WELCOME to... BAY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 145 Central, Coos Bay, Oregon 97420 541-266-0868 www.OregonsBayArea.org The Bay Area consists of Coos fishing, riding the dunes, biking, surf- COOS BAY VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER Bay, North Bend and Charleston; ing, hunting in our woods or simply 50 Central, Coos Bay, OR 97420 three very distinct communities that, playing in the sand at our wild beach- 541-269-0215 NORTH BEND VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER together, create a truly unique expe- es. You will find a quality of life here 1380 Sherman Ave, North Bend, OR 97420 rience. Each has its own special unlike anywhere else. 541-756-4613 attractions and interests, yet each We have a wide range of shop- CHARLESTON TOURIST INFO CENTER shares a common community focus. ping to choose from, everything from 91141 Cape Arago Hwy. Coos Bay, OR 97420 541-888-2311 (Open May-Sept) The Bay Area Chamber of local, hand-made products to national Commerce represents businesses in chains. We have quaint galleries and www.OregonsAdventureCoast.com all three communities. We work for downtown shops. We are also home a healthy economic climate of good to the finest seafood on the Oregon jobs, more customers and efficient Coast. TABLE OF CONTENTS government. The Chamber is over You’ll also find state-of-the-art 4 Location • Climate • History 580 members strong, representing medical facilities here, to include a 5 Our Cities • Government 6-8 Cultural Activities & Attractions every facet of our area’s economy. world class cancer treatment center, Recreational Activities We have a place for you on one of as well as several specialty medical 9 Accomodations our Teams, making a positive differ- clinics . Oregon’s Bay Area is home 10 Education ence in our community. Truly, “Our to a growing number of outstanding 11 Retirement Living • Librairies Communications • Taxes business is helping your Business”. retirement, assisted living and long- 12-13 Health Care Looking for a new site to expand term care facilities. 14 The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce your business? The South Coast In this gem of the Oregon coast, 15 2018 Chamber Officers, Directors, Team Chairpersons & Staff Development Council is ready to you will find our greatest resource 16 Top 10 Reasons to Join assist you through every phase. Also, is our people. Folks with a strong 17 Involvment Opportunities Southwestern Oregon Community community spirit, who will welcome 18 Business Opportunities 19 Business Assistance College is well known for its ability to you and share their local knowledge, 20 Our Economy • Transportation, meet the customized training needs making your experience memorable. Utilities of business. In addition, there are We hope that after looking 21 Agriculture • Commercial Fisheries, programs, services and support from through this community profile, you’ll Tourism • Employment/Income 22-23 Forestry/Wood Products many local sectors to help ensure a want to discover Oregon’s Bay Area 24-56 Bay Area Chamber Business Directory bright future for your investment. We for yourself. Once you come here, 48-49 Dining Guide support local businesses serving the you will never want to leave. 57-59 Membership Index 60 Chamber... A Year in Reviewr area where we live, work and play. Timm Slater, Executive Director 62 Festivals & Events As you visit, take advantage of Bay Area Chamber of Commerce our numerous outdoor adventures: The Oregon State Chamber of Commerce Fall Conference awarded the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, Timm Slater the Chamber Executive of the Year award. The conference was held at Three Rivers Casino in Florence and brought together 110 participants from 43 Chambers around the state. Timm has guided 12 Chamber Presidents during his time as an executive director and have given a tremendous amound of guidance and support to our community since 2006. Cover Image painted by Local Artist DUTCH MOSTERT 3 LIVING Coos Bay was established in the 1850’s as Marshfield, incorporated in 1874, and in... renamed Coos Bay in 1944 by a vote of the residents. Photo © Bill Grami Our Business is Helping YOUR Business! LOCATION... November (10.27”), December (10.97”) and until 1826 that Europeans actually set foot The communities of Coos Bay, North Bend January (9.73”). Summer months tend to be on the shores of Coos Bay. A brigade of the and Charleston are situated on Oregon’s much drier, particularly July (.45”) and August Hudson’s Bay Company trapped and trad- Pacific coast in Coos County, 110 miles (.96”). Temperature extremes are rare, with ed for beaver furs during that winter, and north of the California border and 115 miles annual mean highs of 59.5˚ and annual mean Jedediah Smith with his fur company passed