Utah County, Utah Explained

County:Utah County
State:Utah
Ex Image:East (closer) at Historic Utah County Courthouse, Jul 15.jpg
Ex Image Size:300px
Ex Image Cap:Historic Utah County Courthouse
Flag:Flag of Utah County, Utah.svg
Founded:January 31, 1850 (created)
April 18, 1852 (organized)
Seat Wl:Provo
Largest City Wl:Provo
Area Total Sq Mi:2144
Area Land Sq Mi:2003
Area Water Sq Mi:141
Area Percentage:6.6
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:659399
Population Density Sq Mi:auto
Time Zone:Mountain
Web:www.utahcounty.gov
District:3rd
District2:4th

Utah County is the second-most populous county in the U.S. state of Utah. The county seat and largest city is Provo,[1] which is the state's fourth-largest city, and the largest outside of Salt Lake County. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 665,665.[2]

Utah County is one of two counties forming the Provo–Orem metropolitan statistical area, and is part of the larger Salt Lake City–Provo–Orem, UT Combined Statistical Area. In 2020, the center of population of Utah was in Utah County, in the city of Saratoga Springs.[3]

Utah County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States, ranking among the top ten counties in numerical growth.[4] Correspondingly, Provo–Orem is among the top eight metropolitan areas by percentage growth in the country.[5]

Utah County is one of seven counties in the United States to have the same name as its state. The other six counties are Arkansas County, Hawaii County, Idaho County, Iowa County, Oklahoma County and New York County (commonly known as Manhattan).[6]

History

The legislature of the State of Deseret created a county on January 31, 1850,[7] to govern the civic affairs of Utah Valley, which by the 1850s was bustling with newly arrived settlers. The county name is derived from the valley name, which is derived from the Spanish name (Yuta) for the Ute Indians. The State of Deseret dissolved soon after (April 5, 1851), but the counties it had set in place continued. There is little record of any official activity conducted by the fledgling county until April 18, 1852, when a full slate of county officials was published, and recordkeeping began. The first courthouse was built in central Provo in 1866–67. It was soon outgrown and was replaced by a second courthouse (1872–73). By the 1920s, this building was also cramped, and the decision was made to erect a combined city-county building, which was completed in 1926.[8]

The county's boundaries were adjusted in 1852, 1854, 1856, 1862, 1880, and 1884. It has retained its present boundary since 1884.[9]

Geography

Utah County terrain ranges from stiff mountain ranges in the east (the Wasatch Range), dropping steeply to a large lake-filled valley. Most of the comparatively level ground is dedicated to agriculture or developed uses, while most of the steep terrain is covered with arid-climate forestation.[10] The county generally slopes to the west and north, with its highest point (the northern peak of the twin-peaked Mt. Nebo in the southern part of the county), at 11928feet ASL.[11] The county has an area of, of which is land and (6.6%) is water.[12]

Utah Valley lies at the center of the county, lined by the mountains of the Wasatch Range on the east. Utah Lake occupies a large part of the valley. The elevation ranges from above sea level at the lake to at the peak of Mount Nebo.

Major highways

Source:

Protected areas

Source:

Lakes

Source:

Demographics

Utah County racial composition
Race or Ethnicity 2020[13] 2010[14] 2000[15] 1990[16] 1950[17] 1900
White81.6%89.4% 95.7% 96.4% 99.6% 99.9%
 —Non-Hispanic78.6%84.2% 87.7% 94.8% n/a n/a
Black or African American0.7%0.5% 0.4% 0.1% 0.02% 0.02%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)13.4%10.8% 8.4% 3.0% n/a n/a
Asian1.6%1.4% 1.2% 1.0% n/a n/a
Hawaiian & Pacific Islander1.0%0.8% 0.6% 0.5% n/a n/a
Native American2.0%1.0% 0.6% 0.7% n/a 0.01%
Multiracial9.0%2.7% 1.4% n/a n/a n/a
The 2000 census was the first to allow residents to select multiple race categories. Prior to 2000, the census used the category 'Other Race' as a catch-all identifier. For county-level census data in 1950 and 1900, Utah counted all non-White and non-Black residents using this category. 'Other races' formed 1.4% of Utah County's population in 1990, 0.43% in 1950, and 0.07% in 1900.

