73-621: The James Cant Ranch is a pioneer ranch complex in Grant County in eastern Oregon , United States. The ranch is located on both sides of the John Day River in the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument . The ranch was originally homesteaded by Floyd Officer in 1890. Officer sold the property to James Cant in 1910. Cant increased the size of the property and built a modern ranch complex on
146-473: A Third Party candidate or wrote in a candidate . These numbers show a small but definite shift towards the Democratic candidate when compared to the 2004 presidential election , in which 78.9% of Grant County voters voted for George W. Bush , while 19.2% voted for John Kerry , and 1.9% of voters either voted for a Third Party candidate or wrote in a candidate . The 2008 presidential election, however,
219-531: A 160-acre (0.65 km) land patent in 1898. That same year, he married Sylvia Fitzgerald and together they began a hard pioneer life on their remote homestead. Because of his knowledge of the Butler Basin and Sheep Rock areas, Officer served as a guide for pioneer paleontologist Thomas Condon during several of his fossil hunting expeditions. The Officers sold the ranch in 1910, moving to Dayville where their children could attend school. The property
292-540: A difficult problem, and imposed a heavy burden on citizens who had a need to transact business at the courthouse. In 1889, more than half of the southern part of the original Grant County was taken to form Harney County . Also in 1899, a small part of northwestern Grant County was taken (along with parts of Crook and Gilliam counties) to form Wheeler County . After gold was discovered in 1862 on Whiskey Flat, it has been estimated that within ten days 1,000 miners were camped along Canyon Creek. This increased population created
365-430: A family was $ 43,521. Males had a median income of $ 40,603 versus $ 27,326 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 22,041. About 11.4% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line , including 19.3% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over. As of the 2000 census , there were 7,935 people, 3,246 households, and 2,233 families residing in the county. The population density
438-495: A few stands of Western White Pine . Cottonwoods grow along some rivers and streams, and there are small groves of birch and Quaking Aspen at higher elevations. There is also a rare and isolated stand of Alaska Yellow Cedar in the Aldrich Mountains. Other flora includes a wide variety of native grasses and wildflowers, huckleberries, wild strawberries, elderberries, several types of edible mushrooms and Oregon-grape ,
511-689: A large lawn, fencing the yard, and planting numerous shrubs and trees. The most important change was made by the State of Oregon, when it began construction of Highway 19 from Arlington on the Columbia River to Dayville. The highway follows the John Day River, passing just west of the Cant Ranch complex. It was completed in the mid-1920s, effectively ending the Cant's isolation. However,
584-640: A need for county government. Grant County's government operates in accordance with the Oregon Constitution which was ratified by the People of Oregon in November 1857, and the revised Statutes of Oregon. It employs the old-western county government system: the County Court, with a County Judge and two Commissioners. While the County Court no longer exercises much judicial authority, it serves as
657-646: A quarter of the county's workforce is employed by some level of government or public services. 44°26′18″N 118°53′30″W / 44.43841°N 118.89173°W / 44.43841; -118.89173 Oregon Route 19 John Day Highway No. 5 is a highway in eastern Oregon . It comprises Oregon Route 19 ( OR 19 ) and U.S. Route 26 (US 26), as well as short segments of OR 206 , OR 207 , and US 395 . The John Day Highway begins at an interchange with Interstate 84 , one mile (1.6 km) north of Arlington . It follows OR 19 southward for about 76 miles (122 km), through
730-704: Is a prominent geographic feature located approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) southeast of the ranch complex and can easily be seen from the ranch. There is a 0.5-mile (0.80 km) hiking trail, known as the Sheep Rock Overlook Trail , that begins at the Cant Ranch and leads to an overlook with a view of the valley. The Cant Ranch is located within the boundaries of the Sheep Rock Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Highway 19 runs through
803-568: Is an arid to temperate region, with average annual precipitation ranging from 9 inches (230 mm) near Picture Gorge, to over 40 inches (1,000 mm) in the Strawberry Mountains. Annual precipitation in the valleys averages between 12 and 14 inches (360 mm), while the uplands or highlands of the county average between 16 and 24 inches (610 mm). Grant County averages between 40 and 60 days each year that see more than 0.10 inches (2.5 mm) of precipitation. A great deal of
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#1732782390961876-417: Is approximately 20 feet (6.1 m) by 60 feet (18 m). There is a workshop and a small shed west of the barn. The National Park Service uses these building for their original purposes. The larger building is a maintenance shop and the small structure is used for general-purpose storage. East of the barn is a one-room wood-frame watchman's cabin, used by shepherds during the lambing season. Closer to
