Bandon (Images of America)

Named for a founding settler’s beloved Irish hometown, Bandon is one of the most picturesque cities on the Oregon coast, located where the smooth and deep waters of the Coquille River meet the Pacific Ocean. Bandon rose to commercial prominence as an exporter of lumber, minerals, agriculture, and salmon and at one time was the busiest seaport between San Francisco and Portland. Fires in 1914 and 1936 devastated the landscape, but Bandon quickly rebuilt and has never lost its reputation as a restorative scenic destination and vital place to live and work. Today, Bandon and the Coquille Valley have a thriving and diverse economy, prized for their cranberries and ranch and dairy products, known for the excellence of their fishing and scenic outdoor recreation, and celebrated as home of the world-renowned Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.