Population213,072 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
Between Mountain Slopes And High Desert
Deschutes County, OregonBend anchors Deschutes County in central Oregon, between the Cascades and high desert plateau. Redmond, Sisters and La Pine add other community centers, while the county’s name comes from the Deschutes River and its history of being described as a river of falls. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated 213,072 residents in Deschutes County, Oregon, on July 1, 2025.
Deschutes County at a Glance
Population213,072 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
County SeatBend
Largest MunicipalityBend • Redmond • Sisters
Established1916 (organized; NACo County Explorer)
ZIP CodesCentral Oregon
Total Area, Including Water3,054.185 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography)
Major RoutesUS 97 • US 20
Area Codes541 / 458
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Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
Discover Deschutes County
Deschutes County
Deschutes County was formed from western Crook County in 1916 after efforts to relocate the county seat to Bend failed. Support instead developed for a separate county with Bend as its center. The name came from the river, connecting the new administrative identity with an established geographic feature. The failed relocation effort and successful division reveal two different solutions to the same civic question. That sequence helps explain why Bend's role is tied to the creation of a new jurisdiction.
Use Bend to orient the county, then choose Sisters, Redmond or La Pine for a different local setting. The mountain-to-desert transition is a useful theme for planning, but individual recreation destinations need their own route and access information. A two-community route can highlight the county's changing setting more clearly than a long attraction list. Check distances carefully when combining an urban stop with a mountain or desert destination.
What Shapes Us
Local Character
Redmond, Sisters and La Pine add other community centers, while the county's name comes from the Deschutes River and its history of being described as a river of falls.
Community History
Deschutes County was formed from western Crook County in 1916 after efforts to relocate the county seat to Bend failed.
Explore Locally
The mountain-to-desert transition is a useful theme for planning, but individual recreation destinations need their own route and access information.
Discover the communities between the mountains and high desert.
A Closer Look
Deschutes County
Places and perspectives from Deschutes County
OPB — Oregon & Regional News
In the first full day of loss, Bend learns more about Silver Rail shooting, mourns the victims
As Bend residents come together to mourn and ask what comes next, OPB journalists are in Central Oregon.…
Read the Story Oct 17, 2026 • 2 min read
Around Deschutes County
Stories from every corner of Deschutes County.
In the first full day of loss, Bend learns more about Silver Rail shooting, mourns the victims
As Bend residents come together to mourn and ask what comes next, OPB journalists are in Central Oregon.…
Oct 17, 2026 • 2 min read
OPB’s First Look: New details emerge in Bend school shooting
Multiple people tried to stop the shooter, police said. Here’s your First Look at Saturday’s news.
Oct 17, 2026 • 2 min read
Zelenskyy urges support for new US sanctions on Russia after Trump puts them on hold
Zelenskyy described the move as unfortunate, adding it would encourage Russia to continue its assault. Trump told Congress…
Oct 17, 2026 • 2 min read
Scuffles and fires break out as protesters rally across France, joining students
Demonstrators across France converged with students Saturday to protest rising living costs, as the country's fiscal crisis deepens.
Oct 17, 2026 • 2 min read
Decades after apartheid, South Africans seek justice for crimes of the past
More than three decades after the end of apartheid, families of victims of some of the worst crimes…
Oct 17, 2026 • 2 min read
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
County Resources
Find the Right Local Connection
Start with the organization responsible for the service you need. Follow its official link for current requirements, office locations and availability.
Government
Deschutes County Clerk shares election information for Nov. 3
Schools
Public school contacts
Selected local schools from the NCES 2024-2025 directory. Contact the school or district to confirm enrollment, attendance boundaries and current services; this is not a complete school list.
Amity Creek Elementary School – Elementary; grades KG-05. 437 NW Wall St, Bend, OR 97701. 541-355-2800.
Brothers Elementary School – Elementary; grades KG-08. 34396 Hwy 20, Brothers, OR 97712. 541-903-2819.
Oregon Family School – Other; grades KG-12. 43277 Crane Venator Ln, Crane, OR 97732. 971-241-8694.
Tumalo Community School – Elementary; grades KG-05. 19835 2nd St, Bend, OR 97701. 541-382-2853.
Sisters Elementary School – Elementary; grades KG-05. 2155 W McKinney Butte Rd., Sisters, OR 97759. 541-549-8981.
Bend Senior High School – High; grades 09-12. 230 NE 6th St, Bend, OR 97701. 541-355-3700.
Cascade Middle School – Middle; grades 06-08. 19619 Mountaineer Wy, Bend, OR 97702. 541-355-7000.
Hospitals
Local hospital contacts
Facility contacts from the CMS Hospital General Information directory, updated July 22, 2026. Contact the facility directly to confirm current services and appointment arrangements.
St Charles Medical Center – Bend – Acute Care Hospitals. 2500 Ne Neff Road, Bend, OR 97701. 541-382-4321.
Public Safety
Visit Oregon State Police at Oregon government resources. Your county sheriff and local police provide local non-emergency information.
Emergency Services
For an immediate emergency, call 911. Find preparedness resources and official updates through Oregon government resources.
State Parks
Explore Oregon State Parks, park notices, and reservation information at stateparks.oregon.gov. Check the individual park before traveling.
