UTAH COUNTY, UTAH

'Utah County' is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2000, the population was 368,536 and by 2005 was estimated at 443,738. It was named for the Spanish name ('Yuta') for the Ute Indians. The county seat and largest city is Provo. The center of population of Utah is located in Utah County, in the city of Lehi [1].

Contents

Geography

Adjacent Counties

Politics

Demographics

Popular Culture

Cities and towns

Unincorporated communities

External links

References

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,545 km² (2,141 mi²). 5,176 km² (1,998 mi²) of it is land and 369 km² (143 mi²) of it (6.66%) is water.
Utah Valley lies at the center of the county, lined by the mountains of the Wasatch Front on the east. Utah Lake occupies a large part of the valley. The elevation ranges from 4,487 at the lake to 11,749 at the peak of Mount Timpanogos.

Adjacent Counties

★ Salt Lake County, Utah - (north)

★ Tooele County, Utah - (west)

★ Wasatch County, Utah - (east)

★ Juab County, Utah - (south 1)

★ Sanpete County, Utah - (south 2)

★ Carbon County, Utah - (south 3)

★ Duchesne County, Utah - (southeast)

Politics

This county is often referred to as "the most Republican county in the most Republican state in the United States." In the 2004 presidential election, 85.99% voted for George W. Bush. [2] However, this title is inaccurate as Rich County, Utah cast 88.91% of its vote for Bush.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 368,536 people, 99,937 households, and 80,749 families residing in the county. The population density was 71/km² (184/mi²). There were 104,315 housing units at an average density of 20/km² (52/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.36% White, 0.30% Black or African American, 0.60% Native American, 1.06% Asian, 0.58% Pacific Islander, 3.25% from other races, and 1.85% from two or more races. 7.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The top 5 Ethnic groups in Utah County are:

★ English-30%.[3]

★ German-10%

★ Danish-7%

★ Mexican-5%

★ Scottish-4%
By 2005 non-Hispanic whites were 87.7% of the county population. 0.4% of the population was African-American. The Native American population was holding steady at 0.6%, but it should be remembered with the county population growing quite fast, this meant the number of Native Americans was on the rise. Pacific Islanders were still 0.6% of the population. Latinos were now 8.4% of the population.^[1]
In 2000 There were 99,937 households out of which 48.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.80% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.20% were non-families. 11.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.59 and the average family size was 3.86.
In the county, the population was spread out with 34.10% under the age of 18, 21.00% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 12.70% from 45 to 64, and 6.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $45,833, and the median income for a family was $50,196. Males had a median income of $37,878 versus $22,656 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,557. About 6.80% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.40% of those under age 18 and 4.80% of those age 65 or over.
By 2006 the population had risen 26.1% to 464,760.
About 88% of Utah County residents are LDS. [4] "Happy Valley" is a common nickname for the region. The term is sometimes used in a pejorative or ironic sense.

Popular Culture

★ The 2007 film American Fork was filmed in that city.
The film Brigham City was filmed in Mapleton, Utah. Despite the name of the film Richard Dutcher had Mapleton, not Brigham City, in mind in making the film.

Cities and towns

★ Alpine, incorporated in 1855

★ American Fork, incorporated in 1853

★ Cedar Fort, incorporated in 1965

★ Cedar Hills, incorporated in 1976

★ Draper, incorporated in 1978 and annexed land in Utah County in 2004

★ Eagle Mountain, incorporated in 1996

★ Elk Ridge, incorporated in 1976

★ Fairfield, incorporated in 2004

★ Genola, incorporated in 1935

★ Goshen, incorporated in 1910

★ Highland, incorporated in 1977

★ Lehi, incorporated in 1852

★ Lindon, incorporated in 1924

★ Mapleton, incorporated in 1948

★ Orem, incorporated in 1919

★ Payson, incorporated in 1853

★ Pleasant Grove, incorporated in 1855

★ Provo, incorporated in 1849

★ Salem, incorporated in 1920

★ Santaquin, incorporated in 1932

★ Saratoga Springs, incorporated in 1997

★ Spanish Fork, incorporated in 1855

★ Springville, incorporated in 1853

★ Vineyard, incorporated in 1989

★ Woodland Hills

Unincorporated communities

★ Benjamin

★ Elberta

★ Lake Shore

★ Palmyra

★ Spring Lake

★ Thistle (ghost town)

★ West Mountain

External links

★ Utah County Online

★ Utah County Trolley An alternative to TRAX (in the preliminary stages).

★ Utah County Jail Information about the Utah County Jail.

References

1. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/49/49049.html