949-506: Is based on architectural designs from The Radford American Homes catalog, published 1903 by the Radford Architectural Company of Chicago . Cant hired two carpenters, Andrew Cress and Clarence Bisbee, to oversee construction of the house. The builders combined design features from several Radford plans to create the Cant's ranch house. The front of the main house faces Highway 19 with the back porch overlooking
1022-405: Is bordered by a total of eight Oregon counties. This is the most of any county in the state. As of the 2010 census , there were 7,445 people, 3,352 households, and 2,167 families residing in the county. The population density was 1.6 inhabitants per square mile (0.62/km ). There were 4,344 housing units at an average density of 1.0 units per square mile (0.39 units/km ). The racial makeup of
1095-657: Is controlled by the Federal Government, most of which is controlled by the U.S. Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. Grant County contains most of the Malheur National Forest and sections of the Wallowa–Whitman , Umatilla and Ochoco National Forests, and has more than 150,000 acres (610 km ) of federally designated Wilderness Areas. Grant County contains the headwaters of
1168-623: Is far different than in prehistoric times. Fossil records show that, in the Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, much of the county was an ancient seabed. After emerging, the absence of the Cascade Mountains allowed the region to experience a relatively wet temperate climate. Ancient Tertiary rivers flowed through the area on courses that would be impossible today. During the Cenozoic Era, volcanic activity and extensive lava flows in
1241-430: Is in very poor condition and is not open to the public. The Cant family built two hand-operated cable cars for crossing the river, but only one is still operational. The ranch property displays original irrigation ditches, fences, gates, and feed racks plus vintage equipment purchased from the Cant family in 1978. The main house is the most prominent building at the ranch. It was built sometime between 1915 and 1918. It
1314-475: Is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Native Americans used the area around the John Day River for thousands of years before the arrival of European settlers. While boundaries were never clearly defined, the site that is now the Cant Ranch was used for seasonal hunting and fishing camps by Warm Springs and Umatilla bands, both Sahaptin speaking Columbia Plateau peoples . By
1387-482: Is said to have boasted the largest population of any community in Oregon. Mining and ranching, along with timber and then the service and public works that followed, brought people into the area and communities grew around the natural centers of industry and agriculture. Canyon City hosts an annual summer festival called "'62 Days" (referencing the local gold discovery in 1862) to celebrate its history and residents. Since
1460-524: The John Day River , which has more miles of Wild and Scenic River designation than any other river in the United States. The elevation of the county varies from 1,820 on the John Day River near Kimberly , to 9,038 feet (2,755 m) at the summit of Strawberry Mountain . The terrain of the county varies from grassland steppes and rangelands in relatively open or rolling hills and valleys, to steep, rugged, rocky high-alpine landscapes. Between these,
1533-659: The Oregon Territory , and at the time of the county's creation was a Union general in the American Civil War . Grant County is included in the eight-county definition of Eastern Oregon . Grant County was established on October 14, 1864, from parts of old Wasco and old Umatilla counties. Prior to its creation, cases brought to court were tried in The Dalles , county seat of the vast Wasco County. The great distance to The Dalles made law enforcement
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#17327823909611606-479: The 1930s, the city of John Day has served as the main economic center of the county, and boasts the largest population. According to the United States Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 4,529 square miles (11,730 km ), of which 4,529 square miles (11,730 km ) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km ) (0.02%) is water. Approximately 63% of the land area of the county
1679-499: The 1980s to help preserve the structures. There is also small log cabin behind the main house. It is the only remaining structure that dates back to the Officer homestead period. The Officer family used the log cabin for storage, as did the Cant family. The Cant Ranch national historic district is located along the John Day River in northeastern Oregon. The elevation of the ranch is 2,244 feet (684 m) above sea level. Sheep Rock
1752-503: The Cant Ranch complex. Today, there are eleven ranch buildings in the Cant Ranch Historic District. They are the main ranch house, a bunkhouse , a watchman's cabin, the barn and adjoining sheep pens, a workshop , general purpose shed , chicken coop , feed storage shed, privy , and an Officer era log cabin . There is also a small cabin on the east bank of the river known as Christina’s Cabin ; however, it
1825-536: The Cant ranch covered 6,500 acres (26 km) plus an additional 4,500 acres (18 km) leased from the Bureau of Land Management . At that time the ranch was sending 500 to 600 cattle to market each year. James Cant died in 1972, and his wife died in 1973. The Cant family sold the ranch to the National Park Service in 1975 to be incorporated into the new John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. When
