Bryce Canyon City, sometimes shown as Bryce on maps,[4] is a town in Garfield County, Utah, United States, adjacent to Bryce Canyon National Park. The town, formerly known as Ruby's Inn, was officially incorporated on July 23, 2007, under a short-lived state law. The population was 336 at the 2020 census.[5]
Bryce Canyon City
Bryce | |
|---|---|
 Bryce Canyon City welcome sign (in early spring) | |
 Location in Garfield County and state of Utah. | |
| Coordinates: 37°40′26″N 112°09′25″W / 37.67389°N 112.15694°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| County | Garfield |
| Founded | 1916 |
| Incorporated | July 23, 2007 |
| Founded by | Reuben C. "Ruby" Syrett |
| Named for | Bryce Canyon |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council government |
| • Mayor | Shiloh Syrett |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.35 sq mi (8.67 km2) |
| • Land | 3.35 sq mi (8.67 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 7,664 ft (2,336 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 336 |
• Estimate (2019)[3] | 222 |
| • Density | 66.35/sq mi (25.62/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code | 84764 |
| Area code | 435 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2371469[2] |
| Website | www |
Geography
editBryce Canyon City is located some 20 miles (32 km) east of Panguitch, just outside the park entrance at the northwest corner of Bryce Canyon National Park, about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) north of the park's visitor center. The town lies alongside Utah State Route 63, near the park's popular Sunset Point.[6] The town limits extend north to Utah State Route 12 at the north end of Route 63.
Climate
editThe climate in this area has stark differences between highs and lows, and there is sparse rainfall year-round. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Bryce has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.[7]
| Climate data for Bryce Canyon AP, Utah, 1991–2020 normals, 1948-2020 extremes: 7586ft (2312m) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 58 (14) |
61 (16) |
70 (21) |
77 (25) |
87 (31) |
94 (34) |
94 (34) |
94 (34) |
92 (33) |
79 (26) |
68 (20) |
61 (16) |
94 (34) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 47.7 (8.7) |
49.7 (9.8) |
60.3 (15.7) |
69.0 (20.6) |
78.0 (25.6) |
86.7 (30.4) |
89.7 (32.1) |
86.6 (30.3) |
82.2 (27.9) |
71.9 (22.2) |
61.1 (16.2) |
49.7 (9.8) |
90.4 (32.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 35.7 (2.1) |
37.6 (3.1) |
45.3 (7.4) |
53.9 (12.2) |
64.3 (17.9) |
76.3 (24.6) |
81.4 (27.4) |
78.6 (25.9) |
71.2 (21.8) |
59.2 (15.1) |
45.7 (7.6) |
35.1 (1.7) |
57.0 (13.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 20.9 (−6.2) |
23.7 (−4.6) |
31.6 (−0.2) |
39.0 (3.9) |
47.5 (8.6) |
56.5 (13.6) |
63.3 (17.4) |
61.6 (16.4) |
53.9 (12.2) |
42.7 (5.9) |
30.5 (−0.8) |
20.4 (−6.4) |
41.0 (5.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 6.1 (−14.4) |
9.7 (−12.4) |
17.8 (−7.9) |
24.2 (−4.3) |
30.8 (−0.7) |
36.7 (2.6) |
45.2 (7.3) |
44.6 (7.0) |
36.5 (2.5) |
26.1 (−3.3) |
15.2 (−9.3) |
5.7 (−14.6) |
24.9 (−4.0) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −14.6 (−25.9) |
−10.8 (−23.8) |
−2.9 (−19.4) |
11.9 (−11.2) |
19.2 (−7.1) |
25.6 (−3.6) |
35.0 (1.7) |
35.3 (1.8) |
24.1 (−4.4) |
13.6 (−10.2) |
−3.5 (−19.7) |
−14.4 (−25.8) |
−19.2 (−28.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −32 (−36) |
−28 (−33) |
−20 (−29) |
−5 (−21) |
4 (−16) |
18 (−8) |
27 (−3) |
22 (−6) |
13 (−11) |
−2 (−19) |
−23 (−31) |
−31 (−35) |
−32 (−36) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.69 (18) |
0.77 (20) |
0.85 (22) |
0.70 (18) |
0.80 (20) |
0.39 (9.9) |
1.35 (34) |
1.46 (37) |
1.66 (42) |
1.49 (38) |
0.78 (20) |
0.64 (16) |