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 659,399 people and 171,899 households in the county. The population density was 329.12/mi2. There were 192,570 housing units, at an average density of 96.12/mi2. The county's racial makeup was 89.4% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian or Alaska Native, 1.4% Asian, 0.8% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 4.6% some other race, and 2.7% from two or more races. 10.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 140,602 households, out of which 47.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.9% were headed by married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.7% were non-families. Of all households, 11.6% were made up of individuals, and 4.4% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.57, and the average family size was 3.88.

The county's population was spread out, with 35.2% under the age of 18, 15.8% from 18 to 24, 28% from 25 to 44, 14.5% from 45 to 64, and 6.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.

At the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the county was $45,833, and the median income for a family was $50,196. Males had a median income of $37,878 versus $22,656 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,557. About 6.80% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.40% of those under age 18 and 4.80% of those age 65 or over.

Most Reported Ancestries in Utah County (2020)[18]
Ancestry Percentage of Population
Other European-Americans 30.6%
28.1%
American or Unclassified 22.7%
10.5%
10.5%
7.7%
5%
Other Latin American 4.3%
Middle Eastern or North African 0.3%
Due to respondents reporting multiple ethnicities, percentages may add up to greater than 100%.

Religion

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 516,564 people, 140,602 households, and 114,350 families in the county. The population density was 258/mi2. There were 148,350 housing units, at an average density of 74.1/mi2. The county's racial makeup was 89.4% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian or Alaska Native, 1.4% Asian, 0.8% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 4.6% some other race, and 2.7% from two or more races. 10.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 140,602 households, out of which 47.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.9% were headed by married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.7% were non-families. Of all households, 11.6% were made up of individuals, and 4.4% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.57, and the average family size was 3.88.

The county's population was spread out, with 35.2% under the age of 18, 15.8% from 18 to 24, 28% from 25 to 44, 14.5% from 45 to 64, and 6.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.

At the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the county was $45,833, and the median income for a family was $50,196. Males had a median income of $37,878 versus $22,656 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,557. About 6.80% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.40% of those under age 18 and 4.80% of those age 65 or over.

In 2005, the five most reported ancestries in Utah County were:[19]

Government

The government is a three-member elected county commission elected at-large. Other elected officials include the county sheriff, the county clerk, county recorder, county assessor, county surveyor, county treasurer, and the county attorney. The current county attorney is Jeff Gray.

In 2020, Utah County voters rejected Proposition 9, which would have changed the county's government to a five-member elected county council with an elected county mayor.[20]

The first sheriff of the county was John T. Willis, who was succeeded by William Madison Wall. Alexander Williams served during John Cradlebaugh's court in 1859. He was succeeded by Eli Whipple, who resigned in 1861 and was replaced by Russell Kelly.[21] In 2020, Sheriff Mike Smith publicly stated he would not enforce COVID-19 face mask mandates.[22]

The Utah County Fire Department provides emergency response to all unincorporated areas within Utah County and works with all the incorporated cities within the county plus all Utah state and federal lands. The department is primarily a wildland fires response and urban interspace service with some structure fire and HAZMAT abatement capability.[23]

Politics

As the center of Mormon culture, Utah County has been referred to as "the most Republican county in the most Republican state in the United States".[24] It has only voted for a Democratic president nine times since statehood, and has not supported a Democrat for president since 1964.

In the 1992 presidential election, George H. W. Bush received the most votes and Bill Clinton was third in votes received. In the 2004 presidential election, 85.99% voted for George W. Bush.[25] In the 2008 U.S. presidential election, the county voted for John McCain by a 58.9% margin over Barack Obama, compared to McCain winning by 28.1% statewide.[26] Eight other Utah counties voted more strongly in favor of McCain.[27] In the 2012 election, Mitt Romney received 88.32% of the vote. In the 2016 election, it gave a slim majority of the vote to Donald Trump, and nearly 30% of the vote to independent candidate Evan McMullin, who outperformed Hillary Clinton in the county. This was McMullin's largest share of the vote in any county in Utah and his second best nationwide after Madison County, Idaho. In 2020, Joe Biden received over 75,000 votes - the Democrats had never previously received more than 30,000 votes in the county.

