Juab County (/ˈæb/ JOO-ab) is a county in western Utah, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 11,786.[2] Its county seat and largest city is Nephi.[3]

Juab County
Nephi Post Office (2010)
Nephi Post Office (2010)
Map of Utah highlighting Juab County
Location within the U.S. state of Utah
Map of the United States highlighting Utah
Utah's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°43′N 112°48′W / 39.71°N 112.80°W / 39.71; -112.80
Country United States
State Utah
FoundedMarch 3, 1852
Named forUte word for valley
SeatNephi
Largest cityNephi
Area
 • Total3,406 sq mi (8,820 km2)
 • Land3,392 sq mi (8,790 km2)
 • Water14 sq mi (40 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total11,786
 • Estimate 
(2023)[1]
13,023
 • Density3.5/sq mi (1.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.co.juab.ut.us

Juab County is part of the ProvoOrem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Salt Lake City–Provo–Orem, Utah Combined Statistical Area.

History

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The area of future Juab County was inhabited by nomadic indigenous peoples before the Mormon settlement of Utah beginning in 1847. Soon after, Mormons and others traveling through the area had established a road to California, leading SSW from Great Salt Lake City. It passed Salt Creek,[4] flowing westward through a slough in the Wasatch Mountains. The area around this creek was often used as a stopping or camping spot by travelers, and by 1851 Mormon settlers had begun a settlement in the area. When the Utah Territory legislature created a county (by partitioning territory from Utah County) to oversee the growth and organization of the largely uninhabited and unbearable area, this settlement (called Salt Creek) was the only real settlement worthy of the name, and it was designated as the county seat in a March 3, 1852, legislative act. The new county's description included considerable territory falling in present-day Nevada. The county name reportedly derived from a Native American word meaning thirsty valley, or possibly only valley.

The county's boundaries were altered in 1854, 1855, and 1856. Also, in 1856 the Territory legislature, acknowledging the upcoming establishment of Nevada Territory, removed from the boundary description of Juab county all territories west of 114 degrees longitude. Further boundary adjustments were made in 1861, 1862, 1866, 1870, in 1888, and 1913. A small adjustment between Juab and Sanpete counties on March 8, 1919, created the current Juab County configuration.[5]

Early settlers in Salt Creek devoted themselves to agriculture and livestock. However, by 1869 mining of precious metals had begun in the Tintic region. Mining towns, including Diamond, Silver City, and Eureka, appeared. By 1889 it was considered one of the nation's most productive mining areas. Mining continued as the dominant economic driver through the mid-twentieth century, then subsided.[6] Salt Creek grew apace, although in 1882 the town name (and US Post Office designation) was changed to "Nephi".[7]

Politics and government

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Juab has traditionally voted Republican. In only one national election since 1948 the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

State elected offices
Position District Name Affiliation First elected
  Senate 24 Derrin Owens Republican 2020[8]
  House of Representatives 58 Steven J. Lund Republican 2020[9]
  House of Representatives 68 Merrill Nelson Republican 2012[10]
  Board of Education 3 Matt Hymas Republican 2020[11]
United States presidential election results for Juab County, Utah[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 5,087 86.18% 645 10.93% 171 2.90%
2016 2,827 66.97% 442 10.47% 952 22.55%
2012 3,448 85.99% 451 11.25% 111 2.77%
2008 2,683 73.19% 741 20.21% 242 6.60%
2004 2,681 78.46% 605 17.71% 131 3.83%
2000 2,023 72.64% 619 22.23% 143 5.13%
1996 1,290 49.12% 928 35.34% 408 15.54%
1992 1,237 42.73% 823 28.43% 835 28.84%
1988 1,505 59.65% 974 38.60% 44 1.74%
1984 1,902 67.23% 917 32.41% 10 0.35%
1980 1,872 69.31% 720 26.66% 109 4.04%
1976 1,290 51.58% 1,091 43.62% 120 4.80%
1972 1,629 67.06% 691 28.45% 109 4.49%
1968 1,201 53.95% 907 40.75% 118 5.30%
1964 926 41.25% 1,319 58.75% 0 0.00%
1960 1,203 50.95% 1,158 49.05% 0 0.00%
1956 1,512 59.60% 1,025 40.40% 0 0.00%
1952 1,711 58.72% 1,203 41.28% 0 0.00%
1948 1,396 47.94% 1,501 51.55% 15 0.52%
1944 1,192 44.48% 1,483 55.34% 5 0.19%
1940 1,412 39.74% 2,136 60.12% 5 0.14%
1936 1,027 30.41% 2,319 68.67% 31 0.92%
1932 1,220 37.60% 1,969 60.68% 56 1.73%
1928 1,557 47.48% 1,714 52.27% 8 0.24%
1924 1,325 43.57% 1,241 40.81% 475 15.62%
1920 1,692 53.12% 1,308 41.07% 185 5.81%
1916 1,248 34.45% 2,221 61.30% 154 4.25%
1912 1,171 35.38% 985 29.76% 1,154 34.86%
1908 1,615 48.40% 1,421 42.58% 301 9.02%
1904 1,493 48.32% 1,206 39.03% 391 12.65%
1900 1,532 42.46% 1,986 55.04% 90 2.49%
1896 439 15.68% 2,360 84.32% 0 0.00%

