Park City, Utah

Park City, Utah
City

Park City in 2006

Location in Summit County and the state of Utah
Coordinates: 40°39′34″N 111°29′59″W / 40.65944°N 111.49972°WCoordinates: 40°39′34″N 111°29′59″W / 40.65944°N 111.49972°W
Country United States
State Utah
County Summit
Founded 1870
Named for Parley's Park
Government
 • Mayor Jack Thomas
Area
 • Total 17.567 sq mi (45.50 km2)
 • Land 17.567 sq mi (45.50 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 7,000 ft (2,000 m)
Population (2012)
 • Total 7,873
 • Density 430.2/sq mi (166.1/km2)
Time zone Mountain (UTC-7)
 • Summer (DST) Mountain (UTC-6)
ZIP codes 84060, 84068, 84098
Area code(s) 435
FIPS code 49-58070[1]
GNIS feature ID 1444206[2]
Website www.parkcity.org
The Silver King Coalition mine was once the world's richest. 1971 photo
Park City Utah Historical Wood Cabin
Historic Miners Hospital in Park City Utah
Looking down Main Street, 2004

Park City is a city in Summit County, Utah, United States. It is considered to be part of the Wasatch Back. The city is 32 miles (51 km) southeast of downtown Salt Lake City and 19.88 miles (31.99 km) from Salt Lake City's east edge of Sugar House along Interstate 80. The population was 7,558 at the 2010 census. On average, the tourist population greatly exceeds the number of permanent residents.

After a population decline following the shutdown of the area's mining industry, the city rebounded during the 1980s and 1990s through an expansion of its tourism business. The city currently brings in a yearly average of $529,800,000 to the Utah Economy as a tourist hot spot.[3] The city has three major ski resorts: Canyons Resort, Deer Valley Resort, and Park City Mountain Resort. The Park City and Deer Valley ski resorts were the major locations for ski and snowboarding events at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Although they receive less snow and have a shorter ski season than do their counterparts in Salt Lake County, such as Snowbird resort, they are much easier to access.

Additionally the city is the main location of the United States' largest independent film festival, the Sundance Film Festival, home of the United States Ski Team, training center for members of the Australian Freestyle Ski Team, the largest collection of factory outlet stores in northern Utah, the 2002 Olympic bobsled/skeleton/luge track at the Utah Olympic Park, and golf courses. Some scenes from 1994's Dumb and Dumber were shot in the city. Outdoor-oriented businesses such as backcountry.com, Rossignol USA, and Skullcandy have their headquarters in Park City. The city has many upscale luxury retailers, clubs, bars, and restaurants, and has nearby reservoirs, hot springs, forests, and hiking and biking trails.

In the summertime many valley residents of the Wasatch Front visit the town to escape high temperatures. Park City is usually 20 °F (11 °C) cooler than Salt Lake City, as it lies mostly above 7,000 feet (2,100 m) above sea level, while Salt Lake City is situated at an altitude of about 4,300 feet (1,300 m). It is one of the wealthiest cities in the United States and is notable for having a large number of Northern and Central European immigrants.

In 2008, Park City was named by Forbes Traveler Magazine among one of the 20 'prettiest towns' in the United States.[4] In 2011, the town was awarded a Gold-level Ride Center designation from the International Mountain Bicycling Association for its mountain bike trails, amenities and community.[5] It continues to be published in top ski, cycling and adventure magazines around the world.

History

The area was travelled by the early Mormon pioneers on their journey to where they settled and built Salt Lake City. One of their leaders, Parley P. Pratt, explored the canyon in 1848. He was given a charter the following year to build a toll road through it, which was finished in 1849.[6] The basin at the top of the canyon was good for grazing, and a few families settled there. Early on, the area was deeded to Samuel Snyder, Heber C. Kimball and Jedediah Grant. The settlers named it "Parley's Park City", which was shortened to "Park City" in the early 1900s. The first known discovery of ore in this area was by Colonel Patrick E. Connor, who instigated his men to search the area in bringing non-Mormons to the Utah region.[7] The finding of silver, gold and lead sparked the first silver mines in Park City in the 1860s. Park City’s large mining boom brought large crowds of prospectors setting up camps around the mountain terrain, marking the first mining settlements. Although it was not the first find, the Ontario mine, discovered by Herman Buden in 1872 and later purchased by George Hearst, was the first major producer. By 1892 the Silver King Mine and its owners Thomas Kearns and David Keith took the spotlight as one of the most famous silver mines in the world.[7][8] While silver was thriving in Utah, other mines around the world were depleted, drawing many of these miners to Park City. The town flourished with crowds of miners and wealth. However, the city nearly became a ghost town by the end of the 1950s because of a drop in the price of silver.

