Baker County

Baker City is the county seat for Baker County, Oregon. With a population of around 10,000 people, this is a vibrant and active community. Baker City is known for its charming downtown and historic buildings along with its’ parks and recreation, golf courses, cycling trails and nearby open spaces for horseback riding and hiking. The city also hosts many annual festivals and events, including the Miners' Jubilee on the third weekend of July and the Baker City Cycling Classic. The city is situated in a valley between the Wallowa Mountains to the east and the Elkhorn Mountains, part of the Blue Mountains to the west, with the Powder River running through the center of downtown on its way to the Snake River. Interstate 84 (I-84) runs along the eastern edge of Baker City, while U.S. Route 30 passes through its downtown. Oregon Route 7 runs between I-84 in...Learn More »

Baker City, Haines, and Sumpter are some of the communities calling Baker County home. Located in scenic Northeast Oregon, at the intersection of three Oregon Scenic Byways, and surrounded by the Wallowa Mountains, Hells Canyon, and the Elkhorn Mountains, Baker County offers exciting year round outdoor adventures. Small town enthusiasts can explore small town Americana at it’s best in historic Baker City, voted one of Rand McNally’s six most beautiful small towns in America three years in a row. The vibrant historic downtown boasts more than 100 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. The restored downtown is now home to countless restaurants, galleries, and local independent retail shops. History buffs will find the region’s rich pioneer and Gold Rush history on display throughout the county at sites including the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, the Baker Heritage Museum, the Sumpter Valley Railroad, Sumpter...Learn More »

Burns, Oregon commonly referred to as the gateway to the Steens Mountains, became a town in 1891 and is the county seat of Harney County. Burns offers the visitor breathtaking scenery, outdoor activities of hiking, fishing, hunting, camping and backpacking with easy access to the Steens Mountains and the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge just 30 miles south of the City on US 205.  The 185,000 acres provides a Mecca for bird watchers as it is the habitat for over 250 species of migratory birds.   A visit to downtown Burns provides opportunity for visitors to meet the friendly people of this western town, and view collections of arrowheads, art galleries and stores.  A visit to the Harney County Historical Museum is necessary and provides a history of the old west in Burns and Harney County, with historical photos, ranching memorabilia and full room restorations of the old western kitchen.  ...Learn More »

Canyon City is the county seat of Grant County, and two miles south of John day. It is located along U.S. Route 395 and a mere 150 miles from Bend and 266 miles from Portland. Gold rush fever hit Oregon in the 1860s, and Canyon City, just south of John Day, felt the heat with around $3 to $5 million in gold extracted in the first three years of the gold rush. The remaining riches of the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness, the Malheur National Forest and the John Day River lure campers, hikers, fishermen and outdoor enthusiasts to the city. For more information visit https://www.gcoregonlive.com/cities/canyon-city/...Learn More »

Cove is a little slice of heaven located on the eastern edge of the Grande Ronde Valley in Union County, Oregon. Cove is on the valley’s eastern slope, nestled between the Wallowa Mountains and adjacent ridges. Cove’s name comes from the niche created by the base of Mt. Fanny, Mill Creek, and the ridges to the south. Cove is a small community with approximately 680 people within city limits. Another 1,200 people live in the greater Cove area.  Cove has a public library, K-12 charter school, corner market and fueling station, volunteer fire department, styling salon, steakhouse, and, of course, the Cove Drive-in. A wide array of home-based businesses are a testament to Cove’s robust entrepreneurial spirit. Cove has been a fruit production center for over 100 years. Today, approximately 500 acres of commercial orchards, planted mostly to sweet cherries and peaches, grace the hillsides above town. Livestock production...Learn More »

Dayville is located at the confluence of the John Day River and the South Fork John Day River along U.S. Route 26, 125 miles from Bend and 233 miles from Portland. Named for the vibrant John Day River flowing past its doorstep, this sleepy burg in Eastern Oregon is a heartland of natural beauty. Hop on the Journey Through Time Scenic Byway or, for a two-wheeled exploration, the Old West Scenic Bikeway to truly appreciate how spectacular the local landscape is.  Picture Gorge, named for Native American pictographs painted on the canyon walls, is 6 miles northwest of Dayville at the intersection of Route 26 and Oregon Route 19. The Sheep Rock Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, including the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center and the James Cant Ranch Historic District and museum, are 2 miles north of Picture Gorge along Route 19....Learn More »

