Grant County is a county located in Eastern Oregon. It has an area of around 4500 square miles, making it a little smaller than the state of Connecticut, and a population of around 7200 people, giving it a density of less than two people per square miles. United States Highway 26 passes through the county from West to East, on the way from the Bend area to Boise, Idaho. Most of the people in Grant County live in a few cities along Highway 26 (and also along the John Day River: Canyon City, John Day and Prairie City. Major economic activities include ranching and timber, as well as providing services for travellers on Highway 26. Large sections of the county are also in Malheur National Forest and Umatilla National Forest, and parts of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument are also within the county.
Like many parts of Eastern Oregon, the population of Grant County has fallen for decades. The area's arid climate and distance from transportation routes make it a difficult place to live in, so despite the great beauty of the area, it has faced years of economic difficulty.