Until 2013, Utah County was represented entirely by one congressional district. Currently, the county is split between two congressional districts. Most of the county's population is in the 3rd District, represented by Republican John Curtis, former Provo Mayor. Much of the county's area however, including Utah Lake, resides in the 4th District currently represented by Republican Burgess Owens.

The county's Republican bent runs right through state and local politics. All five state senators representing the county, as well as all 14 state representatives,[28] are Republicans.

Position!District! style="text-align:center;"
NameAffiliationFirst Elected
 Senate7Mike McKellRepublican2020[29]
 Senate11Daniel McCayRepublican2018[30]
 Senate13Jake AndereggRepublican2016[31]
 Senate14Mike KennedyRepublican2020[32]
 Senate15Keith GroverRepublican2018[33]
 Senate16Curt BrambleRepublican2000[34]
 Senate24Derrin OwensRepublican2020[35]
 Senate27David HinkinsRepublican2008[36]
 House of Representatives2Jefferson MossRepublican2016[37]
 House of Representatives6Cory MaloyRepublican2016[38]
 House of Representatives27Brady BrammerRepublican2018[39]
 House of Representatives48Keven StrattonRepublican2012[40]
 House of Representatives56Kay ChristoffersonRepublican2012[41]
 House of Representatives57Jon HawkinsRepublican2018[42]
 House of Representatives59Val PetersonRepublican2010[43]
 House of Representatives60Nelson AbbottRepublican2020[44]
 House of Representatives61Marsha JudkinsRepublican2018[45]
 House of Representatives63Adam RobertsonRepublican2018[46]
 House of Representatives64Norm ThurstonRepublican2014[47]
 House of Representatives65Stephen WhyteRepublican2021[48]
 House of Representatives66Jeff BurtonRepublican2020[49]
 House of Representatives67Doug WeltonRepublican2020[50]
 House of Representatives68Merrill NelsonRepublican2012[51]
 Board of Education9Cindy DavisNonpartisan2018[52]
 Board of Education11Natalie ClineRepublican2020[53]
 Board of Education12James Moss Jr.Republican2020[54]
 Board of Education13Randy BootheRepublican2020[55]
 Board of Education14Mark HuntsmanNonpartisan2014[56]

Social issues

Utah County saw high rates of opioid and other prescription drug addiction from the mid-2000s onwards, foreshadowing the national opioid crisis. The 2008 documentary Happy Valley examined the problem.[57]

Giving USA, which reports on charitable giving in the US, named Utah County as one of the three most generous counties in philanthropic donations, alongside San Juan County, Utah and Madison County, Idaho.[58]

In 2019, one in eight people and one in six children in the county did not have sufficient food.[59]

Infrastructure

Much of Utah's transportation infrastructure was built to support automobiles. Prior to the 1950s, Utah County relied on the U.S. Highway System for local transportation. When I-15 was built in 1956 (parallel to Highway 89), it became the dominant transportation vein in the state. The I-15 CORE project added multiple lanes on I-15 through most of Utah County. This expanded of freeway and was completed in 2012.[60] Other construction projects by UDOT have been done on I-15 since then, including the Technology Corridor project and the Point of the Mountain project.[61] However, the highway system retains its significance in Utah County due to the mountainous terrain.[62] Highway 6 is the closest major road connecting Colorado to the Wasatch Front, running through Spanish Fork Canyon before converging with I-15 in the city of Spanish Fork. Portions of Highway 89 have become prominent local roads known collectively as 'State Street'. Highway 189 is known as 'University Avenue' in the city of Provo, and runs through Provo Canyon into Heber in neighboring Wasatch County.

Utah County has seen significant growth in public transportation over the past 15 years, owing in part to the county's large student population of more than 70,000 commuting to-and-from Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo and Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem. The two cities jointly operate UVX, a bus rapid transit system, as part of their city bus routes. Provo also serves as the southernmost terminus of the FrontRunner, Utah's intrastate commuter rail service.[63] The Provo FrontRunner station is located on South University Avenue, directly southwest of Amtrak's Provo Station - which is Utah's third westbound stop, after Green River and Helper, for the California Zephyr Amtrak route. In addition to Provo, The FrontRunner currently has three stops in the county. The Orem FrontRunner station is located on the west side of I-15, served by a pedestrian bridge over the freeway that connects the UVU campus directly to the station. An additional stop in Vineyard, Utah was completed in August 2022.[64] Utah County also operates the American Fork FrontRunner Station and the Lehi FrontRunner Station located near Thanksgiving Point. From Lehi, the FrontRunner leaves Utah County and enters Salt Lake County.

