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Grand County, Utah

Coordinates: 38°59′N 109°34′W / 38.99°N 109.56°W / 38.99; -109.56
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This article is about the county in Utah. For the other county of the same name (in Colorado), see Grand County, Colorado.

Grand County
County
Grand County Courthouse, June 2014
Grand County Courthouse, June 2014
Official seal of Grand County
Seal
Map of Utah highlighting Grand County
Location within the U.S. state of Utah
Map of the United States highlighting Utah
Utah's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°59′N 109°34′W / 38.99°N 109.56°W / 38.99; -109.56
Country United States
State Utah
FoundedMarch 13, 1890
Named forGrand River (now the Colorado River)
SeatMoab
Largest cityMoab
Area
 • Total
3,684 sq mi (9,540 km2)
 • Land3,672 sq mi (9,510 km2)
 • Water12 sq mi (30 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
9,669
 • Estimate 
(2023)
9,706 Increase
 • Density2.6/sq mi (1.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.grandcountyutah.net

Grand County is a county on the east central edge of the U.S. state of Utah, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 9,669.[1] Its county seat and largest city is Moab.[2]

Grand County is home to one of the nine statewide regional campuses of Utah State University (located in the city of Moab) and serves as a gateway to both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

History

[edit]

Evidence of indigenous occupation up to 10,000 BCE has been previously discovered in Grand County. The present city of Moab is the site of pueblo farming communities of the 11th and 12th centuries. These groups had already vanished from the area when the first European explorers entered the country, with nomadic Ute tribes inhabiting the area at the time of contact.

The European-based settlement of the area began with the arrival of Mormon pioneers in 1847. By 1855 they had sent missionary settlers into eastern Utah Territory. An Elk Mountain Mission was established but closed after a few months due to Indian raids. For several decades after that, the future Moab area (known as "Spanish Valley") was visited only by trappers and prospectors. Permanent settlement began in 1877. These early settlers, coming in from the north, encountered the deep canyon walls of the Grand River and could not take wagons over or around the steep canyon walls.

They unloaded their supplies, dismantled the wagons, and lowered them by rope to the river valley. They then drove their oxen over a canyon rim, down deep sand dunes. After the wagons were reassembled and supplies reloaded, they made their way through the deep sand to the river. They found a place to ford the river below the present bridge in north Moab. They later established a ferry at the crossing site, which remained in use until the first bridge was built in 1921.

In 1881 the area was known as Grand Valley, and Moab was a "wild west" town. A 1991 visitor to Moab later said it was the toughest town in Utah because the area and surrounding country have many deep canyons, rivers, mountains, and wilderness areas, becoming a hideout for outlaws. The local economy was initially based on farming and livestock. Mining came in at the end of the 19th century, and the railroad arrived. The first school in the county was started in 1881. Mormon settlers began planting fruit trees by 1879, and by 1910 Moab was a significant fruit-production center.

Due to the distances involved, the settlers of eastern Emery County found it difficult to conduct county business in that county's seat. By March 13, 1890, their petitions caused the Utah Territory legislature to designate the eastern portion of the county as a separate entity, to be named Grand County, named for the Grand River (whose name was changed to Colorado River in 1921). The county boundaries were adjusted in 1892 and in 2003.

Exploration for deep petroleum deposits began in the 1920s, and this industry has significantly contributed to the economy since that time. Other significant industries include uranium mining and filmmaking.[3]

Delicate Arch, one of the most famous arches in Arches National Park

Geography

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Grand County lies on the east side of Utah. Its east border abuts the west border of the state of Colorado. The Green River flows southward through the eastern part of central Utah, and its meandering course defines the western border of Grand County. The Colorado River enters the east side of Grand County from Colorado, flowing southwestward toward its confluence with the Green in San Juan County, south of Grand. The Dolores River also enters Grand County from Colorado, flowing westward to its confluence with the Colorado River near Dewey.

Grand County terrain is arid, rough, and spectacularly carved by water and wind erosion, exposing red rock formations that have created a solid tourist industry. The area is little used for agriculture unless irrigation is available.[4] The terrain is filled with hills and protuberances, but generally slopes to the south and to the west. Its highest point is Mount Waas in the SE part of the county, at 12,336 ft (3,760 m) ASL.[5] The county has a total area of 3,684 square miles (9,540 km2), of which 3,672 square miles (9,510 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (0.3%) is water.[6] Deserts, cliffs and plateaus make up the scenery, with few settlements apart from the city of Moab, a Colorado River oasis. Arches National Park lies in the southern part of the county, just north of Moab. A northern portion of Canyonlands National Park lies in the southwest corner of the county.

