Wayne County, Utah

For other uses, see Wayne County.

Wayne County
County
Tithing Office in Loa, Utah.
Location within the U.S. state of Utah
Utah's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°22′N110°54′W / 38.36°N 110.9°W / 38.36; -110.9
Country	United States
State	Utah
Founded	March 10, 1892
Named for	Wayne County, Tennessee
Seat	Loa
Largest town	Loa
Area
• Total	2,466 sq mi (6,390 km2)
• Land	2,461 sq mi (6,370 km2)
• Water	5.8 sq mi (15 km2)  0.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,486
• Density	1.0/sq mi (0.39/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.waynecountyutah.org

Wayne County is a county in the U.S. state of Utah. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,486, ^[1] making it the fourth-least populous county in Utah. Its county seat is Loa. ^[2]

History

Due to its remoteness and harsh terrain, settlements did not appear in the future Wayne County until the 1880s. By 1892, there was enough settlement and enough interest in a separate county (due mainly to the difficulty of accessing the Piute County seat), that Utah Territory passed an act (effective date March 10, 1892) ^[3] to separate the east portion of Piute into a separate county. ^[4] The county was named for Wayne County, Tennessee, itself named for Anthony Wayne. ^[5] The county boundaries have remained unchanged since its creation.^{[ citation needed ]}

Geography

The eastern border of Wayne County is delineated by the meanders of the Green River, which flows southward to discharge into the Colorado River. After the two rivers join, the combined southwestern flow forms the remaining portion of the county's eastern border. The central part of the county is drained by the Fremont River and Muddy Creek. The Fremont begins at Fish Lake in Sevier County and flows into Wayne County near its northwestern corner. It joins the Muddy near Hanksville to form the Dirty Devil River, which flows southeastward out of the county's southern border to discharge into Colorado. Wayne County terrain varies from rough forestland on the west to arid poor soil carved by drainages and rocky outcrops. ^[6] The terrain slopes to the east and south; its highest area is near its NW corner, at 9,888 ft (3,014 m) ASL. ^[7] The county has a total area of 2,466 square miles (6,390 km²), of which 2,461 square miles (6,370 km²) is land and 5.8 square miles (15 km²) (0.2%) is water. ^[8]

The Green River, passing through the canyons of Canyonlands National Park, forms the eastern boundary. The San Rafael Desert occupies the center of the county. Thousand Lake Mountain and Boulder Mountain flank Rabbit Valley on the western end of the county, where beautiful forests contrast with the deserts to the east. The small population of the county is centered in Rabbit Valley, with one town of 200, Hanksville, located in Graves Valley north of the Henry Mountains. Wayne County is also home to Capitol Reef National Park.

Major highways

• SR-12
• SR-24
• SR-72
• SR-95

Adjacent counties

• Emery County - north
• Grand County - northeast
• San Juan County - east
• Garfield County - south
• Piute County - west
• Sevier County (northwest)

National forests/parks

• Canyonlands National Park
• Capitol Reef National Park
• Dixie National Forest
• Fishlake National Forest
• Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Lakes

