John Day
Oregon
When I first heard the name John Day, it never occurred to me that it was a PLACE. That’s right; I imagined a famous, western, historical figure in which I could learn about on my adventures in Oregon. However, that is only partly true. John Day is a small town in Eastern Oregon; albeit, the largest town in the entire county of Grant! And let me just say that for someone who is from the eastern side of the country, it’s very easy to forget that everything is bigger and greater in the West. In the east, the counties are smaller as there are many of them! So to hear that a town is the largest in the county is not a huge ordeal if you are in the East. BUT, in the West, the counties are fewer and larger. For a small town such as John Day, and by small I mean it has a population of 2,070 people, to be the largest in the county, that’s a rural area. Grant County is large compared to a county in the East. To give you some perspective, about five counties from any given eastern state would fit inside the parameters of Grant County!
Needless to say,
if you are in search of a place where you can live a simple life, enjoy the rugged countryside and engage with friendly people, John Day Oregon is the perfect place. Take a moment and picture yourself walking down Main Street where cattle drives and horse trailers share the road with everyday automobiles.
To top this off, imagine living your everyday life surrounded by beautiful, untouched scenery such as the John Day Fossil Beds. This is the place where people across the country only dream about visiting; however, you will be living there!
Now that I have tickled your imagination with some colorful reality, let’s review the important facts on building a life in John Day Oregon. After all, you can’t move anywhere without covering the basics and determining a plan. For your benefit, I will briefly go over the population growth, economy, cost of living, climate, political stance, transportation, real estate and the schools. And obviously, any other interesting tidbits, I will be sure to include as well!

1. Population Growth
As I have previously stated, John Day is a small town in the wide open countryside of Oregon. It has a population of only 2,070 people! Located about two miles north of Canyon City, the town has been steadily growing through the years. With a population growth of 1.8% since 2010, it’s safe to say that John Day will continue to be a rural town for many years to come. With Grant County having over 4,500 square miles of roaming ground, John Day is the largest town. The total population of Grant County is just over 7,000 people.
2. The Economy
3. Cost of Living
4. The Weather and Climate
5. John Day’s Stance
6. Transportation

7. The Real Estate Market in John Day
In the last ten years, the home appreciation has been at an impressive 8.1 percent. The median sales price for a typical three bedroom/two bath house is $144,800. Wow! I’m sorry folks, but that is a steal! I don’t know why people claim that their is no longer a western frontier when there’s still a western frontier. The West is still full of wide open spaces and plenty of room for people to roam free and explore.
8. Schools in John Day Oregon
Stretching from Oregon to Washington across the historic Columbia River is the John Day Dam.
The John Day Dam construction in 1958 and was completed in 1971, and is a concrete gravity dam featuring a navigation lock and fish ladders on both sides of the structure. The dam is located approximately 28 miles to the east of The Dalles, Oregon and below the mouth of the John Day River. The primary purpose of the John Day Dam is to generate electricity and has done so reliably for over 50 years.
We Look Forward to Seeing You in John Day!
Now that you’ve been given the brief overview of the lovely town of John Day, what do you say? Are you ready for that move? On weekends you can enjoy the John Day River, the John Day Fossil Beds and even the Timber Truckers Light Parade! You’ll meet friendly people and make new friends. John Day, Oregon has so much to offer!
Resources

Oregon Coast Home Buyers Guide
While the Oregon coastline is rural compared to other coastlines in the United States, more people are moving to the area.

Central Oregon Home Buyers Guide
Many people visit Central Oregon every year and fall in love with its spectacular views and acres of untouched land.
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