Central Oregon is rapidly becoming a more desired vacation
destination and a more popular place to live. Tourists
love the endless recreation options; residents enjoy the small
town feel coupled with big city business and opportunity.
In fact, most new residents first experienced Central Oregon as
a tourist, then quickly decided to call the area home.
A beautiful community nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, Bend is the biggest town in Central Oregon. Bend has a booming population; the number currently tops 65,000. Redmond, a short 15 minute drive north of Bend, is the next largest town with approximately 22,000 residents. The other Central Oregon communities of Madras, Prineville, La Pine, Sisters, and Terrebonne add to those numbers to make the total area population 185,131, according to the 2005 U.S. Census. This number has increased 53% from 1995.
The Central Oregon community has much to offer its residents and guests. Outdoor enthusiasts will find themselves overwhelmed with all the potential activities they can do in this beautiful corner of the world. For those who like to ski and snowboard, Mt. Bachelor is a short drive from anywhere in Central Oregon. With its light fluffy snow and long winter season, "powder-hounds" flock to Mt Bachelor to enjoy the alpine and cross country trails. Central Oregon is also home to Hoodoo Ski Area which is just over an hour from most communities in Central Oregon. If you are more interested in the warmer weather activities, try golfing at one of the region's 35 premiere golf courses or perhaps white-water rafting on the famed Deschutes River. Biking, horseback-riding, rock climbing, water-skiing, camping, and spelunking are all ways that you can spend a sunny day in Central Oregon.
Speaking of sun, Central Oregon is actually referred to as the "sunny side" of the state. This is because the Cascade Mountains act as a buffer, allowing Central Oregon to see about 300 days of sunshine and only 12 inches of rain/snow per year. In comparison, Portland sees 42 inches and Seattle gets 36 inches of precipitation every year.
For more information on Central Oregon, please see the following websites:
Prineville Chamber of Commerce
Crooked River Ranch Chamber of Commerce
