Relocation Information for Harney County
Community life is enhanced in Burns and Hines by 17 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.
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. 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, mental health counseling, physical therapy clinic, 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. Harney 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.
Transportation-Burns and Hines lie at the crossroads of U.S. Highway 20, east-west, U.S. Highway 395 north-southwest, and Oregon Highway 78, southeast. Traffic in Harney County and much of southeastern Oregon passes through Burns/Hines. This crossroad location assures year-round access by cars and trucks. All the roads are well surfaced and maintained.
The Burns-Hines area is served by several freight companies. United Parcel Service and Federal Express serve the area. Pony Express provides air freight service from the Burns Municipal Airport.
The Burns Municipal Airport is located six miles east of Burns and has 5,100 feet of lighted runway with a VOR approach. Full service Fixed Base Operator and charter service are available.
Porter Stage Lines, a van-type bus service provides daily transportation to connect with points east and west.
Power
Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative serves the Burns/Hines area, while Harney County Electric Cooperative, Inc. brings power to the rural parts of the county. These utilities are supplied with power from lines that inter-tie Bonneville Power, Idaho Power and Sierra Pacific.
Communication
CenturyTel Communications provides telephone, internet, and DSL service to Burns.
Wireless telephone service is also available throughout the county.
Cable television is available in Burns and Hines. Satellite television services are available to in-town and rural residents.
For more information regarding business services of Chamber members, please check the Business Directory.
