Page Contents for Delta, Utah

Statistics & Facts

Location

Geography

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Economy

Government

Historical Events

Chamber of Commerce.

Community events.

Organizations, Churches, and Sports.

Libraries.

Schools.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The Utah state capital is Salt Lake City.
The population of Delta is approximately 3,220 (2009), 3436 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 1,106 (2000), 1151 (2010).
The amount of land area in Delta is 8.2 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Delta is 3.2 sq. miles.
The amount of surface water is 0 sq kilometers.
The distance from Delta to Washington DC is 2016 miles.
The distance to the Utah state capital is 108 miles. (as the crow flies)
Delta is positioned 39.35 degrees north of the equator and 112.56 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Delta elevation is 4,649 feet above sea level.
Delta per capita income is $ 16,051 (2009).
Delta median income is $ 44,896 (2009).
The Delta median home price is $ 121,437 (2009).
Delta average annual precipitation is 7.89 inches peryear.
Delta average annual snowfall is 24.6 inches per year.
The average low temperature is 34.5 degrees F.
The average high temperature is 65.7 degrees F.

Location

in west-central Utah, west of I-15 on highway 50. It is about 78 miles southwest of Provo. Other nearby communities include Hinckley, Oak City, Lynndyl, Leamington, Holden, Scipio, Fillmore and Meadow.
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Geography

The Sevier River runs near Delta and is used for irrigation before it ends at the dry Sevier Lake. Upstream, the river has been dammed for water storage and irrigation. The reservoir is called the DMAD. Downstream of Delta, the river is once more dammed for irrigation and water storage purposes. This second reservoir is called the Gunnison Bend Reservoir. It was named for John Williams Gunnison.

The Little Sahara Sand Dunes are about 25 miles north of Delta and are a popular recreational area.
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Weather

moderate. Here is a current weather page for the Delta area.
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History & History Related Items

Here is a history page for Delta.

The following are a few facts from that page. Much more information is available at the site

The founding of Delta is said to have originated with a railroad servicing facility called Akin sometime prior to 1905-07. A gentleman named James A. Melville, an engineer by profession was instrumental in helping the Melville Irrigation Company to divert water from the Sevier River to our area. The community was named Melville to honor him. At some point between 1905-1911, the name was changed to Burtner because the U.S. Postal Service objected to the name Melville due to a similarity in name to a town called Millville near the northern Utah town of Logan. Another name given the town was Burtner after a railroad employee. After some objections, there was a contest to officially name the town. Delta was submitted meaning a fertile area near a river's mouth. In 1911, Burtner was incorporated and the name was changed at the same time to Delta. Delta became a city in 1940.
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Attractions

Fort Deseret
Near mile post 65 south of Deseret on Utah 257
Built initially when the residents worried over Indian uprisings in the 1865. Trouble was averted and the Fort was eventually used to house cattle. Restoration efforts are in progress.

Great Basin Historical Society Museum
328 W 100 N
Delta UT 84624
Phone: 435-864-5013

Great Stone Face
The turnoff is approximately 3 miles south of Deseret on Utah 257.
The locals refer to the face as the "Keeper of the Desert." It is made of black lava rock which has eroded over many years. It appears to have the form of a human face. Petroglyphs are also in the area and may be seen along the roadway.

Millard County Fairgrounds and Indoor Arena
Millard County Fair
110 S Manzanita Ave
Delta UT, 84624-8835

Millard County tourism
P.O. Box 606
Delta, UT 84624
Toll-free: 800-864-0345
Fax: 435-864-2537

U Dig Fossils
Just west of Delta is the site of the best Trilobite collecting in the world. Check the site for dates when the site is open.

Delta, Utah, Then and Now
Lots of pictures of the area from the past and the present.

Topaz Internment Camp Museum
P.O. Box 241
Delta, UT 84624

Little Sahara - ATV recreation area west of Delta

Information for Delta Municipal Airport
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Economy & Industry

Agriculture is one of the main sectors of the local economy in Delta with the main crop being Alfalfa hay. Dairy farms are also here for milk and cheese production.

Another large sector in the economyis the IPP (Intermountain Power Project). This is a coal powered power plant that supplies power mainly for the Los Angeles area of California.
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Delta City Government

City of Delta
76 North 200 West
Delta, UT 84624
Phone: 435-864-2759

Delta Historical Events

2007, July 4
World Record Bunny Hop
On the Fourth of July in 2007, the residents of Delta, both young, old and in between, gathered to try to break a world record for the world's largest Bunny Hop. All the participants wore bunny ears with the line measuring over 4,000 feet. There were 3,841 persons in the line making it an official world record at the time. The try at the record came during Delta's Centennial year of 2007. The local high school mascot is also a rabbit making the event even more important to the community.

