Eagle Mountain, Utah
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| Eagle Mountain, Utah | |
  Eagle Mountain, Utah
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| County | Utah |
| Government | |
| - Type | strong mayor |
| Area | |
| - Total | 41.7 sq mi (108.0 km²) |
| - Land | 41.7 sq mi (108.0 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 4,882 ft (1,488 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 2,157 |
| - Density | 51.7/sq mi (20.0/km²) |
| Time zone | Mountain (MST) (UTC-7) |
| - Summer (DST) | MDT (UTC-6) |
| ZIP code | 84005 |
| Area code(s) | 801 |
| FIPS code | 49-20810[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1759211[2] |
| Website: www.eaglemountaincity.com | |
Eagle Mountain is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is located to the west of the Lake Mountains, which are west of Utah Lake. It was incorporated December 3, 1996 and has been rapidly growing ever since. The population was 2,157 at the 2000 census. Although Eagle Mountain was a town in 2000,[1] it has since been classified as a fifth-class city by state law.[3] In its short history, the city has quickly become popular for its rapid growth.[4][5]
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[edit] Geography
Eagle Mountain is located at (40.305982, -112.009726),[6] at the western base of the Lake Mountains in the flat Cedar Valley northeast of the city of Cedar Fort. An area known as The Ranches is also being developed just north of the Lake Mountains on State Route 73 (west of Lehi), within the city limits of Eagle Mountain. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of (41.7 square miles (108.0 km²)).
SR-73 and Eagle Mountain Boulevard provide access to the city from Utah Valley and Salt Lake Valley, although the city center sits at least 15 miles (24 km) from the two valleys' main transportation corridor along Interstate 15. The Utah Department of Transportation is in the process of planning a western freeway for the Salt Lake valley which would connect to SR-73 only a few miles from The Ranches Parkway and Eagle Mountain Boulevard and provide more direct access to Provo and Salt Lake City.[7]
The area is home to a number of natural landmarks, including a site along the original Pony Express trail[8] and 1,800-year-old rock art petroglyphs carved by ancient Freemont Indians.[9]
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 2,157 people, 532 households, and 502 families residing in the town. The population density was 20.0/km² (51.7/sq mi). There were 598 housing units at an average density of 14.3/sq mi (5.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.57% White, 0.32% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.88% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.11% of the population.
There were 532 households of which 74.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 89.1% were married couples living together, 3.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 5.6% were non-families. 3.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 0.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.05 and the average family size was 4.18.
In the town the population was spread out with 47.4% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 6.3% from 45 to 64, and 1.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 21 years. For every 100 females there were 100.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,102, and the median income for a family was $52,434. Males had a median income of $40,777 versus $25,313 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,340. About 2.0% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
[edit] 2006 estimates
Census estimates for 2006 were adjusted to 17,391,[10] although city officials now estimate the total population to be closer to 22,000.
[edit] Law and government
Eagle Mountain city government operates under a strong mayor system, where the mayor acts as an elected executive with the city council functioning with legislative powers. The mayor may select a chief administrative officer to oversee the different departments.
The current mayor is Heather Jackson. David Lifferth is the current mayor pro tempore. City council meets the first and third Tuesday of every month at the Eagle Mountain City Hall for a 4pm work session and a 7pm policy session. This meeting is open to the public.
See also: List of mayors of Eagle Mountain, Utah
[edit] History
Prior to incorporation, most of the land within the boundary of what is now Eagle Mountain was zoned by Utah County for agricultural use, with large lot residential development also allowed. In 1993, members of the Communities of the Apostolic United Brethren began building homes in an area that came to be called Harvest Haven. Members purchased property from their church about seven miles (11 km) west of Lehi. A Florida developer and other development groups soon purchased surrounding land for water rights.[citation needed] After finding out that those rights could not be transferred out of the valley, developers later decided to form a city by joining together with the Harvest Haven subdivision.
Eagle Mountain was incorporated in December 1996 with about 250 residents.[11] The town's first mayor was Debbie Hooge. The city formed its own volunteer fire department, and the first permanent city structure built was the fire station. Temporary trailers were brought in as the first official city offices.
The new town was a planned city built around the concept of new urbanism. Development has caused several controversies over the years.[4][5] The development code was last revamped and approved in 2003.