1898-451: The Cants undertook a major expansion of the ranch between 1915 and 1918, replacing most of the original building constructed by the Officer family. As part of this expansion, Cant built a large main house that became the centerpiece of the ranch complex. In the 1920s, Cant acquired more land to expand his successful sheep business. He also improved the landscape around the main house, adding
1971-417: The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument was established in 1975, the initial development plan recommended purchasing the Cant Ranch complex for use as the monument's headquarters and visitor center. The National Park Service purchased 878 acres (3.55 km) from the Cant family in 1975. This included the main ranch complex and adjacent ranch property along the John Day River. The National Park Service used
2044-483: The John Day area supplied isolated mining towns with fresh meat. Initially, most ranches produced beef cattle . However, sheep were the primary ranch stock by the 1890s. This coincided with a wave of Scottish, Irish, and Basque immigrants who were experienced sheep herders. In 1890, Floyd Officer homesteaded land in the Butler Basin along the John Day River. He worked the property for seven years before securing
2117-569: The Murray ranch for two more years, until he had saved enough to join with Mason in purchasing the Officer ranch. After Cant and his wife moved to the ranch, it became a popular overnight stop for people traveling between Dayville and the Columbia River. Their hospitality was well known, and it was not uncommon for the Cants to serve dinner to twenty or more people including family, ranch hands, and traveling guest. To accommodate their growing family, an expanding livestock business and their many guests,
2190-642: The United States in 1905. After arriving in New York City , Cant traveled overland to the John Day country of Oregon, an area that already had many Scottish immigrants. Alexander Murray, who owned a large ranch west of Dayville, hired Cant as a sheep herder. By 1908, Cant had saved enough money to send for his childhood sweetheart, Elizabeth Grant, who was still in Scotland. They were married in Canyon City on October 10, 1908. Cant continued to work on
2263-732: The United States. The river system in Grant County includes the upper 100 miles (160 km) of the Main Stem, all of the 112 miles (180 km) of the North Fork, all 75 miles (121 km) of the Middle Fork, and all 60 miles (97 km) of the South Fork of the John Day River. From Grant County, the lower John Day River flows another 184 miles (296 km) to its confluence with the Columbia River. The southeastern corner of
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2336-622: The absences of underbrush, and the wide spacing of the trees, made it possible to drive a wagon and team of horses virtually anywhere the grade would permit. The forested land of the county vary from sparse stands of Western Juniper in more arid, open, or rocky ground, to spruce-fir stands in the highest terrain. Other forested areas (mainly above 3,200 feet (980 m) in elevation) are marked by stands of Ponderosa Pine , Douglas-fir , hybrid Grand x White Fir , Western Larch and Lodgepole Pine . At high elevations there are stands of Engelmann Spruce , Subalpine Fir , and Whitebark Pine , as well as
2409-406: The age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.4% were non-families, and 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.69. The median age was 50.0 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 35,974 and the median income for
2482-428: The age of 18 living with them, 57.90% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.89. In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.80% under
2555-467: The age of 18, 5.60% from 18 to 24, 24.00% from 25 to 44, 27.90% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 99.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.10 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 32,560, and the median income for a family was $ 37,159. Males had a median income of $ 31,843 versus $ 22,253 for females. The per capita income for
2628-511: The area in the late 19th century, and one small glacier on Strawberry Mountain often remains year-round. The geology of Grant County is rich, including one of the largest fossil concentrations in North America: The John Day Fossil Beds , which the U.S. Congress designated as a National Monument in 1974. Valuable metals, including gold, silver, platinum group elements, chrome, copper and cobalt, are found in
2701-412: The area's economy, with increasing lode-ore production annually, until October 1942 when the U. S. War Labor Board made gold mining illegal by Executive Order, Public Law L-208. This effectively led to several mining towns being abandoned and the demise of the mining industry in eastern Oregon and elsewhere; idle equipment was removed as scrap drives during World War II literally dismantled a great deal of
2774-475: The area. The eminent geologist, Waldemar Lindgren , who visited the area in 1900, estimated that approximately $ 16 million in gold had been mined from the Canyon City area alone by that time. (In 1900, the value of gold was fixed at $ 20.67 per ounce, so that $ 16 million in gold would have been roughly 800,000 ounces—worth today [at $ 1,600 an ounce] about $ 1.28 Billion) Mining remained the dominant sector of