Elgin is known as the Jewel of the Blue Mountains. Located along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, Elgin sits in Indian Valley, nestled against a backdrop of mountains — the Wallowas to the east and the Blues to the west, with the Grande Ronde River flowing through it. Elgin is a city in Union County that is known for its’ Elgin Opera House. Historically, Elgin was the gathering place for trappers and hunters to replenish their supplies. By 1887 Elgin had general stores, a livery, a hotel, and a church, as well as a nearby sawmill, which continues as a more modern Boise Cascade mill.Growth increased with the arrival of the railroad in 1890, and Elgin was incorporated by the Oregon Legislative Assembly on February 18, 1891.[9] For more information, visit https://cityofelginor.org/...Learn More »

Granite is the second-smallest incorporated city in Oregon with a population of 24 at the last census. Granite’s population was significantly larger when gold mining was taking place in the area. However, when it became illegal in 1942, the town’s population began steadily dropping. Now, with the rise in the telecommuter culture, Granite has the ability to become a remote and quiet community for those looking to work from home....Learn More »

In Grant County, you can find the communities of Canyon City, Dayville, Granite, John Day, Long Creek, Mt. Vernon, Prairie City, and Seneca. The State of Oregon is nearly as large as the entire country of France and embraces more land than England, Ireland and Scotland combined. Grant County itself is nearly the size of Connecticut. Its boundaries contain all the headwaters for the four forks of the John Day River. With such a vast abundance and diversity of natural resources — from the green rolling hills of the John Day River valleys to the timbered slopes of high alpine lakes and mountains — Grant County offers a lot of opportunities for residents, tourists and business owners. Fresh water helps to define Grant County with most of Grant County being drained by the four forks of the John Day River, all of which have their headwaters in the...Learn More »

With a population of around 416 people, Haines is a charming and quiet town that was first platted in 1885 at the site of an old stage stop. Israel David Haines owned 1,200 acres of farmland and plotted out some of his property for the original town site where the Oregon Navigation & Railroad Company then built a loading platform and railroad depot. A railroad town, Haines gained the nickname as The Biggest Little City in Oregon for the important role it played in supplying mining, timber and agricultural products for the Portland market. Today, visitors can view a restored 19th-century cabin at Haines city park to enjoy some of the local history. For more information visit https://www.cityofhainesor.org/...Learn More »

Harney County is home to the communities of Burns and Hines - two charming towns with big personality. Harney County is located in southeastern Oregon and is the largest county in the State of Oregon.  The County has a diverse landscape with forests, sagebrush, lakes, streams, deserts and mountains. Harney County is open for business, travel, exploration, outdoor adventure, and recreation. Living in this area has many unique features and opportunities.  Harney County is termed the "high-desert" because of its elevation (Burns is at 4,147 feet), and hence the types of vegetation and landforms that present themselves in some areas are desert like.  But the landscape and climate varies greatly in this area. There are forested, pine tree covered areas in the northern portion of the County with the Ochoco and Malheur National Forests. There are large sagebrush covered rolling hills and meadows in the bottom lands....Learn More »

Sandwiched between the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and the national forest near Burns, the former mill town of Hines maintains an Old West charm. As of the 2010 census, Hines was home to 1,563 people who get to enjoy the beautiful outdoor amenities Hines has to offer....Learn More »

Imbler is a city in Union County, Oregon that was platted in 1891. Jesse Imbler was a farmer in the valley in the 1890’s, and it was on his land that the town was platted in 1891. The Kerr Gifford Company elevator in Imbler stands on the site of the first flour mill built in that town by Jesse Hindman and John McKinnis in 1903. It is a charming little town that invites people to come and explore while enjoying the many beautiful outdoor amenities found in Eastern Oregon. The state highway connects Imbler with La Grande to the southwest and Elgin to the northeast. Flowing north slightly east of the city is the Grande Ronde River. For more information, visit imbleroregon.com/...Learn More »

