Wayne County, Utah

County in Utah, United States

For other uses, see Wayne County.

County in Utah

Wayne County

County

Tithing Office in Loa, Utah.

Location within the U.S. state of Utah

Utah's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 38°22′N 110°54′W﻿ / ﻿38.36°N 110.9°W﻿ / 38.36; -110.9
Country|  United States
State|  Utah
Founded| March 10, 1892
Named after| Wayne County, Tennessee
Seat| Loa
Largest town| Loa
Area

• Total

| 2,466 sq mi (6,390 km2)
• Land| 2,461 sq mi (6,370 km2)
• Water| 5.8 sq mi (15 km2)  0.2%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 2,486
• Density| 1.0/sq mi (0.39/km2)
Time zone| UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district| 2nd
Website| www.waynecountyutah.org

Wayne County is a county in the U.S. state of Utah. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 2,486,[1] making it the fourth-least populous county in Utah. Its county seat is Loa.[2]

## History

[edit]

Due to its remoteness and harsh terrain, settlements did not appear in the future Wayne County until the 1880s. By 1892, there was enough settlement and enough interest in a separate county (due mainly to the difficulty of accessing the Piute County seat), that Utah Territory passed an act (effective date March 10, 1892)[3] to separate the east portion of Piute into a separate county.[4] The county was named for Wayne County, Tennessee, itself named for Anthony Wayne.[5] The county boundaries have remained unchanged since its creation.[citation needed]

## Geography

[edit]

The eastern border of Wayne County is delineated by the meanders of the Green River, which flows southward to discharge into the Colorado River. After the two rivers join, the combined southwestern flow forms the remaining portion of the county's eastern border. The central part of the county is drained by the Fremont River and Muddy Creek. The Fremont begins at Fish Lake in Sevier County and flows into Wayne County near its northwestern corner. It joins the Muddy near Hanksville to form the Dirty Devil River, which flows southeastward out of the county's southern border to discharge into Colorado. Wayne County terrain varies from rough forestland on the west to arid poor soil carved by drainages and rocky outcrops.[6] The terrain slopes to the east and south; its highest area is near its NW corner, at 9,888 ft (3,014 m) ASL.[7] The county has a total area of 2,466 square miles (6,390 km2), of which 2,461 square miles (6,370 km2) is land and 5.8 square miles (15 km2) (0.2%) is water.[8]

The Green River, passing through the canyons of Canyonlands National Park, forms the eastern boundary. The San Rafael Desert occupies the center of the county. Thousand Lake Mountain and Boulder Mountain flank Rabbit Valley on the western end of the county, where forests contrast with the deserts to the east. The small population of the county is centered in Rabbit Valley, with one town of 200, Hanksville, located in Graves Valley north of the Henry Mountains. Wayne County is also home to Capitol Reef National Park.

### Major highways

[edit]

* SR-12
* SR-24
* SR-72
* SR-95

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Emery County \- north
* Grand County \- northeast
* San Juan County \- east
* Garfield County \- south
* Piute County \- west
* Sevier County (northwest)

### National forests/parks

[edit]

* Canyonlands National Park
* Capitol Reef National Park
* Dixie National Forest
* Fishlake National Forest
* Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

### Lakes

[edit]

