Crook County's 15,700 residents live on nearly 3,000 square miles of land, with only an annual rainfall of 10.5 inches. The county was established in October of 1882 and the county seat is Prineville. Highway 26 passes through Prineville on its way from the coast to the Snake River. It is here that Highway 126 ends its long trek from the coast.
The eastern two thirds of the county is very lightly populated.