of the Cascade
Mountains and the central high desert plateau. It is bounded by
Jefferson County to the north, Crook County to the east, Klamath
and Lake Counties to the south, and Lane and Linn Counties to
the west.
The county seat is located in the city of Bend which was
incorporated in 1905. 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. County offices were first located in two rooms of the
O'Kane Building and later moved into an office building
constructed by the Deschutes County Investment Company. The
county court met there from 1917 to 1935. A county jail was
completed 1918. In 1935 the county court decided to purchase the
old brick high school to serve as the courthouse. In 1937 the
courthouse and most of the early county records were destroyed
by fire. The greatest loss of records was in the county clerk's
office. The state fire marshal investigated the cause of the
fire, but arson was never proved. A new courthouse was
constructed in 1940 and an addition was built in 1978.
The first meeting to organize county government was held in the
O'Kane Building. Appointments were made for the positions of
district attorney, county judge, two commissioners, clerk,
assessor, treasurer, surveyor, superintendent of schools,
coroner, physician, and sheriff. The county judge position,
which had juvenile jurisdiction, was abolished in 1971 and
replaced by a third county commissioner. In that year the county
court administrative system was replaced by the three member
board of commissioners.
Principal industries in the county are lumber, tourism, and
agriculture, chiefly cattle and potatoes. The major destination
resort, Inn of the Seventh Mountain, and the resort communities
of Black Butte and Sunriver, were developed during the 1970s.
The Mount Bachelor ski area and High Desert Museum add to the
tourism-based economy in the county as well.
The first county census taken in 1920 enumerated a population of
9,622 inhabitants. Deschutes County has experienced the most
rapid growth of any county of the state in recent years. The
2000 population of 115,367 was a 53.91% increase over 1990. |
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