west-southwest of Eugene, the state’s 2nd lows of 45.5˚. With Coos Bay at 10’ and through Coos Bay on their way north during largest city. Located on Coos Bay, Oregon’s North Bend at 16’ above sea level – snowfall the summer of 1828. There were no more largest, natural, deep-water port, the Bay is rare. Euro-American visitors at Coos Bay until Area is midway between Seattle, Washington January 1851, when an Army resupply ship, and San Francisco, California. HISTORY... the Captain Lincoln, crashed on the North The origin of the name “Coos” is open to Spit during a violent storm. All were saved, discussion. In the Hanis Coos Indian lan- and their reports of the amenities of the area and the friendliness of the resident Indian Pacific Washington guage, it meant “south,” or “southerner.” Ocean The Hanis and the Miluk Coos people lived people drew the first permanent white settlers Seaside Portland from time immemorial along the sloughs and in the summer of 1853. Population growth came slowly, but was Lincoln City Salem streams, the bayshore, and the ocean beach- Newport stimulated by extractive industries beginning Oregon Idaho es of what has been known since about 1850 Florence 101 with gold discoveries south of Coos Bay in Eugene as Coos Bay. They were the southernmost North Bend 1853. Coal underlying the Coos Bay area Coos Bay people known to the Chinook Indians at the Charleston Roseburg was mined and shipped to San Francisco Bandon mouth of the Columbia River who met with Medford from 1856 until well into the twentieth century. Brookings Lewis and Clark in 1805. The first two sawmills on the bay – the Henry California Nevada Sir Francis Drake is said to have found shelter for the Golden Hinde in the south Luse mill at Empire and the Simpson mill and cove of Cape Arago in 1579, but it was not shipyard at North Bend – began operations CLIMATE... in 1856. Coos County has a marine climate, mild 11" Wood products were the mainstay of the and humid, a result of the moderating influ- 10" economy and the greatest spur to growth ences of the Pacific Ocean and from the 9" during the twentieth century, especially after rainfall induced by the coast range. March 8" 1908 when the C.A. Smith Lumber Company through October, our area is subject to 7" opened the “largest sawmill in the world” at 6" prevailing winds from out of the northwest. Bunker Hill. The economy also benefitted 5" From November through February, winds from specialty agricultural products such as AVERAGE RAINFALL 4" come mainly out of the southwest. The Bay 3" apples, cheese, and cranberries. Maritime Area’s most recent annual average recorded 2" industries that grew included commercial precipitation is 64.43 inches, as measured 1" fishing and oyster farming. Most recently the at Southwest Oregon Regional Airport. JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC economy has become increasingly dependent AV G Rain can be categorized as light, moderate, HIGH ˚F 52˚ 54˚ 55˚ 56˚ 60˚ 64˚ 66˚ 67˚ 67˚ 63˚ 57˚ 53˚ upon the service trades – particularly govern- AV G or drizzle. The majority of rain falls during LOW ˚F 39˚ 40˚ 41˚ 42˚ 47˚ 51˚ 52˚ 53˚ 50˚ 47˚ 43˚ 40˚ ment, medical, and education. 4 BAY AREA CITIES 101, the city also welcomes travelers at bars and national fast-food franchises. NORTH BEND... the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport. More than a dozen locally-owned restau- The city of North Bend was originally This new facility provides the region’s rants close by offer American, Chinese, named Yarrow, possibly after the flower- commercial passenger and freight ser- German, Italian and Mexican cuisine. ing plant, a river in Scotland or a vessel. vice, as well as general aviation facilities. The name reflects its geographic location CHARLESTON... COOS BAY... Located where the ocean meets Coos at the north bend of the Coos Bay chan- Now the largest incorporated city in Bay, the unincorporated community of nel. Timber baron Asa M. Simpson and Coos County, Coos Bay was established Charleston is the area’s commercial and his son, Louis, were major players in the in the 1850s as Marshfield, named for sport fishing center, providing seafood town’s early development. With North the Massachusetts birthplace of found- processing and support services. The Bend at the center of their vast timber er, J. C. Tolman. The town was incor- Charleston Marina Complex, operated holdings, the Simpsons built a number porated in 1874, but in 1944 its name by the Oregon International Port of Coos of large sawmills and shipyards. Another was changed to Coos Bay by a vote of Bay, provides moorage for commercial prominent figure was Vern Gorst, a mem- the residents. Years later, the cities of and pleasure boats and can accommo- ber of aviation’s Hall of Fame, whose Empire and Eastside merged with Coos date more than 550 vessels.