Beaver County
County
Old Beaver County courthouse.
Old Beaver County courthouse.
Map of Utah highlighting Beaver 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°20′N 113°14′W / 38.34°N 113.23°W / 38.34; -113.23
Country United States
State Utah
Founded1856
Named forNorth American beaver
SeatBeaver
Largest cityBeaver
Area
 • Total2,592 sq mi (6,710 km2)
 • Land2,590 sq mi (6,700 km2)
 • Water2.1 sq mi (5 km2)  0.08%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total7,072
 • Density2.7/sq mi (1.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitebeaver.utah.gov

Beaver County is a county in west central Utah, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 7,072,[1] up from the 2010 figure of 6,629.[2] Its county seat and largest city is Beaver.[3] The county was named for the abundance of beaver in the area.

History

Explorers of European descent first visited present-day Beaver County in the 1776 Domínguez-Escalante Expedition. The proposed territory of Deseret (soon changed to Utah Territory) began with the arrival of Mormon pioneers in 1847. After the immediate Great Salt Lake City area was settled, settlers moved into more outlying areas, including the future Beaver County area. The county was created by the Utah territorial legislature from a section of Iron County on January 5, 1856, before the settlement of Beaver town was founded later that year. The county was named for the animal, which was plentiful there.[4] The county boundary as delineated by that act included areas in present-day Colorado and Nevada. The defined boundary was altered on January 16, 1861, by the creation of two counties in present Nevada. The county area was effectively reduced on February 28, 1861, by the US Congress when it created Colorado Territory, taking all of the Beaver County areas east of 109 degrees longitude. The county's boundary was enlarged on January 17, 1861, by the addition of parcels from Millard, Sanpete, and St. Mary's counties. However, its west area was reduced by the creation of the Nevada Territory on July 14, 1862 (this adjustment was altered on May 5, 1866, by the action of the US Congress, effectively ceding all Beaver County area west of 114 degrees longitude to Nevada counties). The county area was also reduced on January 16, 1865, when Piute County was created from Beaver territory.[5]

A quarter of the county's workers are employed by hog processor Smithfield Foods.[6]

Geography

Beaver County (UT) Details

Beaver County lies on the west side of Utah. Its west border abuts the east border of the state of Nevada. The west part of the county consists of low rolling hills punctuated by isolated mountains. The east edge of the county runs to the crest of a north–south-running mountain ridge.[7] The terrain slopes to the west and north; its highest point is a mountain crest on its east border, at 12,011 ft (3,661 m) ASL.[8] The county has a total area of 2,592 square miles (6,710 km2), of which 2,590 square miles (6,700 km2) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2) (0.08%) is water.[9]

The Tushar Mountains lies on the eastern boundary of the county, reaching to 12,000 feet (3,700 m) in elevation and providing water for the farming communities of Beaver and Manderfield. To the west, barren desert valleys typify the scenery, separated by mountains lightly forested with junipers.

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

[7]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860785—
18702,007155.7%
18803,91895.2%
18903,340−14.8%
19003,6138.2%
19104,71730.6%
19205,1398.9%
19305,136−0.1%
19405,014−2.4%
19504,856−3.2%
19604,331−10.8%
19703,800−12.3%
19804,37815.2%
19904,7658.8%
20006,00526.0%
20106,62910.4%
20207,0726.7%
US Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010–2018[2] 2019[14] 2020[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 6,629 people, 2,265 households, and 1,697 families in the county.[15] The population density was 2.56 people per square mile (0.99 people/km2). There were 2,908 housing units at an average density of 1.12 units per square mile (0.43 units/km2).[16] The racial makeup of the county was 89.0% white, 1.1% Asian, 1.1% American Indian, 0.3% Pacific islander, 0.2% black or African American, 6.9% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 10.8% of the population.[15] In terms of ancestry, 35.2% were English, 15.5% were German, 10.6% were Irish, 6.8% were Scottish, and 2.3% were American.[17]

Of the 2,265 households, 41.8% had children under 18 living with them, 63.2% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 25.1% were non-families, and 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.92, and the average family size was 3.44. The median age was 31.9 years.[15]

The median income for a household in the county was $41,514, and the median income for a family was $46,426. Males had a median income of $40,167 versus $26,215 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,131. About 12.6% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.1% of those under age 18 and 15.3% of those age 65 or over.[18]

Politics and government

Beaver County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In no national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate. Jimmy Carter in 1976 was the last Democrat to even come within ten points of winning Beaver County.

