REDMOND, OREGON INFORMATION
 Redmond, OR is a Central Oregon city that is fast following in the footsteps of Bend as one of the nation’s fastest growing cities. Redmond sits in the center of Central Oregon, surrounded by neighboring cities and state parks such as the Smith Rock State Park and Tumalo State Park. The area directly surrounding Redmond is quickly emerging as a top location for world-class destination resorts such as the Eagle Crest Resort and Crooked River Ranch. Featuring spectacular scenery, the most sunny days in the region, myriad outdoor recreational activities, and a friendly community feel, Redmond, Oregon is a sensational place to live and a wonderful place to visit.
The geographic location of Redmond OR puts it at close to the geographic center of Oregon. Not only is Redmond the virtual center of the state, it is central to the High Desert region as well. Redmond OR is situated twenty minutes north of Bend and about half an hour south of Madras. Twenty minutes west of Redmond is the Central Oregon mountain village of Sisters. Redmond has an elevation of 2997 feet. That puts it at about 500 feet below that of Bend and Sisters that both sit in the foothills of the East Cascades. Redmond's central location also provides for spectacular views of the volcanoes of the East Cascades; including the Three Sisters and Mt. Jefferson.
 Redmond’s location makes it an ideal spot for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Indeed Redmond offers a plethora of compelling, four season activities for residents and visitors alike to enjoy. The High Desert terrain surrounding Redmond is ideal for hiking and mountain biking. Smith Rock Canyon to the north of the city limits is one of North America’s top rock climbing hot spots. During the winter months Redmond allows for easy access to the region’s two ski resorts: Hoodoo and Mt. Bachelor, and that sparse High Desert terrain is popular with cross country skiers and snowmobiling enthusiasts. Cline Falls Scenic Viewpoint and the Crooked River National Grassland are just two more of the most popular outdoor recreation destinations featured in and around Redmond.
First incorporated on July 6th, 1910, Redmond saw only moderate growth in the first half dozen decades of its history. In more recent years however, Redmond has been caught up in the real estate trend that has seen land values in the High Desert area of Central Oregon skyrocket. Still, compared with both Bend and Sisters, Redmond is still very affordable. Part of Redmond’s recent growth, since about 2005, is undoubtedly due to a spill over effect from Bend’s phenomenal growth. As many families have been priced out of Bend, Redmond has emerged as an excellent Central Oregon option. Local residents of Redmond enjoy the fact that the city, with its lower elevation in comparison with Bend, enjoys a warmer climate and a much longer growing season. Redmond’s dry and relatively warm climate makes it the golf center of Central Oregon as well.
 The city limits of Redmond suggest it is about ½ the size of Bend with about ¼ of the population- as of 2006. That suggests that this Central Oregon gem has great growth potential in store. New ground is constantly being broken to make room for the droves of people that move into the area from California, Washington, Portland, and from elsewhere around the nation each year. Redmond is currently undergoing some growth pains as its infrastructure is being reworked and redesigned to deal with the new urban demands. The largest project of all involves the construction of a Highway 97 bypass around the city center. At present the Highway runs directly through the Redmond downtown core, causing frequent congestion. Another key to Redmond’s vitality is the regional airport located here. As with everything else, this airport has seen its capacity double just since 2004 to deal with increases in air traffic demands. The Deschutes County Fairgrounds and Expo is the largest facility of its kind in the region and hosts numerous festivals, concerts and convention events each year.
 Another shift that Redmond is currently undergoing is in population demographics. Up until the turn of the Millennium the majority of people living in Redmond had grown up in the Central Oregon region. Since that time however the majority of new residents are completely new to the region. Much of Redmond’s most recent population growth is made up on young families seeking an intimate community spirit and reasonable home values. This new population is causing a revitalization of the retail sector in Redmond. Several new business parks and retail centers have recently gone up and more are planned for the near future. Once Redmond, Oregon moves beyond its period of rapid expansion and infrastructure revitalization it will undoubtedly emerge as a city brimming with new vitality. The future for Redmond, Oregon, the sunshine capital of Central Oregon, is very bright indeed. |
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