Box Elder County, Utah

Box Elder County
County
Box Elder County Courthouse, January 2010
Location within the U.S. state of Utah
Utah's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°31′N113°06′W / 41.51°N 113.10°W / 41.51; -113.10
Country	United States
State	Utah
Founded	January 5, 1856
Named for	Box elder tree
Seat	Brigham City
Largest city	Brigham City
Area
• Total	6,729 sq mi (17,430 km2)
• Land	5,746 sq mi (14,880 km2)
• Water	934 sq mi (2,420 km2)  15%
Population  (2020)
• Total	57,666
• Density	8.6/sq mi (3.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.boxeldercounty.org

Box Elder County is a county at the northwestern corner of Utah, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 57,666, ^[1] up from the 2010 figure of 49,975. Its county seat and largest city is Brigham City. ^[2] The county was named for the box elder trees that abound in the county.

Box Elder County is part of the Ogden-Clearfield, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Salt Lake City-Provo-Orem, UT Combined Statistical Area. Box Elder County.

Box Elder County is home to two regional campuses of Utah State University (located in Brigham City and Tremonton).

History

Corinne. Staff of the Daily Reporter. Box Elder County, Utah., 1869 - 1878

Box Elder County float, 1912

Box Elder County (details)

The county was created by the Utah Territory legislature on January 5, 1856, with the territory partitioned from Weber County. Its boundaries were altered in 1862 by adjustments between counties and in 1866 when all its area in the now-existent state of Nevada (which had gained territorial status in 1861 and statehood in 1864) was formally partitioned. The county boundaries were finally altered in 1880 by adjustments between Salt Lake and Weber counties. Its boundary has remained unchanged since 1880. ^[3]

The California Trail followed Goose Creek from a point just north of the Idaho/Utah border southwest across northwestern Box Elder County to Little Goose Creek in northeastern Elko County, Nevada. ^[4] The link-up of the first transcontinental railroad occurred at Promontory Summit, Utah in 1869.

The Spiral Jetty, an earthwork sculpture by Robert Smithson, was built on the north shore of the Great Salt Lake in Box Elder County in 1970.

On November 19, 2005, sculptor Zaq Landsberg declared his plot to be independent from the US, creating the Republic of Zaqistan. ^[5]

Geography

Box Elder County lies at the northwest corner of Utah. Its west border abuts the east border of the state of Nevada and its north border abuts the south border of the state of Idaho. Its territory includes large tracts of barren desert, contrasted by high, forested mountains. The Wasatch Front lies along the south-eastern border, where the main cities are found. ^[6] The terrain generally slopes to the south (toward the Great Salt Lake), although the NW corner of the county slopes to the north, allowing runoff from that area to flow to the Snake River drainage. The county's highest point is a mountain ridge near the NW corner, at 9,180 ft (2,800 m) ASL. ^[7] The county has a total area of 6,729 square miles (17,430 km²), of which 5,746 square miles (14,880 km²) is land and 984 square miles (2,550 km²) (15%) is water. ^[8] It is the fourth-largest county in Utah by area.

In the east lie the Wellsville Mountains, a branch of the Wasatch Range. In the west is a large, mostly uninhabited desert area. The Great Salt Lake lies in the southeastern corner of the county. The combined Interstate 15/Interstate 84 runs northward in the eastern part of the county. The two routes diverge at Tremonton, with I-84 heading northwest past Snowville into central and western Idaho and I-15 heading north past Plymouth and Portage into eastern Idaho.

