Deschutes County

Deschutes County was the last county created in the state of Oregon. It was formed on December 13, 1916 from the southern portion of Crook County. Bend has been the county seat since the county was born. Deschutes County received its name from the Deschutes River which originates from Little Lava Lake on the east side of the cascades and was named by French-Canadian fur traders of the Hudson Bay Company.

Because of the year round recreation opportunities and its central location in the Oregon Cascades, Deschutes County relies heavily on tourism dollars. With such a large range of activities in this area of Oregon, Deschutes County is known as the home of four destination resorts in Oregon. These resorts are major employers within the county. There are is also a large market of agriculture, ranching and timber harvesting in the area.

Some of the many activities available in Deschutes County are:

Hiking **White Water Rafting ** Camping ** Fishing ** Bicycling ** Horseback Riding ** Skiing ** Golf ** Volcanic Exploration ** Museums ** Wildlife