Airport

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Major highways

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  • United States Interstate I-70
  • US-191
  • Utah State Highway UT-128
  • Utah State Highway UT-313

Adjacent counties

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Protected areas

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Lakes and reservoirs

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  • Beaver Pond
  • Big Flat Reservoir
  • Blue Flat Reservoir
  • Crescent Wash Reservoir
  • Dead Sheep Pond
  • Dons Lake
  • Hidden Lake
  • Holding Pond
  • Jackson Reservoir
  • Ken's Lake[7]
  • Mud Lake
  • Oowah Lake
  • Pace Lake[8]
  • Rock Corral Reservoir
  • Strychnine Pond
  • Tenmile Wash Reservoir
  • Tie Pond
  • Twin Pond
  • Valley City Reservoir
  • Warner Lake[9]
  • Weaver Reservoir
  • Yellow Cat Reservoir

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890541—
19001,149112.4%
19101,59538.8%
19201,80813.4%
19301,8130.3%
19402,07014.2%
19501,903−8.1%
19606,345233.4%
19706,6885.4%
19808,24123.2%
19906,620−19.7%
20008,48528.2%
20109,2258.7%
20209,6694.8%
US Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010[14] 2020[15]

2020 census

[edit]

According to the 2020 United States census[16] and 2020 American Community Survey,[17] there were 9,669 people in Grand County with a population density of 2.6 people per square mile (1.0/km2). Among non-Hispanic or Latino people, the racial makeup was 7,481 (77.4%) White, 65 (0.7%) African American, 330 (3.4%) Native American, 80 (0.8%) Asian, 11 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 62 (0.6%) from other races, and 414 (4.3%) from two or more races. 1,226 (12.7%) people were Hispanic or Latino.

There were 4,810 (49.75%) males and 4,859 (50.25%) females, and the population distribution by age was 2,047 (21.2%) under the age of 18, 5,823 (60.2%) from 18 to 64, and 1,799 (18.6%) who were at least 65 years old. The median age was 40.5 years.

There were 4,006 households in Grand County with an average size of 2.41 of which 2,416 (60.3%) were families and 1,590 (39.7%) were non-families. Among all families, 1,676 (41.8%) were married couples, 260 (6.5%) were male householders with no spouse, and 480 (12.0%) were female householders with no spouse. Among all non-families, 1,206 (30.1%) were a single person living alone and 384 (9.6%) were two or more people living together. 1,123 (28.0%) of all households had children under the age of 18. 2,632 (65.7%) of households were owner-occupied while 1,374 (34.3%) were renter-occupied.

The median income for a Grand County household was $56,639 and the median family income was $68,216, with a per-capita income of $30,948. The median income for males that were full-time employees was $47,736 and for females $36,180. 14.0% of the population and 11.5% of families were below the poverty line.

In terms of education attainment, out of the 7,137 people in Grand County 25 years or older, 442 (6.2%) had not completed high school, 1,931 (27.1%) had a high school diploma or equivalency, 2,576 (36.1%) had some college or associate degree, 1,233 (17.3%) had a bachelor's degree, and 955 (13.4%) had a graduate or professional degree.

Religion

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Grand County has the lowest percentage of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) among all Utah counties. About 26% of Grand County residents identify as Latter-day Saints, significantly lower than the 62% of Utah as a whole.[18]

Politics and government

[edit]

Historically, following the period of William Jennings Bryan and Woodrow Wilson, Grand County has generally voted Republican. Between 1920 and 1988 (inclusive), it voted Democratic only four times: thrice for Franklin Roosevelt, and once for Lyndon Johnson. However, it has become a swing county in recent years, voting Democratic four times in the last nine presidential elections (for Bill Clinton in 1992, Barack Obama in 2008, Joe Biden in 2020, and Kamala Harris in 2024). The highest vote share any Republican has received in the county in the last nine elections was 51.1% (by George W. Bush in 2004); Joe Biden's 53.9% was the highest vote share for any nominee of either party since 1988, as well as the highest for a Democrat in the county since 1936. In 2024, Kamala Harris became the first Democratic presidential nominee to win Grand County despite losing the presidential election since 1900.

Grand County is one of only thirteen counties to have voted for Obama in 2008, Romney in 2012, Trump in 2016, and Biden in 2020.[a]

