Ten thousand square miles of stark beauty exist in Harney County, and only 7,500 close-knit people to live in it. Two thirds of them live in the connecting towns of Hines and Burns. There is more area to hunt and fish than you can possibly believe and wherever you go to do these things you might be only person there, which is not a bad thing. We picked up a nice one acre property there recently with a garage, a house with additions, and a 2,000 square foot fenced garden....right on the riverbank. Sure, there is always a chance of minor flooding in the area when you do that, but that is anywhere there is a river...and we own 250 feet of the riverbank.
There are only three towns (more or less, the rest are just gas stops or country stores) inside that 10,000 square miles and 'More cows than people' is a popular t-shirt with the locals. There is a movie theater in Burns, a Safeway, hardware stores, a small hospital with Medi-copter service, a pharmacy, a fast food joint, and all the regular businesses you might find in a small town county seat. The whole city had a total of 38 reported crimes last year, and zero homicides. There is so little crime in the county that the County Sheriff only has six full time officers, and Burns itself seldom gets 911 calls related to crime. It's like living in Mayberry to an extent, and the people may be right-wing, but they aren't crazy right wing and all they want is for the Feds to stay out of their business and let them live their lives as they choose.
We sold our home in a country area of WA state for almost 300,000 bucks and bought that one-acre-ranch-on-the-river for a measly 100,000 and banked the rest. No more mortgage, and yes...you can get internet, TV, and phone service here. We love this place and its where we will stay for the rest of our lives. Harney County is not for everyone, but if you like that kind of living where people don't mess with you or your property and where locking your door is an option and not a requirement, then it might be the place for you.
Christmas tree lighting ceremony in town is a big bonfire and a party each year. Everyone gets to know everyone else. Independence Day is a big deal and they do a parade where registration is optional and on some parts of the parade the fire trucks will douse you with water. These areas are marked so you don't get surprised.
If you want to hit the WalMart or the Fred Meyer, you plan a trip to Bend about an hour and a half away. Some folks do this once a month. I wouldn't live anywhere else.
Rob |
Burns, OR |
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