* Abes Knoll Reservoir
* Alkali Lake
* Bald Knoll Reservoir
* Beaver Dam Reservoir
* Beef Hollow Reservoir
* Bicknell Reservoir
* Big Hollow Reservoir
* Black Point Reservoir
* Blackburn Reservoir
* Blind Lake (near Neff Reservoir)
* Blind Lake (near Pear Lake)
* Blue Lake
* Bobs Hole
* Brinkerhoff Pond
* Buffalo Pond
* Bull Roost Reservoir
* Bullberry Lakes
* Cameron Reservoir
* Cedar Peak Lake
* Coleman Reservoir
* Cook Lake
* Cub Lake
* Curler Lake
* Cyclone Co-op Reservoir
* Cyclone Knoll Reservoir
* Dead Horse Lake
* Deadman Hollow Reservoir
* Deep Creek Lake
* Donkey Reservoir
* Dry Lake Reservoir
* East Bicknell Sand Wash Pond
* East Gate Reservoir
* Eightmile Reservoir
* Emily Lake
* Evans Reservoir
* Fish Creek Reservoir
* Flat Top Reservoir
* Flatiron Lakes
* Flossie Lake
* Government Lake
* Grass Lake (near Bobs Hole)
* Grass Lake (near Torgerson Lake)
* Green Lake
* Gripe Reservoir
* Hare Lake
* Heart Lake
* Honeymoon Lake
* Hunt Reservoir
* Jakes Knoll Reservoir
* Jane Lake
* Jay Pond
* Jim Larson Reservoir
* Lava Lake
* Lee Lake
* Left Hand Reservoir
* Lightning Lake
* Long Hollow Reservoir
* Lost Lake
* Lower Balsam Reservoir
* Lower Reservoir
* Meadow Gulch Reservoir
* Middle Balsam Reservoir
* Middle Reservoir
* Mill Meadow Reservoir (part)[6]
* Miller Lake
* Mitts Reservoir
* Moroni Reservoir
* Mud Lake
* Ned Reservoir
* Neff Reservoir
* Ottos Reservoir
* Parker Hollow Reservoir
* Pass Reservoir
* Pear Lake
* Petes Pond
* Pine Creek Reservoir
* Pole Canyon Reservoir
* Raft Lake
* Right Fork Wildcat Reservoir
* Rock Lake
* Rock Point Reservoir
* Round Lake (near Heart Lake)
* Round Lake (near Lower Reservoir)
* Sage Reservoir
* Smooth Knoll Reservoir
* Snow Lake
* Snow Lakes
* Solitaire Lake
* Spray Reservoir
* Square Reservoir
* Tidwell Reservoir
* Torgerson Lake
* Twin Lakes
* Upper Balsam Reservoir
* Vance Reservoir
* West Bicknell Pond
* West Flat Top Reservoir Number 1
* West Flat Top Reservoir Number 2
* White Rock Reservoir
* Wide Hollow Reservoir
* Wildcat Reservoir
* Woodys Reservoir

Panorama of the Great Gallery in Canyonlands National Park

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1900| 1,907| | —
1910| 1,749| | −8.3%
1920| 2,097| | 19.9%
1930| 2,067| | −1.4%
1940| 2,394| | 15.8%
1950| 2,205| | −7.9%
1960| 1,728| | −21.6%
1970| 1,483| | −14.2%
1980| 1,911| | 28.9%
1990| 2,177| | 13.9%
2000| 2,509| | 15.3%
2010| 2,778| | 10.7%
2020| 2,486| | −10.5%
US Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010[13] 2020[14]

### 2020 census

[edit]

According to the 2020 United States census[15] and 2020 American Community Survey,[16] there were 2,486 people in Wayne County with a population density of 1.0 people per square mile (0.4/km2). Among non-Hispanic or Latino people, the racial makeup was 2,267 (91.2%) White, 1 (0.0%) African American, 19 (0.8%) Native American, 16 (0.6%) Asian, 3 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 5 (0.2%) from other races, and 79 (3.2%) from two or more races. 96 (3.9%) people were Hispanic or Latino.

There were 1,239 (49.84%) males and 1,247 (50.16%) females, and the population distribution by age was 536 (21.6%) under the age of 18, 1,334 (53.7%) from 18 to 64, and 616 (24.8%) who were at least 65 years old. The median age was 47.3 years.

There were 1,064 households in Wayne County with an average size of 2.34 of which 711 (66.8%) were families and 353 (33.2%) were non-families. Among all families, 601 (56.5%) were married couples, 49 (4.6%) were male householders with no spouse, and 61 (5.7%) were female householders with no spouse. Among all non-families, 307 (28.9%) were a single person living alone and 46 (4.3%) were two or more people living together. 290 (27.3%) of all households had children under the age of 18. 814 (76.5%) of households were owner-occupied while 250 (23.5%) were renter-occupied.

The median income for a Wayne County household was $49,299 and the median family income was $62,069, with a per-capita income of $23,184. The median income for males that were full-time employees was $50,625 and for females $34,653. 10.1% of the population and 6.8% of families were below the poverty line.

