Counties of Utah
LocationState of Utah
Number29
Populations1,014 (Daggett) – 1,186,257 (Salt Lake)
Areas299 square miles (770 km2) (Davis) – 7,820 square miles (20,300 km2) (San Juan)
Government
Subdivisions
Population density of Utah counties

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 dangerous roads, mountainous terrain, and bad weather preventing travel via a direct route, 19th century residents in present-day Daggett County had to travel 400 to 800 miles (640 to 1,290 km) on both stage and rail to conduct business in Vernal, the county seat for Uintah County a mere 50 miles (80 km) away. In 1917, all Uintah County residents voted to create Daggett County.[4]

Based on 2022 United States Census data, the population of Utah was 3,380,800. Just over 75% of Utah's population is concentrated along four Wasatch Front counties: Salt Lake, Utah, Davis, and Weber. Salt Lake County was the largest county in the state with a population of 1,186,257, followed by Utah County with 702,434, Davis County with 369,948 and Weber County with 269,561. Daggett County was the least populated with 1,014 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]

The Utah Code (Title 17, Chapter 50, Part 5) divides the counties into six classes by population:[8]

  • First class: Population of 1,000,000 or more. Only one county - Salt Lake - is first class.
  • Second class: Population between 175,000 and 1,000,000. Four counties.
  • Third class: Population between 40,000 and 175,000. Five counties.
  • Fourth class: Population between 11,000 and 40,000. Ten counties.
  • Fifth class: Population between 4,000 and 11,000. Five counties.
  • Sixth class: Population below 4,000. Four counties.

The county classes, for example, are used in the Utah legislature in crafting of legislation to distinguish between more urban and rural areas, such as important yet subtle distinctions in how revenue can be distributed. Usually, a bill intended to benefit rural counties would target the counties of the fourth, fifth and sixth class.[9]

Under Utah Code (Title 17, Chapter 52a, Part 2), Utah counties are permitted to choose one of four forms of county government:[10] a three-member full-time commission; a five or seven member expanded commission; a three to nine member (odd-numbered) part-time council with a full-time elected county mayor or a three to nine member (odd-numbered) part-time council with a full-time manager appointed by the council. 23 out of 29 counties are ruled by the standard three-member commission. Of the other six, Cache County was the first change in 1988 to a seven-member council with an elected mayor. Grand County adopted a seven-member council with appointed manager in 1992, followed by Morgan County in 1999 and Wasatch County in 2003. In 1998, Salt Lake County residents approved adopting a nine-member council with elected mayor that began work in 2001.[11] Summit County adopted a five-member council with an appointed manager in 2006.[12]

