Beaver, Utah
Encyclopedia
Beaver is a city in Beaver County
, Utah
, United States
. The population was 2,454 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Beaver County
.
Settled by Mormon pioneers in 1856, Beaver was one of a string of Mormon settlements extending the length of Utah
. These settlements were, by design, a day's ride on horseback apart, explaining the regularity of today's spacing: either 30 miles (48.3 km) apart, or 60 miles (96.6 km) apart where intervening settlements failed or were absorbed. To wit: Brigham City
to Ogden
(30 miles) to Salt Lake City (30 miles) to Provo
(30 miles), etc.
Beaver is the birthplace of two well-known, but very different, people: Philo T. Farnsworth and Butch Cassidy
. Philo T. Farnsworth was the inventor of several critical electronic devices that made television possible, including the cathode ray tube
. He was also the first to create table-top nuclear-fusion. Butch Cassidy was a notorious western outlaw.
Beaver also has the distinction of being the first town in Utah to be electrified. A hydroelectric generation plant was constructed on the Beaver River early in the 20th century. The plant continues to provide a large part of Beaver's power requirements today.
In 2006, Beaver won a contest for best rural water taste in the United States. In 2010, Beaver took top honors in world for best tasting water. These accomplishments are proudly displayed on highly informative billboards along I-15.
quarry site has been identified in the nearby Mineral Mountains. Southern Paiutes inhabited the region at the time of the first European explorers, the 1776 Dominguez-Escalante Expedition
.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints entered Beaver Valley from Parowan, Utah
to the south. By 1869 Beaver had enough Mormon settlers, primarily engaged in livestock grazing, to organize a stake. The first stake president was John Murdock
. During the 1870s, settlers made an effort to establish a woolen mill, a tannery and a dairy industry. Fort Cameron
was established by the U.S. Army in 1873. Mining and the 1880 arrival of the Utah Southern Railroad also increased development in the area. However, by World War I
, Fort Cameron was abandoned and the mining industry declined.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²), all of it land.
To the east of Beaver lie the Tushar Mountains
. The peaks in these mountains rise to over 12,000 feet (3,660 m).
Beaver is well known in central Utah, as Interstate 15 (the main artery for the entire state) flows through the city.
The town is famous for the giant letter 'B', which is visible from the freeway. It is also visible on Google Maps: 38 15' 52.26" N, 112 34' 57.20 W.
of 2000, there were 2,454 people, 856 households, and 653 families residing in the city. The population density
was 535.5 people per square mile (206.9/km²). There were 1,021 housing units at an average density of 222.8 per square mile (86.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.74% White, 0.53% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 3.06% from other races
, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.05% of the population.
There were 856 households out of which 41.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.0% were married couples
living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the city the population was spread out with 32.9% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,646, and the median income for a family was $37,933. Males had a median income of $29,485 versus $17,159 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,412. About 6.7% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.
Beaver County, Utah
As of the census of 2010, there were 6,629 people, 2,265 households, and 1,697 families residing in the county. The population density was 2.56 people per square mile . There were 2,908 housing units at an average density of 1.12 per square mile...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,454 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Beaver County
Beaver County, Utah
As of the census of 2010, there were 6,629 people, 2,265 households, and 1,697 families residing in the county. The population density was 2.56 people per square mile . There were 2,908 housing units at an average density of 1.12 per square mile...
.
Settled by Mormon pioneers in 1856, Beaver was one of a string of Mormon settlements extending the length of Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. These settlements were, by design, a day's ride on horseback apart, explaining the regularity of today's spacing: either 30 miles (48.3 km) apart, or 60 miles (96.6 km) apart where intervening settlements failed or were absorbed. To wit: Brigham City
Brigham City, Utah
Brigham City is a city in Box Elder County, Utah, United States. The population was 17,899 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Box Elder County. It lies on the western slope of the Wellsville Mountains, a branch of the Wasatch Range at the western terminus of Box Elder Canyon...
to Ogden
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
(30 miles) to Salt Lake City (30 miles) to Provo
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
(30 miles), etc.
