Canyon City

History

Canyon City was established in June 1862 as a result of the discovery of gold in Canyon Creek, which flows from the south to meet the John Day River at John Day. As up to 10,000 miners flocked to Whiskey Gulch and other sections of the canyon during the early stages of the rush, land values between Canyon City and John Day rose to about $500 per square yard ($600/m2). The city was platted in 1862 and was chosen as the county seat two years later, when Grant County was created from old Wasco County and old Umatilla County. Canyon City was incorporated in 1891, and voters elected C. W. Parrish as the first mayor.

Geography

Canyon City is along U.S. Route 395 about south of the city of John Day, the John Day River, and U.S. Route 26. It is east of Bend and southeast of Portland. The city is at an elevation of about . This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Canyon City has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.

Most-observed species

• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  733
• Northern Flicker

  Colaptes auratus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  541
• Eurasian Collared-Dove

  Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838) · Aves
  539
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  505
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  483
• California Quail

  Callipepla californica (Shaw, 1798) · Aves
  460
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  426
• Dark-eyed Junco

  Junco hyemalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  381

Most recent

• M 2.83 — 2016-08-25
  7 km SSE of Haines, Oregon
• M 2.63 — 2016-03-30
  13 km WSW of Seneca, Oregon
• M 2.73 — 2010-10-16
  30 km S of Unity, Oregon
• M 2.6 — 2008-05-27
  22 km SSW of Unity, Oregon
• M 2.8 — 2008-05-20
  22 km S of Unity, Oregon
• M 2.9 — 2007-07-25
  10 km ESE of Mitchell, Oregon