Wasatch County (/ˈwɑːsæ/ WAH-satch) is a county in the U.S. state of Utah. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 34,788.[1] Its county seat and largest city is Heber City.[2] The county was named for a Ute word meaning "mountain pass" or "low place in the high mountains".

Wasatch County
Wasatch Stake Tabernacle in Heber City.
Official seal of Wasatch County
Map of Utah highlighting Wasatch County
Location within the U.S. state of Utah
Map of the United States highlighting Utah
Utah's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°20′N 111°10′W / 40.33°N 111.16°W / 40.33; -111.16
Country United States
State Utah
Founded1862
Named forUte word for mountain pass
SeatHeber City
Largest cityHeber City
Area
 • Total1,206 sq mi (3,120 km2)
 • Land1,176 sq mi (3,050 km2)
 • Water30 sq mi (80 km2)  2.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total34,788
 • Density29/sq mi (11/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.wasatch.utah.gov

Wasatch County is part of the Heber, UT Micropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Salt Lake City-Provo-Orem, UT Combined Statistical Area.

History

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The first settlers were Mormon pioneers, in 1859, settling near present Heber City, Midway, and Charleston. On January 17, 1862, the Utah Territory legislature created the county, annexing areas from Great Salt Lake, Green River, Sanpete, Summit, and Utah counties. Heber was selected as the county seat. Wasatch in Ute means "mountain pass" or "low pass over high range". Heber City was named for Mormon Apostle Heber C. Kimball. The county boundaries were altered in 1880 and 1884, and then on January 4, 1915, the eastern portion was partitioned off to become Duchesne County. The Wasatch County boundaries have remained unchanged since 1915.[3]

Geography

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Heber Valley has a relatively cool climate since it is mountain-ringed, and over half the land is 7,500 feet (2,300 metres) above sea level. The average annual precipitation is about 16 inches (410 millimetres). The county is divided into two watersheds—the Colorado and the Great Basin drainage systems.[4] Flowing from the East are Daniels, Lake Fork, and Center creeks. From the north and northeast is the Provo River. Flowing from the west is Snake Creek. The county's highest point is the west slope of Murdock Mountain[4] in the Uinta Mountains, at 10,840 ft (3,300 m) ASL.[5]

Wasatch County has a total area of 1,206 square miles (3,120 km2), of which 1,176 square miles (3,050 km2) is land and 30 square miles (78 km2) (2.5%) is water.[6]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas

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Lakes

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  • Currant Creek Reservoir
  • Deer Creek Reservoir
  • Jordanelle Reservoir
  • Strawberry Reservoir
  • Witts Lake[4]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18701,244
18802,927135.3%
18903,59522.8%
19004,78633.1%
19108,92086.4%
19204,625−48.2%
19305,63621.9%
19405,7542.1%
19505,574−3.1%
19605,308−4.8%
19705,86310.5%
19808,52345.4%
199010,08918.4%
200015,21550.8%
201023,53054.7%
202034,78847.8%
US Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010[11] 2020[12]

2010 census

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As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 23,530 people, 4,743 households, and 3,870 families in the county. The population density was 20.0 people per square mile (7.7 people/km2). There were 9,840 (2009) housing units at an average density of 8.37 units per square mile (3.23 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.4% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 1.4% from two or more races. 13.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,287 households, out of which 43.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.70% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 20.1% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.18 and the average family size was 3.19.

The county population contained 36.3% under the age of 20, 5.2% from 20 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.6 years. For every 100 females there were 103.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.5 males.

2000 census

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As of the 2000 United States Census, the median income for a household in the county was $49,612, and the median income for a family was $52,102. Males had a median income of $37,399 versus $23,571 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,869. About 4.20% of families and 5.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.60% of those under age 18 and 4.00% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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Cities

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Former communities

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Politics and government

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The county is governed by a seven-member county council with an appointed county manager.[14]

Wasatch County has traditionally voted Republican. In no national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

State elected offices
Position District Name Affiliation First elected
  Senate 16 Curt Bramble Republican 2000[15]
  Senate 26 Ronald Winterton Republican 2018[16]
  Senate 27 David Hinkins Republican 2008[17]
  House of Representatives 54 Mike Kohler Republican 2020[18]
  Board of Education 12 James Moss Jr. Republican 2020[19]
United States presidential election results for Wasatch County, Utah[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 10,795 60.68% 6,187 34.78% 808 4.54%
2016 6,115 49.85% 3,063 24.97% 3,088 25.18%
2012 7,220 74.90% 2,191 22.73% 229 2.38%
2008 5,430 62.96% 2,892 33.53% 303 3.51%
2004 5,503 73.26% 1,854 24.68% 155 2.06%
2000 3,819 67.30% 1,476 26.01% 380 6.70%
1996 2,222 52.38% 1,374 32.39% 646 15.23%
1992 1,822 42.02% 1,042 24.03% 1,472 33.95%
1988 2,487 62.22% 1,451 36.30% 59 1.48%
1984 2,789 72.93% 1,015 26.54% 20 0.52%
1980 2,799 70.93% 994 25.19% 153 3.88%
1976 1,940 61.59% 1,092 34.67% 118 3.75%
1972 2,046 70.21% 693 23.78% 175 6.01%
1968 1,611 60.95% 941 35.60% 91 3.44%
1964 1,158 44.92% 1,420 55.08% 0 0.00%
1960 1,480 58.11% 1,066 41.85% 1 0.04%
1956 1,738 66.79% 864 33.21% 0 0.00%
1952 1,677 63.40% 968 36.60% 0 0.00%
1948 1,165 48.77% 1,219 51.03% 5 0.21%
1944 1,058 45.82% 1,249 54.09% 2 0.09%
1940 1,199 44.37% 1,502 55.59% 1 0.04%
1936 1,029 44.09% 1,299 55.66% 6 0.26%
1932 1,042 48.17% 1,103 50.99% 18 0.83%
1928 1,340 57.83% 973 41.99% 4 0.17%
1924 1,105 52.39% 727 34.47% 277 13.13%
1920 1,061 61.05% 665 38.26% 12 0.69%
1916 817 47.61% 885 51.57% 14 0.82%
1912 1,210 41.71% 957 32.99% 734 25.30%
1908 1,265 53.83% 985 41.91% 100 4.26%
1904 1,042 60.79% 656 38.27% 16 0.93%
1900 723 47.91% 781 51.76% 5 0.33%
1896 51 3.68% 1,333 96.32% 0 0.00%

Education

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All areas of the county are in the Wasatch County School District.[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Wasatch County, Utah". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Individual County Chronologies/Wasatch County UT. [[Newberry Library]] (accessed April 1, 2019)". Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e Wasatch County UT Google Maps (accessed 1 April 2019)
  5. ^ Utah County High Points/Wasatch County. Peakbagger (accessed 1 April 2019)
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  7. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  9. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  11. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 2, 2011. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  12. ^ 2020 Population and Housing State Data | Utah
  13. ^ a b "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Wasatch County, UT" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 2, 2022. - Text list
  14. ^ "Wasatch County Administrative Services". Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  15. ^ "Senator Bramble Utah Senate". senate.utah.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  16. ^ "Senator Winterton Utah Senate". senate.utah.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  17. ^ "Senator Hinkins Utah Senate". senate.utah.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  18. ^ "Rep. Kohler, Mike L." Utah House of Representatives. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  19. ^ "James Moss Jr". www.schools.utah.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  20. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
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40°20′N 111°10′W / 40.33°N 111.16°W / 40.33; -111.16