---
title: Bend, Oregon
description: Settled in the early 1900s, Bend started out as a logging town situated along the eastern edge of the Cascade Range, along the Deschutes River.…
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![170918_BPL_BEND_44](https://img.money.com/2017/09/170918_bpl_bend_44.jpg)
*former lumber mill site, now a shopping, restaurant, entertainment destination.*

Settled in the early 1900s, Bend started out as a logging town situated along the eastern edge of the Cascade Range, along the Deschutes River. That setting—with a skyline surrounded by majestic, snowcapped peaks—has helped transform it into an international mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. The recreational activities on offer include hiking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, skiing, fishing, camping, and rock climbing.

Those all combine to make tourism a huge industry for Bend, where the average commute is just 15 minutes (and almost 5% of workers commute on foot or by bike). Other major employers are St. Charles Medical Center and Les Schwab Tires; jobs in the area are forecast to rise almost 10% between 2016 and 2021, according to Moody’s Analytics.

Livability is also key here: The town is incredibly [dog-friendly](https://www.visitbend.com/Discover_Bend_Oregon/Pet-Travel/), with Bend locals claiming to have one of the highest per capita dog populations anywhere in the U.S. Another key element of the Bend lifestyle: beer. Bend has more breweries per capita than any other city in Oregon, and aficionados can trek the [Bend Ale Trail](https://www.visitbend.com/things-to-do/Bend-Ale-Trail/) and enjoy events like [Bend Oktoberfest](https://bendoktoberfest.com/) and [Central Oregon Beer Week](https://centraloregonbeerweek.com/). *—Sergei Klebnikov*

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[**Find homes in Bend, Oregon on**](https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Bend_OR/?cid=dsp_moneyBPL17_cons_Time_Money_rankings_textlink_srp)

![](https://img.money.com/2017/08/realtorlogofinal.png?w=300)

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