Beaver is the birthplace of two well-known, but very different, people: Philo T. Farnsworth and Butch Cassidy
Butch Cassidy
Robert LeRoy Parker , better known as Butch Cassidy, was a notorious American train robber, bank robber, and leader of the Wild Bunch Gang in the American Old West...
. Philo T. Farnsworth was the inventor of several critical electronic devices that made television possible, including the cathode ray tube
Cathode ray tube
The cathode ray tube is a vacuum tube containing an electron gun and a fluorescent screen used to view images. It has a means to accelerate and deflect the electron beam onto the fluorescent screen to create the images. The image may represent electrical waveforms , pictures , radar targets and...
. He was also the first to create table-top nuclear-fusion. Butch Cassidy was a notorious western outlaw.
Beaver also has the distinction of being the first town in Utah to be electrified. A hydroelectric generation plant was constructed on the Beaver River early in the 20th century. The plant continues to provide a large part of Beaver's power requirements today.
In 2006, Beaver won a contest for best rural water taste in the United States. In 2010, Beaver took top honors in world for best tasting water. These accomplishments are proudly displayed on highly informative billboards along I-15.
History
Beaver County has a number of identified prehistoric sites, dating to the Archaic and Sevier Fremont periods. A prehistoric obsidianObsidian
Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock.It is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimum crystal growth...
quarry site has been identified in the nearby Mineral Mountains. Southern Paiutes inhabited the region at the time of the first European explorers, the 1776 Dominguez-Escalante Expedition
Dominguez-Escalante Expedition
The Dominguez-Escalante Expedition was conducted in 1776 to find an overland route from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Spanish missions in California...
.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints entered Beaver Valley from Parowan, Utah
Parowan, Utah
Parowan is a city in and the county seat of Iron County, Utah, United States. The population was 2,790 at the 2010 census.Parowan became the first incorporated city in Iron County in 1851. A fort that had been constructed on the east side of Center Creek the previous year was an initial in the...
to the south. By 1869 Beaver had enough Mormon settlers, primarily engaged in livestock grazing, to organize a stake. The first stake president was John Murdock
John R. Murdock (Mormon)
.John Riggs Murdock was the leader of the most Down-and-Back companies in Latter-day Saint history....
. During the 1870s, settlers made an effort to establish a woolen mill, a tannery and a dairy industry. Fort Cameron
Fort Cameron
Fort Cameron was a United States Military installation, located east of Beaver, Utah. The fort opened in 1872 and was active for 11 years; until 1883. The fort was originally established to protect settlers of Central Utah from local American Indians, and to keep a eye on supposed Mormon...
was established by the U.S. Army in 1873. Mining and the 1880 arrival of the Utah Southern Railroad also increased development in the area. However, by World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Fort Cameron was abandoned and the mining industry declined.
Geography
Beaver is located at 38°16′35"N 112°38′20"W (38.276305, -112.638772).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²), all of it land.
To the east of Beaver lie the Tushar Mountains
Tushar Mountains
The Tushar Mountains are the third highest mountain range in Utah after the Uinta Mountains and the La Sal Range. Located in the Fishlake National Forest, Delano Peak, 12,174 ft NAVD 88, is the highest point in both Beaver and Piute counties and has a prominence of 4,689 ft...
. The peaks in these mountains rise to over 12,000 feet (3,660 m).
Beaver is well known in central Utah, as Interstate 15 (the main artery for the entire state) flows through the city.
The town is famous for the giant letter 'B', which is visible from the freeway. It is also visible on Google Maps: 38 15' 52.26" N, 112 34' 57.20 W.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,454 people, 856 households, and 653 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 535.5 people per square mile (206.9/km²). There were 1,021 housing units at an average density of 222.8 per square mile (86.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.74% White, 0.53% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 3.06% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.05% of the population.
There were 856 households out of which 41.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the city the population was spread out with 32.9% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,646, and the median income for a family was $37,933. Males had a median income of $29,485 versus $17,159 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $14,412. About 6.7% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.