Grand County, Utah

This article is about the county in Utah. For the other county of the same name (in Colorado), see Grand County, Colorado.

County in Utah, United States

U.S. county in Utah

Grand County

U.S. county

Grand County Courthouse, June 2014

Grand County Courthouse, June 2014

Official seal of Grand County

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Utah

Location within the U.S. state of Utah

Utah's location within the U.S.

Utah's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 38°59′N 109°34′W﻿ / ﻿38.99°N 109.56°W﻿ / 38.99; -109.56Coordinates: 38°59′N 109°34′W﻿ / ﻿38.99°N 109.56°W﻿ / 38.99; -109.56
Country|  United States
State| File:Flag of the State of Utah.svg Utah
Founded| March 13, 1890
Named for| Grand River (now the Colorado River)
Seat| Moab
Largest city| Moab
Area

• Total| 3,684 sq mi (9,540 km2)
• Land| 3,672 sq mi (9,510 km2)
• Water| 12 sq mi (30 km2)  0.3%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 9,669
• Density| 2.6/sq mi (1.0/km2)
Time zone| UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district| 3rd
Website| www.grandcountyutah.net

Grand County is a county on the east central edge of the U.S. state of Utah, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 9,225.[1] Its county seat and largest city is Moab.[2]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Airport
* 2.2 Major highways
* 2.3 Adjacent counties
* 2.4 Protected areas
* 2.5 Lakes and reservoirs
* 3 Demographics
* 4 Politics and government
* 4.1 Sagebrush Rebellion
* 5 Paleontology
* 6 Communities
* 6.1 Cities
* 6.2 Towns
* 6.3 Census-designated places
* 6.4 Unincorporated communities
* 6.5 Former communities
* 7 See also
* 8 Notes
* 9 References
* 10 External links

## History[edit | edit source]

Evidence of indigenous occupation up to 10,000BCE 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]

File:Delicate arch sunset.jpg

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

## Geography[edit | edit source]

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' (3760m) 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[edit | edit source]

* Canyonlands Field (CNY) northwest of Moab

### Major highways[edit | edit source]

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

### Adjacent counties[edit | edit source]

* Uintah County \- north
* Garfield County, Colorado \- northeast
* Mesa County, Colorado \- east
* Montrose County, Colorado \- southeast
* San Juan County \- south
* Emery County \- west
* Carbon County \- northwest

### Protected areas[edit | edit source]

* Arches National Park
* Canyonlands National Park (part)
* Dead Horse Point State Park (part)
* Manti-La Sal National Forest (part)
* McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area (part)

### Lakes and reservoirs[edit | edit source]

* 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[edit | edit source]

Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1890| 541| | —
1900| 1,149| | 112.4%
1910| 1,595| | 38.8%
1920| 1,808| | 13.4%
1930| 1,813| | 0.3%
1940| 2,070| | 14.2%
1950| 1,903| | −8.1%
1960| 6,345| | 233.4%
1970| 6,688| | 5.4%
1980| 8,241| | 23.2%
1990| 6,620| | −19.7%
2000| 8,485| | 28.2%
2010| 9,225| | 8.7%
2020| 9,669| | 4.8%
US Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010–2018[1] 2020[14]

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 8,485 people, 3,434 households, and 2,170 families in the county. The population density was 2.31/sqmi (0.89/km2). There were 4,062 housing units at an average density of 1.11/sqmi (0.43/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.65% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 3.85% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.66% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. 5.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,434 households, out of which 29.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.60% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.80% were non-families. 29.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44, and the average family size was 3.06.

The county population contained 26.90% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,387, and the median income for a family was $39,095. Males had a median income of $31,000 versus $21,769 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,356. About 10.90% of families and 14.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.20% of those under age 18 and 8.40% of those aged 65 or over.

Grand County is the Utah county with the lowest percentage of LDS Church members in the state. Utah's population is about 62% Mormon, while Grand County is about 26% Mormon.[15]

## Politics and government[edit | edit source]

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 shifted leftward in recent years, voting Democratic thrice in the last eight elections (for Bill Clinton in 1992, Barack Obama in 2008, and Joe Biden in 2020). The highest vote share any Republican has received in the county in the last eight 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.

