Park City, Utah

Park City is a city in Summit County, Utah, United States. It is considered to be part of the Wasatch Back. The city is 32 miles (51 km) southeast of downtown Salt Lake City and 20 miles (32 km) from Salt Lake City's east edge of Sugar House along Interstate 80. The population was 7,558 at the 2010 census. On average, the tourist population greatly exceeds the number of permanent residents.

Park City, Utah
City
Overlooking Park City in November 2013
Location in Summit County and the state of Utah
Coordinates: 40°39′34″N 111°29′59″W
CountryUnited States
StateUtah
CountySummit
Founded1869[1]
Named forParley's Park
Government
 • MayorAndy Beerman
Area
 • Total19.99 sq mi (51.77 km2)
 • Land19.99 sq mi (51.76 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
7,000 ft (2,100 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total7,558
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
8,526
 • Density426.60/sq mi (164.71/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (Mountain)
ZIP Codes
84060, 84068, 84098
Area code435
FIPS code49-58070[4]
GNIS feature ID1444206[5]
Websitewww.parkcity.org

After a population decline following the shutdown of the area's mining industry, the city rebounded during the 1980s and 1990s through an expansion of its tourism business. The city currently brings in a yearly average of $529.8 million to the Utah Economy as a tourist hot spot, $80 million of which is attributed to the Sundance Film Festival.[6] The city has two major ski resorts: Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain Resort. Both ski resorts were the major locations for ski and snowboarding events at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Although they receive less snow and have a shorter ski season than do their counterparts in Salt Lake County, such as Snowbird resort, they are much easier to access.

In 2015, Park City Ski Resort and Canyons resorts merged, creating the largest ski area in the U.S. In all, the resort boasts 17 slopes, 14 bowls, 300 trails and 22 miles of lifts.

The city is the main location of the United States' largest independent film festival, the Sundance Film Festival, home of the United States Ski Team, training center for members of the Australian Freestyle Ski Team, the largest collection of factory outlet stores in northern Utah, the 2002 Olympic bobsled/skeleton/luge track at the Utah Olympic Park, and golf courses. Some scenes from the 1994 film Dumb and Dumber were shot in the city. Outdoor-oriented businesses such as backcountry.com, Rossignol USA, and Skullcandy have their headquarters in Park City. The city has many retailers, clubs, bars, and restaurants, and has nearby reservoirs, hot springs, forests, and hiking and biking trails.

In the summertime, many valley residents of the Wasatch Front visit the town to escape high temperatures. Park City is usually cooler than Salt Lake City as it lies mostly higher than 7,000 feet (2,100 m) above sea level, while Salt Lake City is situated at an elevation of about 4,300 feet (1,300 m).

In 2008, Park City was named by Forbes Traveler Magazine as one of the "20 prettiest towns" in the United States.[7] In 2011, the town was awarded a Gold-level Ride Center designation from the International Mountain Bicycling Association for its mountain bike trails, amenities and community.[8]

History

The area was traveled by the early Mormon pioneers on their journey to where they settled and built Salt Lake City. One of their leaders, Parley P. Pratt, explored the canyon in 1848. He was given a charter the following year to build a toll road through it, which was finished in 1849.[9] The basin at the top of the canyon was an ideal place to graze, and a few families settled. Early on, the area was deeded to Samuel Snyder, Heber C. Kimball and Jedediah Grant. The settlers named it "Parley's Park City", which was shortened to "Park City" in the early 1900s. The first known discovery of ore in this area was by Colonel Patrick E. Connor, who instigated his men to search the area in bringing non-Mormons to the Utah region.[10] The finding of silver, gold and lead sparked the first silver mines in Park City in the 1860s. Park City's large mining boom brought large crowds of prospectors setting up camps around the mountain terrain, marking the first mining settlements. Although it was not the first find, the Ontario silver mine, discovered by Herman Buden in 1872 and later purchased by George Hearst, was the first major producer. In 1880, a spur line was established to the Echo station of the First Transcontinental Railroad.[11] By 1892 the Silver King Mine and its owners Thomas Kearns and David Keith took the spotlight as one of the most famous silver mines in the world.[10][12] While silver mines were doing well in Utah, other mines around the world were not doing as good, which drew many of these miners to Park City. The town flourished with crowds of miners and wealth, but by the 1950s, the town nearly became a ghost town. This was due in part to a drop in the price of silver.