In terms of education attainment, out of the 1,822 people in Wayne County 25 years or older, 190 (10.4%) had not completed high school, 346 (19.0%) had a high school diploma or equivalency, 848 (46.5%) had some college or associate degree, 374 (20.5%) had a bachelor's degree, and 64 (3.5%) had a graduate or professional degree.

### Ancestry and ethnicity

[edit]

As of 2017 the largest self-identified ancestry groups/ethnic groups in Wayne County, Utah were:[17]

Largest ancestries (2017) | Percent

|

English | 45.5%
German | 16.3%
Dutch | 8.4%
Danish | 7.6%
Irish | 5.8%
Scottish | 5.4%
Swedish | 3.9%
American | 2.3%
Welsh | 1.7%
Polish | 1.2%

## Communities

[edit]

### Towns

[edit]

* Bicknell
* Hanksville
* Loa (county seat)
* Lyman
* Torrey

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Fremont
* Teasdale

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Caineville
* Fruita
* Grover
* Notom

### Former communities

[edit]

* Aldridge
* Eagle City
* Giles

View north of Hanksville from Route 24. Factory Butte in background.

## Politics and government

[edit]

Wayne County voters are traditionally Republican. In only one national election since 1948 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).

State elected offices  Position  | District  | Name  | Affiliation  | First elected

|
|
|
|

| Senate | 24  | Derrin Owens | Republican | 2020[18]
| House of Representatives | 73  | Phil Lyman | Republican | 2018[19]
| Board of Education  | 14  | Mark Huntsman  | Nonpartisan  | 2014[20]
United States presidential election results for Wayne County, Utah[21] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 1,238  | 74.58% | 381  | 22.95%  | 41  | 2.47%
2020 | 1,229  | 75.40% | 365  | 22.39%  | 36  | 2.21%
2016 | 966  | 67.74% | 271  | 19.00%  | 189  | 13.25%
2012 | 1,089  | 82.06% | 215  | 16.20%  | 23  | 1.73%
2008 | 940  | 70.04% | 335  | 24.96%  | 67  | 4.99%
2004 | 1,062  | 78.09% | 279  | 20.51%  | 19  | 1.40%
2000 | 953  | 77.80% | 202  | 16.49%  | 70  | 5.71%
1996 | 741  | 64.89% | 265  | 23.20%  | 136  | 11.91%
1992 | 706  | 57.63% | 236  | 19.27%  | 283  | 23.10%
1988 | 784  | 68.59% | 353  | 30.88%  | 6  | 0.52%
1984 | 930  | 80.24% | 224  | 19.33%  | 5  | 0.43%
1980 | 835  | 76.05% | 226  | 20.58%  | 37  | 3.37%
1976 | 555  | 59.11% | 334  | 35.57%  | 50  | 5.32%
1972 | 597  | 71.75% | 183  | 22.00%  | 52  | 6.25%
1968 | 511  | 62.85% | 248  | 30.50%  | 54  | 6.64%
1964 | 400  | 49.26%  | 412  | 50.74% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 446  | 53.86% | 382  | 46.14%  | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 499  | 63.81% | 283  | 36.19%  | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 536  | 66.09% | 275  | 33.91%  | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 367  | 44.16%  | 460  | 55.35% | 4  | 0.48%
1944 | 325  | 43.05%  | 430  | 56.95% | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 380  | 43.13%  | 500  | 56.75% | 1  | 0.11%
1936 | 329  | 38.52%  | 522  | 61.12% | 3  | 0.35%
1932 | 398  | 49.26%  | 401  | 49.63% | 9  | 1.11%
1928 | 422  | 68.17% | 195  | 31.50%  | 2  | 0.32%
1924 | 331  | 57.27% | 241  | 41.70%  | 6  | 1.04%
1920 | 396  | 61.97% | 224  | 35.05%  | 19  | 2.97%
1916 | 225  | 35.89%  | 393  | 62.68% | 9  | 1.44%
1912 | 282  | 52.03% | 183  | 33.76%  | 77  | 14.21%
1908 | 279  | 49.91% | 184  | 32.92%  | 96  | 17.17%
1904 | 310  | 53.26% | 251  | 43.13%  | 21  | 3.61%
1900 | 324  | 52.94% | 282  | 46.08%  | 6  | 0.98%
1896 | 78  | 16.15%  | 405  | 83.85% | 0  | 0.00%

