Grant County is a county in Oregon, United States, in the high desert and mountain country of the state’s eastern interior. It had a population of 7,233 at the 2020 census and covers 4,529 square miles (11,730 km2) centred near 44°26′N 118°53′W.
Canyon City is the county seat, and its postal code is 97820. The county has 9 incorporated cities and roughly 16 smaller unincorporated communities, no civil townships, and runs on Pacific Time.
Towns & Villages in Grant County
Grant County has 9 incorporated cities and about 16 unincorporated communities and ghost towns scattered across its ranching and timber valleys. CDP/Unincorp. below covers places with no city government of their own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Day | City | 1,664 | 97845 |
| Canyon City | City · seat | 660 | 97820 |
| Prairie City | City | 841 | 97869 |
| Mount Vernon | City | 548 | 97865 |
| Long Creek | City | 173 | 97856 |
| Seneca | City | 165 | 97873 |
| Dayville | City | 132 | 97825 |
| Monument | City | 115 | 97864 |
| Granite | City | 32 | — |
| Austin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bates | Unincorp. | — | 97817 |
| Beech Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cabell City | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Courtrock | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fox | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Galena | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hamilton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Izee | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kimberly | Unincorp. | — | 97848 |
| Range | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ritter | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Robinsonville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Silvies | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Susanville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Three Forks | Unincorp. | — | — |
Granite, population 32 at the 2020 census, is one of the smallest incorporated cities in Oregon and has no post office of its own — residents use Sumpter or Prairie City addresses instead.
ZIP Codes
- 97845 — John Day (also serves Canyon Creek and Prairie Diggings)
- 97820 — Canyon City
- 97869 — Prairie City
- 97865 — Mount Vernon
- 97856 — Long Creek
- 97873 — Seneca
- 97825 — Dayville
- 97864 — Monument
- 97848 — Kimberly
- 97817 — Bates
The county’s smaller unincorporated places, including Austin, Dale, Fox, Galena, Hamilton, Izee, Ritter and Susanville, do not have their own post offices and use the ZIP code of the nearest town listed above.
Geography
Grant County sits in Oregon’s high desert and Blue Mountains country, where the John Day River and its tributaries — the North Fork, Middle Fork and South Fork — cut through pine forest and sagebrush rangeland. The Strawberry Mountains and the Aldrich Mountains rise inside the county, and much of its 4,529 square miles is public land managed by the Malheur and Umatilla national forests. It borders eight other Oregon counties, more than any other county in the state: Morrow County to the northwest, Umatilla County to the north, Union County to the northeast, Baker County to the east, Malheur County to the southeast, Harney County to the south, Crook County to the southwest, and Wheeler County to the west.
Demographics
Grant County had 7,233 residents at the 2020 census, spread across a land area of roughly 4,529 square miles for a density of about 1.6 people per square mile — among the most sparsely populated counties in Oregon. John Day, with 1,664 residents, is the largest community, followed by Prairie City at 841. Median household income in the county runs well below the Oregon median of $80,160, reflecting the area’s reliance on ranching, timber and government payrolls rather than higher-wage industries.
Economy & Local Life
Gold mining built Grant County in the 19th century — an estimated $16 million in gold came out of its creeks and hillsides by 1900 — and dredge tailings are still visible around Canyon City and Susanville. The modern economy runs on cattle ranching, timber and public-sector employment, with Blue Mountain Hospital in John Day and the Malheur National Forest supervisor’s office among the county’s larger employers. The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, whose Sheep Rock Unit sits in the county, draws visitors for its layered volcanic-ash formations and fossil record.
History
Grant County was created October 14, 1864, from part of Wasco County, and it was named for Ulysses S. Grant, who had served as an army officer in the Oregon Territory before becoming a Union general in the Civil War. Canyon City became the seat almost immediately after a gold strike in Canyon Creek in 1862 drew thousands of miners to the area, and the county’s boundaries were later trimmed several times as Grant, Harney, and other eastern Oregon counties were carved and re-carved through the late 19th century.
Getting There
U.S. Route 26 runs east-west through the county via John Day and Canyon City, and U.S. Route 395 crosses it north-south through John Day, Mount Vernon and Long Creek.
- Burns — 70 miles south
- Baker City — 70 miles east
- Prineville — 90 miles west
- Pendleton — 100 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Eastern Oregon Regional Airport in Pendleton; John Day itself has a small general-aviation airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Grant County, Oregon?
It is in eastern Oregon’s high desert and Blue Mountains country, about 260 miles southeast of Portland.
What is the population of Grant County?
7,233 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Grant County?
4,529 square miles (11,730 km2), the largest county in Oregon by land area.
What is the county seat of Grant County?
Canyon City is the county seat.
How many towns are in Grant County?
9 incorporated cities, plus about 16 smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Grant County?
Ten ZIP codes serve the county, led by 97845 (John Day) and 97820 (Canyon City).
Why is Grant County named after Ulysses S. Grant?
It was created in 1864 while Grant was a Union general in the Civil War, honoring his earlier service as an army officer in the Oregon Territory.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Oregon.