State elected offices
Position District Name Affiliation First elected
  Senate 24 Derrin Owens Republican 2020[19]
  Senate 28 Evan Vickers Republican 2012[20]
  House of Representatives 68 Merrill Nelson Republican 2012[21]
  House of Representatives 73 Phil Lyman Republican 2018[22]
  Board of Education 14 Mark Huntsman Nonpartisan 2014[23]
United States presidential election results for Beaver County, Utah[24]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 2,695 86.94% 357 11.52% 48 1.55%
2016 1,838 73.37% 264 10.54% 403 16.09%
2012 2,174 84.92% 346 13.52% 40 1.56%
2008 1,902 75.54% 542 21.53% 74 2.94%
2004 2,023 79.52% 493 19.38% 28 1.10%
2000 1,653 73.40% 541 24.02% 58 2.58%
1996 1,164 55.59% 687 32.81% 243 11.60%
1992 1,040 49.27% 668 31.64% 403 19.09%
1988 1,286 60.89% 816 38.64% 10 0.47%
1984 1,516 67.95% 708 31.73% 7 0.31%
1980 1,477 68.47% 621 28.79% 59 2.74%
1976 1,088 52.41% 963 46.39% 25 1.20%
1972 1,332 64.88% 682 33.22% 39 1.90%
1968 989 50.87% 795 40.90% 160 8.23%
1964 792 39.98% 1,189 60.02% 0 0.00%
1960 971 45.65% 1,156 54.35% 0 0.00%
1956 1,190 53.60% 1,030 46.40% 0 0.00%
1952 1,277 55.16% 1,038 44.84% 0 0.00%
1948 1,057 46.69% 1,190 52.56% 17 0.75%
1944 958 45.88% 1,128 54.02% 2 0.10%
1940 1,101 45.78% 1,303 54.18% 1 0.04%
1936 913 40.38% 1,337 59.13% 11 0.49%
1932 969 44.03% 1,218 55.34% 14 0.64%
1928 1,149 54.98% 936 44.78% 5 0.24%
1924 989 53.34% 578 31.18% 287 15.48%
1920 1,056 57.49% 741 40.34% 40 2.18%
1916 842 38.38% 1,291 58.84% 61 2.78%
1912 671 39.75% 602 35.66% 415 24.59%
1908 945 56.02% 714 42.32% 28 1.66%
1904 869 58.17% 593 39.69% 32 2.14%
1900 682 51.90% 629 47.87% 3 0.23%
1896 205 16.24% 1,057 83.76% 0 0.00%

Communities

Map of Beaver County municipalities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Former communities

Recreation

  • The American Discovery Trail traverses the county running through both Beaver and Milford.
  • Elk Mountain is home to the Eagle Point Ski area.
  • Rock Corral Recreation Area, an area of geologic interest managed by the BLM

See also

References

Specific
  1. 1 2 2020 Population and Housing State Data | Utah
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ Van Cott, J. W., 1990, Utah Place Names, ISBN 0-87480-345-4
  5. ↑ "[[Newberry Library]]. Individual County Chronologies - Beaver County UT (accessed March 25, 2019)". Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  6. ↑ "1 in 4 employees in this Utah county work for one company — and it's cutting jobs". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Beaver County UT Google Maps (accessed 13 March 2019)
  8. ↑ ""Find an Altitude/Beaver County UT" Google Maps (accessed March 13, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  9. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  10. ↑ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. 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. ↑ "QuickFacts. Beaver County, Utah". Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  15. 1 2 3 "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimate". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Senator Owens Utah Senate". senate.utah.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Senator Vickers Utah Senate". senate.utah.gov. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Rep. Nelson, Merrill F." Utah House of Representatives. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Rep. Lyman, Phil". Utah House of Representatives. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Mark Huntsman". www.schools.utah.gov. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  24. ↑ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
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