Transition in the 1950s: Central Oregon’s private timber holdings had been “cut out” by the late 1930s and early 1940s.

Tourism and Recreation: In light of the decline of the lumber industry, central Oregon has turned to recreation and tourism as a piece of its new economic base.

Winter Sports: Winter sports in the Cascades began with the Scandinavian lumber workers who came to central Oregon from the Great Lakes states and from Europe.

Post-Industrial Enterprises: While tourism and recreation have been the most visible economic elements in central Oregon’s post-industrial rebound, retailing, agriculture, and professional services have also played important roles.

Communities in the Post-Industrial Period: Several central Oregon communities are leading the way into the post-industrial twenty-first century. 

Demographics: Central Oregon registered one of the highest growth rates in Oregon in the 1990s.

Post-Industrial Arts & Culture: The last decades of the twentieth century have seen a nationwide fascination with cultural roots and a re-discovery of Native American culture.

Conclusion: The success of central Oregon’s industrial frontier has lead the region into an era of post-industrial promise.