The
recent news from the federal Census Bureau estimating Bend’s population has
leaped above 90,000 placing it Number 6 on the fastest growing cities of more
than 50,000 in the country likely stirred opinions ranging from dismay to civic
pride to invevitability.
Already
a growing number of local vehicles are adorned with bumper sticker variations
of the phrase, “Don’t move here, it sucks.” City services are being challenged
to keep pace with growth.
Bend
is also now working with an urban growth blueprint, approved by the state, that
will channel much new development into existing land within the city and limit
expansion outside the current boundary to approximately 2,000 acres.
Lack
of affordable housing more in line with local wages, sewer capacity straining
to accommodate new housing, inadequate snow removal capability with resulting potholed and rutted streets and worn-out lane
striping are a few markers of the city’s rapid ascension as Oregon’s fastest
growing city since the “big recession” and related housing crunch.
And there are those who say Bend has outgrown its small town government of elected city councilors who work with little compensation and elect a mayor from among their peers, instead of adequately compensated members and a leader chosen by popular vote of residents.
And there are those who say Bend has outgrown its small town government of elected city councilors who work with little compensation and elect a mayor from among their peers, instead of adequately compensated members and a leader chosen by popular vote of residents.
On
the flip side of rapid growth, anyone who held onto their house as the market troughed in 2006
and 2007 can take comfort that Bend’s median priced home is now above $375,000
at the end of 2016, topping the previous high of $365,000 in 2006. Thus far,
the median monthly price has held in the $370,000s during 2017.
Moreover,
anyone who was able to buy into the depressed market of the past decade has
seen substantial growth in value since the median home price hit bottom at
around $200,000 in 2011.
The
Census Bureau report pegs Bend’s population on July 1, 2016, the latest
reporting period, at 91,122, an increase of 4.9% over the 10 years.
Of
the top five cities of more than 50,000 growing faster than Bend, four were in
Texas and the other was Greenville, SC.
The
Census Bureau’s estimates are substantially higher than the 83,500 residents in
July of 2016 estimated by Portland State University’s research center. The
federal agency’s methodology relies on individual federal records including
Social Security, driver’s license information and tax records, while Portland
State uses statistics related to building permits and development.
As
such it would appear that the Census Bureau figures would more accurately
reflect the actual number of residents.
For
a complete summary of the Census report:
