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

1,663

Population
Growth Rate

-0.16%

Median Age

45

Diversity Index

28.900

Source: ESRI, 2026-09-09

Housing & Income

Households

789

Total Housing Units

892


Owner Occupied

508

Renter Occupied

281

Vacant

103

Median Home Value

$206,604


Average Home Value

$293,406

Income
Growth Rate

Median
Household Income

0.00%


Per Capita Income

2.56%

Income Projection

Median Household

$72,519 $81,780


Average Household

$80,039 $90,021


Per Capita

$38,146 $43,279

Source: ESRI, 2026-09-09

Workforce

Total Businesses

233

Total Employed

1,933

Workers 16+

761

2026 HealthCare / Social Assistance

cp-industries

Businesses

23

Employed

385

2026 Public Administration

cp-industries

Businesses

24

Employed

379

2026 Retail Trade Businesses

cp-industries

Businesses

32

Employed

259

2026 Accommodation / Food Service

cp-industries

Businesses

18

Employed

175

2026 Other Service excl Pub Admin

cp-industries

Businesses

43

Employed

155

2026 Food Service / Drinking Est.

cp-industries

Businesses

13

Employed

138

Some
High School

71

Graduated
High School

335

Associates
Degree

168

Bachelor's
Degree

188

Graduate
Degree

65

Average Commute Time

0 min.



Resident Commuters

701

Non-Resident Commuters

34

Drive Alone

546

Carpooled

97

Public

0

Work At Home

75

Source: ESRI, 2026-09-09