Editing Delta, Utah

{{Short description|City in Utah, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Delta, Utah
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| image_skyline            = Delta_town02.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = 
| image_map                = Millard County Utah incorporated and unincorporated areas Delta highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 300px
| map_caption              = Location in [[Millard County, Utah|Millard County]] and the state of [[Utah]].
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Utah]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Utah|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Millard County, Utah|Millard]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              = 
| established_title        = Settled
| established_date         = 1906
| named_for                = [[River delta|Delta]] of the [[Sevier River]]
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref                =  Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_49.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 22.31
| area_land_km2            = 22.00
| area_water_km2           = 0.31
| area_total_sq_mi         = 8.61
| area_land_sq_mi          = 8.49
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.12
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_total         = 3622
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| population_density_km2   = auto
<!-- General information -->
| timezone                 = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain (MST)]]
| utc_offset               = -7
| timezone_DST             = MDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -6
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 84624
| area_code                = [[Area code 435|435]]
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 4639
| coordinates              = {{coord|39|21|11|N|112|34|25|W|region:US-UT|display=inline,title}}
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 49-18910<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 2410320<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410320}}</ref>
| footnotes                = 
| website                  = http://www.delta.utah.gov/
}}

'''Delta''' is the largest city in [[Millard County, Utah|Millard County]], [[Utah]], United States. It is located in the northeastern area of Millard County along the [[Sevier River]] and is surrounded by farmland. The population was 3,622 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]].

==History==
Delta was originally a [[railroad switch]] called '''Aiken'''. In 1905 Aiken was renamed '''Melville''' when Millard County began plans to set up irrigation and a dam.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Utah|first1=Delta|title=History :: Delta, Utah ::|url=http://www.delta.utah.gov/res_vis_resources.history.html|website=www.delta.utah.gov|access-date=October 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021071007/http://www.delta.utah.gov/res_vis_resources.history.html|archive-date=October 21, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> People purchased land for 50 cents an acre as long as they agreed to develop a 40-acre lot. The name was changed again because of the similarities between Melville and Millville, another town in Utah. The name was changed on 12 May 1908 to '''Burtner'''. The name was finally changed to Delta on May 11, 1911. The name was chosen as the area was a delta of the Sevier River.<ref>{{cite web|title=Delta History|url=http://users.gavtron.com/millardcounty.com/deltahist.html|website=users.gavtron.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Utah History Encyclopedia|url=http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/d/DELTA.html|website=www.uen.org|access-date=October 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113125647/http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/d/DELTA.html|archive-date=January 13, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Topaz Relocation Camp===
{{Main|Topaz War Relocation Center}}
[[File:Topaz Museum site in Delta, Utah (20494680162).jpg|thumb|Topaz Museum in Delta, Utah]]
During [[World War II]], after the attack on [[Pearl Harbor]], tens of thousands of Japanese-Americans were gathered up and placed in 10 [[Internment of Japanese Americans|incarceration camps]] to protect military installations from espionage. One of these camps, then called ''Central Utah Relocation Center'', was located near Delta and filled with former residents of the [[Bay Area|San Francisco Bay Area]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://encyclopedia.densho.org/Topaz/|title = Topaz &#124; Densho Encyclopedia}}</ref>

The Topaz Museum, located in Delta, works to preserve important sites at the relocation center and to provide information on the history of the camps.<ref name=topazMuseum>{{cite web | title=Topaz Museum|url=http://www.topazmuseum.org/| access-date=July 1, 2016}}</ref>

===Great Basin Museum===
A history of the area is kept and displayed at The Great Basin Museum.<ref>[http://greatbasinmuseum.com/ Great Basin Museum]</ref>

===Gunnison Massacre Site===
[[Image:GunnisonByPhilKonstantin.jpg|thumb|upright|Two markers at the Gunnison site, 2008]]
[[John Williams Gunnison]] was leading a federal surveying team near the [[Sevier Lake]]. He was ambushed by the [[Pahvant]] Indians and killed.<ref name="gunnison">{{cite web |url=http://www.nps.gov/cure/historyculture/explorer_gunnison.htm |title=John W. Gunnison Expedition |publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|3.2|sqmi|sqkm|1|disp=or}}, all land.

===Climate===
Delta experiences a cold [[semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BSk'') with hot summers and cold winters. Because of Delta's altitude and aridity, temperatures [[Diurnal temperature variation|drop quickly]] after sunset, especially in the summer. Winters are cold. Daytime highs in the winter are usually above freezing, but nighttime lows drop well below freezing, occasionally falling below {{convert|0|F|C|1|disp=or}}. Delta's climate is similar to that of [[Salt Lake City]], but much more arid.

