Editing Harney County, Oregon (section)

==Economy==
Three industries have traditionally provided the county's economic base: ranching, sheep raising, and timber. The [[railroad]], which extended into the area in 1883, served as a catalyst to the cattle industry but later contributed to its decline. By bringing farmers and sheep men to the area, it created increased competition for productive land. Harvesting and breeding of wild horses was lucrative for a period. Harney County shares the largest [[Ponderosa Pine]] forest in the nation with [[Grant County, Oregon|Grant County]]. Its abundance of game, numerous campsites and excellent fishing have stimulated fast-growing recreational activities.

Although county lands were open to homesteading from 1862 to 1934, the U.S. [[Bureau of Land Management]] still owns more than {{convert|3|e6acre|km2}}, or 62%, of the lands within the county boundaries. Facilitated on the national level by the [[Carey act]] of 1894, arid land in Harney County was donated to the state for irrigation and settlement, but all water development efforts failed.

Eventually all land claims filed under the reclamation legislation were abandoned or nullified. [[Malheur National Wildlife Refuge]] was established in 1908 and expanded in 1936. The refuge now includes {{convert|159,872|acre|km2}}. Borax has been mined in the [[Steens Mountain|Steens]] area, and uranium has been found on its south side.