2847-405: The best fish runs recorded in the past half-century. Most of Grant County is drained by the four forks of the John Day River, all of which have their headwaters in the county. The John Day River system drains some 7,900 square miles (20,000 km ). It is the third longest free-flowing river in the "lower 48" and has more miles of federal "Wild and Scenic River" designation than any other river in
2920-410: The cities of Condon and Fossil , where it meets with OR 207 at Service Creek . Here the highway turns eastward and follows OR 207 for 16 miles (26 km) to Spray . At Spray, it splits from OR 207 and goes southward. The highway passes the community of Kimberly , through the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument , and meets up with U.S. 26 . The highway then follows US 26 eastward, through
2993-487: The county contains heavily timbered land, many rolling hills, canyons and mountainous terrain. Portions of the county are technically high desert, dominated by sagebrush and sparse grasses. Grant County includes the southern part of the Blue Mountains . One unique characteristic of the typical forestland of the area is the relatively low density of underbrush. Travelers and emigrants of the 19th century remarked that
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3066-805: The county includes the headwaters of the Malheur and Little Malheur rivers, which find their way to the Snake River. The southern part of Grant County includes the northernmost reaches of the Great Basin, including the Silvies River watershed, which flows south into Harney Lake in the High Desert of Eastern Oregon. A small area in the southwestern corner of Grant County is in the Crooked River and Deschutes River watersheds. Grant County
3139-495: The county show 30-year highs/lows of: 103°/-37 °F at Austin; 112°/-23 °F at John Day; 108°/-25 °F at Long Creek; 112°/-26 °F at Monument; and 100°/-48 °F at Seneca. Grant County has an estimated 200 days of clear sunny or mostly sunny days, or an estimated 300 days of clear sunny, mostly sunny, or partly sunny days each year. The county experiences an estimated 65 days of overcast skies, with about 165 days of partly to mostly cloudy days annually. Grant County
3212-1070: The county was $ 16,794. About 11.20% of families and 13.70% of the population were below the poverty line , including 16.60% of those under age 18 and 10.20% of those age 65 or over. 2000 U.S. Census statistics for Grant County show that the total workforce for Grant County was 3,800, or 62% of the total population over age 16. These people were employed as follows: 56.9% private wage/salaried positions; 14.7% private self-employed (not incorporated business); 0.8% private unpaid family workers; 27.6% public employees (municipal, county, state, federal governments); By industry: 20.6% education, health, social services; 17.3% agriculture, forestry, mining; 10.0% manufacturing; 9.8% retail trade; 7.6% arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodations, and food; 6.9% public administration; 6.5% construction; 5.9% other services; 5.1% transportation, warehousing, utilities; 4.1% professional, administrative, and waste management; 3.1% finance, insurance, real estate, leasing; 1.7% information; 1.5% wholesale trade; Like
3285-425: The county was 95.0% white, 1.2% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.9% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 27.7% were German , 16.3% were English , 12.6% were Irish , 7.5% were American and 5.4% were Scottish . Of the 3,352 households, 22.8% had children under
3358-421: The county's mining infrastructure. In Oregon, Grant County's gold production was second only to Baker County . Because of the wealth of natural resources found in Grant County, agriculture, ranching, and timber industries naturally grew with and contributed to the development of the county. In the early days, sheep formed a large part of the agricultural base and the area boasted some of the largest sheep bands in
3431-620: The county's precipitation comes in the form of winter snow in the mountains. This snow pack is vital to recharge aquifers, resulting in spring run-off, and in-stream flows of water throughout the year. Average temperatures in the county range from the warmest community, Monument, with average daily highs/lows of 90°/50 °F in July and 42°/22 °F in January; to the coolest community, Seneca, with average daily highs/lows of 80°/38 °F in July and 33°/8 °F in January. Extreme temperatures in
3504-604: The county, one of which continues to operate in Prairie City. Due mainly to federal land management policies and global market pressures affecting timber and agricultural production and extraction, the county has experienced the second highest unemployment rate in Oregon for more than 30 years. The county has experienced some growth in recreational activities (including hunting) and tourism, as well as cottage industry, but residents have struggled to develop new productive industries and to diversify their economy. Slightly more than
3577-532: The executive branch of county government. The third man to serve as County Judge of Grant County was Cincinnatus Hiner "Joaquin" Miller (1837–1913), the noted poet, playwright, and western naturalist, called the "Poet of the Sierras" and the "Byron of the Rockies." The county seat is Canyon City, which served as the chief community of the county for many years. In 1864, when the county was organized, Canyon City
