Daggett County (/ˈdæɡət/ DAG-ət) is a county in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Utah. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 935, making it the least populous county in Utah. Its county seat is Manila.[1] The county was named for Ellsworth Daggett, the first surveyor-general of Utah.[citation needed] The small community of Dutch John, located near the state line with Colorado and Wyoming, became an incorporated town in January 2016.[citation needed]

Daggett County
Daggett County Courthouse in Manila, May 2008
Daggett County Courthouse in Manila, May 2008
Map of Utah highlighting Daggett County
Location within the U.S. state of Utah
Map of the United States highlighting Utah
Utah's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°53′N 109°31′W / 40.89°N 109.51°W / 40.89; -109.51
Country United States
State Utah
FoundedJanuary 7, 1918
Named forEllsworth Daggett
SeatManila
Largest townManila
Area
 • Total721 sq mi (1,870 km2)
 • Land697 sq mi (1,810 km2)
 • Water24 sq mi (60 km2)  3.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total935
 • Density1.3/sq mi (0.50/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.daggettcounty.org

History edit

Due to dangerous roads, mountainous terrain, and frequent bad weather preventing travel via a direct route, 19th century residents in the north portion of Uintah County had to travel 400 to 800 miles (640 to 1,290 km) on both stagecoach and rail to conduct business in Vernal, the county seat, a mere 50 miles (80 km) away.[citation needed] The journey involved overland travel to a train station in Wyoming, to either Mack, Colorado, Price, or Salt Lake City, then a stagecoach to Vernal.[citation needed] In the fall 1917 election, the Uintah county voters voted to establish a separate county on the northern slope of the Uinta Mountains.[2] The act establishing the county was approved on January 7, 1918, naming Manila as the county seat.

The boundary between Daggett and Uintah counties was adjusted in 1919, with some territory being returned to Uintah. Daggett County boundaries have remained unchanged since 1919.[3]

Geography edit

Daggett County lies at the lower northeastern corner of Utah. Its northern border abuts the south border of the state of Wyoming, and its eastern boundary abuts the western border of the state of Colorado. Its main geographical features are the Uinta Mountains, which comprise its southwestern portion and delineate part of its southern border, and the Green River, which has carved a deep gorge through the east-central part of the county.[4] In 1958, the United States Bureau of Reclamation took advantage of this natural feature to construct the Flaming Gorge Dam, creating the Flaming Gorge Reservoir, which began filling in 1964.

The county terrain slopes to the north and east on the northern flank of the Uintas. The county's highest point is on a mountain crest along its south border, at 12,276 ft (3,742 m) ASL.[5] The county has a total area of 721 square miles (1,870 km2), of which 697 square miles (1,810 km2) is land and 24 square miles (62 km2) (3.3%) is water.[6] It is the fourth-smallest county in Utah by area. Over 90% of the land of Daggett County is under federal ownership.

Major highways edit

[4]

Adjacent counties edit

Protected areas edit

  • Ashley National Forest (part)
  • Browns Park Waterfowl Area
  • Browns Park Waterfowl Management Area
  • Clay Basin Wildlife Management Area
  • Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area (part)
  • Goslin Mountain Wildlife Management Area
  • Indian Crossing Campground (BLM)
  • Marshall Draw Wildlife Management Area
  • Taylors Flat Wildlife Management Area

[4]

Lakes edit

  • Big Springs
  • Browne Lake
  • Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge Reservoir
  • Chokecherry Spring
  • Cow Spring
  • Daggett Lake
  • Dowds Hole
  • Dripping Spring
  • East Grindstone Spring
  • Fighting Spring
  • Flaming Gorge Reservoir (part)
  • Ford Spring
  • Greens Lakes
    • Greens Lake
    • West Greens Lake
  • Grindstone Spring
  • Lamb Lakes
    • Bummer Lake
    • Ewe Lake
    • Lamb Lake
    • Mutton Lake
    • Ram Lake
  • Long Park Reservoir
  • Lower Potter Lake
  • One Fish Lake
  • Pollen Lake
  • Potter Lake (Upper Potter Lake)
  • Red Lake
  • Serviceberry Spring
  • Sheep Creek Lake
  • Spirit Lake (part)
  • Spitzenburg Spring
  • Stove Lake
  • Tepee Lakes
    • Lower Teepee Lake
    • Upper Teepee Lake
  • Weyman Lakes
    • Anson Lake (Lower Anson Lake)
    • Candy Lake
    • Clear Lake
    • Hidden Lake
    • Penguin Lake
    • Sesame Lake
    • Upper Anson Lake
  • Youngs Spring

[4][7][8]

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1920400
19304112.8%
194056437.2%
1950364−35.5%
19601,164219.8%
1970666−42.8%
198076915.5%
1990690−10.3%
200092133.5%
20101,05915.0%
2020935−11.7%
US Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2018[13] 2020[14]

2000 census edit

As of the 2000 United States Census, 1,059 people, 426 households, and 287 families residing in the county. The population density was 1.52 people per square mile (0.59 people/km2). There were 1,141 housing units at an average density of 1.64 per square mile (0.63/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.94% White, 0.38% Black or African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.42% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. 3.12% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 426 households, out of which 25.12% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.37% were married couples living together, 4.93% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.63% were non-families. 29.11% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.62% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34, and the average family size was 2.91.