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1953, October 26
Gunnison Massacre
John Williams Gunnison was assigned to lead an expedition to survey a route for the Pacific railroad. They left from St. Louis, Missouri in June, 1853 and arrived in Manti, Utah in October. Here the party began the survey loosely following the Gunnison and Green Rivers onto the Sevier River. As winter was approaching and snow began to fall, the group hurried to complete their task. At Lake Sevier, they divided into two groups. On the morning of the attack, Gunnison’s group was attacked by a band of Ute Indians. Gunnison and seven of his men were killed. A few survivors were able to let the other group know what happened and they quickly came to aid them. The bodies and one more survivor were collected later that day. The eight bodies were found multilated by the Utes.

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1929
The Hermit of Marjum Pass
A man named Bob Stinson from Iowa became known as the Hermit of Marjum Pass when he began living in this desolate area about 45 miles west of Delta. He served in the military during WWI and while gone, he received word that his girlfriend had married someone else. When he was released and sad from losing his girl, he decided to travel, first moving to South Dakota with his brother where they ran a garage. Then, in 1929, he came to Millard County to visit another brother. While traveling on old Highway 50, his car broke down in Marjum Pass. He lived out of his car for a time and then began to build a rock wall outside a cave such as the Anasazi had done in nearby areas. He gradually improved his cave and made provisions for water storage and cooking. The outside rock is still black from where his cookstove stood. Even though he was in an out-of-the way place, he had many visitors and most received his hospitality complete with his home-made brew. But if a guest didn't leave a small "tip" on the table after partaking, they weren't offered a drink the next time they stopped by. He trapped bobcats and coyotes and sold the pelts to make ends meet. He cleared rock from the highway for a small job the government provided him. He also grew his own vegetables and raised sheep. When a new highway was built in 1951, he no longer had his road job. He finally moved into Delta though somewhat reluctantly. He died in 1961 at the age of 80 and requested that his ashes be scattered around his pass home.

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1927
West Desert Sinkhole
This large sinkhole was discovered by Joseph Nielson in 1927. He was out on the range with some mules when he got into unfamiliar area. His horse abruptly stopped and refused to go any further. He got off and started walking forward while still holding onto the reins. He suddenly found himself in midair. His horse quickly backed up saving him from the unseen danger. He left the area carefully returning the next day to further explore in the daylight. Again his horse was reluctant to go any where near the area and he found, with good reason. He walked a little closer and found a huge sinkhole at least 70 feet across and, he estimated, about 90 feet deep. Early explorers of the sinkhole said they could walk back into an ancient riverbed tunnel for quite a ways. The floor was uneven due to cave-ins and rocks around. The area at the bottom was much larger than at the top which made it a difficult trip out once you were in. The area has since been fenced off to keep people and animals from wandering into the sinkhole. The edges of the hold are loose and crumbling so it is a dangerous place to even walk around.

Delta Chamber

Delta Area Chamber of Commerce
80 North 200 West
Delta, Utah 84624
Toll-free: 800-864-0345
Phone: 435-864-4316

Delta Community Events

February, each year
Delta Snow Goose Festival
See thousands of snow geese in the air and in the water with lots of other activities including the Wild Goose Chase, the Skeet Shoot, Piece in the Valley Quilt Show and Mother Goose Craft Fair.

Delta Organizations

Delta Area Chamber of Commerce
80 North 200 West
Delta, Utah 84624
Toll-free: 800-864-0345
Phone: 435-864-4316

Delta Libraries

Delta Public Library
76 N 200 W
Delta UT 84624-9440
Phone: 435 864-4945

Delta Schools

Millard School District
285 E. 450 North
Delta, UT 84624
Phone: 435-864-1000 Delta

Miscellany

The population of Delta was:
1920 - 939
1930 - 1,183
1940 - 1,304
1950 - 1,703
1960 - 1,576
1970 - 1,610
1980 - 1,930
1990 - 2,998
2000 - 3,209
2009 - 3,220

Median age:
2000 - 28 years

Number of Housing Units:
1990 - 1,012
2000 - 1,106
2008 - 1,345

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Median Household Income:
2000 - $ 37,773
2009 - $ 44,896

Per Capita Income:
2000 - $ 13,273
2009 - $ 16,051

Median house value:
2000 - $ 78,000
2009 - $ 121,437 Delta is located in the Mountain Time Zone and does participate in daylight savings time during a portion of the year.