Scandals and disputes have plagued Eagle Mountain city government almost from the date of its incorporation.[12][13] Kelvin Bailey, who served as mayor from 2001 to 2005, gained some undesired national attention in March 2003 when Bailey reportedly claimed to have been kidnapped and forced to drive to Barstow, California. FBI personnel were briefly involved in the case and after interviewing Bailey they chose not to take any action or file any charges against him. However, the county attorneys office two weeks later filed misdemeanor charges.[12] Bailey reached a plea agreement in 2005,[14] and paid more than $900 in restitution.[15]
A new city hall/utilities administration building was completed in May 2005 during Bailey's term in office, along with a new public works building and a library that now occupies over 2,000 square feet (200 m²) in the administration building. Bailey resigned in June 2005 citing personal reasons. David Lifferth served as mayor from then until December 2005, when Brian Olsen, then mayor-elect, took the seat for the final days of 2005.[15]
Olsen resigned from office in October 2006, citing family and personal considerations. However, Olsen had been under suspicion since recently admitting to lying about his education, falsely claiming an earned master's degree from Brigham Young University. His resignation came three days before he was charged with seven felony counts alleging misuse of public funds. Except for the courts, no official statement has been made by Olsen since October 3, 2006. The case is awaiting trial. Olsen was the ninth mayor in ten years. [16][17]
Don Richardson was appointed by the city council to finish Olsen's term as mayor. Richardson served 14 months and did not seek election. Former councilwoman Heather Jackson was elected to a two-year term in November 2007. [18] Media attention continues to surround Eagle Mountain politics. Mayoral Candidate for the 2007 election – Richard Culbertson, is accused of equity skimming. Former Councilwoman Linn Strouse has been charged with failure to report a loan received from a developer in the amount of $10,000.[13]
[edit] Education
Eagle Mountain currently has two elementary schools (Pony Express Elementary and Eagle Valley Elementary) and a public charter school (The Ranches Academy with K - 8th grade). Rockwell High school is currently under construction. Their mascot will be the 'Marshalls'.[4] There is also another third elementary school under construction which has yet to be named.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ §10-2-301 of the Utah Code, last amended in 2003. Accessed 2008-06-14.
- ^ a b c Eagle Mountain elementary schools bursting - help may be on the way. Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved on 2007-09-23.
- ^ a b City votes to double size of new sewer. Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved on 2007-09-23.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ MountainView Corridor. Utah Department of Transportation. Retrieved on 2006-08-13.
- ^ Dedication of Pony Express Trail Monument. Eagle Mountain City. Retrieved on 2007-09-23.
- ^ Utah Rock Art Will Be Centerpiece of Subdivision's Park. Preservation Online. Retrieved on 2007-09-23.
- ^ Eagle Mountain wins population challenge to U.S. Census. Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved on 2007-09-23.
- ^ A Brief History - Eagle Mountain City Newsletter. Eagle Mountain City Government. Retrieved on 2007-10-01.
- ^ a b "Eagle Mountain City Hall Scandals", Deseret Morning News, 2007-09-20. Retrieved on 2007-10-22.
- ^ a b Mitchell, Lesley. "Another Eagle Mountain scandal: Mayoral candidate's real estate license revoked for equity skimming", Salt Lake Tribune, 2007-10-17. Retrieved on 2007-10-22.
- ^ Warner, Laura (2003-12-18). Jury to decide fate of mayor. Deseret Morning News. Retrieved on 2006-08-13.
- ^ a b Warnock, Caleb. "Lifferth resigns as Eagle Mountain mayor", Provo Daily Herald, 2005-12-05. Retrieved on 2007-10-22.
- ^ Choate-Nielsen, Amy (2006-10-20). Eagle Mountain mayor resigns. Deseret Morning News. Retrieved on 2008-03-06.
- ^ Choate-Nielsen, Amy (2006-10-24). Ex-Utah mayor facing 7 felony counts. Deseret Morning News. Retrieved on 2008-03-06.
- ^ Interim mayor for Eagle Mountain. Provo Daily Herald (2006-10-22). Retrieved on 2006-10-22.
[edit] External links
- Eagle Mountain, Utah is at coordinates Coordinates:
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