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Prineville & Crook County

History

Established in 1868, Prineville ranks in as the oldest community in the Central Oregon region, and one of the state’s first incorporated cities. The historic Crook County Courthouse, which has been in continuous use since its construction in 1909, stands as the community’s dominant landmark. Like other towns in the region, Prineville’s origins are tied to the land – agriculture and forest products manufacturing. But also like other communities in the region, it has diversified into other industries while keeping its well-established manufacturing heritage alive and well. 

Stats at a Glance

Housing Permits Issued:

City of Prineville Assessed Value

Top Private Largest Employers

Property Tax Rate 2003/2004:

$15.8031-17.5259

Elevation

2868’

Telecommunications Infrastructure

Population

Crook County and Prineville have been growing in terms of population and employment at a rate in recent years that is more than twice the state average. It has ranked in the top 10 (of 36 counties) for growth in number of residents for the past several years.  In 1990, the town’s population was 5,410, which has grown to 8,500 in 2003 for an annual growth rate of around 4.3% or 43% over the thirteen-year period.

The community has been making significant public investments in such things as expanding hospital facilities, a new high school, a new public library, a new public park and extensive playground, and fully serviced industrial park.  Private residential and commercial construction activity has been heating up as well with new residents seeking the “small town” charm offered by Prineville.

Prineville is also home to Oregon’s third largest privately held company and third largest overall Central Oregon employer  - Les Schwab Tire Centers.  Schwab employs over 1,000 people in Crook County, and is an over a $1.2 billion a year company.  The company has been in a steady growth pattern for quite some time, building two new warehouse/distribution centers over the past 36 months for a combined area of 1,089,000 square feet.  These recent additions give Les Schwab over 2,000,000 square feet of warehousing to support the firm’s 313 retail tire stores throughout the West.

Other large manufacturers have made Prineville their home including Clear Pine Molding and American Pine Products each with nearly 500 employees and Pioneer Cut Stock Inc. These relatively large firms are successful because of the community’s long manufacturing heritage. 

Prineville also has a high concentration of trucking/ground transport companies.  With 7 regional firms based in the town, businesses in the region have excellent service and rates for transport to and from major markets.  Outside the manufacturing and distribution sectors, agriculture still plays an important economic and cultural role for residents of the town and Crook County.  Annually, the industry contributes more that $40 million to the local economy in commodities sold. 

Prineville is a community with a strong identity, leaders with the town’s interests at heart and residents that are very engaged in civic activities.  A good example is the connection between residents, businesses and the school system.  Remarkably, Prineville has approximately 600 students involved in its School-to-Work program – an effort to provide students in the area with practical work experience in area businesses.  With this level of community-wide participation, it is not hard to see why the town’s dropout rate is less than half that of the state average.

Spring comes earlier and Fall stays later in Prineville, making near-year round golfing a popular attraction for visitors and residents alike.  With a strong heritage in agriculture - rodeos, county fair, and outdoor recreation are very popular in Crook County.  The town is also the gateway to the Ochoco National Forest, Painted Hills National Monument, and a host of lakes and reservoirs popular with boaters and fishermen. 

A nice surprise in Prineville is its cost of housing, with the one of the lowest median home prices in the region for several years running ($111,434 in 2003), and nearly the least costly average home price  ($105,450 in 2003).  

Climate

Prineville summer temperatures range from an average high of 85 degrees Fahrenheit with low humidity to a low of 44 degrees Fahrenheit.  Winters average highs are in the 40's to lows in the 20's. 

Fun Facts

• Prineville has Oregon’s highest per capita of manufacturing jobs
• Oregon’s largest School-to-Work program operates in Prineville, through a partnership with the Chamber of Commerce
• The City of Prineville operates the last-municipally owned freight railroad in the United States, a 17-mile stretch between the town and the shared mainline of Union Pacific and Burlington Northern/Santa Fe
• Within Crook County’s sizeable 2,291 acres, Prineville is its only incorporated city

Want to Know More?  Try these Prineville Links

Crook County
City of Prineville
Crook County Library
The Bowman Museum
Ochoco National Forest
The Central Oregonian