Community life is enhanced in Burns and Hines by seventeen active churches, a number of civic organizations, a weekly newspaper, two radio stations, cellular telephone, cable television and satellite access. Other community amenities include the Senior Citizens Center, a counseling center, a youth club, public library, golf course, summer swimming pool. Several  restaurants, motels, and bed and breakfast establishments serve visitors.

Contact the County Court House

K-12 Education is provided in Burns and Hines and surrounding rural areas by Harney District #3, Kindergarten through 12th grades. Please see our pages on Education at this link. Crane High School supports an elementary school and boarding high school for rural residents of the county. Crane High School is one of only two public boarding high schools in the country. Rural elementary schools in the county are at Diamond, Double O, Frenchglen, Fields, Suntex, Drewsey and Pine Creek.

College course work and training is offered locally by a consortium of Treasure Valley Community College, Blue Mountain Community College and Eastern Oregon University. Each offer college credit classes, in person, by video and inter-active television. Associates, Baccalaureate and Masters degree programs are available in general studies, vocational specialties, education, business and nursing.

Financial institutions which are located in the county include: US Bank, Bank of Eastern Oregon, Sterling Savings Bank and Greater Oregon Federal Credit Union.

Fire and emergency services include volunteer fire departments in Burns and Hines. Burns fire insurance rating is Class 5, Hines is Class 6. Burns has a well-equipped volunteer ambulance service which includes three ambulances, ALS rated, on call 24 hours a day. The Burns Fire Department offers a subscription membership service (Fire-Med). Harney County is also served by Air-Life (also subscription) from St. Charles Medical Center in Bend and Life Flight air ambulance from Boise, Idaho.

Health care services are remarkably comprehensive. We have a fully staffed hospital, clinic, physical therapy clinic, mental health counseling, assisted living center, adult foster care homes, dentists, a visiting orthodontist, two chiropractors, a naturopathic doctor, and many visiting specialists.  For livestock and pets, we have a veterinary clinic.

Law enforcement in Burns is governed by Burns Police Department with a chief and four patrolmen. Hines has its own Police Department with a chief, patrolman and reserves. Rural parts of the county are covered by the Harney County Sheriff's office with a sheriff and three deputies. The Oregon State Police have a local force staffed by a sergeant, two traffic officers and two game officers. The Burns Paiute Reservation maintains its own police force. Crime rates are among the lowest in Oregon as shown by the U.S. Dept. of Justice "Report on Uniform Crime for the United States".

Local government. Burns and Hines each have Mayor-City Council form of government. The county operates under a County Court, with a Judge and two County Commissioners.  Burns Paiute Reservation is governed by its Tribal Council.
 

The Burns Paiute Indian Tribe has its own police, court, health service, social services and maintains a community center for tribal members. The Old Camp Casino, an Indian gaming enterprise, opened in August of 1998.