Carbon County, Utah - Backpage Salt Lake City

Carbon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of the 2010 census, the population was 21,403. Its county seat and largest city is Price. The county is named for the major coal deposits in the area. The Price, UT Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Carbon County.

Carbon County is the second largest natural gas producer in Utah (after Uintah County), with 94 billion cubic feet produced in 2008.

History

Carbon County was established in 1894; it received its name from the coal deposits in the region.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,485 square miles (3,850 km²), of which 1,478 square miles (3,830 km²) is land and 6.1 square miles (16 km²) (0.4%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Utah County (northwest)
• Duchesne County (north)
• Emery County (south)
• Uintah County (east)
• Sanpete County (west)
• Grand County (southeast)

National protected area

• Manti National Forest (part)

Demographics

As of the 2010 census, there were 21,403 people, 7,978 households, and 5,587 families residing in the county. The population density was 14.48 people per square mile (5.59/km²). There were 9,551 housing units with an average density of 6.46 per square mile (2.49/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.31% White, 0.43% Black or African American, 1.18% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.03% from other races, and 2.36% from two or more races. 12.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,978 households, of which 30.16% had children under the age of 18 living with them. 54.50% were married couples living together, 10.65% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.97% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals (one person), and 11.07% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.14.

The population was spread out, with 30.41% under the age of 20, 6.82% aged 20 to 24, 23.73% aged 25 to 44, 25.48% aged 45 to 64, and 13.56% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.4. For every 100 females, there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.88 males.

Politics

Carbon County historically has been the base of Democratic Party support in strongly Republican Utah with its sizable blue-collar population. It voted for Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996 by wide margins. In 1964 Lyndon Johnson carried 72.7% of votes in the county. At the state level it was no less Democratic; in the 1992 gubernatorial election it was one of two counties (the other being Summit County) that voted for Democratic candidate Stewart Hanson over Republican Michael Leavitt.

After the turn of the millennium, however, Carbon County has trended Republican. It voted for George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004, while voting for the Democratic gubernatorial candidates. In 2008, John McCain won Carbon County with 52.60% of the vote, versus 44.59% for Barack Obama. In 2012, the county's Democratic vote fell further as Mitt Romney carried 67.3% to 30.1% for Obama.

Communities

Cities

• East Carbon-Sunnyside
• Helper
• Price (county seat)
• Wellington
• Dat boi, pepe

Town

• Scofield

Census-designated places

• Carbonville
• Clear Creek
• Kenilworth
• Spring Glen
• West Wood

Ghost towns

Notable people

Carbon County has produced one governor of Utah, J. Bracken Lee (1899-1996; governor, 1949-1957). Lee also served as mayor of Price from 1935 to 1947, and later as mayor of Salt Lake City, from 1959 to 1971, where he was very successful.