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[16]
| House of Representatives | 69  | Christine Watkins | Republican | 2016[17]
| House of Representatives | 70  | Carl Albrecht | Republican | 2016[18]
| Board of Education  | 14  | Mark Huntsman  | Nonpartisan  | 2014[19]
United States presidential election results for Grand County, Utah[20] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
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.[21]

### Sagebrush Rebellion[edit | edit source]

File:Sagebrush Rebellion July 4th, 1980 Grand County Utah.JPG

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 | edit source]

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.[22]

## Communities[edit | edit source]

File:Grand County Utah incorporated and unincorporated areas.svg

Map of Grand County communities

### Cities[edit | edit source]

* Moab (county seat)

### Towns[edit | edit source]

* Castle Valley

### Census-designated places[edit | edit source]

* Thompson Springs

### Unincorporated communities[edit | edit source]

* Castleton
* Cisco
* Dewey
* Mesa
* Richardson
* Westwater

### Former communities[edit | edit source]

* Agate
* Basin
* Cottonwood
* Elba
* Floy
* Harley Dome
* Sego
* Valley City

## See also[edit | edit source]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Grand County, Utah
* Greentown Gas Condensate Field
* Moab uranium mill tailings pile

## Notes[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
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. ^ 2020 Population and Housing State Data | Utah
15. ^ Corine Gotti. "The Mormon Gender Gap Widens" Beliefnet.com, accessed October 28, 2017
16. ^ "Senator Hinkins Utah Senate". senate.utah.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
17. ^ "Rep. Watkins, Christine F." Utah House of Representatives. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
18. ^ "Rep. Albrecht, Carl R." Utah House of Representatives. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
19. ^ "Mark Huntsman". www.schools.utah.gov. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
20. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
21. ^ "First US Tar Sands Mine Could Open in Utah". Reuters. Archived from the original on April 26, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
22. ^ 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.

## External links[edit | edit source]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grand County, Utah.

* Official website

Places adjacent to Grand County, Utah

| Carbon County | Uintah County | Garfield County, Colorado

|
|

|  |
Emery County |

WestGrand County, UtahEast

| Mesa County, Colorado
| South |
Wayne County | San Juan County | Montrose County, Colorado

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Grand County, Utah, United States

County seat: Moab

City|

* Moab

Map of Utah highlighting Grand County

Town|

* Castle Valley

CDP|

* Thompson Springs

Indian
reservation|

* Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation‡

Ghost towns|

* Castleton
* Cisco
* Dewey
* Miners Basin
* Sego

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Utah

Salt Lake City (capital)

Topics|

* Outline
* Cities
* Congressional districts
* Counties
* Earthquakes
* Flag
* Geography
* Government
* Governors
* Healthcare
* History
* People
* Portal
* State fair
* Symbols
* Tourist attractions

Society|

* Culture
* Crime
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Politics

Regions|

* Cache Valley
* Colorado Plateau
* Dixie
* Great Basin
* Great Salt Lake
* Great Salt Lake Desert
* Mojave Desert
* Monument Valley
* San Rafael Swell
* Uinta Basin
* Uinta Mountains
* Wasatch Back
* Wasatch Front
* Wasatch Range

Largest cities|

* American Fork
* Bountiful
* Cedar City
* Clearfield
* Cottonwood Heights
* Draper
* Holladay
* Kaysville
* Layton
* Lehi
* Logan
* Midvale
* Millcreek
* Murray
* Ogden
* Orem
* Pleasant Grove
* Provo
* Riverton
* Roy
* St. George
* Salt Lake City
* Sandy
* South Jordan
* South Salt Lake
* Spanish Fork
* Springville
* Taylorsville
* Tooele
* West Jordan
* West Valley City

Counties|

* Beaver
* Box Elder
* Cache
* Carbon
* Daggett
* Davis
* Duchesne
* Emery
* Garfield
* Grand
* Iron
* Juab
* Kane
* Millard
* Morgan
* Piute
* Rich
* Salt Lake
* San Juan
* Sanpete
* Sevier
* Summit
* Tooele
* Uintah
* Utah
* Wasatch
* Washington
* Wayne
* Weber

Attractions|

| Festivals|

* America's Freedom Festival
* Sundance Film Festival
* Moab Jeep Safari
* Utah Shakespeare Festival

|

National monuments|

* Bears Ears National Monument
* Cedar Breaks National Monument
* Dinosaur National Monument
* Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument
* Hovenweep National Monument
* Natural Bridges National Monument
* Rainbow Bridge National Monument
* Timpanogos Cave National Monument

National parks|

* Arches National Park
* Bryce Canyon National Park
* Canyonlands National Park
* Capitol Reef National Park
* Zion National Park

National recreation areas|

* Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
* Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Ski resorts|

* Alta Ski Area
* Beaver Mountain
* Brian Head Ski Resort
* Brighton Ski Resort
* Cherry Peak Resort
* Deer Valley
* Park City Mountain Resort
* Powder Mountain
* Snowbasin
* Snowbird Ski Resort
* Solitude Mountain Resort
* Sundance Resort
* Wolf Mountain

Other|

* Bonneville Salt Flats
* Golden Spike National Historical Park
* Great Salt Lake
* Lagoon (amusement park)
* Temple Square

Flora and fauna|

* Fauna
* Arachnids
* Birds
* Butterflies and moths
* Mammals
* Mollusks
* Flora

*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template