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Sevier County, Utah

Coordinates: 38°45′N 111°48′W / 38.75°N 111.80°W / 38.75; -111.80
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Sevier County
County
Sevier County Courthouse in Richfield
Sevier County Courthouse in Richfield
Map of Utah highlighting Sevier 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°45′N 111°48′W / 38.75°N 111.8°W / 38.75; -111.8
Country United States
State Utah
Founded1865
Named forThe Sevier River
SeatRichfield
Largest cityRichfield
Area
 • Total
1,918 sq mi (4,970 km2)
 • Land1,911 sq mi (4,950 km2)
 • Water7.8 sq mi (20 km2)  0.4%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2015)
20,984
 • Density11/sq mi (4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.sevierutah.net

38°45′N 111°48′W / 38.75°N 111.80°W / 38.75; -111.80

Sevier County /sɛˈvɪər/ is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,802.[1] Its county seat and largest city is Richfield.[2] The county was formed on January 16, 1865, as a split off from Sanpete County to the north. It was named for the nearby Sevier River.[3]

History

The Fremont culture of Native Americans occupied the area that is now Sevier County from about 2000 to 700 years before the present.[4] The Clear Creek site contains numerous native petroglyphs.

The first non-Native Americans to see the Sevier River were most likely the Catholic fathers Silvestre Vélez de Escalante and Francisco Atanasio Domínguez as they passed through on their expedition to California in 1776. The Old Spanish Trail (trade route) was the route they mapped, and over the course of the next hundred years the trail was used by fur trappers, hunters, government officials, and many more. This brought many people through Sevier County.

Nearly 100 years later the first colonization began as Richfield, Utah was established within the present-day county boundaries. The area was colonized by the Mormon settlers on 15 June 1864. Much of the area was populated by newly immigrated Mormon converts from Scandinavian countries, and because of the growth in this small community they officially created Sevier County in early 1865.[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,918 square miles (4,970 km2), of which 1,911 square miles (4,950 km2) is land and 7.8 square miles (20 km2) (0.4%) is water.[6]

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
187019—
18804,45723,357.9%
18906,19939.1%
19008,45136.3%
19109,77515.7%
192011,28115.4%
193011,199−0.7%
194012,1128.2%
195012,072−0.3%
196010,565−12.5%
197010,103−4.4%
198014,72745.8%
199015,4314.8%
200018,84222.1%
201020,80210.4%
2015 (est.)20,984[7]0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2014[1]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 18,842 people, 6,081 households, and 4,907 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (4/km2). There were 7,016 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.61% White, 0.27% Black or African American, 2.00% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.79% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. 2.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,081 households out of which 43.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.10% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.30% were non-families. Of the 6,081 households in Sevier County, 155 are unmarried partner households: 137 heterosexual, 11 same-sex male, and 7 same-sex female. 17.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.44.

In the county, the population was spread out with 34.50% under the age of 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 22.90% from 25 to 44, 19.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 99.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,822, and the median income for a family was $40,110. Males had a median income of $32,632 versus $19,228 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,180. About 8.30% of families and 10.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.80% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.

Features

Interstate 70 runs through the county. Richfield is about halfway between Los Angeles, California and Denver, Colorado; this has led to something of a boom in the hospitality industry (motels, restaurants, etc.).

Fremont Indian State Park is found in the Clear Creek Canyon, adjacent to I-70. It is noted for its archaeological remains from the ancient Native-American Fremont culture. It has a museum displaying artifacts found at the site.

According to Benjamin Edelman, who reported his findings in the article "Red Light States: Who Buys Online Adult Entertainment?," published in the most recent edition of the Journal of Economic Perspectives, Sevier County has the highest rate of online pornography usage in the United States.[citation needed]

Communities

Map of Sevier County communities

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Van Cott, J. W., 1990, Utah Place Names, ISBN 0-87480-345-4
  4. ^ Snow, Dean R. (2009). Archaeology of Native North America. Prentice Hall ISBN 0-13-615686-X.
  5. ^ Bishop, M. Guy. A History of Sevier County. Salt Lake City: Utah State Historical Society, 1997.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  7. ^ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  10. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (June 25, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  12. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
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