Island City is a city in Union County, Oregon, United States. Its name originated from the city's location on an island between the Grande Ronde River and a nearby slough. Island City lies at the intersection of Oregon Route 82 and Oregon Route 237 on the northeastern outskirts of La Grandeand is known for its picturesque location.  The erection of a grist mill in 1872 by John Caviness and his partner - Mr. Sterling. began the commercial activity of the town. Another of the pioneer business men was Charles Goodnough, who set up a store and in 1884 organized the Island City Mercantile & Milling Company one of the largest business enterprises of Union County in the 19th century. Much of its business was drawn from La Grande. The milling interest was sold to the Pioneer Flour and Milling Company in 1896. For more information, visit https://islandcityoregon.com/...Learn More »

John Day is a city located about 2 miles north of Canyon City[6] in Grant County, Oregon, at the intersection of U.S. Routes 26 and 395. It is the second most populated city in Grant County. It is surrounded by the Strawberry Mountains to the south and the Blue Mountains to the east. The first homestead staked in Grant County (what was then Wasco County), in 1862 by B. C. Trowbridge, was within the limits of the present city of John Day – a city that became incorporated in 1901. John Day benefited from the local gold rush and by 1887, the community was home to 1,000 Chinese immigrants who came to Oregon to work in the gold mines. The Kam Wah Chung & Co. Museum honors this history and was made a National Historic Landmark in 2005. Also of note is the paleontological importance of John Day and...Learn More »

The City of La Grande is the economic, educational, recreational, and cultural hub for eastern Oregon, with a family oriented, small-town character. La Grande is the county seat of Union County and has a population of over 13,000. It has a vibrant business district, healthcare system and lots of parks and recreation. La Grande also includes a historic commercial district listed on the National Register of Historic Places La Grande lies east of the Blue Mountains and southeast of Pendleton. Interstate 84 is the main freeway past La Grande. It links La Grande with other nearby cities in the area (Pendleton, Baker City), as well as other regionally important cities, including Ontario and Umatilla, Boise, Idaho, and Spokane and the Tri-Cities area of Washington.La Grande is a crew change point on the Huntington and La Grande subdivisions of the Union Pacific Railroadand is also the junction of the Idaho...Learn More »

Long Creek is an easy-going community with 220 friendly residents, nestled in a high valley of the Blue Mountains in Eastern Oregon. This is a place where small town life still exists. Where kids can be kids, where people wave and say howdy to neighbors and visitors alike, where things don’t cost an arm and a leg, and we aren’t afraid to turn a stranger into a friend. Long Creek, a picturesque, rural community where recreational opportunities and natural amenities abound, and there’s no such thing as rush hour. At an elevation of 3,700 feet, we have four distinct seasons. Winter brings snowfall for skiing, snowmobiling, beautiful snow capped mountains and an average temperature of 30 degrees. Spring time means lots of wild flowers, morel mushrooms, trout fishing and turkey hunting. Summers are mild and dry, with temperatures rarely above 90 degrees – perfect for hiking, camping, fishing,...Learn More »

The Mount Vernon  post office was established in 1877 and named after a black stallion that belonged to settler David W. Jenkins. The stallion’s stable a small stone building, is still standing in a field on the north side of U.S. Highway 26 about 2.2 miles east of the main intersection in town.  Mount Vernon is a short distance from mountains, lakes, fishing, backpacking into wilderness areas and roadless areas....Learn More »

Straddling the historic Oregon Trail, North Powder has a long history of serving travelers. ... The tiny town is surrounded by opportunities for hiking, camping, fishing, wildlife viewing and touring on the Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway. The nearby Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort is a popular destination for skiers and outdoor enthusiasts year-round. Historically, North Powder prospered with the arrival of the railroad, the creation of a lumber company and the success of an icehouse that supplied refrigerator cars. ...Learn More »