11.58 (294.9) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 12.6 (32) |
12.6 (32) |
12.3 (31) |
5.8 (15) |
2.2 (5.6) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
2.3 (5.8) |
7.9 (20) |
9.9 (25) |
65.9 (167.16) |
| Source 1: NOAA[8] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: XMACIS2 (records, monthly max/mins & 1949-1982 snowfall)[9] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Bryce Canyon City | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 59.0 (15.0) |
64.0 (17.8) |
66.9 (19.4) |
75.0 (23.9) |
84.9 (29.4) |
91.9 (33.3) |
98.1 (36.7) |
90.0 (32.2) |
86.0 (30.0) |
79.0 (26.1) |
68.0 (20.0) |
60.1 (15.6) |
98.1 (36.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 35.8 (2.1) |
38.3 (3.5) |
44.1 (6.7) |
52.7 (11.5) |
63.3 (17.4) |
73.8 (23.2) |
79.9 (26.6) |
76.8 (24.9) |
69.4 (20.8) |
58.3 (14.6) |
44.4 (6.9) |
36.7 (2.6) |
56.1 (13.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 22.8 (−5.1) |
25.3 (−3.7) |
31.1 (−0.5) |
38.3 (3.5) |
47.5 (8.6) |
56.5 (13.6) |
63.3 (17.4) |
61.0 (16.1) |
53.2 (11.8) |
43.0 (6.1) |
31.5 (−0.3) |
23.7 (−4.6) |
41.4 (5.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 9.9 (−12.3) |
12.6 (−10.8) |
18.0 (−7.8) |
24.1 (−4.4) |
31.6 (−0.2) |
39.4 (4.1) |
46.9 (8.3) |
45.1 (7.3) |
37.0 (2.8) |
27.7 (−2.4) |
18.3 (−7.6) |
11.1 (−11.6) |
26.8 (−2.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −26.0 (−32.2) |
−26.0 (−32.2) |
−11.0 (−23.9) |
−2.9 (−19.4) |
12.9 (−10.6) |
21.0 (−6.1) |
28.0 (−2.2) |
23.0 (−5.0) |
16.0 (−8.9) |
0.0 (−17.8) |
−16.1 (−26.7) |
−23.1 (−30.6) |
−26.0 (−32.2) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.5 (38) |
1.5 (39) |
1.4 (36) |
0.9 (23) |
0.9 (23) |
0.6 (14) |
1.4 (35) |
2.1 (53) |
1.6 (41) |
1.5 (38) |
1.1 (28) |
1.1 (29) |
15.6 (397) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 17.6 (44.7) |
17.6 (44.7) |
15.9 (40.4) |
7.4 (18.8) |
1.7 (4.3) |
0.1 (0.2) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.2) |
2.5 (6.3) |
9.9 (25.1) |
15.0 (38.1) |
87.8 (222.8) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 12 (30) |
16 (40) |
11 (27) |
2.8 (7) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
2.0 (5) |
5.9 (15) |
16 (40) |
| Average precipitation days | 6 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 73 |
| Mean daily daylight hours | 10.4 | 11.3 | 12.4 | 13.7 | 14.7 | 15.2 | 15 | 14 | 12.8 | 11.6 | 10.6 | 10.1 | 12.6 |
| Source: Weatherbase[7] | |||||||||||||
History
editReuben C. "Ruby" Syrett built a lodge and cabins at this location in 1916, when the promotion of Bryce Canyon for tourism was just beginning. Syrett's business grew along with the park's popularity, particularly once it was made a national park in 1928. Ruby's Inn became an important junction; its travelers' services developed into a small community.[6] Syrett donated land to the state for construction of a road (now Utah State Route 63), strategically placing Ruby's Inn right at the entrance to the park.[10]
In 2007, the Utah State Legislature unanimously passed H.B. 466, a bill that amended the state law on petitions to incorporate a town. The new provisions allowed a petition for a new town with 100–999 residents to be filed with just the signatures of the owners of a majority of the land area,[11] even a single majority landowner.[12] If the petition met the conditions of state law and its signers owned the majority of the land by value, the new law required the county government to grant the petition and appoint a mayor and town council from a list of individuals approved by the petitioners.[11]
