John Day is a city located approximately north of Canyon City in Grant County, Oregon, United States, at the intersection of U.S. Routes 26 and 395. The city was named for the nearby John Day River, which, along with Dayville, had been named for a Virginia member of the 1811 Astor Expedition, John Day. The city was incorporated in 1901.

As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 1,664,

thumb|left|John Day circa 1885

The first post office at "John Day City" was established in 1865, but was discontinued in 1871. It was reestablished in 1879 with the name John Day.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

John Day is surrounded by the Strawberry Mountains to the south and the Blue Mountains to the east.

Geology

The bedrock geology of the John Day area is a complex assemblage of Permian to Triassic age metamorphic and igneous rocks which were added to the western North American continental margin by tectonic activity in the Triassic and Jurassic periods. Cenozoic age volcanic rocks related to the long-lived Columbia River Basalt emplacement were deposited above these bedrock units.

The area around John Day contains some of the most important paleontological resources known. From about the time the dinosaurs disappeared right up until the Pleistocene, the region was subjected to significant volcanism and other processes that preserved many fossils. Because the matrix in which the fossils are entombed is datable, the fossils themselves can be dated with excellent precision. This gives paleontologists the ability to study how species changed over time and also how the relationship between ecosystems and climate changed.

Climate

Despite its dry climate and inland location, John Day has as an oceanic climate (Cfb) according to the Köppen climate classification system. However, it nearly qualifies as a steppe climate (Köppen BSk) due to its relative aridity, and as a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) due to its cold winter temperatures.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, John Day had a population of 1,664. The median age was 42.3 years. 20.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.3 males age 18 and over.

There were 768 households in John Day, of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 36.1% were married-couple households, 25.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 39.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 1,462 || 87.9%

|-

| Black or African American || 6 || 0.4%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 18 || 1.1%

|-

| Asian || 18 || 1.1%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 6 || 0.4%

|-

| Some other race || 18 || 1.1%

|-

| Two or more races || 136 || 8.2%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 54 || 3.2%

|}

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,744 people, 794 households, and 450 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 895 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 94.4% White, 0.5% African American, 1.5% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.7% of the population. Other employments, such as in recreation, health care, and government (the headquarters of the Malheur National Forest administration is located in John Day) now account for a majority of jobs in the city.

Education

It is in the John Day School District (a.k.a. the Grant School District).

Infrastructure

Transportation

  • Grant County Regional Airport
  • U.S. Route 26 and U.S. Route 395.

References

  • Entry for John Day in the Oregon Blue Book
  • Grant County Chamber of Commerce entry for John Day