As the largest city in the state's fastest growing county—Deschutes County's population jumped more than 36 percent between 2000 and 2010—Bend and its demographics are also changing at a rapid pace. Today's Bendite is increasingly likely to be young, female, multi-racial, politically independent and employed in the service industry.
For our Old Timers Issue, meet the new comer, our composite of the new demographic, Betty Bendite: This 38-year-old mother of two did a couple years of college and now works as a medical assistant at the local hospital. She drinks craft beer, rides a bike, owns two dogs, and spends her winters on the mountain with husband and children. She votes her conscience, takes yoga when she can, and enjoys the music of Michael Franti. Sound like a stereotype? The stats don't lie; taken from recent census and other surveys.
