List of counties in Utah

RH
CH
BE
TO
DA
WB
MO
SL
SU
DA
UI
CA
DU
WS
UT
JB
MI
SP
SV
EM
GR
SJ
WN
PT
BV
IR
GA
KN
WA

There are 29 counties in the U.S. state of Utah. There were originally seven counties established under the provisional State of Deseret in 1849: Davis, Iron, Sanpete, Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah, and Weber.[1] The Territory of Utah was created in 1851 with the first territorial legislature meeting from 1851–1852. The first legislature re-created the original counties from the State of Deseret under territorial law as well as establishing three additional counties: Juab, Millard, and Washington. All other counties were established between 1854 and 1894 by the Utah Territorial Legislature under territorial law except for the last two counties formed, Daggett and Duchesne. They were created by popular vote and by gubernatorial proclamation after Utah became a state.[2] Present-day Duchesne County encompassed an Indian reservation that was created in 1861. The reservation was opened to homesteaders in 1905 and the county was created in 1913.[3] Due to bad roads and weather, residents in present-day Daggett County had to travel 400 to 800 miles (640 to 1,300 km) to conduct business in Vernal, the county seat for Uintah County. In 1917, all Uintah County residents voted to create Daggett County.[4]

Based on the 2010 United States Census data, the population of Utah was 2,763,885. Just over 75% of Utah's population is concentrated along four Wasatch Front counties of Salt Lake, Utah, Davis, and Weber. Salt Lake County was the largest county in the state with a population of 1,029,655, followed by Utah County with 516,564, Davis County with 306,479 and Weber County with 231,236. Daggett County was the least populated with 1,059 people. The largest county in land area is San Juan County with 7,821 square miles (20,260 km2) and Davis County is the smallest with 304 square miles (790 km2).[5]

The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, which is used by the United States government to uniquely identify states and counties, is provided with each county.[6] Utah's FIPS code is 49, which when combined with any county code would be written as 49XXX. In the FIPS code column in the table below, each FIPS code links to the most current census data for that county.[7]

