A Legacy of Tall Grass and Resilient Roots
By Steve Lent, Crook County Historian
Nestled 27 miles south of the Columbia River, between the John Day and Deschutes Rivers, lies Grass Valley—a place where history lingers in the whisper of winds across fertile fields. For centuries, this high plateau was a gathering ground for the Tenino, Warm Springs, and Tygh tribes, who harvested roots and hunted in the rolling terrain. Later, early travelers marveled at the tall rye grass that blanketed the landscape, some reporting it stood taller than a man.
It was the promise of this rich soil and abundant grass that drew Dr. Charles R. Rollins to the area in 1878. Recognizing the land’s potential, he established a hotel and a modest medical office, providing much-needed services to the fledgling community of ranchers and farmers. When the Grass Valley post office was founded on March 21, 1882, it honored the very feature that first impressed settlers: the towering grass.
By 1891, Grass Valley had grown into a formally platted town, with much of its development driven by Charles W. Moore and his Eastern Oregon Land Company. Moore not only promoted land sales but also brought modern conveniences like a newspaper and a telephone line from Rufus, setting the stage for Grass Valley’s growth.
While livestock ranching dominated the early economy, settlers soon discovered the region’s true agricultural gem—winter wheat. Fields once grazed by cattle transformed into golden seas of grain. The arrival of the Columbia Southern Railway in 1900 was a game-changer, linking Grass Valley to the wider world. Livestock and wheat flowed out of the town, and supplies flowed in, fueling local prosperity.
The town’s population swelled from just 25 people in 1888 to a bustling 342 by 1910, thanks to the railway’s impact. Grass Valley also became a hub during the construction of railroads up the Deschutes River from 1909 to 1911. The influx of workers and surveyors brought temporary prosperity, with businesses thriving and even a hospital opening to treat injured laborers.
But the boom times didn’t last. By 1920, the town’s growth began to slow. The Columbia Southern Railroad ceased passenger service in 1932, and by 1966, the tracks were abandoned altogether. Without the railroad, businesses faltered, and buildings stood empty. Grass Valley’s schools also felt the impact—the high school closed in 1940, and by 2016, the elementary school had shuttered its doors.
Today, Grass Valley is home to just 161 residents, according to the 2023 census. While its population has waned, the spirit of the town endures. Its history is etched into the landscape—a testament to the resilience of a community that once thrived on towering grass and boundless determination.