Harney County is a county in Oregon, United States, home to the Alvord Desert and Steens Mountain, in the high desert of the southeastern part of the state. It had a population of 7,495 at the 2020 census and covers 10,226 square miles (26,490 km2) — the largest county in Oregon by land area — centred near 43°04′N 118°58′W.
Burns is the county seat, and its postal code is 97720. The county has two incorporated cities (Burns and Hines) plus a handful of unincorporated communities and one census-designated place (Crane). Harney County observes Pacific time and carries FIPS code 41-025.
Towns & Villages in Harney County
Harney County’s 2020 population is concentrated almost entirely around Burns and Hines, which together hold roughly two-thirds of county residents; everywhere else is ranchland, high desert, or federal land, so most entries below are small unincorporated crossroads rather than towns with their own governments. «CDP» marks a census-designated place; «Unincorp.» marks a place with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burns | City · seat | 2,730 | 97720 |
| Hines | City | 1,645 | 97738 |
| Crane | CDP | — | 97722 |
| Andrews | Unincorp. | — | 97723 |
| Buchanan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Diamond | Unincorp. | — | 97722 |
| Drewsey | Unincorp. | — | 97904 |
| Fields | Unincorp. | — | 97710 |
| Frenchglen | Unincorp. | — | 97736 |
| Lawen | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Narrows | Unincorp. | — | — |
| New Princeton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Riley | Unincorp. | — | 97758 |
| Wagontire | Unincorp. | — | — |
A few names from older lists could not be confirmed as distinct places and were dropped: Dunnean, Harney (a former county seat absorbed into modern Burns), Frost Mill, Indian Village, Suntex, Trout Creek, Van, Venator, and Voltage have no verifiable current entry, ZIP, or population figure — several are ghost sites or historic ranch names rather than active communities. See notes.md.
ZIP Codes
- 97720 — Burns (also serves the surrounding ranch country)
- 97738 — Hines
- 97722 — Crane (also serves Diamond)
- 97723 — Andrews
- 97904 — Drewsey
- 97710 — Fields
- 97736 — Frenchglen
- 97758 — Riley
Several of the smallest crossroads (Buchanan, Lawen, Narrows, New Princeton, Wagontire) do not have their own ZIP code and are served by Burns or a neighboring post office.
Geography
Harney County spans a vast basin-and-range landscape of sagebrush steppe, alkali lakebeds, and fault-block mountains. Steens Mountain rises to 9,700 feet along the county’s southeastern edge, and the Alvord Desert — one of the driest spots in Oregon — sits in its rain shadow. Malheur Lake and the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge cover a large share of the county’s northern basin. Roughly three-quarters of the county is federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service. Harney County borders Grant County to the north, Malheur County to the east, Lake County (Lake County) to the southwest, and Deschutes and Crook counties to the northwest; Nevada’s Washoe and Humboldt counties lie across the state line to the south.
Demographics
Harney County’s 2020 population was 7,495, with Burns (2,730) and neighboring Hines (1,645) together holding about 58 percent of county residents. Median household income runs well below the Oregon median of $80,160, reflecting the county’s dependence on ranching and low-wage seasonal work; Harney is among the state’s least populous counties. Population density is about 0.7 people per square mile, among the lowest of any county in the contiguous United States.
Economy & Local Life
Cattle ranching and hay production drive the county’s economy — local boosters note that cattle outnumber people roughly 14 to 1. Ponderosa pine forestry, government land-management jobs (BLM, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service), and a growing outdoor-recreation and birding tourism sector built around the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge round out the base. Burns and Hines serve as the county’s only commercial and government centers, home to the county courthouse, Harney District Hospital, and Harney County School District.
History
Harney County was organized on February 23, 1889, carved out of the eastern portion of Grant County, and named for William S. Harney, a U.S. Army officer who had served in the Pacific Northwest and was a participant in the Pig War boundary dispute with Britain. The county seat moved from the original townsite of Harney to Burns in 1889. In January 2016, the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters near Burns was occupied for 41 days by an armed group protesting federal land policy, drawing national attention to the county.
Getting There
U.S. Route 20 and U.S. Route 395 cross at Burns, the county’s only significant highway junction; State Route 78 runs southeast toward Malheur County.
- Bend — 130 miles northwest
- Boise, Idaho — 130 miles east
- Burns Municipal Airport serves the county with limited commercial service; the nearest major airport is in Bend or Boise
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Harney County?
It is in southeastern Oregon, bordering Nevada to the south.
What is the population of Harney County?
7,495 at the 2020 census.
How big is Harney County?
10,226 square miles (26,490 km2), the largest county in Oregon.
What is the county seat of Harney County?
Burns.
How many towns are in Harney County?
Two incorporated cities, Burns and Hines, plus about a dozen small unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Harney County?
Burns is 97720 and Hines is 97738, with smaller offices at Crane, Andrews, Drewsey, Fields, Frenchglen, and Riley.
Why does Harney County have so few people per square mile?
Most of the county is federal rangeland, high desert, and mountain terrain unsuited to settlement — only about 0.7 people live per square mile.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Oregon.