The transformation of the town into a ski resort is primarily attributed to the silver need during (and after) World War I economy. The war and Great Depression were crippling the economy.[7][8] Once the site of the largest silver-mining camp in the country, the town was virtually destroyed by fire in 1898. Tragedy struck again in 1902 when 34 miners were killed in an explosion in the Day West Mine. The mining community never fully recovered and the miners resorted to desperate measures. These desperate measures were based on the need to revive the economy, and in doing so the miners gave up their mining heritage, turning to the rising interest in the West and skiing. The silver industry was suffering severely, and the town was hanging by a thread when 'Parkite' miners presented to Utahns Inc. a proposal for a ski resort called Treasure Mountain which ended up saving the town. This ski resort opened in 1963 on 10,000 acres (40 km2) of land the miners owned with mineral rights. This is said to be when tourists first largely began to visit Park City. This marks the beginning of the ski industry largely promoted by the Utah State Legislation as a destination resort.[8]

Since the rise of the skiing and tourist economy, Park City houses more tourists than residents. It has become a place of fame through the 2002 Winter Olympic games and provides more attractions than ever before. In the 1950s, Utah began to feed on Park City as a mountain getaway, and not until D. James Canon promoted winter sports in Utah, with the promotional scheme of “Ski Utah” and “The Greatest Snow on Earth”[8] did many drive to see the city. Utah drew in over 648,000 tourists in 1970 and now a yearly average of 4 million tourists.[3] In a small town with a population of 8,000, the average number of tourists in Park City is 600,000 per year. This significant increase in visitors could be credited to promotional material that is carefully planned and distributed by the Utah Publicity and Tourist Council. Growth has accelerated in the last few decades, and Park City is now one of the most affluent and lively resort towns in the United States.

The tourist industry now contributes over one third of the total economic value to the state of Utah.[9] In particular, Park City draws in 3,006,071 average annual visitors; in the winter 1,603,775, and in the summer 1,402,296. Park City prospers from the average nightly visitor spending ranging from $100 to $350.[3] Currently, Park City primarily relies on its tourist industry from skiing to restaurants to hiking and biking. The makeover of Park City has stimulated an entirely different culture of expenditure, adventure, and wealth, and their promotional material indulges it.

As long ago as the 1920s, miners in Park City were using underground trains and shafts to gain access to the mountain for skiing. Aerial trams once used for hauling ore were converted into chairlifts. To this day, there are still more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of old silver-mine workings and tunnels beneath the slopes at Park City Mountain Resort and neighboring Deer Valley. Park City might be a fairly nondescript-appearing town were it not for its colorful and evocative Main Street, where 64 Victorian buildings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. There are many remaining mine buildings, mine shafts (most blocked off from outsiders with large steel doors), and hoists, including the weathered remains of the California-Comstock and Silver King Mines and the water towers once used to hydrate one of the biggest mines, the Silver King, provide a hint of the history of this mining town transformed in economic upheaval into a skiing resort.

Location

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.567 square miles (45.50 km2). None of the area is covered with water.

Park City is located at the south end of Snyderville Basin and climbs steep mountains to the southeast, south, and west. It is accessed by State Route 224 from Interstate 80 to the north and State Route 248 (Kearns Boulevard), which heads east to U.S. Route 40 and on to Kamas.

Climate

Park City, Utah
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
2.8
 
 
20
4
 
 
1.6
 
 
33
11
 
 
2.1
 
 
47
16
 
 
1.2
 
 
54
21
 
 
1.6
 
 
68
30
 
 
1.1
 
 
79
38
 
 
1.9
 
 
82
45
 
 
1.6
 
 
84
44
 
 
1.8
 
 
61
36
 
 
1.5
 
 
50
27
 
 
1.7
 
 
36
16
 
 
2.7
 
 
31
10
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: NOAA

Summers in Park City are mild, with chilly nights - while winters are cold and very snowy. On average, the temperature exceeds 90 °F (32 °C) five times and drops below 0 °F (−18 °C) twelve times per annum.Monsoon season starts in July and ends in early September. [10]

Climate data for Park City, Utah
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 20.2
(−6.6)		 33.1
(0.6)		 47.1
(8.4)		 53.5
(11.9)		 68.3
(20.2)		 78.9
(26.1)		 81.7
(27.6)		 84.3
(29.1)		 61.1
(16.2)		 49.7
(9.8)		 36.3
(2.4)		 31.0
(−0.6)		 48.3
(9.1)
Average low °F (°C) 3.6
(−15.8)		 10.8
(−11.8)		 15.5
(−9.2)		 21.2
(−6)		 29.6
(−1.3)		 37.7
(3.2)		 44.8
(7.1)		 43.7
(6.5)		 36.0
(2.2)		 26.6
(−3)		 15.6
(−9.1)		 9.7
(−12.4)		 25.1
(−3.8)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.8
(71)		 1.6
(41)		 2.1
(53)		 1.2
(30)		 1.6
(41)		 1.1
(28)		 1.9
(48)		 1.6
(41)		 1.8
(46)		 1.5
(38)		 1.7
(43)		 2.7
(69)		 21.4
(544)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 25.8
(65.5)		 25.8
(65.5)		 24.7
(62.7)		 14.6
(37.1)		 3.9
(9.9)		 0.4
(1)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 1.4
(3.6)		 4.5
(11.4)		 17.9
(45.5)		 22.8
(57.9)		 141.8
(360.2)
Source #1: Homefacts[11]
Source #2: Weatherbase[10]