Geography

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View north along Interstate 15 in the Juab Valley, near milepost 219, September 2013

Juab County lies on the west side of Utah. Its west border abuts the east border of the state of Nevada. Its planar areas consist of rugged, arid semi-arable fine-grain soil, with hills and low mountains. Its eastern border is loosely defined by the ridgeline of an arm of the Wasatch Mountains.[13] The terrain generally slopes to the north, with its highest point on Mount Ibapah,[14] a crest of the East Central Great Basin Range in northwest Juab County. The listed elevation of Mt. Ibapah is 12,087 ft (3,684 m) ASL.[15] The county has a total area of 3,406 square miles (8,820 km2), of which 3,392 square miles (8,790 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (0.4%) is water.[16] The county's shape bears resemblance to the shape of Massachusetts.

 
Looking east across the Juab Valley and Mount Nebo, June 2012

Airports

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  • Nephi Municipal Airport (NPH)

Highways

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Source:[13]

Adjacent counties

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Protected areas

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Lakes

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Source:[13]

  • Andys Pond
  • Antelope Springs
  • Baker Hot Springs
  • Big Spring
  • Bittner Knoll Reservoir
  • Blue Springs
  • Brough Reservoir
  • Burraston Ponds
  • Cane Springs
  • CCC Reservoir
  • Cherry Creek Reservoir
  • Chicken Creek Reservoir
  • Coyote Knoll Reservoir
  • Crater Bench Reservoir
  • Dead Horse Tank
  • Desert Mountain Reservoir
  • Dog Valley Reservoir
  • East Dugway Reservoir
  • East Topaz Reservoir
  • East Topaz 2 Reservoir
  • Fish Springs
    • Avocet Pool
    • Crater Spring
    • Curlew Pool
    • Deadman Spring
    • Egret Pool
    • Gadwall Pool
    • Harrison Pool
    • House Springs
    • Ibis Pool
    • Lost Spring
    • Mallard Pool
    • Middle Spring
    • Mirror Spring
    • North Springs
    • Percy Spring
    • Pintail Pool
    • Shoveler Pool
    • South Springs
    • Thomas Springs
    • Walter Spring
  • Hogback Reservoir
  • Hole in Rock Reservoir
  • Hole-in-the-Wall Reservoir
  • Irons Reservoir
  • Laird Spring
  • Lime Spring
  • Little Red Cedar Spring
  • Lower Topaz Reservoir
  • Mile Pond
  • Molten Spring
  • Mona Reservoir
  • Monument Reservoir
  • Mud Lake Reservoir
  • Mud Springs
  • North Sugarville Reservoir
  • Picture Rock Reservoir
  • Picture Rock Wash Reservoir
  • Rain Lake
  • River Bed Reservoir
  • River Bed Reservoir Number 2
  • Roadside Reservoir (near Boyd Station)
  • Roadside Reservoir (in the Tule Valley)
  • South Desert Mountain Reservoir
  • Studhorse Springs
  • Swasey Point Reservoir
  • Table Knoll Reservoir
  • Trough Spring
  • West Fork Reservoir
  • Yuba Lake (or Sevier Bridge Reservoir)(partially)