3650-632: The founding of a number of mining towns in northeastern Oregon. The largest of these towns was Canyon City . A wagon road, formalized in 1869 as The Dalles Military Road between Fort Dalles on the Columbia River and Canyon City, encouraged additional growth. Permanent homesteaders began arriving in the John Day Valley shortly after the miners. The Homestead Act of 1862 encouraged settlement by offering grants of 160 acres (0.65 km) to American pioneers. Livestock operations in
3723-471: The highway was not paved until the mid-1930s. The Cant family kept their sheep operation going through the Great Depression . It recovered some during World War II ; however, the shortage of labor made raising sheep increasingly difficult. As a result, Cant transitioned from sheep to cattle production in 1946. Over the next three decades the Cant's cattle operation grew and prospered. By 1965,
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#17327823909613796-499: The historic volcanic activity in the region. Hydrothermal resources are still present, with a number of hot and warm springs. The remnants of ferns, semi-tropical and temperate deciduous forests, shellfish, saber-toothed cats, extinct horse and camel species, and giant sloth, among other extinct species found in the John Day Fossil Beds, are a reminder that the flora and fauna of the region has changed significantly over
3869-533: The late 19th century and early 20th century, but declined during World War II due to changing market and labor pressures. The commercial timber industry in Grant County grew rapidly in the 1920s, and again during and after World War II. Livestock raising and timber harvesting remain important sectors of Grant County's economy, although the production and profitability of these industries has declined in recent years due mainly to political and expanding-market factors. Two wood-fired co-gen electric plants have been built in
3942-515: The lower John Day River; and migratory salmon and steelhead are found in the county seasonally. While salmon and steelhead returns to the John Day Basin experienced a sharp decline during the past 50 years, mainly due to the construction of large dams on the Columbia River, the major watercourses of John Day Basin remain free of physical obstructions, and the numbers of returning salmon and steelhead have improved in recent years, marking some of
4015-445: The main hall are a living room , dining room , kitchen , parlor , bedroom , bathroom , and a storage room. An open stairway in the central hall leads to the second floor. There are six bedrooms and a bathroom on the second floor. The third floor is a single open room that the Cant family used as a school room and as a gathering place for large social event. The other ranch buildings are all simple wood-frame structures. The barn
4088-521: The main house as a visitor center, museum , and office until the Thomas Condon Visitor Center was built in 2003. The ranch complex is now used as an interpretive site, giving visitors the experience of an early 20th-century livestock operation. The main house and several of the other buildings are open to the public. Today, the Cant Ranch offers visitors the opportunity to experience eastern Oregon's ranching heritage. Because
4161-435: The main house is a bunkhouse, chicken-coop, feed storage shed, and a privy. All are wood-frame structures with wood-shingle roofs. After the National Park Service purchased the Cant property, the bunkhouse was renovated and used to house exhibits. The chick-coop still houses live chickens and the shed is used to store feed and ranch equipment. The National Park Service also replaced the original roofs on all these buildings in
4234-457: The millennia. While deer, elk, pronghorn, cougar, bear and upland game bird populations thrive today, some of these animals were remarkably scarce 200 years ago. Explorers and trappers traveling through the region in the early 19th century remarked on the scarcity of game animals and their ability (or inability, as the case were) to find food. Native fish in the region include several trout species; warm water fish such as bass and perch are found in
4307-537: The nineteenth century, Northern Paiutes had migrated north from the Great Basin and were also using portions of the upper John Day watershed. As a result of the arid climate, only a few trappers and prospectors traveled through the area before 1862 when gold was discovered in Canyon Creek, tributary of the John Day River. The discovery of gold drew a large number of miners to the area. This led to
4380-568: The other counties in eastern Oregon, the majority of registered voters who are affiliated with a political party in Grant County are members of the Republican Party . George W. Bush's performance here in 2000 marked the strongest of any Republican in the county, carrying just over 80% of Grant's votes in it. In the 2008 presidential election , 70.97% of Grant County voters voted for Republican John McCain , while 26.05% voted for Democrat Barack Obama and 3.94% of voters either voted for
4453-550: The ranch played an important role in the commercial and social development of the John Day River Valley, the Cant Ranch was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. This historic district covers approximately 200 acres (81 ha) along both sides of the John Day River. There are eleven historic buildings on the property. During the 1930s, there were at least seventeen buildings in
