About Bandon

Bandon is a great place to live or visit. It is a diversified, full-service community with dramatic, walkable beaches and spectacular sunsets. The Old Town district is home to local artisans, unique gift shops and galleries. There are excellent restaurants of both American and foreign cuisine.

Along the Coquille River, east of the lighthouse is the Boat Basin and the pier. Featured here are a host of indoor and outdoor eateries along with excellent opportunities for crabbing and fishing, as well as a modern ramp for launching boats.

Bandon is the Cranberry Capital of Oregon. Have you ever tasted Cranberry Salsa, or eaten Cranberry candy? We're also famous for Bandon Dunes, a series of championship golf courses fashioned in the original Scottish style. The nationally acclaimed Face Rock Creamery opened in late 2013, and many visit to see the beautiful Bandon Lighthouse.

At the City Park there are baseball and softball fields, a modern playground, a picnic area with gazebo, and a frisbee golf course. A Community Building host to the many varied local activities. The Sprague Theatre is the cultural center and many enjoy the varied events that take place there. Bandon's Library is also located in the City park north of the Sprague Theatre.  Bandon is an inviting community with clean air and friendly neighborhoods.

The transition from a timber dependent community has provided Bandon with a diverse economic base. Timber, tourism, small manufacturing, farming, agriculture, fishing and small independent businesses all provide opportunity for beneficial controlled growth. Bandon's population is 3,524 in the city limits and about 7,496 in what is referred to as the greater Bandon area.

Recognizing that weather patterns change, it would be safe to say that Bandon's weather compares favorably with that of San Francisco: mild winters and pleasant summers. Winter temperatures seldom reach freezing. Summer temperatures range in the low seventies with a rare occasional rise of the mercury into the eighties. It is not surprising, considering our location, that rain is the primary precipitation. Late January-early February are usually our wettest period. July is the driest, and joins August in being the warmest. The coldest period usually accompanies the rainiest.

In winter we have had gusts of wind up to 100 mph, but it usually stays in the 10-30-mph range coming from the south and south-west. Many people find winter storms exciting so tourist season never really quits in Bandon. Our summer winds come from the north, but are not necessarily cold; however, they are strong, usually beginning in mid-June. There is occasional fog, but usually the wind quickly blows it away.

Bandon is in Coos County on the southern Oregon coast. The nearest freeway is 107 miles to Interstate 5 south of Eugene, Oregon. Bandon is on U.S. Highway 101, Oregon's scenic route. We are 230 miles south of Portland, 23 miles south of Coos Bay/North Bend and 101 miles north of the northern California border.

Population

Bandon's population is 3,524 (estimated by Portland State University) in the city limits and about 7,496 in what is referred to as the greater Bandon area.

Schools

Bandon School District provides public education and school bus service, plus special education. Superintendent is Doug Ardiana. Grades K-4 at Ocean Crest Elementary; 5-8 at Harbor Lights Middle School; 9-12 at Bandon High. Pacific Christian School offers preschool to eighth. Head Start offers preschool for low income families. A few licensed home daycare facilities are also available.

Medical

Southern Coos Hospital and Health Center (SCHHC) is located at 900 11th Street SE, is licensed as a full service, general acute care hospital in the State of Oregon . Administrator is Charles Johnson. Supported by taxes and patient fees. Ambulance service is available. Five doctors with offices in town. Pacific View Senior Living, an assisted-living facility, is located on the South Jetty.

Police

24-hour coverage by city of Bandon Police Department and Coos County Sheriff's office. The Bandon police chief is Bob Webb, who manages a force of six officers and several reserve officers. The police department business phone number is 541-347-2241.  In emergency situations, call 911. After 5 p.m. non-emergency call 541-396-7800.

Fire Department

The City contracts with the Bandon Rural Fire District. The District has volunteer staff with apparatus stored in rural stations. In emergency, call 911. Bandon's fire chief is Lanny Boston. No burning is allowed either for backyard burning or in trash barrels within the City limits.

Utilities

Water, sewer and electric provided by City of Bandon. Coos Curry Cooperative and Pacific Power and Light provide power to areas not served by the city. Rural areas are on well and septic systems.

City Services

The city administration, finance, planning, public works, electric and the police department are located in the same building on Highway 101. The Library is located in the City Park on 11th Street SW. Torrey Contreras is the City Manager; Mary Schamehorn is the Mayor. The City Council typically meets on the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at City Hall. Permit and other municipal questions can be directed to City staff. Hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

Transportation

Public transit van is available weekdays. Call 541-347-4131 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.; Bandon Airport is located south of town.

Newspapers

Western World, weekly; also publishes daily free Coffee Break. Address is 1185 Baltimore Ave., 541-347-2423. The World Newspaper of Coos Bay, The Register-Guard of Eugene and The Oregonian of Portland are available on racks and home delivery. The San Francisco Chronicle and the Medford Mail Tribune are available at Ray's Food Place. Out-of-state and local papers available for review at the library.

Television

Full range of channels available with various cable/data services. Antennas can receive Channels 11 and 5.

Radio

KBDN (96.5 FM), with a "classic country" format, is licensed to serve Bandon. Coos Bay, Coquille, and Myrtle Point stations are also received.

Museum

Located on Highway 101 and Fillmore. Operated by Bandon Historical Society.

Arts

Bandon Playhouse, Bandon Youth Theater and other community groups use the Sprague Theater in the City's 11th St Park. Galleries feature works of area artists and those nationally known. The Oregon Coast Music Association offers local concerts throughout the year.

Economy

Oregon Overseas Timber processes timber products; Moore Mill harvests logs; Ocean Spray cooperative members produce some $10 million worth of cranberries in area bogs; Bandon Dunes Golf Resort brings many tourists making healthy, sometimes booming tourism industry even more viable, with related businesses such as motels, restaurants, visitor attractions, etc.

Boat Basin

Facilities built and managed by Port of Bandon. Office and shop located in the Old Coast Guard Building at the west end of First Street.

Visitor Information Center

Be sure to stop by the center, it is located by the Old Town arch on Second Street. This is operated by the Bandon Chamber of Commerce and is the only center on the coast that is open all year, seven days a week. You can obtain information on motels, attractions, restaurants, bog tours, events, convention facilities, etc. The phone number is 541-347-9616.