The county population contained 23.61% under the age of 20, 3.78% from 20 to 24, 24.93% from 25 to 44, 28.71% from 45 to 64, and 18.98% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 129.22 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 135.17 males.

2016 edit

As of 2016, the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Daggett County, Utah, were:

  • 35.4% were of English ancestry
  • 9.2% were of Scots-Irish ancestry
  • 8.8% were of German ancestry
  • 8.3% were of Irish ancestry
  • 7.9% were of American ancestry
  • 7.2% were of Dutch ancestry
  • 5.5% were of Danish ancestry.
  • 3.3% were of Swedish ancestry
  • 2.5% were of Scottish ancestry
  • 2.1% were of Italian ancestry
  • 1.6% were of Swiss ancestry
  • 1.6% were of French ancestry
  • 1.5% were of Norwegian ancestry
  • 0.7% were of Polish ancestry[16]

Politics and government edit

Daggett County is governed by three commissioners, an auditor/HR director, a recorder/treasurer, a clerk, an assessor, and a sheriff, all elected for four-year terms in partisan elections. Judges stand for a non-partisan retention election every four years. Current officeholders and the year the current term began:[1]

  • Commission Chairman: Matt Tippets (R) 2022
  • Commissioner: Randy Asay (R) 2020
  • Commissioner: Jack Lytle (R) 2022
  • Auditor/HR Director: Keri Pallesen (R) 2022
  • Recorder/Treasurer: Brianne Carter (R) 2020
  • Clerk: Brian Raymond (R) 2020
  • Assessor: Lesa Asay (R) 2020
  • Sheriff: Eric L. Bailey (R) 2022
  • Justice Court Judge: Judge Jeri Allphin (appointed 2022)

Daggett County has traditionally voted Republican. In no national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

State elected offices
Position District Name Affiliation First elected
  Senate 26 Ronald Winterton Republican 2018[17]
  House of Representatives 53 Kera Birkeland Republican 2020[18]
  Board of Education 12 James Moss Jr. Republican 2020[19]
United States presidential election results for Daggett County, Utah[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 496 79.74% 111 17.85% 15 2.41%
2016 331 69.39% 77 16.14% 69 14.47%
2012 406 78.08% 94 18.08% 20 3.85%
2008 297 66.89% 131 29.50% 16 3.60%
2004 380 76.15% 108 21.64% 11 2.20%
2000 317 72.87% 104 23.91% 14 3.22%
1996 237 55.63% 131 30.75% 58 13.62%
1992 172 38.91% 122 27.60% 148 33.48%
1988 272 66.02% 132 32.04% 8 1.94%
1984 296 56.38% 227 43.24% 2 0.38%
1980 290 69.88% 109 26.27% 16 3.86%
1976 217 59.45% 131 35.89% 17 4.66%
1972 204 72.86% 50 17.86% 26 9.29%
1968 152 52.23% 97 33.33% 42 14.43%
1964 112 39.72% 170 60.28% 0 0.00%
1960 196 44.95% 239 54.82% 1 0.23%
1956 102 53.13% 90 46.88% 0 0.00%
1952 90 51.14% 86 48.86% 0 0.00%
1948 69 41.82% 95 57.58% 1 0.61%
1944 75 43.35% 98 56.65% 0 0.00%
1940 96 37.50% 160 62.50% 0 0.00%
1936 78 37.50% 128 61.54% 2 0.96%
1932 90 52.94% 79 46.47% 1 0.59%
1928 107 77.54% 31 22.46% 0 0.00%
1924 97 74.05% 26 19.85% 8 6.11%
1920 94 73.44% 32 25.00% 2 1.56%

Commerce and transportation edit

The few commercial establishments in Daggett County exist to service tourists and users of the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. Throughout the county, there is one small general store, several gas stations, five cafes or restaurants, five inns/motels, and a few miscellaneous businesses that offer raft rentals. Some businesses offer guided fishing trips on the Flaming Gorge Reservoir and the Green River. The economy is primarily related to recreation, management of government land, and ranching. There are no railroads within Daggett County.

 
Map of Daggett County communities

Communities edit

Towns edit

Census-designated places edit

Former communities edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  2. ^ Industrial Commission of Utah (1920). Report of the Industrial Commission of Utah. Kaysville UT: Inland Publishing Co. p. 346. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  3. ^ ""Individual County Chronologies/Daggett County UT". [[Newberry Library]] (accessed March 26, 2019)". Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d Daggett County UT Google Maps (accessed 26 March 2019)
  5. ^ ""Utah County High Points/Daggett Co." Peakbagger (accessed 26 March 2019)". Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  7. ^ "Geographic Names Information System". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  8. ^ Pettengill, Tom (1996). Lakes of the High Uintas: Sheep Creek, Carter Creek & Burnt Fork Drainages (PDF). Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
  9. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  11. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  13. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  14. ^ 2020 Population and Housing State Data | Utah
  15. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  16. ^ Bureau, US Census. "American FactFinder - Results". factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  17. ^ "Senator Winterton Utah Senate". senate.utah.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  18. ^ "Rep. Birekeland, Kera". Utah House of Representatives. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  19. ^ "James Moss Jr". www.schools.utah.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  20. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 30, 2018.

External links edit