Counties

County
 FIPS code[7] County seat[2][13] Est.[2][13] Origin[2] Etymology[14] Population[15] Area[16] Map
Beaver County 001 BeaverJanuary 5, 1856Part of Iron County[17]The many beavers in the area[18] 7,327 2,590 sq mi
(6,708 km2)		State map highlighting Beaver County
Box Elder County 003 Brigham CityJanuary 5, 1856Part of Weber CountyThe many Box Elder trees in the area[19] 61,498 5,746 sq mi
(14,882 km2)		State map highlighting Box Elder County
Cache County 005 LoganJanuary 5, 1857Part of Weber County[17]Caches of furs made by Rocky Mountain Fur Company trappers[20] 140,173 1,165 sq mi
(3,017 km2)		State map highlighting Cache County
Carbon County 007 PriceMarch 8, 1894Part of Emery CountyThe vast coal beds in the county[21] 20,571 1,478 sq mi
(3,828 km2)		State map highlighting Carbon County
Daggett County 009 ManilaJanuary 7, 1918Part of Summit and Uintah countiesEllsworth Daggett (1810–1880), the first Utah Surveyor General[22] 1,014 697 sq mi
(1,805 km2)		State map highlighting Daggett County
Davis County 011 FarmingtonOctober 5, 1850Part of Deseret Great Salt Lake and Weber countiesDaniel C. Davis (1804–1850), Mormon Battalion captain[23] 369,948 299 sq mi
(774 km2)		State map highlighting Davis County
Duchesne County 013 DuchesneJanuary 4, 1915Part of Wasatch CountyUncertain; 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, the name of Society of the Sacred Heart founder Rose Philippine Duchesne, the name of French geographer André Duchesne, or the name of French fur trapper and explorer Du Chasne[24] 20,161 3,241 sq mi
(8,394 km2)		State map highlighting Duchesne County
Emery County 015 Castle DaleFebruary 12, 1880Part of Sanpete County[25]George W. Emery (1830–1909), Governor of the Utah Territory from 1875–1880[26] 10,099 4,462 sq mi
(11,557 km2)		State map highlighting Emery County
Garfield County 017 PanguitchMarch 9, 1882Part of Iron CountyJames A. Garfield (1831–1881), President of the United States in 1881[27] 5,281 5,083 sq mi
(13,165 km2)		State map highlighting Garfield County
Grand County 019 MoabMarch 13, 1890Part of Emery CountyThe Grand River, since renamed to the Colorado River[28] 9,769 3,672 sq mi
(9,510 km2)		State map highlighting Grand County
Iron County 021 ParowanJanuary 31, 1850Original county of State of DeseretIron mines west of Cedar City[29] 62,429 3,297 sq mi
(8,539 km2)		State map highlighting Iron County
Juab County 023 NephiMarch 3, 1852Original county of Territory of UtahA Native American word translated "thirsty valley" or "flat plain"[30] 12,567 3,392 sq mi
(8,785 km2)		State map highlighting Juab County
Kane County 025 KanabJanuary 16, 1864Part of Washington CountyThomas L. Kane (1822–1883), U.S. Army officer who spoke in favor of the Mormon migration and settlement of Utah[31] 8,227 3,990 sq mi
(10,334 km2)		State map highlighting Kane County
Millard County 027 FillmoreOctober 4, 1851Original county of Territory of UtahMillard Fillmore (1800–1874), President of the United States from 1850 to 1853[32] 13,330 6,572 sq mi
(17,021 km2)		State map highlighting Millard County
Morgan County 029 MorganJanuary 17, 1862Part of Davis, Great Salt Lake, Summit, and Weber counties[33]Jedediah Morgan Grant (1816–1856), an Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints[34] 12,832 609 sq mi
(1,577 km2)		State map highlighting Morgan County
Piute County 031 JunctionJanuary 16, 1865Part of Beaver CountyThe Piute tribe of Native Americans who lived in the area[35] 1,487 758 sq mi
(1,963 km2)		State map highlighting Piute County
Rich County 033 RandolphJanuary 16, 1864Part of Cache CountyCharles C. Rich (1809–1883), an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints[36] 2,628 1,029 sq mi
(2,665 km2)		State map highlighting Rich County
Salt Lake County 035 Salt Lake CityJanuary 31, 1850Original county of State of DeseretThe Great Salt Lake, the largest terminal lake in the Western Hemisphere[37] 1,186,257 742 sq mi
(1,922 km2)		State map highlighting Salt Lake County
San Juan County 037 MonticelloFebruary 17, 1880Parts of Kane, Iron, and Piute countiesNamed for the San Juan River, a 400-mile (640 km) tributary of the Colorado river located in southern Colorado and Utah[38] 14,359 7,820 sq mi
(20,254 km2)		State map highlighting San Juan County
Sanpete County 039 MantiJanuary 31, 1850Original county of State of DeseretUncertain, possibly from a Ute Chief named San Pitch[39] 29,724 1,590 sq mi
(4,118 km2)		State map highlighting Sanpete County
Sevier County 041 RichfieldJanuary 16, 1865Part of Sanpete CountyThe Sevier River, a 280-mile (450 km) river in central Utah[40] 22,069 1,911 sq mi
(4,949 km2)		State map highlighting Sevier County
Summit County 043 CoalvilleJanuary 13, 1854Part of Great Salt Lake and Green River counties[41]High elevations in the county, which includes 39 of Utah's highest peaks[42] 43,036 1,872 sq mi
(4,848 km2)		State map highlighting Summit County
Tooele County 045 TooeleJanuary 31, 1850Original county of State of DeseretUncertain, either from the Goshute Tribe Chief Tuilla or the Tules plant that grew in the marshes[43] 79,934 6,941 sq mi
(17,977 km2)		State map highlighting Tooele County
Uintah County 047 VernalFebruary 18, 1880Part of Sanpete, Summit, and Wasatch counties[44]The Uintah band of the Ute tribe who lived in the area[45] 37,141 4,480 sq mi
(11,603 km2)		State map highlighting Uintah County
Utah County 049 ProvoJanuary 31, 1850Original county of State of DeseretYuta, the Spanish name for the Ute tribe[46] 702,434 2,003 sq mi
(5,188 km2)		State map highlighting Utah County
Wasatch County 051 Heber CityJanuary 17, 1862Part of Great Salt Lake, Green River, Sanpete, Summit, and Utah counties[47]A Native American word meaning "mountain pass", also the name of the Wasatch Range[48] 36,619 1,176 sq mi
(3,046 km2)		State map highlighting Wasatch County
Washington County 053 St. GeorgeMarch 3, 1852Original county of Territory of UtahGeorge Washington (1732–1799), President of the United States from 1789 to 1797[49] 197,680 2,426 sq mi
(6,283 km2)		State map highlighting Washington County
Wayne County 055 LoaMarch 10, 1892Part of Piute CountyWayne County, Tennessee[50] 2,645 2,461 sq mi
(6,374 km2)		State map highlighting Wayne County
Weber County 057 OgdenJanuary 31, 1850Original county of State of DeseretThe Weber River, a 125 miles (201 km) tributary of the Great Salt Lake[51] 269,561 576 sq mi
(1,492 km2)		State map highlighting Weber County