Demographics

The City Hall building in "Park City, Utah"
Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1870164—
18801,542840.2%
18902,85084.8%
19003,75931.9%
19103,439−8.5%
19203,393−1.3%
19304,28126.2%
19403,739−12.7%
19502,254−39.7%
19601,366−39.4%
19701,193−12.7%
19802,823136.6%
19904,46858.3%
20007,34164.3%
20107,5583.0%
Est. 20127,873[12]4.2%
source:[13][14]

As of the census[15] of 2010, there were 7,558 people, 2,885 households, and 1,742 families residing in the city. The population density was 430.2 inhabitants per square mile (166.1/km2). There were 9,471 housing units at an average density of 539.1 per square mile (208.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 81.0% White, 0.6% African American, 0.30% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 13.5% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 24.1% of the population.

There were 2885 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.6% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.6 and the average family size was 3.03.

The age distribution was 23.0% under the age of 20, 7.2% from 20 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.4 years. For every 100 females there were 112.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.7 males.

As of the census[1] of 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $65,800, and the median income for a family was $77,137. Males had a median income of $40,032 versus $26,341 for females. The per capita income for the city was $45,164. About 5.3% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.6% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Park City Transit

Park City operates its own free intra-city transit system (with additional service to limited areas of Summit County northeast of town). Routes include service to the Canyons Resort, Deer Valley Resort, Empire Pass, Jeremy Ranch Park & Ride lot, Kimball Junction, Park City Resort, Park Meadows, Pinebrook, Prospector Square, Silver Lake Village, Silver Springs, Silver Summit/Highland Estates, and Thaynes Canyon.[16] All Park City Transit buses are ADA accessible, however, there is also a paratransit service for those ADA certified passengers that are unable to use the regular service.[17] Hubs (or transition points) include Canyons Transit Hub, Newpark (Kimballs Junction), Old Town Transit Center, and Park City Mountain Resort. In addition to the regular bus routes, during the winter season, there is a trolley that runs the length of Main Street and connects with the Old Town Transit Center (with connections to all other routes).

Park City Transit has a Safe Haven Program where by all bus drivers have direct contact with the Park City Police Department. Anyone who is in imminent danger is encouraged to board any of the buses to obtain assistance.[16] Park City Transit buses are only allowed to stop at designated bus stops, but the trolley may stop anywhere on main street.

In addition to those routes operated by Park City Transit, two additional routes provide transportation from Salt Lake Valley through Parleys Canyon to Park City.[16] These routes are referred to as Park City-Salt Lake City Connect or simply PC-SLC Connect and operated by Utah Transit Authority (UTA) through a cooperative effort of Park City Transit, Summit County, and UTA. Accordingly, the fare for these routes is about double the bus fare for regular UTA bus routes. Furthermore, UTA bus passes and transfers from UTA routes are not accepted. However, since Park City Transit routes are free, transfers from PC-SLC Connect to Park City Transit are not an issue.

Park City High School

Park City High School is located at 1752 Kearns Blvd Park City, Utah. Park City School District's size is in the middle of the other Utah school districts, with over 4,500 students. It is also close to the state average ethnic minority composition. Seventeen percent of its students are ethnic minority - mostly Hispanic heritage. Enrollment has remained fairly constant, increasing by 265 students in the past five years. The High School, which is well-funded, provides its students with a series of film and T.V. production classes, and hosts 'The Miner Film Festival' each year for students to enter their films and show them at the Eccles Center.

Sister cities

Notable residents

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 http://www.parkcityinfo.com/docs/TOURISM_2009.pdf
  4. ↑ Giuffo, John (2011-04-12). "America's Prettiest Towns". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2011-08-15. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  5. ↑ "Park City (UT) Gold-level - International Mountain Bicycling Association". Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  6. ↑ Strack, Don (September 12, 2004), "The Golden Pass: A History of Transportation in Parleys Canyon, Utah", UtahRails.net
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Balls, Jami, "Places: Olympic Locations", HistoryToGo.Utah.gov (Utah Division of State History, Utah Department of Heritage & Arts, State of Utah) |chapter= ignored (help)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Rugh, Susan Sessions (2006). "Branding Utah: Industrial Tourism in the Postwar American West". The Western Historical Quarterly 37 (4). Archived from the original on 2007-03-11.
  9. ↑ Sitko, Nicki (April 18, 2005), "Fall 2005 class project for Urban Planning 538: Economic Development Planning", www.umich.edu/~econdev/ (Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of Michigan) |chapter= ignored (help)
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Park City, Utah, United States of America - Travel, Vacation and Reference Information". Canty and Associates LLC. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  11. ↑ "Park-City Weather Information". Homefacts.com. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  12. ↑ census.gov
  13. ↑ Moffatt, Riley. Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850-1990. Lanham: Scarecrow, 1996, 309.
  14. ↑ "Subcounty population estimates: Utah 2000-2007" (CSV). United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 18 Mar 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
  15. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 http://www.parkcity.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=3729
  17. ↑ http://www.parkcity.org/index.aspx?page=422

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Park City, Utah.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Park City.
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