Education

School districts

Colleges and universities

Four-year institutions

Two-year institutions

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Former communities

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Find a County. June 7, 2011. National Association of Counties.
  2. Web site: State & County QuickFacts. United States Census Bureau. December 30, 2013.
  3. Web site: Centers of Population by State: 2020. US Census Bureau. June 3, 2024.
  4. Web site: Top 10 Counties in Numeric Growth: July 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021. April 16, 2022. US Census.
  5. Web site: Top 10 Metro Areas in Percent Growth: July 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021. April 16, 2022. US Census.
  6. Book: Joseph Nathan Kane. Charles Curry Aiken. The American Counties: Origins of County Names, Dates of Creation, and Population Data, 1950-2000. 2005. Scarecrow Press. 978-0-8108-5036-1.
  7. The Utah County website "History" cites January 28, 1850, as the date of establishing Utah County http://www.utahcounty.gov/CountyInfo/CountyHistory.html
  8. http://www.utahcounty.gov/CountyInfo/HistoricCountyCourthouse.html "Historic Utah County Courthouse" Utah County website (accessed 26 March 2019)
  9. Web site: Utah: Individual County Chronologies. Newberry Library. 2008. March 26, 2019. March 6, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306153326/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/UT_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm. dead.
  10. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Utah+County,+UT/@40.1772515,-111.8159739,10z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x874d961b01922fd5:0xfbd27ed382db18cf!8m2!3d40.0966287!4d-111.5706786 Utah County UT Google Maps (accessed 26 March 2019)
  11. https://www.peakbagger.com/list.aspx?lid=13209 "Utah County High Points" Peakbagger (accessed 26 March 2019)
  12. Web site: 2010 Census Gazetteer Files. US Census Bureau. June 26, 2015. August 22, 2012.
  13. Web site: Race and Ethnicity in the United States: 2010 Census and 2020 Census. US Census Bureau. Census.gov.
  14. Web site: U.S. Census 2010. United States Census Bureau. en. October 16, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/http://www.census.gov/. December 27, 1996. live.
  15. Web site: Utah County, UT Census Data. infoplease.com.
  16. Web site: 1990 Census of Population Social and Economic Characteristics: Utah . U.S. Census Bureau.
  17. Web site: Utah Minorities: The Story Told by 150 Years of Census Data. Perlich. Pamela. Kem C. Gardener Policy Institute.
  18. Web site: American Community Survey: People Reporting Ancestry in Utah County, Utah. US Census Bureau. July 3, 2022.
  19. Web site: Utah County, Utah, Ancestry & Family History. ePodunk Inc.. https://web.archive.org/web/20100413133018/http://www.epodunk.com:80/cgi-bin/genealogyInfo.php?locIndex=22854 . April 13, 2010. April 13, 2010 .
  20. Web site: Cleary. Kaela. November 5, 2020. Utah County voters say 'no' to Prop 9. December 7, 2020. The Daily Universe. en-US.
  21. "First Sheriffs of Utah County" Tullidge's Quarterly Magazine, Volume 3, 1885, Page 392, accessed at https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/46400242 on June 7, 2018 (includes list of sheriffs through around 1876).
  22. Web site: Mullahy. Brian. September 18, 2020. Utah County sheriff says if there's a mask mandate, he won't enforce it. November 13, 2021. KUTV.
  23. Web site: Utah County Wildland Fire Emergency Response . November 13, 2021 . August 26, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150826011132/http://www.utahcounty.gov/dept/ucfire/EmergencyResponse.html . dead .
  24. Book: Krakauer, Jon. Under the Banner of Heaven. registration. Doubleday. New York. 2003. 78. 9780965778404 .
  25. Web site: Utah County General Election, Official Results. November 2, 2004. UtahCounty.Gov, the Official Website of Utah County Government (http://www.utahcounty.gov).
