Utah County Utah - info, facts, communities on Key to the City

Utah County Convention and Visitors Bureau
51 South University Ave., Ste. 110
Provo, UT 84601
Phone: 801-370-8393
Toll-free: 800-222-8824
Fax: 801-370-8050

Utah County

100 East Center Street
Provo, Utah 84606
Phone: (801)370-8000
Fax: (801) 370-8232 (clerk)

Utah County Marriage Licenses
Utah County Passports
Other Vital Records
100 E. Center St.
Provo, Utah 84606-3106
Phone: 801-370-8109

Provo is the County Seat for Utah County

The County is governed by a board of three county commissioners. They are elected to four-year terms. One of these commissioners is chosen as the chairperson.

There are 23 incorporated cities in Utah County! The five largest cities are Provo, 99,606, Orem, 79,736, American Fork, 19,451, Pleasant Grove, 19,357, and Springville, 15,855. The other incorporated cities are Spanish Fork, Payson, Lehi, Highland, Lindon, Mapleton, Alpine, Santaquin, Salem, Genola, Elk Ridge, Cedar Hills, Goshen, Woodland Hills, Cedar Fort, and the smallest towns, Vineyard at 152 people, Eagle Mountain, estimated at 148 people and Saratoga Springs, with an estimated 175 people.

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History:

Take a look at this history page for Utah County.

Utah County was formed on 31 January 1850 in the then state of "Deseret". The name of the state was, of course, later changed to Utah.

The first inhabitants of Utah Valley were the Ute Indians. They lived alongside Utah Lake and the Jordan River, subsisting on fish as their main food source. They were not warring type tribes. The first non-Indians to enter the valley were the Dominguez Escalante party, a group of Franciscan priests and their company. They came in through Spanish Fork Canyon in 1776. The Mormon pioneers settled here in 1849. The concentration of settlers was on the land between Utah Lake and the mountains with its fertile and well-irrigated land. Among the towns were Provo, Lehi, and Santaquin.

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Geography:

The Wasatch Mountains are predominant in the County, all along the eastern border. Utah Lake is to the west. The Wasatch has many high mountain peaks, some reaching over 11,000 feet. Mt. Timpanogos (11,750), with its legends, hovers over the entire valley. The mountains receive heavy snowfall each winter, which, in turn, helps feed the areas streams, rivers and lakes. Utah Lake is Utah's largest fresh-water lake, with 88,895 acres (138.90 miles). Even though it is a large lake, it is shallow, reaching its deepest point at only 18 feet. The Oquirrh Mountains form the extreme western border of the County

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Economy:

Farming, particularly fruit growing, has always been important in Utah County. Orem, once a major center for the fruit, has become more residential and business-oriented. The southern portion of the county has more recently become the center for fruit production. Both Geneva Steel and Brigham Young University have, for years, been major factors in the economy of the county.

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Location:

Utah County is in north-central Utah. To the north is Salt Lake County. The western border is shared with Tooele County. To the southwest are Juab, Sanpete and Carbon Counties. On the east is Wasatch County with a small corner of Duchesne County in the extreme southeast.

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Population:

1990 - 263,590
1991 - 269,278
1992 - 275,673
1993 - 283,578
1994 - 302,052
1995 - 310,642
1996 - 319,694
1997 - 328,116
1998 - 340,816
2000 - 368,536

A page with information about Utah County - particularly things to see and do

Lots of facts about Utah Valley

Visitor Information Center - This center is located in the beautiful and historic Utah County Courthouse
51 S. University Ave., Suite 111
Provo, UT 84601

Phones:

1-800-222-UTAH
1-801-370-8394
1-801-370-8050 (FAX)

Email: ucadm.visitors@state.ut.us

Elevation:

The average elevation in the valley is 4,492 feet with ranges between 4,300 to 4,700 feet above sea level
Highest point in Utah County - Mt. Nebo (Wasatch Range) at 11,928' 2
Lowest point in Utah County - Depression in Jordan River Flood Plain 4,480'

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Size:

2,143 square miles of land area. It has a perimeter of 301.68 miles.

Time Zone:

Utah Valley is in the Mountain Time Zone. Daylight Savings time extends from the first Sunday in April until the last Sunday in October.