Major highways

• I-15
• I-15 BL
• I-84
• I-84 BL
• US 89
• US 91
• SR-13
• SR-30
• SR-38
• SR-42
• SR-82
• SR-83
• SR-102

Adjacent counties

• Cache County - northeast
• Weber County - east
• Davis County - southeast (across Great Salt Lake)
• Tooele County - south
• Elko County, Nevada - west
• Cassia County, Idaho - northwest
• Oneida County, Idaho - north

National protected areas

• Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
• Caribou-Targhee National Forest (part)
• Golden Spike National Historic Site
• Sawtooth National Forest (part)
• Wasatch-Cache National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	1,608		—
1870	4,855		201.9%
1880	6,761		39.3%
1890	7,642		13.0%
1900	10,009		31.0%
1910	13,894		38.8%
1920	18,788		35.2%
1930	17,810		−5.2%
1940	18,832		5.7%
1950	19,734		4.8%
1960	25,061		27.0%
1970	28,129		12.2%
1980	33,222		18.1%
1990	36,485		9.8%
2000	42,745		17.2%
2010	49,975		16.9%
2020	57,666		15.4%
US Decennial Census [9] 1790–1960 [10] 1900–1990 [11] 1990–2000 [12] 2010–2018 [13] 2019 [14] 2020 [15]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 42,745 people, 13,144 households, and 10,804 families in the county. The population density was 7.44 people per square mile (2.87 people/km²). There were 14,209 housing units at an average density of 2.47 units per square mile (0.95 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.87% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.88% Native American, 0.96% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 3.45% from other races, and 1.60% from two or more races. 6.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,144 households, of which 47.10% had children under 18 living with them, 71.00% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.80% were non-families. Of the 13,144 households, 281 are unmarried partner households: 247 heterosexual, 22 same-sex male, and 12 same-sex female. 16.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.22, and the average family size was 3.63.

The county population contained 36.10% under 18, 10.50% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 17.70% from 45 to 64, and 10.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.70 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 98.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,630, and the median income for a family was $49,421. Males had a median income of $38,814 versus $22,435 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,625. About 5.80% of families and 7.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.30% of those under age 18 and 5.30% of those aged 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, ^[16] there were 49,975 people, 16,058 households, and 12,891 families in the county. The population density was 8.70 people per square mile (3.36 people/km²). There were 17,326 housing units at an average density of 3.02 units per square mile (1.17 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.77% White, 0.34% Black or African American, 0.82% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 3.77% from other races, and 2.24% from two or more races. 8.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 16,058 households, out of which 41.32% had children under 18 living with them, 67.44% were married couples living together, 8.69% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.72% were non-families. 17.16% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.39% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09, and the average family size was 3.50.

The county population contained 36.60% under the age of 20, 5.55% from 20 to 24, 25.37% from 25 to 44, 21.35% from 45 to 64, and 11.13% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.59 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 96.61 males.

2015

As of 2015, the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Box Elder County were:

• 26.0% were of English ancestry
• 12.7% were of German ancestry
• 9.3% were of American ancestry
• 8.4% were of Danish ancestry
• 5.5% were of Irish ancestry
• 4.5% were of Scottish ancestry ^[17]

Education

Elementary

• Century
• Discovery
• Fielding
• Foothill
• Garland
• Grouse Creek
• Lake View
• McKinley
• Mountain View
• North Park
• Park Valley
• Snowville
• Three Mile Creek
• Willard

Intermediate

• Alice C. Harris
• Adele C. Young

Middle

• Bear River
• Box Elder

High

• Bear River
• Box Elder
• Sunrise High School

Speciality schools

• Early Learning Center
• Independent Life Skills Center

Politics and government

Box Elder voters are overwhelmingly Republican. In no national election since 1944 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate, and the last Democrat to obtain one-quarter of the county's vote was Hubert Humphrey in 1968.

State elected offices

Position		District	Name	Affiliation	First elected
	Senate	17	Scott Sandall	Republican	2018 [18]
	House of Representatives	1	Joel Ferry	Republican	2018 [19]
	House of Representatives	29	Matthew Gwynn	Republican	2020 [20]
	Board of Education	1	Jennie Earl	Nonpartisan	2018 [21]

