Iron County, Utah

Iron County is a county in southwestern Utah, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 46,163.[1] Its county seat is Parowan,[2] and the largest city is Cedar City.

For counties in other U.S. states with the same name, see Iron County (disambiguation).

Iron County
U.S. county
The Parowan Gap petroglyphs, a well-known landmark in Iron County, July 2007
Location within the U.S. state of Utah
Utah's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37.86°N 113.28°W / 37.86; -113.28
Country United States
State Utah
FoundedJanuary 31, 1850 (created)
January 17, 1851 (organized)
Named forIron mines
SeatParowan
Largest cityCedar City
Area
 • Total3,301 sq mi (8,550 km2)
 • Land3,297 sq mi (8,540 km2)
 • Water4.4 sq mi (11 km2)  0.1%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total46,163
 • Estimate 
(2019)
54,839
 • Density16.6/sq mi (6.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.ironcounty.net

The Cedar City, UT Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Iron County.

History

Evidence of Fremont culture habitation ranging from 750 to 1250 AD exists in present Iron County. Petroglyphs of differing periods were carved into the walls of Parowan Gap NW of Parowan. Paiutes roamed the Parowan Valley in the centuries prior to Euro-American exploration; their descendants are now represented by the Southern Paiute Indian Reservation, which is headquartered in Cedar City.

The Domínguez–Escalante expedition traveled through the Iron County area on October 12, 1776. Fur trapper Jedediah Smith is the first recorded Anglo-American to pass through the area (1826). Settlement of the area began in 1851, when LDS President Brigham Young directed members from the northern colonies to move into the area. A settlement, Coal Creek, sprang up in 1851; it later became Cedar City.[3] To provide a local government structure, the State of Deseret legislature created the county on January 31, 1850, although it was not organized until January 17, 1851, with description stretching from the future Colorado, across Utah, and into the future Nevada. It was named "Little Salt Lake County" at creation, but on December 3, 1850, a legislative act changed its name to Iron County. Its borders were altered in 1850, 1852, 1854, 1856, and 1861. Also in 1861, the federal government created the Colorado Territory, which administratively removed Iron County areas east of 109 degrees longitude.

The county borders were altered in 1862. Also in 1862, the federal government created the Nevada Territory, which administratively removed Iron County areas west of 114 degrees longitude. Further boundary adjustments were passed in 1866, 1880, 1882, 1883, and 1884. The final adjustment was made in 1892; the county borders have remained in their present arrangement since that time.[4]

Geography

Iron County lies on the west edge of Utah. Its west border abuts the east border of the state of Nevada. The Iron County terrain is a study in contrast from its arid western reaches of the Escalante Desert and Great Basin ranges to the meadows and forests of the High Plateau on the east. The Markagunt Plateau is creased by the colorful formations of Cedar Breaks National Monument. Brian Head is the county's highest point, at 11,307 feet (3,446 m) ASL.[3] The county has a total area of 3,301 square miles (8,550 km2), of which 3,297 square miles (8,540 km2) is land and 4.4 square miles (11 km2) (0.1%) is water.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

Lakes
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1850360—
18601,010180.6%
18702,277125.4%
18804,01376.2%
18902,683−33.1%
19003,54632.2%
19103,93310.9%
19205,78747.1%
19307,22724.9%
19408,33115.3%
19509,64215.7%
196010,79512.0%
197012,17712.8%
198017,34942.5%
199020,78919.8%
200033,77962.5%
201046,16336.7%
2019 (est.)54,83918.8%
US Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2018[1] 2019[11]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 33,779 people, 10,627 households, and 8,076 families in the county. The population density was 10.25/sqmi (3.96/km2). There were 13,618 housing units at an average density of 4.13/sqmi (1.59/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.00% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 2.18% Native American, 0.74% Asian, 0.27% Pacific Islander, 1.78% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 4.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The top 5 Ethnic groups in Iron County are:

There were 10,627 households, out of which 41.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.20% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.00% were non-families. 15.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.45.

The county population contained 31.20% under the age of 18, 20.60% from 18 to 24, 23.60% from 25 to 44, 16.10% from 45 to 64, and 8.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,114, and the median income for a family was $37,171. Males had a median income of $30,800 versus $19,831 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,568. About 13.10% of families and 19.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 6.50% of those age 65 or over.

Recreation
  • Woods Ranch Recreation Area,[12] a recreation area located in a pine/aspen forest with hiking, fishing, picnic areas, a volleyball court and restroom facilities.
  • Three Peaks Recreation Area,[13] a recreation area made up of volcanic rock and hills. The area features rock climbing, picnics, fishing, off-road vehicle use and bike riding.
  • Shooting Range[14]
  • Brian Head Ski Resort

Politics

Iron County is an overwhelmingly Republican county in presidential elections, having not voted Democratic since 1936. Indeed, in no national election since the 1964 Lyndon B. Johnson landslide has the county given any Democratic presidential candidate 25 percent of its ballots.

Presidential election results
Presidential elections results[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 75.6% 18,989 19.5% 4,892 4.9% 1,223
2016 64.8% 11,561 13.7% 2,450 21.4% 3,820
2012 84.5% 14,200 12.8% 2,148 2.8% 463
2008 75.1% 12,518 19.5% 3,258 5.4% 902
2004 83.0% 12,815 14.7% 2,267 2.4% 364
2000 80.2% 10,106 14.2% 1,789 5.6% 699
1996 69.8% 6,550 20.1% 1,887 10.2% 954
1992 59.9% 5,616 16.4% 1,537 23.7% 2,225
1988 76.7% 6,038 22.1% 1,736 1.2% 94
1984 83.1% 6,856 16.3% 1,342 0.6% 53
1980 79.5% 6,207 15.9% 1,242 4.6% 355
1976 69.6% 4,757 24.9% 1,700 5.5% 376
1972 76.5% 5,085 16.5% 1,098 7.0% 465
1968 66.6% 3,337 23.1% 1,157 10.3% 517
1964 55.1% 2,522 44.9% 2,053
1960 63.9% 3,079 36.1% 1,738 0.0% 1
1956 71.7% 3,321 28.3% 1,311
1952 66.6% 3,175 33.5% 1,596
1948 58.5% 2,289 40.8% 1,596 0.7% 26
1944 53.3% 1,930 46.3% 1,677 0.4% 14
1940 51.5% 2,060 47.9% 1,915 0.6% 23
1936 42.4% 1,396 56.1% 1,844 1.5% 49
1932 50.6% 1,599 42.9% 1,358 6.5% 206
1928 72.1% 1,823 27.0% 682 0.9% 23
1924 66.5% 1,429 22.6% 485 11.0% 236
1920 69.6% 1,399 27.9% 561 2.5% 50
1916 40.0% 825 56.1% 1,156 3.9% 80
1912 49.7% 695 38.9% 544 11.4% 159
1908 55.8% 712 38.2% 488 6.0% 76
1904 58.7% 741 35.0% 442 6.3% 79
1900 46.9% 628 52.9% 708 0.2% 2
1896 20.3% 205 79.7% 806

Communities
Map of Iron County communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated places

Former communities

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Iron County Profile (accessed 31 March 2019)
  4. "Utah: Individual County Chronologies". Utah Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  6. Iron County UT Google Maps (accessed 30 March 2019)
  7. "US Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  9. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (June 25, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  11. "QuickFacts. Utah counties". Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 8, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 8, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
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