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Climate & Weather:

There are four separate seasons in the county.
Average summer temperature: high-92; low-54
Average winter temperature: high-37; low-14
Median yearly temperature: 52.3
Average high temperature: 65.4
Average low temperature: 39.3
The temperature rarely goes below 0 degrees F.
Average precipitation: 14.2 inches.
The average humidity during the winter months is 50% or lower, while 70% humidity is about normal during the rest of the year.

Utah County has a moderate climate.

Here is a weather site from the local channel 5 weather

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Organizations & Groups

United Way of Utah County

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Attractions & Other Information:

Brigham Young University, the largest private university in the United States, as far as enrolled full-time students is concerned, is located in Utah County.

Utah County Fair

SLC Winter Olympics 2002

America's Freedom Festival at Provo
One of America's largest Independence Celebrations. More than 30 events over a 21 day period highlight the founding of the United States of America. 25 events are free to the public, 5 events are participant entry-fee based, and two events are ticketed admission. More than 400,000 people participate in one or more of the events. The purpose of the festival is to educate, entertain and involve the community in honoring our nation. The Stadium of Fire spectacular is the anchor event of the festival with more than 50,000 people filling BYU's Cougar Stadium. Information on the festival can be obtained by calling the festival office (801) 370-80523 or on the internet at http://www.freedomfestival.org/. This is an annual event always starting on Flag Day (June 14) and ending on Independence Day (July 4)

Timpanogos Storytelling Festival
Held in August each year in Orem, Utah

The Sundance Film Festival and Film Institute

Sundance Resort

North fork, Provo Canyon ,15 miles from Provo off Hwy. 92. The resort, founded by actor, Robert Redford, offers sites for snowmobiling, downhill skiing, fly-fishing, and mountain biking, ski school, ski rentals, crosscountry skiing, shops, restaurants, general store and lodging. The resort also hosts concerts, and is home of the Sundance Outdoor Professional Theater, Children's Theatre, the Sundance Film Festival, and the Sundance Institute for independent filmmakers and writers.
The elevation of the ski resort is from 6,100 to 8,250 feet with a vertical drop of 2,150 feet. There are two triples and one quad lifts. The ratio for runs is 20% beginner, 40% intermediate and 40% advanced. There are about 450 skiable acres. Conference facilities are available
phone - General Information -(801) 225-4107 or Reservations - (800) 892-1600

Utah Lake State Park

Utah Lake is the largest fresh-water lake in the state with 96,600 acres. It is located about five miles west of Provo, just off I-15 (exit 268). Besides great fishing, boating, canoeing and kayacking, the park offers four boat ramps, a 30 acre marina, numerous boat slips, restrooms & showers, 71 campsites and much more.
Phone: 801-375-0731

Thanksgiving Point
Gardens, museum, Fox Family Farm, Kids Point, year-round concerts, county fair and much more.
3003 North Thanksgiving Way
Lehi, Utah 84043
Toll-free: 888-672-6040
Phone: 801-768-2300

Timpanogos Caves National Monument
American Fork, Utah
The cave system offers three unique caverns with unique colors and formations. Hike up over 1,000 feet to the caves and also experience wondrous views of the American Fork Canyon.

Heber Valley Historic Railroad
450 South 600 West
Heber City, UT 84032
Phone: (435) 654-5601
SLC (801) 581-9980
From Heber, the railroad follows Deer Creek Lake and on down the canyon following the Provo River to Vivian Park. The train has been used in over 30 movies. There are regularly scheduled rides as well as many "specialty rides" throughout the year. The Haunted Canyon Train is a Halloween time with the Polar Express Train at Christmas time. Please plan ahead as specialty rides tend to sell out early.

A partial list of a few things to see and do in Utah County - There are really too many to list!

Mount Timpanogos, Squaw Peak, Alpine Look, Bridal Veil Falls, Nebo Loop, Fort Utah, the Historic Provo Courthouse, Sundance, Utah Lake, BYU, Seven Peaks Water Park, and much, much more. See individual cities and communities in the county for more information on attractions.

Noted Notables of Utah County:

Stephen Covey (writer) and Philo Farnsworth (TV inventor)

Entertainers:

Robert Redford, the Osmonds, Wilford Brimley, Rose Marie Reid

Sports Figures:

Steve Young, Ty Detmer, Jim McMann, Danny Ainge, Dale Murphy, Dane Iorg, Johnny Miller, Billy Casper, Gifford Nielson

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This page was last updated on 9 May 2009 at 9:33 pm

This page was created 26 July 1999