State elected offices
Position District Name Affiliation First elected
  Senate 27 David Hinkins Republican 2008[19]
  House of Representatives 69 Christine Watkins Republican 2016[20]
  House of Representatives 70 Carl Albrecht Republican 2016[21]
  Board of Education 14 Mark Huntsman Nonpartisan 2014[22]
United States presidential election results for Grand County, Utah[23]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 2,327 43.70% 2,828 53.11% 170 3.19%
2020 2,248 43.19% 2,806 53.91% 151 2.90%
2016 1,975 42.93% 1,960 42.60% 666 14.48%
2012 1,996 50.53% 1,727 43.72% 227 5.75%
2008 1,871 45.65% 2,067 50.43% 161 3.93%
2004 2,130 51.14% 1,858 44.61% 177 4.25%
2000 1,822 50.42% 1,158 32.04% 634 17.54%
1996 1,384 42.57% 1,199 36.88% 668 20.55%
1992 1,100 32.91% 1,160 34.71% 1,082 32.38%
1988 1,895 58.34% 1,287 39.62% 66 2.03%
1984 2,463 73.15% 876 26.02% 28 0.83%
1980 2,362 70.42% 703 20.96% 289 8.62%
1976 1,781 62.38% 931 32.61% 143 5.01%
1972 1,837 72.15% 560 22.00% 149 5.85%
1968 1,435 60.88% 707 30.00% 215 9.12%
1964 1,130 49.67% 1,145 50.33% 0 0.00%
1960 1,130 58.40% 805 41.60% 0 0.00%
1956 1,044 76.09% 328 23.91% 0 0.00%
1952 675 72.27% 259 27.73% 0 0.00%
1948 418 50.54% 400 48.37% 9 1.09%
1944 428 52.64% 380 46.74% 5 0.62%
1940 432 49.04% 446 50.62% 3 0.34%
1936 272 33.62% 521 64.40% 16 1.98%
1932 278 34.53% 506 62.86% 21 2.61%
1928 347 52.58% 310 46.97% 3 0.45%
1924 278 47.93% 243 41.90% 59 10.17%
1920 306 51.17% 278 46.49% 14 2.34%
1916 213 39.52% 306 56.77% 20 3.71%
1912 191 33.75% 212 37.46% 163 28.80%
1908 232 48.74% 215 45.17% 29 6.09%
1904 262 57.21% 165 36.03% 31 6.77%
1900 178 46.11% 204 52.85% 4 1.04%
1896 28 9.59% 264 90.41% 0 0.00%

Moab has a significant environmentalist population due to nearby Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.[24]

Sagebrush Rebellion

[edit]
Sagebrush Rebellion
Grand County residents protest a Bureau of Land Management study area on July 4, 1980.

Grand County was an epicenter of the Sagebrush Rebellion, which took place during the late 1970s and early 1980s when residents protested what they saw as overreaching Federal control of Western US land.

An early event in the Rebellion was July 4, 1980, when 300 Grand County residents gathered behind a flag-decorated bulldozer in protest of the inclusion of Mill Creek Canyon as part of a Bureau of Land Management wilderness study area. Despite plowing nearly 200 yards up the canyon, the group did not reach the study area's boundary.

Paleontology

[edit]

The Denver Museum of Natural History opened a small Cedar Mountain Formation quarry that has produced diverse dinosaur fossils including theropod, sauropod and ornithopod. An adult sauropod was designated the type specimen of the genus Venenosaurus.[25]

Communities

[edit]
Map of Grand County communities

Cities

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Towns

[edit]

Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Former communities

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The other twelve are Butte County, California; Teton County, Idaho; Kent County, Maryland; Kendall County, Illinois; McLean County, Illinois; Tippecanoe County, Indiana; Kent County, Michigan; Leelanau County, Michigan; Carroll County, New Hampshire; Rockingham County, New Hampshire; Marion County, Oregon; and Albany County, Wyoming.

References

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  1. ^ "Grand County, Utah". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ History of Grand County. Grand County website (accessed 28 March 2019)
  4. ^ Grand County UT Google Maps (accessed 28 March 2019)
  5. ^ Three sources list three different elevations for Mt. Waas. NAVD88: 12336. Peakbagger (Utah County High Points): 1,2331. gnis|1446945 : 12,306
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  7. ^ "Ken's Lake". January 7, 2021.
  8. ^ "Pace Lake".
  9. ^ "Warner Lake".
  10. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  12. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  14. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  15. ^ 2020 Population and Housing State Data | Utah
  16. ^ United States Census Bureau. "2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics File (DHC)". Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  17. ^ United States Census Bureau. "American Community Survey 5-Year Data (2009-2022)". Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  18. ^ Corine Gotti. "The Mormon Gender Gap Widens" Beliefnet.com, accessed October 28, 2017
  19. ^ "Senator Hinkins Utah Senate". senate.utah.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  20. ^ "Rep. Watkins, Christine F." Utah House of Representatives. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  21. ^ "Rep. Albrecht, Carl R." Utah House of Representatives. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  22. ^ "Mark Huntsman". www.schools.utah.gov. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  23. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  24. ^ "First US Tar Sands Mine Could Open in Utah". Reuters. Archived from the original on April 26, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  25. ^ Tidwell, V., Carpenter, K. & Meyer, S. 2001. New Titanosauriform (Sauropoda) from the Poison Strip Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation (Lower Cretaceous), Utah. In: Mesozoic Vertebrate Life. D. H. Tanke & K. Carpenter (eds.). Indiana University Press, Eds. D.H. Tanke & K. Carpenter. Indiana University Press. 139-165.

Further reading

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  • (1994) "Grand County" article in the Utah History Encyclopedia. The article was written by Gary Topping and the Encyclopedia was published by the University of Utah Press. ISBN 9780874804256. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024, and retrieved on May 3, 2024.
[edit]
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