  26. Web site: US Election Atlas. United States Presidential Election Results. David Leip.
  27. News: State of Utah County Election Results. November 21, 2008. NPR. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120218191418/http://www-cdn.npr.org/news/specials/election2008/presCounty.php?state=Utah. February 18, 2012.
  28. Web site: Lawmakers say Utah County did well in redistricting process. Hesterman. Billy. Daily Herald. October 19, 2011.
  29. Web site: Senator McKell Utah Senate. November 16, 2021. senate.utah.gov.
  30. Web site: Senator McCay Utah Senate. November 16, 2021. senate.utah.gov.
  31. Web site: Senator Anderegg Utah Senate. November 16, 2021. senate.utah.gov.
  32. Web site: Senator Kennedy Utah Senate. November 16, 2021. senate.utah.gov.
  33. Web site: Senator Grover Utah Senate. November 16, 2021. senate.utah.gov.
  34. Web site: Senator Bramble Utah Senate. November 16, 2021. senate.utah.gov.
  35. Web site: Senator Owens Utah Senate. November 16, 2021. senate.utah.gov.
  36. Web site: Senator Hinkins Utah Senate. November 16, 2021. senate.utah.gov.
  37. Web site: Rep. Moss, Jefferson. November 16, 2021. Utah House of Representatives. en-US.
  38. Web site: Rep. Maloy, A. Cory. November 16, 2021. Utah House of Representatives. en-US.
  39. Web site: Rep. Brammer, Brady. November 17, 2021. Utah House of Representatives. en-US.
  40. Web site: Rep. Stratton, Keven J.. November 17, 2021. Utah House of Representatives. en-US.
  41. Web site: Rep. Christofferson, Kay J.. November 17, 2021. Utah House of Representatives. en-US.
  42. Web site: Rep. Hawkins, Jon. November 17, 2021. Utah House of Representatives. en-US.
  43. Web site: Rep. Peterson, Val L.. November 17, 2021. Utah House of Representatives. en-US.
  44. Web site: Rep. Abbott, Nelson T.. November 17, 2021. Utah House of Representatives. en-US.
  45. Web site: Rep. Judkins, Marsha. November 17, 2021. Utah House of Representatives. en-US.
  46. Web site: Rep. Robertson, Adam. November 17, 2021. Utah House of Representatives. en-US.
  47. Web site: Rep. Thurston, Norman K.. November 17, 2021. Utah House of Representatives. en-US.
  48. Web site: Rep. Whyte, Stephen L.. November 17, 2021. Utah House of Representatives. en-US.
  49. Web site: Rep. Burton, Jefferson S.. November 17, 2021. Utah House of Representatives. en-US.
  50. Web site: Rep. Welton, Douglas R.. November 17, 2021. Utah House of Representatives. en-US.
  51. Web site: Rep. Nelson, Merrill F.. November 15, 2021. Utah House of Representatives. en-US.
  52. Web site: Cindy Davis. November 16, 2021. www.schools.utah.gov.
  53. Web site: Natalie Cline. November 16, 2021. www.schools.utah.gov.
  54. Web site: James Moss Jr.. November 16, 2021. www.schools.utah.gov.
  55. Web site: Randy Boothe. November 16, 2021. www.schools.utah.gov.
  56. Web site: Mark Huntsman. November 15, 2021. www.schools.utah.gov.
  57. Web site: Happy Valley (2008). Amazon. August 12, 2008 .
  58. AAFRC Trust for Philanthropy (www.afpnet.org). Giving USA 2003.
  59. Web site: Community Action: With 13% of the county struggling with hunger, how to host a food drive in Utah. Smith. Dave. August 18, 2019. Daily Herald. en. January 14, 2020.
  60. Web site: New changes on I-15 in Utah County. Deseret News. October 28, 2011.
  61. Web site: UDOT putting final touches on I-15 Tech Corridor, completing 10-year expansion project. Deseret News. June 18, 2022.
  62. Web site: Project: I-15 Reconstruction - Salt Lake City. EconWorks. June 18, 2022.
  63. Web site: FrontRunner Rail System Map. Utah Transit Authority. June 18, 2022.
  64. Web site: FrontRunner gets a new station—this one in Utah's fastest-growing city . June 12, 2023 . The Salt Lake Tribune . en-US.
  65. Web site: Utah School Districts & Charter Schools. PDF. July 25, 2012. Utah State Office of Education. October 19, 2012.