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#17327823909614526-484: The ranch property on the west side of the John Day River. The ranch complex is located on the east side of the roadway. The Thomas Condon Visitor Center is located across the highway from the ranch complex. The ranch is 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Dayville, Oregon. From Dayville, travel west 2 miles (3.2 km) on Highway 26 and then turn north on Highway 19. The ranch is 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Spray, Oregon , on Highway 19. This route passed through
4599-613: The region dramatically changed the landscape. The John Day Fault (one of the only major faults in North America to run east–west) runs along the southern edge of the John Day Valley, caused an uplift, forming the Strawberry and Aldrich mountain ranges and the northern boundary of the Great Basin. Relatively recently in geological terms, during the last Ice age and shortly thereafter, large lakes were present in southeastern Oregon. Continual glaciers were still clinging to mountains in
4672-546: The region. It was this mineral wealth, and the development of gold mines in particular, that spurred the permanent settlement of the area. Large zones of serpentine, a metamorphic rock, dating from the Triassic period, are found in numerous locations. Strawberry Mountain (an extinct volcano), the granite peaks and boulders of the Elkhorn Mountains, and numerous rim rocks, lava flows and basalt outcrops are evidence of
4745-425: The river. The house is a two and one-half-story, wood-frame structure with a hip roof . It has wide porches that run the full length of the east and west sides of the structure. The eastern, river-view porch extends around the house, continuing about half the building's length along the north and south sides. The first floor is built around a central hallway that runs from front to back (east to west). Located off
4818-428: The small unincorporated community of Kimberly, Oregon , 14 miles (23 km) north of the ranch. Grant County, Oregon Grant County is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon . As of the 2020 census , the population was 7,233, making it Oregon's fourth-least populous county. The county seat is Canyon City . It is named for President Ulysses S. Grant , who served as an army officer in
4891-589: The state plant. Non-native Cheatgrass is also prevalent in many areas of the county. Grant County is also home to what may be one of the largest living organism in the world, a giant fungus of the species Armillaria solidipes that lives within the Malheur National Forest. It was found to span 8.9 square kilometres (2,200 acres). Its total mass has been estimated to be between 8,500 and 10,500 tons, and its age at somewhere between 2,000 and 8,500 years. The physical terrain one encounters today
4964-407: The west bank of the river. The National Park Service bought the ranch from the Cant family in 1975, and incorporated the property into the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. The National Park Service used the main house as a visitor center until 2003. Today, the Cant Ranch complex is preserved as an interpretive site showing visitors an early 20th-century livestock ranch. The James Cant Ranch
5037-475: The world, supplying a great volume of wool to, among others, the world-renowned Pendleton Wool Works in Pendleton . Cattle ranchers and sheep ranchers were often at odds and physical confrontations were not uncommon. By the 1920 and 1930s, however, cattle ranching became—and continues to be—the dominant sector of the agricultural industry. Crop farming, dairy production and orchards operated on small scales during
5110-584: Was 2 people per square mile (0.77 people/km ). There were 4,004 housing units at an average density of 1 units per square mile (0.39/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 95.69% White , 0.10% Black or African American , 1.60% Native American , 0.19% Asian , 0.04% Pacific Islander , 0.68% from other races , and 1.70% from two or more races. 2.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.5% were of English , 17.1% German , 14.3% American and 9.0% Irish ancestry. There were 3,246 households, out of which 30.10% had children under
5183-444: Was built about 1920. It is a 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 -story timber-frame structure. Its footprint is approximately 60 feet (18 m) by 120 feet (37 m). The barn has vertical board siding and a gable roof with wood-shingles. Inside there are twelve bays divided into a number of stalls, holding pens, and storage areas. Attached to the north end of the barn is a single-story structure with stalls for sheep shearing. This structure
5256-527: Was purchased by James Cant and his partner John Mason for $ 4,000. It included 357 acres (1.44 km) in Grant County and 320 adjoining acres (1.3 km) in Wheeler County . Cant bought out Mason's share in the property in 1915. James Cant was born in Scotland in 1879. He left Scotland at the age of 20 for South America , where he spent five years raising horses and mules . He immigrated to
5329-595: Was the last time a Democratic nominee won over 1,000 votes in the county. In the 2020 election, the county had shifted back to the Republican candidate Donald Trump , who received 77.28% of the votes, compared to Joe Biden 's share of 20.17%. The remaining 2.55% of voters chose either a Third Party candidate or wrote in a candidate . [REDACTED] With the discovery of gold near Canyon City in June 1862, and near Granite in July 1862, gold miners streamed into
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