Bend tourist information

Until the winter of 1824, the Bend area was known only to Native Americans who hunted and fished there. In that year, members of a fur trapping party led by Peter Skene Ogden visited the area. John C. Fremont, Dr. John Strong Newberry and other Army survey parties came next. Then pioneers heading farther west went through the area and forded the Deschutes River at Farewell Bend.

Actual settlement did not occur until the early 1900s with the founding of the Pilot Butte Development Company by Alexander M. Drake. A small community developed around the bend in the river and in 1904 a city was incorporated by a general vote of the community's 300 residents. On 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.

The settlement was originally known as Farewell Bend.

Bend, Oregon is home to David Stoliar who was the sole survivor of an attack on the Struma, a ship carrying Jewish refugees from the holocaust. Other notable locals include the poet and American philosopher Joel Wright.

Weather  ^*

Bend's climate is typical of the high desert with cool nights and sunny days. Annual precipitation averages 10-13 inches, part of which is the average snowfall of 34 inches. The winter season in Bend provides typical daytime temperatures in the 40's to 50's. Nighttime temperatures range anywhere from 22 to 51.

A typical central Oregon summer is marked with daily temperatures in the 80s and 90s during the day, and the mid 40s and 50s during the night. Hard frosts are not unheard of during the summer months. Autumn usually brings warm, dry days and cooler nights, and Bend is known for its annual Indian summer.

Temperature - Yearly Average