| Blanding, Utah | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| City office | |
| Location of Blanding, Utah | |
| Location of Utah in the United States | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| County | San Juan |
| Founded | 1905 |
| Founder | Walter C. Lyman |
| Named for | Amelia Blanding Bicknell |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.4 sq mi (6.1 km2) |
| • Land | 2.4 sq mi (6.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 6,106 ft (1,861 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 3,162 |
| • Density | 1,332.7/sq mi (515.1/km2) |
| Time zone | MST (UTC-7) |
| • Summer (DST) | MDT (UTC-6) |
| ZIP code | 84511 |
| Area code(s) | 435 |
| FIPS code | 49-06370[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1438903[2] |
Blanding is a city in San Juan County, Utah, United States. The population was 3,162 at the 2000 census, making it the most populated city in San Juan County. It was settled in the late 19th century by Mormon settlers, predominantly from the famed Hole-In-The-Rock expedition. Economic contributors include mineral processing, mining, agriculture, local commerce, tourism, and transportation.
Blanding is located near both the Navajo and White Mesa Ute Native American reservations, and a significant percentage of Blanding's population has family ties to these nearby cultures. Blanding is a gateway to an abundance of nearby natural and archaeological resources, including The Dinosaur Museum, Natural Bridges National Monument, Monument Valley and the Four Corners area, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Lake Powell), Cedar Mesa archaeological and wilderness area, the San Juan River including Goosenecks State Park, and the Needles district of Canyonlands National Park. It is located approximately 1 hour south of the popular recreation hub of Moab and Arches National Park.
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First known as Grayson (after Nellie Grayson Lyman, wife of settler Joseph Lyman), the town changed its name in 1914 when a wealthy easterner, Thomas W. Bicknell, offered a thousand-volume library to any town that would adopt his name. Grayson competed with Thurber, Utah (renamed Bicknell) for the prize. Grayson was renamed Blanding after the maiden name of Bicknell's wife, and each of the towns received 500 books.[3]
Blanding is located at (37.623199, -109.478943)[4] in the Four Corners area of the Colorado Plateau.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.1 km2), all land.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 385 |
|
|
| 1920 | 1,072 | 178.4% | |
| 1930 | 1,001 | −6.6% | |
| 1940 | 1,438 | 43.7% | |
| 1950 | 1,177 | −18.2% | |
| 1960 | 1,805 | 53.4% | |
| 1970 | 2,250 | 24.7% | |
| 1980 | 3,118 | 38.6% | |
| 1990 | 3,162 | 1.4% | |
| 2000 | 3,162 | 0% | |
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 3,162 people, 886 households, and 722 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,332.7 people per square mile (515.1/km2). There were 991 housing units at an average density of 417.7 per square mile (161.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 66.19% White, 0.06% African American, 28.94% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.80% from other races, and 2.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.05% of the population.
There were 886 households out of which 53.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.3% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.4% were non-families. 16.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.46 and the average family size was 3.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 40.9% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 16.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,991, and the median income for a family was $37,991. Males had a median income of $31,520 versus $20,391 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,160. About 13.9% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.8% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.
On June 10, 2009, Federal officials unsealed indictments against 24 people for looting Native American artifacts on public lands.[5] Specific charges included violating the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA), depredation and theft of government property, theft of Indian tribal property, violating the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), and transportation of stolen property.[6] That same day Blanding was the site of a related raid, and 16 local people were charged in the case.[7] Federal agents cataloged and photographed items of interest held by these individuals, but did not seize them at that time.[8] Commenting on the 2½-year probe, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said, "[l]et this case serve notice to anyone considering breaking these laws and trampling our nation's cultural heritage that the BLM, the Department of Justice and the federal government will track you down and bring you to justice."
On June 11, one of the suspects from Blanding, Dr. James Redd, was found dead of an apparent suicide. The following day another suspect, Steven L. Shrader of Santa Fe, New Mexico, was found dead of self-inflicted gunshot wounds.[9]
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Blanding,_Utah Blanding, Utah] at Wikimedia Commons
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