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Harney County, Oregon
Harney County, established in 1889 from the southern portion of Grant County, is Oregon’s largest county by area—spanning over 10,000 square miles of high desert terrain. Named after General William S. Harney, a U.S. Army commander in the Pacific Northwest, the county honors his role in guiding emigrants through the region during the mid-1800s.
The county seat, Burns, was founded in 1884 and named for Scottish poet Robert Burns. Early settlers, drawn by open land and rich grazing opportunities, built a community rooted in ranching, farming, and timber. By the late 19th century, cattle and sheep raising had become the backbone of Harney County’s economy, supported by the arrival of the railroad in 1883.
Homesteading surged between 1862 and 1934, though much of the land remained under federal management. The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1908, now protects over 150,000 acres of wetlands and migratory bird habitat.