The Syrett family, owners of Ruby's Inn, had been seeking municipal incorporation for some time, hoping to qualify for a portion of county sales tax revenue to help fund the water system and other community infrastructure. They jumped at the opportunity to incorporate under the new law, filing a new petition soon after its passage. Garfield County officials had repeatedly denied the request for a new town, unwilling to give up some 10 percent of the county budget. County officials discovered, however, that they no longer had any option under the provisions of H.B. 466; the petition was in order, and they were required to grant it.[13] On July 23, 2007, Bryce Canyon City became the first town incorporated under the amended law. In fact, it was the only one before the legislature amended the law again in early 2008. Three other Utah towns that already had petitions pending, Hideout, Independence, and Powder Mountain, were grandfathered in. However, under the 2008 law there must be at least five petition sponsors, who were not allowed themselves to own more than 40 percent of the land. The new law also granted the county government more authority in the process, and required the town government to be elected.[14]
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 198 | — | |
| 2019 (est.) | 222 | [3] | 12.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[15] | |||
Bryce Canyon City is one of the few population centers in a sparsely populated, rural area. At incorporation, the officially estimated population was 138.[13] A majority of the residents are members of the Syrett family, and nearly all of the adults are employees of Ruby's Inn. The year-round population is only a fraction of the people who occupy the town at the peak of tourist season, when employment swells to 600, and the number of visitors is in the thousands, more than the total population of Garfield County.[10]
As of the census[16] of 2010, there were 198 people living in the town. There were 118 housing units. The racial makeup of the town was 62.6% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 4.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 18.7% Asian, 12.6% from some other race, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.2% of the population.
Government
editBryce Canyon City is a company town, consisting solely of the property of Ruby's Inn and the Syrett family, its third-generation owners. Rod Syrett, the company's board president, was chosen as the first mayor.[10]
References
edit- ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bryce Canyon City, Utah
- ^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ Rand McNally. The Road Atlas '08. Chicago: Rand McNally, 2008, pp. 102-103.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ a b Van Cott, John W. (1990). Utah Place Names. Salt Lake City, Utah: University of Utah Press. p. 323. ISBN 0-87480-345-4.
- ^ a b Climate Summary for Bryce, Utah
- ^ "Bryce Canyon AP, Utah 1991-2020 Monthly Normals". Retrieved November 13, 2023.
- ^ "xmACIS". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
- ^ a b c Stolz, Martin (July 24, 2007). "In Utah, a 'Company Town' Means Just That". The New York Times. Retrieved September 29, 2009.
- ^ a b "H.B. 466—Incorporation of a Town Amendments". Bills and Resolutions. Utah State Legislature. 2007. Retrieved September 29, 2009.
- ^ Dougherty, Joseph M. (December 18, 2007). "Petition filed to create 3rd new city in Wasatch". Deseret News. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2009.
- ^ a b Kinkead, Lucinda Dillon (September 30, 2007). "Ruby's dream? Creation of Bryce Canyon City elicits cheers and jeers". Deseret News. Archived from the original on October 5, 2007. Retrieved September 29, 2009.
- ^ "H.B. 164—Town Incorporation Process Amendments". Bills and Resolutions. Utah State Legislature. 2008. Retrieved September 29, 2009.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
External links
edit