[3] Hardman is at an elevation of about 3,600 feet (1,100 m) in an agricultural area slightly west of the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon.

[4] A former social and commercial center for surrounding farm communities, Hardman became a ghost town following the completion of a railroad to Heppner in the 1920s.

[3][5][6] The main surviving commercial building, the Hardman IOOF Lodge Hall, was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 2012.

A local newspaper advertisement described the town as "high enough to secure plenty of fresh air, level enough for the building of a magnificent city, well-watered and surrounded by the richest and most favored soil under the sun, far enough from all the other places of business to insure excellent results if energy is property directed.

[3] At the same time, David N. Hardman, who arrived in the county in 1878 after "crossing the plains some forty-two years ago with an ox train.

[8] Mr. Hardman served as postmaster for a number years, but ultimately asked to be relieved of the "pressing cares of mercantile life."

"[7] According to the NRHP nomination form for the IOOF hall, a history of Umatilla and Morrow counties that was published in 1902 said that Hardman at that time had three general stores, two hotels, two feed stables, two blacksmiths, a saloon, a barber shop, a church, schools, a post office, a newspaper, and a telephone office.