Big Water, Utah

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Big Water is a town in Kane County, Utah, United States. The population was 417, at the 2000 census, a modest increase over the 1990 figure of 326. It is located 17 miles north of Page, AZ on US 89 near Lake Powell and the Glen Canyon Dam. It was originally called Glen Canyon City and housed workers who built the dam in the 1950's. Big Water made news in the 1980's as a polygamous colony of the Joseph clan.[1] Alex Joseph came under scrutiny after accusations of financial improprieties were made regarding municipal assets.[2] Today, several of the former wives still live there.

[edit] Geography

Big Water is located at 37°4′47″N, 111°39′29″W (37.079808, -111.658042)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 15.7 km² (6.1 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 417 people, 171 households, and 117 families residing in the town. The population density was 26.5/km² (68.7/mi²). There were 264 housing units at an average density of 16.8/km² (43.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.00% White, 2.88% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.48% Pacific Islander, 1.20% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.28% of the population.

There were 171 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the town the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 103.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,278, and the median income for a family was $37,917. Males had a median income of $29,091 versus $17,917 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,026. About 11.0% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 22.2% of those age 65 or over.