The transformation of the town into a ski resort is primarily attributed to the silver need during and after World War I, as that and the Great Depression hurt the economy.[10][12] Once the site of the largest silver-mining camp in the country, the town was nearly destroyed by fire in 1898. Another accident occurred in 1902 when 34 miners were killed in an explosion in the Day West Mine. The mining community never fully recovered and so the town turned to skiing. The silver industry was suffering when 'Parkite' miners presented to Utahns Inc. a proposal for a ski resort called Treasure Mountain. This ski resort opened in 1963 on 10,000 acres (40 km2) of land the miners owned with mineral rights. This is said to be when tourists first largely began to visit Park City. This marks the beginning of the ski industry largely promoted by the Utah State Legislation as a destination resort.[12]

Since the rise of the skiing and tourist economy, Park City houses more tourists than residents. It has become a place of fame through the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and provides more attractions than ever before. In the 1950s, Utah began to use Park City as a mountain getaway, and not until D. James Canon promoted winter sports in Utah, with the promotional scheme of "Ski Utah" and "The Greatest Snow on Earth"[12] did many drive to see the city. Utah drew in over 648,000 tourists in 1970 and now a yearly average of 4 million tourists. In a town with a population of 8,000, the average number of tourists in Park City is 600,000 per year. This significant increase in visitors could be credited to promotional material that is distributed by the Utah Publicity and Tourist Council. Growth has accelerated in the last few decades, and Park City is now one of the most affluent resort towns in the United States.

According to the Bureau of Economic and Business Research, in 2012 travel, tourism and recreation generated $7.4 billion in spending and $960.6 million in state and local tax revenue for the State of Utah.[13] That same year Utah's total gross domestic product was $128 billion, making tourism 5.8% of GDP for the Utah economy as a whole.[14] Park City draws in 3,006,071 average annual visitors; in the winter 1,603,775, and in the summer 1,402,296. Park City benefits from the average nightly visitor spending $100 to $350. Currently, Park City primarily relies on its tourist industry from skiing to restaurants to hiking and biking. The makeover of Park City has stimulated a culture of expenditure, adventure, wealth, and this is included in their promotional material.

As recently as the 1920s, miners in Park City were using underground trains and shafts to gain access to the mountain for skiing. Aerial trams once used for hauling ore were converted into chairlifts. To this day, there are still more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of old silver-mine workings and tunnels beneath the slopes at Park City Mountain Resort and neighboring Deer Valley. On Main Street, 64 Victorian buildings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. There are many remaining mine buildings, mine shafts (most blocked off from outsiders with large steel doors), and hoists, including the weathered remains of the California-Comstock and Silver King Mines and the water towers once used to hydrate one of the biggest mines, the Silver King, provide some history of this mining town transformed into a skiing resort.

  • Daly West and Quincy Mines in Park City (1911)
  • The Silver King Coalition mine was once the world's richest. Photo by Jack Boucher (1971).
  • Park City Utah Historical Wood Cabin
  • Historic Miners Hospital in Park City Utah
  • Looking up Main Street, 2011

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.567 square miles (45.50 km2), all land.

Park City is located at the south end of Snyderville Basin and climbs steep mountains to the southeast, south, and west. It is accessed by State Route 224 from Interstate 80 to the north and State Route 248 (Kearns Boulevard), which heads east to U.S. Route 40 and on to Kamas.

Climate

Summers in Park City are warm with cool nights, while winters are cold and snowy. The city has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb), though higher elevations within city limits may experience a subalpine (Dfc) or alpine (ET) climate.

Climate data for Park City, Utah
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 64
(18)		 57
(14)		 71
(22)		 86
(30)		 91
(33)		 101
(38)		 100
(38)		 95
(35)		 91
(33)		 82
(28)		 71
(22)		 62
(17)		 101
(38)
Average high °F (°C) 32.5
(0.3)		 36.1
(2.3)		 41.6
(5.3)		 53.0
(11.7)		 63.4
(17.4)		 74.3
(23.5)		 82.1
(27.8)		 79.6
(26.4)		 70.7
(21.5)		 58.4
(14.7)		 43.3
(6.3)		 34.4
(1.3)		 55.8
(13.2)
Average low °F (°C) 11.8
(−11.2)		 15.0
(−9.4)		 19.9
(−6.7)		 27.9
(−2.3)		 36.3
(2.4)		 43.1
(6.2)		 50.0
(10.0)		 48.8
(9.3)		 40.5
(4.7)		 31.7
(−0.2)		 21.3
(−5.9)		 14.5
(−9.7)		 30.1
(−1.1)
Record low °F (°C) −28
(−33)		 −28
(−33)		 −23
(−31)		 −4
(−20)		 12
(−11)		 11
(−12)		 21
(−6)		 20
(−7)		 8
(−13)		 6
(−14)		 −10
(−23)		 −30
(−34)		 −30
(−34)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.71
(69)		 2.36
(60)		 2.24
(57)		 1.71
(43)		 1.46
(37)		 1.13
(29)		 1.26
(32)		 1.60
(41)		 1.16
(29)		 1.57
(40)		 1.69
(43)		 2.28
(58)		 21.17
(538)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 25.8
(66)		 25.8
(66)		 24.7
(63)		 14.6
(37)		 3.9
(9.9)		 0.4
(1.0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 1.4
(3.6)		 4.5
(11)		 17.9
(45)		 22.8
(58)		 141.8
(360.5)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 9 9 9 8 6 5 4 5 5 6 7 8 81
Source:

Demographics
The City Hall building in Park City
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1870164—
18801,542840.2%
18902,85084.8%
19003,75931.9%
19103,439−8.5%
19203,393−1.3%
19304,28126.2%
19403,739−12.7%
19502,254−39.7%
19601,366−39.4%
19701,193−12.7%
19802,823136.6%
19904,46858.3%
20007,34164.3%
20107,5583.0%
2019 (est.)8,526[3]12.8%
source:[15][16]

According to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau,[17] as of 2016, there were 8,299 full-time residents in Park City. The racial makeup of the county was 78.8% non-Hispanic White, 1.1% Black, 0.1% Native American, 2.2% Asian, and 1.0% from two or more races. 16.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2010 census

As of the census[18] of 2010, there were 7,558 people, 2,885 households, and 1,742 families residing in the city. The population density was 430.2 inhabitants per square mile (166.1/km2). There were 9,471 housing units at an average density of 539.1 per square mile (208.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 81.0% White, 0.6% African American, 0.30% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 13.5% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 24.1% of the population.

There were 2885 households, out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.6% were non-families. Of all households 25.8% were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.6 and the average family size was 3.03.

The age distribution was 23.0% under the age of 20, 7.2% from 20 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.7 males.

2000 census

As of the census[4] of 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $65,800, and the median income for a family was $77,137. Males had a median income of $40,032 versus $26,341 for females. The per capita income for the city was $45,164. About 5.3% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.6% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Park City High School is located at 1752 Kearns Blvd, Park City, Utah. Park City School District's size is in the middle of the other Utah school districts, with more than 4,500 students. It is also close to the state average ethnic minority composition. Of its students 17% are ethnic minorities—mostly of Hispanic heritage. The school provides its students with a series of film and TV production classes, and hosts "The Miner Film Festival" each year for students to enter their films and show them at the Eccles Center.

Infrastructure

Transit

Park City operates its own free intra-city transit system (with additional service to limited areas of Summit County northeast of town). Routes include service to the Canyons Village, Deer Valley Resort, Empire Pass, Jeremy Ranch Park & Ride lot, Kimball Junction, Park City Resort, Park Meadows, Pinebrook, Prospector Square, Silver Lake Village, Silver Springs, Silver Summit/Highland Estates, and Thaynes Canyon.[19] Bus service is offered between Park City and Salt Lake City via the PC-SLC Connect, run by the Utah Transit Authority.[20]

Sister cities

Notable people

See also

Notes
  1. http://www.parkcity.org/index.aspx?page=280
  2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. 24 May 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 25 October 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  6. http://www.sundance.org/pdf/festival-info/sff15-economic-impact-report.pdf>
  7. Giuffo, John (12 April 2011). "America's Prettiest Towns". Forbes. Archived from the original on 15 August 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  8. "Park City (UT) Gold-level – International Mountain Bicycling Association". Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  9. Strack, Don (12 September 2004), "The Golden Pass: A History of Transportation in Parleys Canyon, Utah", UtahRails.net
  10. Balls, Jami, "Places: Olympic Locations", HistoryToGo.Utah.gov, Utah Division of State History, Utah Department of Heritage & Arts, State of Utah
  11. "Park City History Timeline". parkcityhistory.org. Park City Museum. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  12. Rugh, Susan Sessions (2006). "Branding Utah: Industrial Tourism in the Postwar American West". The Western Historical Quarterly. Archived from the original on 11 March 2007.
  13. McCord, Keith. "Utah tourism industry poised to hit $1B in tax revenue". DeseretNews.com. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  14. "Total Gross Domestic Product for Utah". research.stlouisfed.org. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  15. Moffatt, Riley. Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850–1990. Lanham: Scarecrow, 1996, 309.
  16. "Subcounty population estimates: Utah 2000–2007" (CSV). United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 18 March 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
  17. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  18. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  19. http://www.parkcity.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=3729
  20. "parkcity.org".
  21. "Meet the Utah athletes who will compete in the Pyeongchang Olympic Games". The Salt Lake Tribune. 4 February 2018.
  22. "Park City's Alex Hall takes slopestyle gold in X Games". The Park Record. 28 January 2019.
  23. "Eric Heiden, M.D." Heiden Orthopedics. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  24. Caple, Jim (10 February 2017). "How Dr. Eric Heiden earned place among America's greatest athletes". ESPN. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  25. https://www.ksl.com/article/45799086/10-celebrities-with-homes-in-utah
  26. "For McRae Williams, the goal was never World Championships". The Park Record. 1 February 2019.
  27. https://www.ksl.com/article/36973453/13-celebrities-with-homes-in-utah
  28. "Bradley Wilson U.S. Ski Team – Freestyle". US Ski Team. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  29. "Bryon Wilson". IDOne USA. Retrieved 27 July 2016.

References

Media related to Park City, Utah at Wikimedia Commons Park City travel guide from Wikivoyage

  1. "GOVERNMENTAL UNIT REFERENCE MAP (2019): Summit County, UT" (PDF). U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE U.S. Census Bureau. p. 32.
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