Trails
Find walking and hiking destinations through stateparks.oregon.gov and fs.usda.gov. Check the managing agency for current trail access.
Utilities
Identify the provider serving your address before arranging service. Oregon utility consumer information is available at Oregon government resources.
Libraries
Local library contacts
Locations and public phone numbers are from the IMLS FY2024 Public Libraries Survey. Call the branch to confirm current hours and services before visiting.
Downtown Bend Library – 601 Nw Wall St, Bend, OR 97703. 541-617-7050.
La Pine Library – 16425 1St St, La Pine, OR 97739. 541-312-1090.
Redmond Library – 827 Sw Deschutes Ave, Redmond, OR 97756. 541-312-1050.
Sisters Library – 110 N Cedar St, Sisters, OR 97759. 541-312-1070.
Sunriver Library – 56855 Venture Lane, Sunriver, OR 97707. 541-312-1080.
East Bend Library – 62080 Dean Swift Rd., Bend, OR 97701. 541-330-3760.
Courts
Find Oregon circuit courts, court locations, and public information at courts.oregon.gov.
DMV
Oregon — Schedule, Cancel or Change an Appointment
Oregon — Driver license applications for adults
Transportation
Find road conditions and travel alerts at Oregon road conditions. Oregon transportation information is available at Oregon government resources.
Postal Services
USPS location finder — Search by street address, city or ZIP Code for nearby post offices, collection boxes and available services.
USPS ZIP Code lookup — Find the mailing ZIP Code for a specific street address.
USPS Hold Mail — Arrange a temporary mail hold and review identity-verification requirements.
USPS change of address and forwarding — Review forwarding options and submit an address-change request through USPS.
USPS package pickup — Check pickup availability for your address and schedule eligible shipments.
Veterans
National services available to local residents
VA accredited representatives — Find help with VA claims and benefit applications.
VA health care applications — Review application options and supporting information.
VA disability claims — Find the official steps for submitting a disability claim.
GI Bill and education benefits — Review how to apply for VA education benefits.
Veteran career and employment support — Explore VA employment, training and career assistance.
Employment
National services available to local residents
USAJOBS federal employment — Search federal openings by location and occupation.
Apprenticeship Finder — Search apprenticeship opportunities by location and occupation.
My Next Move career exploration — Explore occupations, industries and career interests.
Government job-training resources — Find routes to state training programs and support for different job seekers.
Unemployment benefit guidance — Find your state program and its application and eligibility information.
Get to Know Deschutes County
Useful answers for residents, visitors and anyone planning their next step.
Local Questions
Deschutes County Questions, Answered
Explore practical details about the county and the organizations that serve it.
213,072 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate). This is a dated Census Bureau estimate, rather than a live resident count.
3,054.185 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography). The total combines land and water area.
Start with County Commissioners, linked from the government source used for this county. Check that page for current details before visiting or submitting a request.
Start with Employment, linked from the government source used for this county. Check that page for current details before visiting or submitting a request.
Start with these official Oregon resources: Schedule, Cancel or Change an Appointment; Driver license applications for adults; Offices. Choose the page for the service you need, then check its office or online instructions before making a trip. These links cover state services; they do not establish that every transaction is available at a county office.
Use USPS ZIP Code Lookup for the mailing ZIP Code of a specific street address. Use the USPS location finder to search for nearby postal facilities and available services. An address lookup is more useful for mailing than assuming the entire county shares one ZIP Code.
The VA explains how to find and appoint an accredited representative for benefit claims. Contact a representative to confirm availability before appointing them. For education benefits, use the GI Bill application guidance. These are national VA services available to eligible local residents, rather than a listing of county offices.
Deschutes County was formed from western Crook County in 1916 after efforts to relocate the county seat to Bend failed. Support instead developed for a separate county with Bend as its center. The name came from the river, connecting the new administrative identity with an established geographic feature. The failed relocation effort and successful division reveal two different solutions to the same civic question. That sequence helps explain why Bend's role is tied to the creation of a new jurisdiction.
Use Bend to orient the county, then choose Sisters, Redmond or La Pine for a different local setting. The mountain-to-desert transition is a useful theme for planning, but individual recreation destinations need their own route and access information. A two-community route can highlight the county's changing setting more clearly than a long attraction list. Check distances carefully when combining an urban stop with a mountain or desert destination.
The 2020 Census geography figures record 3,017.618 square miles of land and 36.567 square miles of water in Deschutes County. The county’s total area includes both. These are geographic measurements for that Census vintage, not a measurement of current water levels or public recreation access.
In the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate series, Deschutes County had an estimated 199,461 residents on July 1, 2020, and 213,072 on July 1, 2025. Over that interval, the estimated population increased by 13,611 residents, or about 6.8%. Both figures come from the same estimate vintage, which revises earlier years for a consistent comparison.
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
My Local Guide
Explore Deschutes County
Places to visitStart with these local landmarks, outdoor destinations and community places in Deschutes County.
- Smith Rock State Park
- High Desert Museum
- Newberry National Volcanic Monument
- Pilot Butte
- Cascade Lakes Highway
- Deschutes River
Explore the Deschutes County profile in the Oregon Blue Book
County photograph: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives. County profile and map: Oregon Secretary of State.
Plan your visitCheck current access and hours before heading out.