Central Region, OR Land for Sale

Oregon's Central region is located in the middle and northern part of the state, and borders Washington and the Columbia River to the north. Bend is the most populated city in the region, with other larger cities including Redmond, The Dalles, Prineville, Hood River and Madras. The Columbia River frames the entire northern border, and the southern border is characterized by long stretches of high desert, known for prehistoric fossil remains and small towns on back roads. The Deschutes River runs on the western border and the eastern part contains forests and rich farmland.

The economy of Central Oregon relies primarily upon timber, with much of the region covered in forest, ranching and tourism, with many opportunities for outdoor recreation. There are two large national forests, Deschutes and Ochoco, which are great assets to the region, supporting many local businesses for timber production and tourism. There are five destination resorts, such as the Mount Bachelor Ski area, one of the largest in the Pacific Northwest, which attract visitors as well. Central Oregon has hosted the Fly Fishing National Championships and is known for its excellent fly fishing. Bend is home to the sixth largest craft brewery in the country. It is also a popular retirement destination. Higher education institutions in the region include Oregon State University ? Cascades Campus, Central Oregon Community College and Columbia Gorge Community College.

The region is known to be a recreational paradise, with some popular attractions such as Newberry National Volcanic Monument and the nearby Cascade Mountains with excellent skiing and snowboarding. There are a number of national and state parks, which include Crooked River National Grassland, Deschutes National Forest, Mount Hood National Forest, Willamette National Forest, Mayer State Park, Memaloose State Park, J.S. Burres Stare Park, Lava Rive Caves State Park, The Cove Palisades State Park, Corbett Memorial State Park, Peter Skene Ogden State Park, featuring basalt cliffs and scenic river canyons, Sisters State Park, Smith Rock State Park, Clarno Unit ? John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Ochoco National Forest, covering more than 2.5 million acres, Ochoco Lake State Park, Ochoco Wayside State Park, Tumalo State Park, Robert W. Sawyer State Park, Prineville Reservoir State Park, Smith Rock State Park, featuring deep river canyons and opportunities for rock climbing, hiking and biking, and Pilot Butte State Park. Some other attractions in the region include Big Obsidian Flow Trailhead and Interpretive Site, the youngest lava flow in the state, Black Butte, an extinct stratovolcano, Christmas Valley Sand Dunes, Clear Lake, Dee Wright Observatory, a historic observatory built of lava rock offering panoramic views of the Cascade Mountain peaks, High Desert Museum, Hosmer Lake, Koosah Falls, which falls 80-120 feet over an abrupt lava cap, Petersen Rock Garden, Sahalie Falls, Sunriver Nature Center and Observatory and the Museum at Warm Springs, with artifacts from the Wasco, Warm Springs and Paiute tribes. The area is also a golfer's paradise, with many golf courses in the region.

Deschutes County is in the southern part of Oregon's Central region. Bend is the largest city and the county seat, with other cities being La Pine, Redmond and Sisters, and there are around 20 other census-designated places and unincorporated communities. The county is the political and economic hub of Central Oregon. The primary industry is tourism, with many outdoor recreation activities available year-round, causing it to experience the most rapid growth of any county in Oregon in the 1990s. Other important industries include lumber, ranching and agriculture, primarily potatoes. The Forest Service owns 51% of the lands in the county. There are four destination resorts located in Deschutes County, which are major employers. Oregon State University ? Cascades and Central Oregon Community College are located in the county, in Bend. There are a number of protected areas in the county, which include part of the Deschutes National Forest, Newberry National Volcanic Monument, Cline Falls State Park, Ochoco Wayside State Park, Peter Skene Ogden State Park, Pilot Butte State Park, Robert W. Sawyer State Park, Sisters State Park, Smith Rock State Park and Tumalo State Park. Some other attractions include the High Desert Wildlife Museum, voted the number one attractions in Bend by Trip Advisor, Downtown Bend, with over 200 shops and restaurants, a farmer's market, and many fun festivals and parades, and the Bend Ale Trail, exploring world-class breweries clustered close together, as well as distilleries and wineries.

Crook County is also located in the southern part of Oregon's Central region, just east of Deschutes County. It is named after George Crook, a U.S. Army officer who served in the Civil War and other Indian Wars. Prineville is the only city and the county seat, and there are around eight other unincorporated communities. Primary industries in the county include forest products, agriculture, livestock and recreation and tourism services. The agriculture is supported by the development of irrigation districts, which allows the raising of hay, grain, mint, potatoes and seed. There are a large number of range and forest land for livestock to graze. There are thousands of hunters, fishers, boaters, sightseers and "rockhounds" visiting the county's streams, reservoirs and the Ochoco Mountains. The Prineville Chamber of Commerce provides access to more than 1,000 acres of mining claims, where people can dig for free agates, limb casts, jasper and thundereggs. The Prineville Reservoir is the largest body of water in the county. The oldest geological formation in Oregon is in Crook County, an outcropping of Devonian limestone created from a larger reef when much of the state was covered by water. Part of the Ochoco National Forest is in the county, and some other attractions include Bowman Dam, Chimney Rock, a stunning basalt rock formation in the picturesque Crooked River Canyon, Crooked River and Ochoco Reservoir, with great fishing and camping.

Jefferson County is in the western half of Oregon's Central region, just north of Deschutes County and Crook County. It is named for Mount Jefferson, the second-tallest mountain in the state. Madras is the largest city and the county seat, other cities are Culver and Metolius, and there are around 12 other census-designated places and unincorporated communities. Agriculture is the primary industry in the county, with vegetable, grass and flower seeds, garlic, mint and sugar beets cultivated on more than 60,000 acres of irrigated land. Tourism is also an important industry, with 300 days of sun and low yearly rainfall making it ideal for fishing, hunting, camping, boating and rock hunting. The Forest Service owns 24% of lands in county and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs ? Warm Springs Reservation owns 21% of the land. There are several national protected areas in the county, including Crooked River National Grassland, Deschutes National Forest, Mount Hood National Forest and Willamette National Forest. Other attractions in the county include Metolius River Recreation Area, Lake Billy Chinook, the Museum at Warm Springs, Erickson Aircraft Collection, featuring vintage aircraft, and several premiere golf courses. Kah-Nee-Ta was voted one of the "Best Places to Play" by Golf Digest.