Oregon

Harney

7,495
2020 population
1890
first census record
14
census records

About Harney

Harney, Oregon, first appears in the United States federal census in 1890, when it recorded a population of 2,559. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 7,495.

Its recorded population peaked at 8,314 in 1980, and has since declined by roughly 10 percent.

On the ground today, 28 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Stein's Mountain, Battle of Harney Lake, Crook's Campaign in the Snake War 1866–1867, and 7 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20207,495
20107,422
20007,609
19907,060
19808,314
19707,215
19606,744
19506,113
19405,374
19305,920
19203,992
19104,059
19002,598
18902,559
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Harney

Military engagements that took place in Harney, Oregon.

Battle of Stein's Mountain
1864
Battle of Harney Lake
1864
Crook's Campaign in the Snake War 1866–1867
1866
Battle of Skull Creek
1866
Snake War – Battle at Steens Mountain
1866
Battle of Steen Mountain
1866
Snake War – Malheur Crossing Engagement
1866
Snake War – Alvord Desert Operations
1867
Snake War – Camp C.F. Smith Operations
1867
Snake War – Steens Mountain Operations 1867
1867
Snake War – Silvies River Engagement
1867
Snake War – Harney Lake Basin Engagement
1867
Battle of Guano Valley
1868
Snake War – Fort Harney Operations
1868
Bannock War – Steens Mountain Engagement
1878
Battle of Silver Creek OR
1878
Battle of Silver Creek
1878
Bannock War — Battle of Silver Creek Oregon 1878
1878
Battle of Barren Valley
1878
Battle of Silver Creek (Bannock War)
1878
Bannock War — Battle of Silver Creek (June 23, 1878)
1878
Battle of Harney Valley 1878
1878
Battle of Squaw Butte
1878
Bannock War – South Mountain Engagement
1878
Bannock War – Battle of Silver Creek
1878
Bannock War — Battle of Silver Creek
1878
Bannock War – Barren Valley Engagement
1878
Battle of Steens Mountain
1878

Historic places in Harney

National Register of Historic Places listings in Harney, Oregon.

Double-O Ranch Historic District
Burns
Riddle Ranch
Frenchglen
P Ranch
Burns
Sod House Ranch
Burns
Allison Ranger Station
Burns
Frenchglen Hotel
Frenchglen
French, Pete, Round Barn
Burns

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Explore census history and historic records for more Oregon counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Harney County, Oregon

This page charts the census history of Harney County, Oregon. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Harney

When does Harney first appear in the US census?
Harney, Oregon first appears in the federal census in 1890, with a recorded population of 2,559.
What is the population of Harney?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Harney had a recorded population of 7,495.
When did Harney's population peak?
Harney's recorded population peaked at 8,314 in 1980.
Were any battles fought in Harney?
28 documented military engagements took place in Harney, including Battle of Stein's Mountain, Battle of Harney Lake, Crook's Campaign in the Snake War 1866–1867.
How many historic places are in Harney?
7 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Harney, Oregon.
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