Counties

County
 FIPS code
[7]		 County seat
[2][8]		 Established
[2][8]		 Origin
[2]		 Etymology
[9][10]		 Population
(2010)[5]		 Area
[8]		 Map
Beaver County 001 Beaver 1856 Part of Iron County[11] The many beavers in the area &100000000000066290000006,629 &100000000000025900000002,590 sq mi
(&100000000000067080000006,708 km2)
Box Elder County 003 Brigham City 1856 Part of Weber County The many Box Elder trees in the area &1000000000004997500000049,975 &100000000000057240000005,724 sq mi
(&1000000000001482500000014,825 km2)
Cache County 005 Logan 1857 Part of Weber County[11] Caches of furs made by Rocky Mountain Fur Company trappers &10000000000112656000000112,656 &100000000000011650000001,165 sq mi
(&100000000000030170000003,017 km2)
Carbon County 007 Price 1894 Part of Emery County The vast coal beds in the county.[12] &1000000000002140300000021,403 &100000000000014790000001,479 sq mi
(&100000000000038310000003,831 km2)
Daggett County 009 Manila 1919 Part of Uintah County Ellsworth Daggett (1810–1880), the first Utah Surveyor General &100000000000010590000001,059 &10000000000000698000000698 sq mi
(&100000000000018080000001,808 km2)
Davis County 011 Farmington 1850 Original county of State of Deseret Daniel C. Davis (1804–1850), Mormon Battalion captain &10000000000295332000000295,332 &10000000000000304000000304 sq mi
(&10000000000000787000000787 km2)
Duchesne County 013 Duchesne 1913 Part of Wasatch County Uncertain; likely origins are a Ute word translated "dark canyon", the French and Indian War site of Fort Duquesne (the county's initial settlement was also a fortress), the corrupted name of an area Indian chief, or the name of French fur trapper and explorer. &1000000000001860700000018,607 &100000000000032380000003,238 sq mi
(&100000000000083860000008,386 km2)
Emery County 015 Castle Dale 1880 Part of Sanpete County[13] George W. Emery (1830–1909), Governor of the Utah Territory from 1875–1880 &1000000000001097600000010,976 &100000000000044520000004,452 sq mi
(&1000000000001153100000011,531 km2)
Garfield County 017 Panguitch 1882 Part of Iron County James A. Garfield (1831–1881), President of the United States in 1881 &100000000000051720000005,172 &100000000000051740000005,174 sq mi
(&1000000000001340100000013,401 km2)
Grand County 019 Moab 1890 Part of Emery County The Grand River, since renamed to the Colorado River &100000000000092250000009,225 &100000000000036820000003,682 sq mi
(&100000000000095360000009,536 km2)
Iron County 021 Parowan 1850 Original county of State of Deseret Iron mines west of Cedar City.[14] &1000000000004616300000046,163 &100000000000032980000003,298 sq mi
(&100000000000085420000008,542 km2)
Juab County 023 Nephi 1852 Original county of Territory of Utah A Native American word translated "thirsty valley" &1000000000001024600000010,246 &100000000000033920000003,392 sq mi
(&100000000000087850000008,785 km2)
Kane County 025 Kanab 1864 Part of Washington County Thomas L. Kane (1822–1883), U.S. Army officer who spoke in favor of the Mormon migration and settlement of Utah &100000000000071250000007,125 &100000000000039920000003,992 sq mi
(&1000000000001033900000010,339 km2)
Millard County 027 Fillmore 1851 Original county of Territory of Utah Millard Fillmore (1800–1874), President of the United States from 1850 to 1853 &1000000000001250300000012,503 &100000000000065900000006,590 sq mi
(&1000000000001706800000017,068 km2)
Morgan County 029 Morgan 1862 Part of Davis County[15] Jedediah Morgan Grant (1816–1856), an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints &100000000000094690000009,469 &10000000000000609000000609 sq mi
(&100000000000015770000001,577 km2)
Piute County 031 Junction 1865 Part of Beaver County The Piute tribe of Native Americans who lived in the area &100000000000015560000001,556 &10000000000000758000000758 sq mi
(&100000000000019630000001,963 km2)
Rich County 033 Randolph 1864 Part of Cache County Charles C. Rich (1809–1883), an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints &100000000000022640000002,264 &100000000000010290000001,029 sq mi
(&100000000000026650000002,665 km2)
Salt Lake County 035 Salt Lake City 1849 Original county of State of Deseret The Great Salt Lake, the largest terminal lake in the Western Hemisphere &100000000010296650000001,029,665 &10000000000000737000000737 sq mi
(&100000000000019090000001,909 km2)
San Juan County 037 Monticello 1880 Parts of Kane, Iron, and Piute counties Named for the San Juan River, a 400-mile (640 km) tributary of the Colorado river located in southern Colorado and Utah &1000000000001474600000014,746 &100000000000078210000007,821 sq mi
(&1000000000002025600000020,256 km2)
Sanpete County 039 Manti 1849 Original county of State of Deseret Uncertain, possibly from a Ute Chief named San Pitch &1000000000002788200000027,882 &100000000000015880000001,588 sq mi
(&100000000000041130000004,113 km2)
Sevier County 041 Richfield 1862 Part of Sanpete County The Sevier River, a 280-mile (450 km) mile river in central Utah &1000000000002080200000020,802 &100000000000019100000001,910 sq mi
(&100000000000049470000004,947 km2)
Summit County 043 Coalville 1854 Part of Salt Lake and Green River counties[16] High elevations in the county, which includes 39 of Utah's highest peaks &1000000000003632400000036,324 &100000000000018710000001,871 sq mi
(&100000000000048460000004,846 km2)
Tooele County 045 Tooele 1849 Original county of State of Deseret Uncertain, either from the Goshute Tribe Chief Tuilla or the Tules plant that grew in the marshes &1000000000005821800000058,218 &100000000000069460000006,946 sq mi
(&1000000000001799000000017,990 km2)
Uintah County 047 Vernal 1880 Part of Wasatch[17] The Uintah band of the Ute tribe who lived in the area &1000000000003258800000032,588 &100000000000044770000004,477 sq mi
(&1000000000001159500000011,595 km2)
Utah County 049 Provo 1849 Original county of State of Deseret Yuta, the Spanish name for the Ute tribe &10000000000516564000000516,564 &100000000000019980000001,998 sq mi
(&100000000000051750000005,175 km2)
Wasatch County 051 Heber City 1862 Part of Utah and Sanpete counties[18] A Native American word meaning "mountain pass", also the name of the Wasatch Range &1000000000002353000000023,530 &100000000000011810000001,181 sq mi
(&100000000000030590000003,059 km2)
Washington County 053 St. George 1852 Original county of Territory of Utah George Washington (1732–1799), President of the United States from 1789 to 1797 &10000000000138115000000138,115 &100000000000024270000002,427 sq mi
(&100000000000062860000006,286 km2)
Wayne County 055 Loa 1892 Part of Piute County Wayne Robinson, the son of Utah state legislator Willis Robinson, who was killed by a horse while both men traveled to a legislative session. &100000000000025890000002,589 &100000000000027780000002,778 sq mi
(&100000000000071950000007,195 km2)
Weber County 057 Ogden 1849 Original county of State of Deseret The Weber River, a 125 miles (201 km) tributary of the Great Salt Lake &10000000000231236000000231,236 &10000000000000576000000576 sq mi
(&100000000000014920000001,492 km2)

Former counties

There were ten counties in the Territory of Utah that were absorbed by other states or Utah counties.