• Abes Knoll Reservoir
• Alkali Lake
• Bald Knoll Reservoir
• Beaver Dam Reservoir
• Beef Hollow Reservoir
• Bicknell Reservoir
• Big Hollow Reservoir
• Black Point Reservoir
• Blackburn Reservoir
• Blind Lake (near Neff Reservoir)
• Blind Lake (near Pear Lake)
• Blue Lake
• Bobs Hole
• Brinkerhoff Pond
• Buffalo Pond
• Bull Roost Reservoir
• Bullberry Lakes
• Cameron Reservoir
• Cedar Peak Lake
• Coleman Reservoir
• Cook Lake
• Cub Lake
• Curler Lake
• Cyclone Co-op Reservoir
• Cyclone Knoll Reservoir
• Dead Horse Lake
• Deadman Hollow Reservoir
• Deep Creek Lake
• Donkey Reservoir
• Dry Lake Reservoir
• East Bicknell Sand Wash Pond
• East Gate Reservoir
• Eightmile Reservoir
• Emily Lake
• Evans Reservoir
• Fish Creek Reservoir
• Flat Top Reservoir
• Flatiron Lakes
• Flossie Lake
• Government Lake
• Grass Lake (near Bobs Hole)
• Grass Lake (near Torgerson Lake)
• Green Lake
• Gripe Reservoir
• Hare Lake
• Heart Lake
• Honeymoon Lake
• Hunt Reservoir
• Jakes Knoll Reservoir
• Jane Lake
• Jay Pond
• Jim Larson Reservoir
• Lava Lake
• Lee Lake
• Left Hand Reservoir
• Lightning Lake
• Long Hollow Reservoir
• Lost Lake
• Lower Balsam Reservoir
• Lower Reservoir
• Meadow Gulch Reservoir
• Middle Balsam Reservoir
• Middle Reservoir
• Mill Meadow Reservoir (part) ^[6]
• Miller Lake
• Mitts Reservoir
• Moroni Reservoir
• Mud Lake
• Ned Reservoir
• Neff Reservoir
• Ottos Reservoir
• Parker Hollow Reservoir
• Pass Reservoir
• Pear Lake
• Petes Pond
• Pine Creek Reservoir
• Pole Canyon Reservoir
• Raft Lake
• Right Fork Wildcat Reservoir
• Rock Lake
• Rock Point Reservoir
• Round Lake (near Heart Lake)
• Round Lake (near Lower Reservoir)
• Sage Reservoir
• Smooth Knoll Reservoir
• Snow Lake
• Snow Lakes
• Solitaire Lake
• Spray Reservoir
• Square Reservoir
• Tidwell Reservoir
• Torgerson Lake
• Twin Lakes
• Upper Balsam Reservoir
• Vance Reservoir
• West Bicknell Pond
• West Flat Top Reservoir Number 1
• West Flat Top Reservoir Number 2
• White Rock Reservoir
• Wide Hollow Reservoir
• Wildcat Reservoir
• Woodys Reservoir

Panorama of the Great Gallery in Canyonlands National Park

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	1,907		—
1910	1,749		−8.3%
1920	2,097		19.9%
1930	2,067		−1.4%
1940	2,394		15.8%
1950	2,205		−7.9%
1960	1,728		−21.6%
1970	1,483		−14.2%
1980	1,911		28.9%
1990	2,177		13.9%
2000	2,509		15.3%
2010	2,778		10.7%
2020	2,486		−10.5%
US Decennial Census [9] 1790–1960 [10] 1900–1990 [11] 1990–2000 [12] 2010 [13] 2020 [14]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 2,509 people, 890 households, and 669 families in the county. The population density was 1.02 people per square mile (0.39 people/km²). There were 1,329 housing units at an average density of 0.54 units per square mile (0.21 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.29% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 1.24% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 1.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 890 households, out of which 36.20% had children under 18 living with them, 66.50% were married couples living together, 5.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.80% were non-families. 21.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81, and the average family size was 3.31.

The county population contained 32.40% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 22.50% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.50 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 103.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,000, and the median income for a family was $36,940. Males had a median income of $26,645 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,392. About 12.70% of families and 15.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.10% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those aged 65 or over.

Ancestry and ethnicity

As of 2017 the largest self-identified ancestry groups/ethnic groups in Wayne County, Utah were: ^[15]

Largest ancestries (2017)	Percent
English	45.5%
German	16.3%
Dutch	8.4%
Danish	7.6%
Irish	5.8%
Scottish	5.4%
Swedish	3.9%
American	2.3%
Welsh	1.7%
Polish	1.2%

^[15]

Communities

Towns

• Bicknell
• Hanksville
• Loa (county seat)
• Lyman
• Torrey

Census-designated places

• Fremont
• Teasdale

Unincorporated communities

• Caineville
• Fruita
• Grover
• Notom

Former communities

• Aldridge
• Eagle City
• Giles

View north of Hanksville from Route 24. Factory Butte in background.

