Box Elder County Utah - info, facts, communities, links on Key to theCity

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Information & Facts about Box Elder County, Utah

Attractions & other Information - Climate - Economy - Genealogy - Geography -
Government - History - Libraries - Location - Organizations & Groups -
Other Facts & Figures - Population - Schools

Government

Box Elder County Official Website

Box Elder County
1 South Main St.
Brigham City, Utah 84302
Phone: 435-734-3300
Toll-free: 877-390-2326

County Seat: Brigham City

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Population:

1860 - 1,608
1870 - 4,855
1880 - 6,761
1890 - 7,642
1900 - 10,009
1910 - 13,894
1920 - 18,788
1930 - 17,810
1940 - 18,832
1950 - 19,734
1960 - 25,061
1970 - 28,129
1980 - 33,222
1990 - 36,485
2000 - 42,745
2009 - 49,902

Median age:
2000 - 28 years

Population Density:
2000 - 9 persons per square mile

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Location:

The northern border is the state of Idaho. To the south is Tooele County and the Great Salt Lake. On the west is the state of Nevada. The eastern boundary includes the Wasatch Mountains and portions of Cache County, Weber County and a small corner of Davis County

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Climate:

All four seasons are represented in most of the County. Precipitation varies according to area with mountainous and hilly areas receiving more than the desert areas. Along the Great Salt Lake there is usually only about four inches per year, while the higher reaches of the Wasatch receive over 30 inches per year. The central area, which is the most concentrated agricultural area, generally receives about 14 to 16 inches per year. Most of this precipitation comes in the winter season in the form of snow. Frosts are fairly common in the spring and fall.

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Other Facts and Figures:

Median Household Income:
2000 - $44,630
2009 - $53,795

Per Capita Income:
2000 - $15,625

Median House Value:
2000 - $117,700
2009 - $195,320

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History:

A history page for Box Elder County. Also try this history page for the county. This is a good history summary for the county. Here is a brief history for the county.

Box Elder County was incorporated in 1869, well before Utah became a state 27 years later. It was created in 1856 by the territorial legislature from portions of Weber County. In 1880, the borders were again re-aligned. At this time the waters and islands of the Great Salt Lake were divided between Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Tooele and Box Elder Counties.

As with other northern Utah county areas, the first visitors to the region were fur trappers and explorers. Jim Bridger came down the Bear River from Cache Valley in 1825, becoming the first white man to greet the Great Salt Lake. The first permanent settlers, however, did not arrive until 1851 in the form of Mormon pioneers. The immediately planted crops, built homes and churches and town began to pop up. They utilized native materials whenever possible and quickly worked together to build up each area. In 1855, Church president, Brigham Young, named Lorenzo Snow to be the local political and ecclesiastical leader for the "Box Elder Stake of Zion."

The name "Box Elder" came from the many Box Elder trees in the area. The county seat, Brigham City, was named for Brigham Young. Other area communities, Willard, Howell and Snowville, among others, were named after local church leaders. One exception to the LDS colonization was Corinne, which was built up as a railroad and freighting town. Residents boasted of being the "Gentile Capitol of Utah."

One of the most significant events in the history of not only the area, but in the country, took place at Promontory Summit on May 10, 1869. This was where the last spike was driven to complete the country's first transcontinental Railroad, changing the form of migration for thousands of future "pioneers" and eventually changing the course of our national history. May 10 has been adopted as a commemorative day at Promontory Summit. Each year a special ceremony is held to help remember the events of that day. It has also been named a National Historic Site and welcomes many history buffs yearly. A visitor's center has been built as well as replicas of the famous locomotives, "119" and "Jupiter."

Ghost Towns of Box Elder County

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Geography:

Total area: 6,729 square miles
Land area: 5,723 square miles
Water area: 1,006 square miles

Box Elder County is five times larger than the entire state of Rhode Island and includes salt desert, valleys, mountains and more than 1,000 square miles of the Great Salt Lake

Elevation: 4,200-4,600 (with a few exceptions)

Most of this county is flat desert plain. It was once part of ancient massive Lake Bonneville. There are also high, forested mountains in the county. Most of the cities are along the Wasatch Front on the south-eastern border area of the county.

Some of this Lake is left in the form of the Great Salt Lake. It recent years, parts of the lake have receded leaving salt marshes, mud and salt flats. In the east, the peaks of the Wasatch rise over 11,000 feet above sea level. In the center of the county, another range runs parallel to the Wasatch and makes up the Malad and Lower Bear River Valley where most of the communities and population are located. While this area has much of the Agriculture due to its rich soils, the others areas are considered too alkaline to farm.

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Genealogy:

Kindred Trails page for Box Elder County
Box Elder County Cemetery Records
Linkpendium page for the county
Genealogy links for Box Elder County
US GenWeb Archives for Box Elder County

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Libraries:

Brigham City Library

26 East Forest Street
Brigham City, Utah 84302
Phone: 435-723-5850

Box Elder County Bookmobile Library
80 West 50 South
Willard, UT 84340
Phone: (435) 723-2261

Garland Public Library
86 West Factory Rd
Garland, UT 84312
Phone: (435) 257-3117

Tremonton City Library
210 North Tremont Street
Tremonton, UT 84337
Phone: (435) 257-2690

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Schools:

Box Elder School District
960 South Main
Brigham City, Utah 84302

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Economy:

The main industry in Box Elder County is agriculture. Much of the state's dry-land wheat is grown in the county. It is well-known for its Peaches and other fruits. Dairy, cattle and sheep industries are also among the predominant parts of the economy for Box Elder County.

County Economic Development page

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Organizations & Groups

Bear River Association of Governments - (BRAG)
Planning and development of the physical, economic, and human resources of Box Elder, Cache and Rich Counties, Utah.

Brigham Area Chamber of Commerce

6 North Main
Brigham City, Utah 84302
Phone: 435-723-3931

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Attractions & Other Information

Information about Box Elder County

The Golden Spike National Historic Site

Eli Anderson Historic Wagon and Buggy Collection
8790 West, Highway
Bothwell UT
Phone: 435-854-3760
Phone: 435-730-3368

Holmgren Historical Farm
640 North 300 East
Tremonton, Utah

Wildlife Watching in Box Elder County

Box Elder County Fair

Things to see and do in Box Elder County.

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
2155 West Forest Street
Brigham City, Utah
Phone: 435-723-5887

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