County[2] Established[2] Superseded[2] Etymology[10] Present location[2]
Carson County 1854 1861 Named for the Carson River, a 150-mile (240 km) river in Nevada and California that originates from the Sierra Nevada Mountains Nevada
Cedar County 1856 1862 Named for the numerous cedar trees growing in the area (which are actually juniper trees)[19] Utah County
Desert County 1852 1862 Named for the surrounding desert Box Elder County, Tooele County and Nevada
Greasewood County 1856 1862 Named for the greasewood plant growing in the area Box Elder County
Green River County 1852 1872 Named for the Green River, a 730-mile (1,170 km) tributary of the Colorado River that runs through Wyoming, Colorado and Utah Cache, Weber, Morgan, Davis, Wasatch, Summit, Duchesne, Carbon, and Utah Counties, and Wyoming and Colorado
Humboldt County 1856 1861 Named for the Humboldt River, a 300-mile (480 km) river in Nevada and longest river in the Great Basin Nevada
Malad County 1856 1862 Named for the Malad River, the name being French for "sickly" Box Elder County
Rio Virgin County 1869 1872 Named for the Virgin River, a 160 miles (260 km) long tributary of the Colorado River located in southern Utah and Nevada Washington County, Nevada and Arizona
St. Mary's County 1856 1861 Named after the Mary's River, which was later renamed to the Humboldt River Nevada
Shambip County 1856 1862 Goshute Native American Tribe word for Rush Lake Tooele County

References

  1. ^ Fisher, Richard Swainson (1855). A new and complete statistical gazetteer of the United States of America. New York: J.H. Colton and Company. p. 870. http://books.google.com/?id=lnJ1AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA870. Retrieved April 23, 2010. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Chart of County Formation in Utah". Utah Division of Archives and Record Services. http://archives.utah.gov/research/guides/county-formation.htm. Retrieved April 25, 2010. 
  3. ^ "Duchesne County, Utah". Pioneer, Utah's Online Library. State of Utah. http://pioneer.utah.gov/research/utah_counties/duchesne.html. Retrieved May 1, 2010. 
  4. ^ Industrial Commission of Utah (1920). Report of the Industrial Commission of Utah. Kaysville, Utah: Inland Publishing Company. p. 346. http://books.google.com/?id=3xooAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA346. Retrieved May 1, 2010. 
  5. ^ a b "Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 - State -- County". U.S. Census Bureau. http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST05&prodType=table. Retrieved February 25, 2011. 
  6. ^ "FIPS Publish 6-4". National Institute of Standards and Technology. http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/fip6-4.htm. Retrieved July 20, 2007. 
  7. ^ a b "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". US Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/codes/ut.html. Retrieved February 23, 2008. 
  8. ^ a b c "Utah". About Counties. National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/state.cfm&state.cfm&statecode=UT. Retrieved July 21, 2007. 
  9. ^ "History of County Names". Utah Association of Counties. http://www.uacnet.org/county/meaning.php. Retrieved August 12, 2008. 
  10. ^ a b Van Cott, John W. (1990). Utah Place Name. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press. ISBN 978-0874803457. 
  11. ^ a b "Colton's territories of New Mexico and Utah (1855)". University of Nevada at Reno. http://contentdm.library.unr.edu/cdm4/item_viewer_hmaps.php?CISOROOT=/hmaps&CISOPTR=1628&CISOBOX=1&REC=13. Retrieved April 25, 2010. 
  12. ^ "Three Utah coal mines targeted by federal safety inspectors". Salt Lake Tribune. April 23, 2010. http://www.sltrib.com/traffic/ci_14940119. Retrieved April 28, 2010. 
  13. ^ Bancroft, Hubert Howe (1890). History of Utah. San Francisco: The History Company. http://books.google.com/?id=0gsTAAAAYAAJ&dq=old%20map%20of%20utah&pg=PP1. Retrieved April 25, 2010. 
  14. ^ "Palladon Ventures". Palladon Ventures. http://www.palladonventures.com/s/Home.asp. Retrieved April 28, 2010. 
  15. ^ Tullidge, Edward William (1889). Tullidge's histories, (volume II) containing the history of all the northern Utah. Salt Lake City: Juvenile Instructor. p. 118. http://books.google.com/?id=V9yNdroBfdgC&dq=%22morgan%20county%22%20utah&pg=PA118. Retrieved April 25, 2010. 
  16. ^ "Summit County". Utah History Encyclopedia. University of Utah. http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/s/SUMMITCT.html. Retrieved April 25, 2010. 
  17. ^ "Uintah County". Utah History Encyclopedia. University of Utah. http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/u/UINTAHCT.html. Retrieved April 25, 2010. 
  18. ^ State of Utah (1888). The compiled laws of Utah. Salt Lake City: Herbert Pembroke. p. 268. http://books.google.com/?id=5RpEAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22wasatch%20county%22%20utah&pg=PA263. Retrieved April 25, 2010. 
  19. ^ "Cedar City lacks namesake trees". The Spectrum (Cedar City). April 14, 2010. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thespectrum/access/2009809121.html?FMT=ABS&date=Apr+14%2C+2010. Retrieved April 29, 2010. 
 State of Utah
Topics
Society
Regions
Largest cities
Counties
Attractions