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1860672
18702,034202.7%
18803,47470.8%
18905,58260.7%
190010,08280.6%
191010,7026.1%
19209,871−7.8%
19308,605−12.8%
19407,392−14.1%
19505,981−19.1%
19604,597−23.1%
19704,574−0.5%
19805,53020.9%
19905,8175.2%
20008,23841.6%
201010,24624.4%
202011,78615.0%
2023 (est.)13,023[1]10.5%
US Decennial Census[17]
1790–1960[18] 1900–1990[19]
1990–2000[20] 2010[21] 2020[22]

2020 Census

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According to the 2020 United States census[23] and 2020 American Community Survey,[24] there were 11,786 people in Juab County with a population density of 3.5 people per square mile (1.3/km2). Among non-Hispanic or Latino people, the racial makeup was 10,781 (91.5%) White, 11 (0.1%) African American, 89 (0.8%) Native American, 32 (0.3%) Asian, 41 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 10 (0.1%) from other races, and 248 (2.1%) from two or more races. 574 (4.9%) people were Hispanic or Latino.

There were 6,068 (51.48%) males and 5,718 (48.52%) females, and the population distribution by age was 4,030 (34.2%) under the age of 18, 6,203 (52.6%) from 18 to 64, and 1,553 (13.2%) who were at least 65 years old. The median age was 30.7 years.

There were 3,529 households in Juab County with an average size of 3.34 of which 2,857 (81.0%) were families and 672 (19.0%) were non-families. Among all families, 2,387 (67.6%) were married couples, 176 (5.0%) were male householders with no spouse, and 294 (8.3%) were female householders with no spouse. Among all non-families, 584 (16.5%) were a single person living alone and 88 (2.5%) were two or more people living together. 1,583 (44.9%) of all households had children under the age of 18. 2,862 (81.1%) of households were owner-occupied while 667 (18.9%) were renter-occupied.

The median income for a Juab County household was $68,333 and the median family income was $76,736, with a per-capita income of $23,467. The median income for males that were full-time employees was $55,954 and for females $39,457. 11.7% of the population and 9.9% of families were below the poverty line.

In terms of education attainment, out of the 6,540 people in Juab County 25 years or older, 494 (7.6%) had not completed high school, 2,475 (37.8%) had a high school diploma or equivalency, 2,347 (35.9%) had some college or associate degree, 762 (11.7%) had a bachelor's degree, and 462 (7.1%) had a graduate or professional degree.

Education

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Two school districts serve the county:[25]

Communities

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Map of Juab County communities

Source:[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  2. ^ "Juab County, Utah". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Salt Creek Google Maps (accessed 28 March 2019)
  5. ^ "[[Newberry Library]] Individual County Chronologies/Juab County UT (accessed March 28, 2019)". Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  6. ^ "About Us" - Juab County UT" (accessed 28 March 2019)
  7. ^ County Post Offices: Salt Creek (1851-1882), Nephi (1882- ) (accessed 28 March 2019)
  8. ^ "Senator Owens Utah Senate". senate.utah.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  9. ^ "Rep. Lund, Steven J." Utah House of Representatives. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  10. ^ "Rep. Nelson, Merrill F." Utah House of Representatives. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  11. ^ "Matt Hymas". www.schools.utah.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  12. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  13. ^ a b c d Juab County UT Google Maps (accessed 28 March 2019)
  14. ^ Mount Ibapah, Juab County UT Google Maps (accessed 28 March 2019)
  15. ^ "Utah County High Points/Juab County. Peakbagger (accessed 28 March 2019)". Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  16. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". census.gov. US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  17. ^ "US Decennial Census". census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  18. ^ "Historical Census Browser". lib.virginia.edu. University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  19. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (June 25, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  20. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). census.gov. US Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  21. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved December 29, 2013 – via Wayback Machine.
  22. ^ 2020 Population and Housing State Data | Utah
  23. ^ United States Census Bureau. "2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics File (DHC)". Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  24. ^ United States Census Bureau. "American Community Survey 5-Year Data (2009-2022)". Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  25. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Juab County, UT" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 28, 2024. - Text list

Further reading

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  • (1994) "Juab County" article in the Utah History Encyclopedia. The article was written by Philip F. Notarianni and the Encyclopedia was published by the University of Utah Press. ISBN 9780874804256. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024 and retrieved on May 20, 2024.
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