Deschutes County, Oregon

Deschutes County is a county in Oregon, United States, centred on the city of Bend at the eastern base of the Cascade Range. It had a population of 198,253 at the 2020 census and covers 3,055 square miles (7,910 km2), of which 37 square miles (96 km2) is water, centred near 43°55′N 121°13′W.

Bend is the county seat, and its postal code is 97701. The county has 4 incorporated cities, 11 census-designated places, and several unincorporated communities. Deschutes runs on Pacific time and was Oregon’s last county formed, in 1916.

Towns & Villages in Deschutes County

Deschutes County has 22 named places on record: 4 incorporated cities, 11 census-designated places (CDPs), and 7 unincorporated communities. The table below carries every place from the county’s settlement list, using City · seat, City, CDP, and Unincorp. to mark status; population figures are 2020 census counts where the Census Bureau tracks the place separately, otherwise —.

Three Rivers South is a CDP just south of La Pine on the Little Deschutes River and is distinct from the unincorporated community informally called Three Rivers on some older maps — both fall inside the La Pine 97739 ZIP.

ZIP Codes

• 97701, 97702, 97703 — Bend (also serves Tumalo, Alfalfa, Cloverdale, Deschutes, Elk Lake, Hampton, Millican, Pronghorn)
• 97756 — Redmond (also serves Eagle Crest)
• 97739 — La Pine (also serves Three Rivers South)
• 97759 — Sisters (also serves Black Butte Ranch)
• 97707 — Bend PO Box zone, also used for Sunriver
• 97760 — Terrebonne (also serves Crooked River Ranch)
• 97712 — Brothers

Seventh Mountain and Tetherow, both resort CDPs west of Bend, are served by Bend post offices and have no dedicated ZIP of their own.

Geography

Deschutes County straddles the transition from the forested east slope of the Cascade Range to the high desert of central Oregon. The Deschutes River, for which the county is named, flows north through Bend and along Redmond before draining toward the Columbia. Lava terrain dominates much of the county, including more than 500 known caves and the Newberry National Volcanic Monument south of Bend.

Deschutes County borders Jefferson County to the north, Lake County to the south, and Lane County and Linn County to the west and northwest. Crook, Klamath, and Harney counties lie to the east, southwest, and southeast respectively.

Demographics

Deschutes County had 198,253 residents at the 2020 census, up sharply from the 2010 count and one of the fastest-growing populations in Oregon. Bend and Redmond are the two largest communities, together holding roughly two-thirds of the county’s population. Median household income runs above the Oregon median of $80,160, driven by Bend’s growth in tech, healthcare, and remote-work in-migration. Population density is about 66 people per square mile of land.

Economy & Local Life

Tourism and outdoor recreation anchor the county’s economy — Mt. Bachelor ski resort, the Deschutes National Forest, and the Deschutes River draw visitors year-round, supported by destination resorts at Sunriver, Eagle Crest, Black Butte Ranch, and Pronghorn. Bend’s craft-brewing industry (the self-styled “Bend Ale Trail”) and a growing technology and healthcare sector (St. Charles Health System is the county’s largest employer) round out the base, alongside longstanding lumber, ranching, and potato farming around Redmond and Terrebonne.

History

Deschutes County was formed on December 13, 1916, carved out of Crook County after a local push led by Bend’s early boosters — the last of Oregon’s 36 counties to be organized. The name comes from the Deschutes River, called Rivière des Chutes (“River of the Falls”) by French-Canadian trappers with the Hudson’s Bay Company in the early 1800s. Bend grew around a lumber-mill economy through the 20th century before its late-1900s shift toward tourism and recreation, which now defines the county.

Getting There

U.S. Route 97 runs north-south through Redmond and Bend; U.S. Route 20 crosses the county east-west through Sisters and Bend; Oregon Route 126 links Redmond and Prineville. Approximate distances from Bend:

• Redmond — 16 miles north
• Sisters — 21 miles northwest
• La Pine — 30 miles south
• Prineville — 17 miles northeast

Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) is the county’s commercial airport, with year-round flights to major West Coast hubs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Deschutes County?
It is in central Oregon, on the eastern slope of the Cascade Range, around Bend and Redmond.

What is the population of Deschutes County?
198,253 at the 2020 census.

How big is Deschutes County?
3,055 square miles (7,910 km2), including 37 square miles of water.

What is the county seat of Deschutes County?
Bend is the county seat.

How many towns and cities are in Deschutes County?
Four incorporated cities — Bend, Redmond, La Pine, and Sisters — plus 11 CDPs and several unincorporated communities.

What ZIP codes are in Deschutes County?
Mainly 97701–97703 (Bend), 97756 (Redmond), 97739 (La Pine), 97759 (Sisters), 97760 (Terrebonne), 97707 (Sunriver), and 97712 (Brothers).

Why is it called Deschutes County?
It takes its name from the Deschutes River, named Rivière des Chutes by early French-Canadian fur trappers.

More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Oregon.