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Harney County ORGenWeb is a free genealogical site about the history of the Oregon county. It is a member of ORGenWeb, which is a member of USGenWeb®. We hope you find helpful clues for your research of Harney County ancestors.

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Are you familiar with the area? Do you have a family tree connection to the area? Please consider contributing your pieces of Harney County family history. Corrections, updates, and additions to this site are always welcome. Our combined efforts can make this a great site for all who visit!

Co-County Coordinator: YOU? If you have a sincere interest in the genealogy of Harney County, and if you are willing to help others along their family history journey, but website maintenance doesn't appeal to you, consider becoming a Co-CC. As Co-CC you would reply to email inquiries, contribute content, monitor the website, .... Contact us to give it a try.

County Coordinator: Norma Hass normahass01@gmail.com

State Coordinator: Bob Jenkins orgenweb01@gmail.com

COUNTY FORMATION

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.