Bicknell, Utah

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Bicknell is a town located on State Route 24 in Wayne County, Utah. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 353, a slight increase over the 1990 figure of 327.

1 History
2 Geography
- 2.1 Distances
- 2.2 Area sites
3 Demographics
4 Trivia
5 Notes
6 External links

[edit] History

Bicknell was originally called Thurber, or "Thurber Town", for A.K. Thurber, who in 1875 built the first house in the area. In 1897 the town moved to a new location due to sandy soil and poor water conditions.

In 1914 Thomas W. Bicknell, a wealthy eastern author, historian, and Education Commissioner for Rhode Island, offered a thousand-volume library to any Utah town that would rename itself after him. The town of Grayson also wanted the library prize, so in a compromise in 1916, Grayson took the name of Blanding, Mr. Bicknell's wife's maiden name, as a tribute to her parents. The two towns split the library, each receiving 500 books.

According to Via magazine, Bicknell claims to be the smallest town in the U.S. with a year-around movie theater. This theater also hosts the annual Bicknell International Film Festival.¹

[edit] Geography

Bicknell is located at 38°20′29″N, 111°32′44″W (38.341383, -111.545463)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.2 km² (0.5 mi²), all land.

Altitude: 7,125' (2,172m)
ZIP code: 84715

Bicknell is located between the Dixie National Forest and the Fishlake National Forest in Rabbit Valley, south central Utah. It is 17 miles west of the Capitol Reef National Park Visitors Center.

[edit] Distances

120 miles (northeast of) Bryce Canyon National Park
164 miles (southwest of) Price
165 miles (west of) Moab
169 miles (south of) Provo
212 miles (south of) Salt Lake City
228 miles (northeast of) St. George

[edit] Area sites

Bicknell Bottoms wildlife habitat, and fish hatchery. (3-1/2 miles SE)
Boulder Mountain (11,317 ft/3,439 m - 37 miles SE)
Capitol Reef National Park (17 miles E)
Fruita schoolhouse (20 miles E)
Teasdale Tithing Office and Granary (6 miles SE)
Thousand Lake Mountain (11,305 ft/3,443 m - 17 miles NNE)

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 353 people, 126 households, and 95 families residing in the town. The population density was 290.0/km² (757.9/mi²). There were 143 housing units at an average density of 117.5/km² (307.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.17% White, 0.28% Native American, 1.98% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.12% of the population.

There were 126 households out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.7% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the town the population was spread out with 32.9% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $32,750, and the median income for a family was $34,500. Males had a median income of $29,750 versus $20,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,457. About 12.5% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.