United States presidential election results for Box Elder County, Utah ^[22]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	21,548	78.87%	4,473	16.37%	1,299	4.75%
2016	12,230	61.53%	2,282	11.48%	5,366	26.99%
2012	17,101	88.11%	1,984	10.22%	323	1.66%
2008	15,228	79.24%	3,311	17.23%	678	3.53%
2004	15,751	85.75%	2,244	12.22%	373	2.03%
2000	12,288	79.36%	2,555	16.50%	640	4.13%
1996	8,373	62.65%	3,170	23.72%	1,822	13.63%
1992	7,712	49.58%	2,186	14.05%	5,657	36.37%
1988	12,585	81.40%	2,736	17.70%	140	0.91%
1984	13,243	86.65%	1,983	12.98%	57	0.37%
1980	12,500	82.72%	2,142	14.18%	469	3.10%
1976	9,319	69.02%	3,353	24.84%	829	6.14%
1972	9,880	77.22%	2,134	16.68%	780	6.10%
1968	7,680	65.71%	3,093	26.46%	915	7.83%
1964	6,851	57.26%	5,113	42.74%	0	0.00%
1960	6,594	63.23%	3,831	36.74%	3	0.03%
1956	5,804	68.34%	2,689	31.66%	0	0.00%
1952	5,850	66.22%	2,984	33.78%	0	0.00%
1948	3,790	50.70%	3,667	49.06%	18	0.24%
1944	3,058	42.47%	4,138	57.46%	5	0.07%
1940	3,248	40.67%	4,736	59.30%	2	0.03%
1936	2,180	30.15%	5,001	69.16%	50	0.69%
1932	3,048	44.65%	3,695	54.12%	84	1.23%
1928	3,317	56.94%	2,488	42.71%	20	0.34%
1924	3,086	56.18%	1,841	33.52%	566	10.30%
1920	3,421	58.86%	2,330	40.09%	61	1.05%
1916	2,416	44.67%	2,957	54.68%	35	0.65%
1912	1,650	40.61%	1,402	34.51%	1,011	24.88%
1908	2,396	62.15%	1,417	36.76%	42	1.09%
1904	2,400	66.76%	1,151	32.02%	44	1.22%
1900	1,635	52.72%	1,460	47.08%	6	0.19%
1896	735	28.12%	1,879	71.88%	0	0.00%

Communities

Map of Box Elder County municipalities and CDPs

Cities

• Bear River City
• Brigham City (county seat)
• Corinne
• Garland
• Honeyville
• Perry
• Tremonton
• Willard

Towns

• Deweyville
• Elwood
• Fielding
• Howell
• Mantua
• Plymouth
• Portage
• Snowville

Census designated places

• Riverside
• South Willard
• Thatcher

Unincorporated communities

• Bothwell
• Collinston
• Grouse Creek
• Harper Ward
• Lynn
• Park Valley
• Penrose
• Promontory
• Yost

Ghost towns

• Blue Creek
• Cedar Creek
• Golden
• Hardup
• Jackson
• Kelton
• Kosmo
• Lucin
• Matlin
• Promontory Point
• Russian Settlement
• Terrace
• Washakie
• Salinburg, Utah

See also

• Utah portal

• List of counties in Utah
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Box Elder County, Utah

References

1. "2020 Census Redistricting Data: Box Elder County, Utah". Census Data Explorer. United States Census Bureau. September 16, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "[[Newberry Library]]. Individual County Chronologies - Box Elder County UT (accessed March 25, 2019)". Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
4. "California Trail". Trails West. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
5. Cabrero, Alex (October 19, 2015). "New York man creates 'sovereign nation' in Box Elder County". KSL-TV . Retrieved November 25, 2018.
6. Box Elder County UT Google Maps (accessed 13 March 2019)
7. ""Find an Altitude/Box Elder County UT" Google Maps (accessed 13 March 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
9. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
11. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
13. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 23, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
14. "QuickFacts. Box Elder County, Utah" . Retrieved May 17, 2020.
15. 2020 Population and Housing State Data | Utah
16. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
17. "American FactFinder - Results". factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
18. "Senator Sandall Utah Senate". senate.utah.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
19. "Rep. Ferry, Joel". Utah House of Representatives. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
20. "Rep. Gwynn, Matthew". Utah House of Representatives. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
21. "Jennie Earl". www.schools.utah.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
22. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 30, 2018.

External links

• Official website
• County Health Department