## Education

[edit]

There is one school district, Wayne School District.[22]

## See also

[edit]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Wayne County, Utah
* For additional History of Wayne County Utah see "Utah's Stolen Treasures" by Gene Covington ISBN 978-1-62516-335-6 (e-book) or ISBN 978-1-61897-954-4 (paperback)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Wayne County, Utah". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "[[Newberry Library]]. Individual County Chronologies - Wayne County UT (accessed March 25, 2019)". Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
4. ^ ""History". This narrative says the county was established in May 1892 (possibly referring to the date its government was organized). Wayne County website (accessed 25 March 2019)". Archived from the original on March 24, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
5. ^ Murphy, Miriam B. (January 1999). A History of Wayne County (PDF). Utah Centennial County History Series. Salt Lake City: Utah State Historical Society. pp. 78–80\. ISBN 0-913738-45-X. Retrieved January 27, 2015.[permanent dead link]
6. ^ a b Wayne County UT Google Maps (accessed 24 March 2019)
7. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Wayne County UT" Google Maps (accessed 24 March 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
9. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
11. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
13. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
14. ^ 2020 Population and Housing State Data | Utah
15. ^ United States Census Bureau. "2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics File (DHC)". Retrieved November 3, 2024.
16. ^ United States Census Bureau. "American Community Survey 5-Year Data (2009-2022)". Retrieved November 3, 2024.
17. ^ "American FactFinder - Results". Archived from the original on February 13, 2020.
18. ^ "Senator Owens Utah Senate". senate.utah.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
19. ^ "Rep. Lyman, Phil". Utah House of Representatives. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
20. ^ "Mark Huntsman". www.schools.utah.gov. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
21. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
22. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Wayne County, UT" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 28, 2024. \- Text list

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wayne County, Utah.

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Wayne County, Utah

| Sevier County | Emery County | Grand County

|
|

|  |
Piute County |

Wayne County

| San Juan County
|  |
| Garfield County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Wayne County, Utah, United States

County seat: Loa

Towns|

* Bicknell
* Hanksville
* Loa
* Lyman
* Torrey

Map of Utah highlighting Wayne County

CDPs|

* Fremont
* Teasdale

Unincorporated
communities|

* Caineville
* Fruita
* Grover

Ghost towns|

* Eagle City
* Giles

* Utah portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Utah

Salt Lake City (capital)

Topics|

* Outline
* Climate change
* Congressional districts
* Earthquakes
* Flag
* Geography
* Government
* Governors
* Healthcare
* People

Society|

* Abortion
* Culture
* Crime
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Gun laws
* Homelessness
* LGBT rights
* Politics

Regions|

* Cache Valley
* Colorado Plateau
* Dixie
* Great Basin
* 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

Important sites|

| 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
* Evermore Park

History|

* African American
* Black Hawk War (1865–1872)
* Mormon Trail
* Mormon settlement techniques of the Salt Lake Valley
* Runaway Officials of 1851
* Salt Lake City
* Slavery
* State of Deseret
* Territorial evolution
* Tintic War
* Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
* Utah Territory
* Utah Territory in the American Civil War
* Utah War
* Wakara's War
* World War II
* Women's suffrage
* 2002 Winter Olympics

Flora and fauna|

* Fauna
* Arachnids
* Birds
* Butterflies and moths
* Mammals
* Mollusks
* Flora
* Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region
* Wasatch and Uinta montane forests
* Rocky Mountain Floristic Region
* Pando
* Jardine Juniper

Culture|

* America's Freedom Festival at Provo
* Mormon foodways
* Pioneer Day
* Utah...This Is the Place
* Utah Shakespeare Festival
* State fair
* Symbols
* Moab Jeep Safari

Utah portal

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel

38°22′N 110°54′W﻿ / ﻿38.36°N 110.90°W﻿ / 38.36; -110.90
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