Harney County
A fisherman tries his luck at Delintment Lake in the Ochoco National Forest. (Oregon State Archives Photo No. harD0029)
Contact
County Seat: Courthouse, 450 N Buena Vista, Burns 97720
Phone: 541-573-6641 (General); 541-573-5207 (Court Administrator)
Fax: 541-573-8370
E-mail: clerk@co.harney.or.us
Web: www.co.harney.or.us
About
Population (2009): 7,715
Established: Feb. 25, 1889
Elev. at Burns: 4,118'
Area: 10,228 sq. mi.
Average Temp.: January 27.5° July 69.4°
Assessed Value: $441,945,538
Real Market Value: $1,145,530,198
Annual Precipitation: 10.13"
Economy: Forest products, manufacturing, livestock and agriculture
Related resources
History
Historical
Records Inventory
Scenic
Image
Economic
Information (from OBDD)
"County
Quick Facts" (from U.S.
Census Bureau)
County
Seat Map (from Yahoo!
Maps)
County
Map (from ODOT)
Incorporated cities
Burns | Hines
Points of interest
Steens Mountain, Malheur Cave, Malheur Wildlife Refuge, Alvord Desert and Lake, Squaw Butte Experimental Station, “P” Ranch Round Barn, Frenchglen
History and general information
In 1826, Peter Skene Ogden became the first white man to explore this area when he led a fur brigade for the Hudson’s Bay Company. In 1889, Harney, the largest county in Oregon, was carved out of Grant County and named for Harney Lake. The lake, in turn, was named for Maj. Gen. William S. Harney, commander of the Department of Oregon, U.S. Army, from 1858–59. Harney was instrumental in opening areas of eastern Oregon for settlement.
A fierce political battle, with armed night riders who spirited county records from Harney to Burns, ended with Burns as the county seat in 1890. The courthouse was constructed five years later. Burns’ first newspaper was established in 1884 and its first church in 1887.
Harney County shares the largest Ponderosa pine forest in the nation with Grant County and has more than 100,000 head of beef cattle on its vast ranges. Its abundance of game, numerous campsites and excellent fishing have stimulated fast-growing recreational activities.
County officials
Commissioners—Peter Runnels (D) 2015, Judge Steven E. Grasty 2015, Dan Nichols (R) 2013; Dist. Atty. Tim Colahan 2013; Assess. Ted Tiller 2015; Clerk Maria Iturriaga 2013; Justice of the Peace: Vacant 2013; Sheriff David Glerup 2013; Surv. Chris T. Palmer 2013; Treas. Ellen (Nellie) Franklin 2015