OUR TOWNS
Pr airie City
ELEVATION: 3,535 FEET • POPULATION: 910
ecreation,
scenery,
history,
community pride and small town
“Main Street” atmosphere — Prairie
City seems to have it all.
Located at the eastern end of the
John Day Valley, Prairie City lies in
the shadow of the Strawberry
Mountain Wilderness Area to the
south and is on the fringes of the Blue Mountains to the north
and northeast. An abundance of year-round outdoor recreation
awaits just a few miles from town — Dixie Rope Tow, Magone
Lake and the wilderness area all offer fishing, hiking, biking,
hunting and camping enjoyment.
A full range of services are available for both residents and
visitors, including groceries, hardware, gift and coffee shops,
banks, lodging, camping, gas, several restaurants, a mini mart
and even a laundromat.
Prairie City has not one but two parks — City Park in the
center of town, with an adjoining picnic area next to city hall,
and Depot Park, at Bridge and Main streets, which is also home
to Depot RV Park and the Sumpter Valley Railway Depot and
DeWitt Museum. The community has two gathering places —
R
the Prairie City Community Center, formerly the United
Methodist Church, and the Prairie City Senior Center, formerly
the Strawberry Grange Hall.
The second-largest town in Grant County, Prairie City is a
tight-knit community with several energetic groups dedicated
to keeping residents and visitors busy with activities and events
throughout the year.
Prairie City School, serving students from preschool
through grade 12, offers a voc/ag program, an active FFA
chapter and a complete athletics program for both boys and
girls.
Prairie City’s roots lie in the mining, lumber and railroad
industries. It was preceded by another community, Dixie Town,
which sprang up in the summer of 1862 along Dixie Creek,
which runs along the north and west side of town. The young
mining town was located about 3.5 miles north of present-day
Prairie City.
Incorporated in 1891, Prairie City’s original business
section was in the northeast part of town, in the area of North
Main and East Third streets. In 1910, the Sumpter Valley
Railway in Baker City extended service to Prairie City which
operated until 1933.
50 | OFFICIAL GRANT COUNTY VISITOR GUIDE 2016 | MyEagleNews.com
DON’T MISS:
Grant County’s Fourth of July Celebration. Parade,
fireworks, games in the park and food galore —
Prairie City bursts with an explosion of small-town,
old-fashioned fun for the entire family.
Bates State Park, 20 miles northeast of town near
Highway 26 and State Route 7. One of only two
state parks in Grant County, it was established on
the site of the former lumber town of Bates and
commemorates the history and memory of the
town, while offering several day and overnight
recreational opportunities.