Politics and government

Wayne County voters are traditionally Republican. In only one national election since 1948 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

State elected offices

Position		District	Name	Affiliation	First elected
	Senate	24	Derrin Owens	Republican	2020 [16]
	House of Representatives	73	Phil Lyman	Republican	2018 [17]
	Board of Education	14	Mark Huntsman	Nonpartisan	2014 [18]

United States presidential election results for Wayne County, Utah ^[19]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	1,229	75.40%	365	22.39%	36	2.21%
2016	966	67.74%	271	19.00%	189	13.25%
2012	1,089	82.06%	215	16.20%	23	1.73%
2008	940	70.04%	335	24.96%	67	4.99%
2004	1,062	78.09%	279	20.51%	19	1.40%
2000	953	77.80%	202	16.49%	70	5.71%
1996	741	64.89%	265	23.20%	136	11.91%
1992	706	57.63%	236	19.27%	283	23.10%
1988	784	68.59%	353	30.88%	6	0.52%
1984	930	80.24%	224	19.33%	5	0.43%
1980	835	76.05%	226	20.58%	37	3.37%
1976	555	59.11%	334	35.57%	50	5.32%
1972	597	71.75%	183	22.00%	52	6.25%
1968	511	62.85%	248	30.50%	54	6.64%
1964	400	49.26%	412	50.74%	0	0.00%
1960	446	53.86%	382	46.14%	0	0.00%
1956	499	63.81%	283	36.19%	0	0.00%
1952	536	66.09%	275	33.91%	0	0.00%
1948	367	44.16%	460	55.35%	4	0.48%
1944	325	43.05%	430	56.95%	0	0.00%
1940	380	43.13%	500	56.75%	1	0.11%
1936	329	38.52%	522	61.12%	3	0.35%
1932	398	49.26%	401	49.63%	9	1.11%
1928	422	68.17%	195	31.50%	2	0.32%
1924	331	57.27%	241	41.70%	6	1.04%
1920	396	61.97%	224	35.05%	19	2.97%
1916	225	35.89%	393	62.68%	9	1.44%
1912	282	52.03%	183	33.76%	77	14.21%
1908	279	49.91%	184	32.92%	96	17.17%
1904	310	53.26%	251	43.13%	21	3.61%
1900	324	52.94%	282	46.08%	6	0.98%
1896	78	16.15%	405	83.85%	0	0.00%

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Wayne County, Utah
• For additional History of Wayne County Utah see "Utah's Stolen Treasures" by Gene Covington ISBN   978-1-62516-335-6 (e-book) or ISBN   978-1-61897-954-4 (paperback)

References

1. "Wayne County, Utah". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 1, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "[[Newberry Library]]. Individual County Chronologies - Wayne County UT (accessed March 25, 2019)". Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
4. ""History". This narrative says the county was established in May 1892 (possibly referring to the date its government was organized). Wayne County website (accessed 25 March 2019)". Archived from the original on March 24, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
5. Murphy, Miriam B. (January 1999). A History of Wayne County (PDF). Utah Centennial County History Series. Salt Lake City: Utah State Historical Society. pp. 78–80. ISBN   0-913738-45-X . Retrieved January 27, 2015.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
6. Wayne County UT Google Maps (accessed 24 March 2019)
7. ""Find an Altitude/Wayne County UT" Google Maps (accessed 24 March 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
9. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
11. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
13. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
14. 2020 Population and Housing State Data | Utah
15. "American FactFinder - Results". Archived from the original on February 13, 2020.
16. "Senator Owens Utah Senate". senate.utah.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
17. "Rep. Lyman, Phil". Utah House of Representatives. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
18. "Mark Huntsman". www.schools.utah.gov. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
19. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 31, 2018.

External links

• Official website

38°22′N110°54′W / 38.36°N 110.90°W / 38.36; -110.90