John Day

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 the surrounding area, as it contains some of the most important paleontological resources known.

For more information, visit, https://www.cityofjohnday.com/

Population

Total Population

1,679

Population
Growth Rate

0.27%

Median Age

45

Diversity Index

25.800

Source: ESRI, 2025-09-30

Housing & Income

Households

784

Total Housing Units

885


Owner Occupied

538

Renter Occupied

246

Vacant

101

Median Home Value

$202,083


Average Home Value

$307,807

Income
Growth Rate

Median
Household Income

0.00%


Per Capita Income

2.26%

Income Projection

Median Household

$79,894 $90,054


Average Household

$90,526 $101,709


Per Capita

$42,305 $47,303

Source: ESRI, 2025-09-30

Workforce

Total Businesses

220

Total Employed

1,819

Workers 16+

688

2025 HealthCare / Social Assistance

cp-industries

Businesses

23

Employed

379

2025 Public Administration

cp-industries

Businesses

25

Employed

307

2025 Retail Trade Businesses

cp-industries

Businesses

27

Employed

237

2025 Accommodation / Food Service

cp-industries

Businesses

17

Employed

154

2025 Other Service excl Pub Admin

cp-industries

Businesses

45

Employed

153

2025 Food Service / Drinking Est.

cp-industries

Businesses

13

Employed

138

Some
High School

115

Graduated
High School

301

Associates
Degree

139

Bachelor's
Degree

238

Graduate
Degree

79

Average Commute Time

0 min.



Resident Commuters

626

Non-Resident Commuters

34

Drive Alone

481

Carpooled

88

Public

0

Work At Home

76

Source: ESRI, 2025-09-30