American Fork, Utah
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| American Fork, Utah | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| County | Utah |
| Area | |
| - Total | 7.5 sq mi (19.5 km²) |
| - Land | 7.5 sq mi (19.5 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 4,606 ft (1,404 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 21,941 |
| - Density | 2,910.7/sq mi (1,123.5/km²) |
| Time zone | MST (UTC-7) |
| - Summer (DST) | MDT (UTC-6) |
| ZIP code | 84003 |
| Area code(s) | 801 |
| FIPS code | 49-01310[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1438194[2] |
American Fork is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States, at the foot of Mount Timpanogos in the Wasatch Range, north of Utah Lake. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 21,941 and was estimated at 22,387 in 2004. It has been rapidly growing since the 1970s.
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[edit] Geography
American Fork is located at (40.384200, -111.791963)[3].
The elevation is 4566 feet above sea level.[1]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.5 square miles (19.5 km²), all of it land.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 21,941 people, 5,934 households, and 5,109 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,910.7 people per square mile (1,123.5/km²). There were 6,108 housing units at an average density of 810.3/sq mi (312.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.24% White, 0.16% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.24% Pacific Islander, 1.93% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.61% of the population.
There were 5,934 households out of which 54.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.2% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.9% were non-families. 11.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.64 and the average family size was 3.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 38.3% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 14.4% from 45 to 64, and 7.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $51,955, and the median income for a family was $55,118. Males had a median income of $41,682 versus $24,073 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,293. About 3.2% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] History
The area around Utah Lake was used as a seasonal hunting and fishing ground by the Ute Indians. American Fork was settled in 1850 by Mormon pioneers, and incorporated as Lake City in 1852. Settlers changed the name to American Fork, after the river that runs through it, in 1860. Most residents were farmers and merchants during its early history. By the 1860s, American Fork had established a public school, making them the first community in the territory of Utah to offer public education to its citizens.[4] In the 1870s, American Fork served as a rail access point for mining activities in American Fork Canyon. For several decades in the 1900s, raising chickens (and eggs) was an important industry in the city. During World War II the town population expanded when the Columbia Steel plant was built. An annual summer celebration in the city is still called "Steel Days" in honor of the economic importance of the mill, which closed in November 2001.[5] The steel mill was located approximately 6 miles (10 km) SE from town, on land on the east shore of Utah Lake.
[edit] Current Development
The city has worked to maintain the downtown Main Street area. This includes construction of several new city buildings, including a library, district court and police complex, and a fire station. Recently, large-scale retailing has come to the west side of American Fork with the Meadows shopping area, and it has become a shopping attraction for North Utah County. The Interstate 15 freeway traverses the traditional southern and western borders of the city. As build-out approaches for the city north of the freeway, it looks to carefully manage expansion and development in the area south of town, between the freeway and Utah Lake.
[edit] Education
Public schools in American Fork are part of the Alpine School District. Private schools include the American Heritage School (located at 736 N 1100 E.)
[edit] Recreation
- The Fox Hollow (formerly Tri-City) golf course is a public golf course located in American Fork.
- American Fork's proximity to the Wasatch Range gives numerous recreation opportunities.
[edit] Notable Residents
- Paul Dayton Bailey
- Merrill J. Bateman
- Reva Beck Bosone
- Joseph Barlow Forbes
- Gary R. Herbert
- Emily Harris
[edit] Miscellaneous
- The 2007 film American Fork was filmed in that city.[citation needed]
- The 1983 film Footloose was filmed on location in American Fork and surrounding communities of the Provo-Orem area.[citation needed]
- An estimated 80 percent of the city's population is Mormon (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) which gives it one of the state's highest percentages. Mormonism has seen a steady decline, however, in the multi-religious Salt Lake area.[citation needed]
- American Fork has a inter-city exchange program with Indio, California, U.S. in a way similar to an international Sister City.[citation needed]
- The town and surrounding area of Utah Valley is nicknamed "Happy Valley" in part of the popularly depicted high standard of living (i.e. lower crime rates, less pollution, a more stable economy in terms of wages and job opportunities, a more social conservative culture, etc).[citation needed]
- The American Fork High School Band has marched in parades and band competitions across the country, including Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2007.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Biography of Joseph B. Forbes, Jacobson Family, Retrieved 2008-05-15
- ^ Geneva_Steel
- ^ Sharon Haddock,American Fork band prepares for its Macy's parade performance,Deseret News, September 19, 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
[edit] External links
- American Fork, Utah is at coordinates Coordinates:
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