Prairie City, Oregon, is a charming small town of 910 (and growing!!). This quaint little town is the consummate picture of small town America, nestled at the edge of the prairie, by the John Day River in Eastern Oregon. In fact, if you stroll through downtown Prairie City, you will find lovingly cared for historic buildings that tell the story of yesteryear. This small community enjoys unsurpassed beauty, a small yet strong business district, an arts community, high speed internet service, and wonderful schools in a safe environment. Prairie City, Oregon, sits on the north side of a wide prairie that inclines to the base of the Strawberry Mountain Range at the upper end of the John Day Valley, on the John Day River. The current economy includes ranching, a lumber mill, a wood-fired co-gen electric power plant, and a number of retail vendors and public services. For...Learn More »

Seneca is situated on the Silvies River, Seneca is in Bear Valley at the northern edge of the Great Basin. People often visit Seneca to play golf at the Bear Valley Meadows Golf Course, built by the city and community in 1996. This pasture course offers annual memberships and an honor box for paying green fees.  Seneca experiences the coolest weather in Grant County, Oregon and has the distinction of the coldest official temperature recorded in the Oregon: 54 degrees below zero. The main industries in Seneca are ranching and timber production. Historically, Seneca began growing in the 1920’s as a company town for the Edward Hines Lumber Company, boasting a sawmill and the northern terminus of a (now-vacated) railroad track which extended south to Burns, Oregon. For more information, visit https://www.senecaoregon.com/...Learn More »

Located at the north end of Grande Ronde Valley the town of Summerville was one of the early im­portant commercial and trading centers of the region. It was first settled in the spring of 1865, being a stage station on the George Thomas line of coaches. Mill Creek, a tributary of Willow Creek, itself a tributary of the Grande Ronde River, flows through Summerville, lending itself to fishing and outdoor fun....Learn More »

Sumpter, a small town buried deep in the Blue Mountains of Eastern Oregon, stands as a monument to times gone by.  Gold mining dominates the history and landscape of the Sumpter Valley, with the dredge remaining as the centerpiece to that era. Rich in mining history, Sumpter, Oregon boasts impressive trail access, several nearby ghost towns, and one massive testament to the mining heritage of Northeast Oregon. In fact, Sumpter is a popular destination for tourists looking to soak in the region’s gold rush history and catch a glimpse of the Western town that once boasted of an opera house, hotels, saloons, churches, a brewery, and three newspapers. During the summer months Sumpter can be reached using the Sumpter Valley Railway or take the Elkhorn Scenic Byway for a beautiful drive. For more information visit https://www.historicsumpter.com/...Learn More »

Union has maintained its rural charm and friendly atmosphere. With a population of just over 2100 this town has clean air and fabulous water and is a highly desirable place to live, play, retire and visit. Open space, appealing Victorian style homes, buildings and tree-lined streets preserves its historic authenticity. Union has many great amenities including Buffalo Peak Golf Course, Eastern Oregon Live Stock show, Union County Museum, Union Historic Cemetery, Union Historic Hotel, Historic Carnegie Library, too many to list. Union offers a unique character and quality of life. Strategically placed between La Grande and North Powder on Highway 203 and 237, Union has much to offer. With the Federal Highway (Interstate 84) 11 miles northwest of Union, access to and from the community is efficient and diverse. Union has infrastructure to allow growth without disturbing the beauty of the landscape. For more information, visit https://www.cityofunion.com...Learn More »

Union County is home to the communities of Cove, Elgin, Imbler, Island City, La Grande, North Powder, Summerville, and Union. Union County is a beautiful place to live with mountains and streams providing hunting, fishing, skiing, and camping opportunities. Initially, the county’s economy was defined by mining but over the years farming (wheat, fruit, vegetables, and grass seeds), cattle, sheep raising, and timber replaced mining as the primary economic forces in the county. More recently, the county diversified into an economic base that includes light manufacturing; technical based business and regional headquarters for Federal and State government. A mainstay of the Union County economy is Eastern Oregon University – a college offering certificate and degree programs that attracts students from Oregon, the PNW and internationally.     Communities in Union County include: Cove Elgin Imbler Island City ...Learn More »