State of Deseret counties

County name changes

Former counties

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

County[2] Established[2] Superseded[2] Etymology Present location[2]
Carson County January 17, 1854 March 2, 1861 Named for Kit Carson, an American frontiersman[52] Nevada
Cedar County January 5, 1856 January 17, 1862 Named for the numerous cedar trees growing in the area (which are actually juniper trees)[53][54] Utah County
Desert County March 3, 1852 January 17, 1862 Named for the surrounding desert Box Elder County, Tooele County and Nevada
Greasewood County January 5, 1856 January 17, 1862 Named for the greasewood plant growing in the area[55] Box Elder County
Green River County March 3, 1852 February 16, 1872 Named for the Green River, a 730-mile (1,170 km) tributary of the Colorado River that runs through Wyoming, Colorado and Utah[56] Cache, Weber, Morgan, Davis, Wasatch, Summit, Duchesne, Carbon, and Utah Counties, and Wyoming and Colorado
Humboldt County January 5, 1856 March 2, 1861 Named for the Humboldt River, a 300-mile (480 km) river in Nevada and longest river in the Great Basin[57] Nevada
Malad County January 5, 1856 January 17, 1862 Named for the Malad River, the name being French for "sickly"[58] Box Elder County
Rio Virgen County February 18, 1869 February 16, 1872 Named for the Virgin River (el Rio de la Virgen[59]), a 160-mile-long (260 km) tributary of the Colorado River located in southern Utah and Nevada[60] Washington County, Nevada and Arizona
St. Mary's County January 5, 1856 January 17, 1862 Named after the Mary's River, which was later renamed to the Humboldt River[61] Nevada
Shambip County January 12, 1856 January 17, 1862 Goshute Native American Tribe word for Rush Lake[62] 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. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Chart of County Formation in Utah". Utah Division of Archives and Record Services. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Duchesne County, Utah". Pioneer, Utah's Online Library. State of Utah. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  4. ↑ Industrial Commission of Utah (1920). Report of the Industrial Commission of Utah. Kaysville, Utah: Inland Publishing Company. p. 346. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Utah". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  6. ↑ "FIPS Publish 6-4". National Institute of Standards and Technology. Archived from the original on September 29, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2007.
  7. 1 2 "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". US Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
  8. ↑ Utah Code 17-50-501. Classification of counties
  9. ↑ 'One of the big boys': Cache County expected to move up in class in 2019, based on population growth
  10. ↑ Utah Code > Title 17 > Chapter 52a > Part 2 – Forms of County Government
  11. ↑ Changes in state's county governments
  12. ↑ Guest Editorial
  13. 1 2 "Utah". About Counties. National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 11, 2007. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
  14. ↑ "County Name History". Utah Association of Counties. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  15. ↑ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Utah". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Gazetteer of Utah Counties". Census Bureau Geography. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on November 23, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2012.
  17. 1 2 "Colton's territories of New Mexico and Utah (1855)". University of Nevada at Reno. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  18. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 25)
  19. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 48)
  20. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 61)
  21. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 65)
  22. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 101)
  23. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 103)
  24. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 118)
  25. ↑ Bancroft, Hubert Howe (1890). History of Utah. San Francisco: The History Company. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  26. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 128)
  27. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 151)
  28. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 160)
  29. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 200)
  30. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 208)
  31. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 212)
  32. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 251)
  33. ↑ Tullidge, Edward William (1889). Tullidge's histories, (volume II) containing the history of all the northern Utah. Salt Lake City: Juvenile Instructor. p. 118. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  34. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 258)
  35. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 297)
  36. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 315)
  37. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 327)
  38. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 328)
  39. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 330)
  40. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 335)
  41. ↑ "Summit County". Utah History Encyclopedia. University of Utah. Archived from the original on May 24, 2001. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  42. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 358)
  43. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 372)
  44. ↑ Fuller, Craig (1994). "Uintah County". In Powell, Allan Kent (ed.). Utah History Encyclopedia. Salt Lake City, Utah: University of Utah Press. ISBN 0874804256. OCLC 30473917. Archived from the original on 2013-10-10.
  45. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 380)
  46. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 382)
  47. ↑ State of Utah (1888). The compiled laws of Utah. Salt Lake City: Herbert Pembroke. p. 268. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  48. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 390)
  49. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 391)
  50. ↑ Murphy, Miriam B. (January 1999). A History of Wayne County. Utah Centennial County History Series. Salt Lake City: Utah State Historical Society. pp. 78–80. ISBN 0-913738-45-X.
  51. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 392)
  52. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 67)
  53. ↑ "Cedar City lacks namesake trees". The Spectrum. Cedar City. April 14, 2010. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
  54. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 72)
  55. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 165)
  56. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 167)
  57. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 195)
  58. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 242)
  59. ↑ "Naming of the Green, Sevier, and Virgin Rivers".
  60. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 317)
  61. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 325)
  62. ↑ Van Cott (1990, p. 336)

Bibliography

  • Van Cott, John W. (1990). Utah Place Names. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press. ISBN 978-0-87480-345-7.

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