{{weather box
| single line = yes
| collapsed=yes
| precipitation color = green
| width = auto
| location = Delta, Utah, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1965–present
| Jan record high F = 64
| Feb record high F = 74
| Mar record high F = 86
| Apr record high F = 94
| May record high F = 103
| Jun record high F = 107
| Jul record high F = 110
| Aug record high F = 106
| Sep record high F = 106
| Oct record high F = 92
| Nov record high F = 79
| Dec record high F = 70
| year record high F = 

|Jan avg record high F = 53.6
|Feb avg record high F = 62.6
|Mar avg record high F = 75.7
|Apr avg record high F = 83.2
|May avg record high F = 91.1
|Jun avg record high F = 100.1
|Jul avg record high F = 104.2
|Aug avg record high F = 101.7
|Sep avg record high F = 95.4
|Oct avg record high F = 85.4
|Nov avg record high F = 68.6
|Dec avg record high F = 57.4
|year avg record high F = 104.5

| Jan high F = 39.1
| Feb high F = 46.5
| Mar high F = 58.0
| Apr high F = 64.9
| May high F = 75.5
| Jun high F = 86.7
| Jul high F = 95.1
| Aug high F = 92.9
| Sep high F = 82.2
| Oct high F = 67.5
| Nov high F = 51.4
| Dec high F = 39.4
| year high F = 66.6
| Jan mean F = 27.4
| Feb mean F = 33.5
| Mar mean F = 42.6
| Apr mean F = 48.8
| May mean F = 58.2
| Jun mean F = 68.0
| Jul mean F = 76.2
| Aug mean F = 74.2
| Sep mean F = 63.9
| Oct mean F = 50.4
| Nov mean F = 37.1
| Dec mean F = 27.1
| year mean F = 50.6
| Jan low F = 15.7	
| Feb low F = 20.6
| Mar low F = 27.1
| Apr low F = 32.6
| May low F = 40.9
| Jun low F = 49.3
| Jul low F = 57.4
| Aug low F = 55.6
| Sep low F = 45.6
| Oct low F = 33.4
| Nov low F = 22.8
| Dec low F = 14.8
| year low F = 34.7

|Jan avg record low F = -3.1
|Feb avg record low F = 2.6
|Mar avg record low F = 13.7
|Apr avg record low F = 18.8
|May avg record low F = 26.9
|Jun avg record low F = 35.2
|Jul avg record low F = 46.1
|Aug avg record low F = 45.1
|Sep avg record low F = 30.2
|Oct avg record low F = 18.4
|Nov avg record low F = 5.2
|Dec avg record low F = -3.3
|year avg record low F = -8.4

| Jan record low F = -25
| Feb record low F = -27
| Mar record low F = -8
| Apr record low F = 12
| May record low F = 15
| Jun record low F = 25
| Jul record low F = 37
| Aug record low F = 35
| Sep record low F = 21
| Oct record low F = -2
| Nov record low F = -13
| Dec record low F = -30
| year record low F = 
| Jan precipitation inch = 0.63	
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.64
| Mar precipitation inch = 0.80
| Apr precipitation inch = 0.94
| May precipitation inch = 0.92
| Jun precipitation inch = 0.48
| Jul precipitation inch = 0.35
| Aug precipitation inch = 0.54
| Sep precipitation inch = 0.71
| Oct precipitation inch = 0.91
| Nov precipitation inch = 0.50
| Dec precipitation inch = 0.59
| year precipitation inch = 8.01
|Jan snow inch = 5.5
|Feb snow inch = 5.3
|Mar snow inch = 3.9
|Apr snow inch = 2.2
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.8
|Nov snow inch = 3.2
|Dec snow inch = 4.4
|year snow inch = 25.3
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 5.6
| Feb precipitation days = 6.0
| Mar precipitation days = 5.9
| Apr precipitation days = 6.3
| May precipitation days = 6.1
| Jun precipitation days = 3.3
| Jul precipitation days = 3.5
| Aug precipitation days = 4.5
| Sep precipitation days = 4.4
| Oct precipitation days = 4.8
| Nov precipitation days = 4.3
| Dec precipitation days = 5.4
| year precipitation days = 60.1
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 3.3
|Feb snow days = 3.2
|Mar snow days = 2.2
|Apr snow days = 1.5
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.4
|Nov snow days = 1.9
|Dec snow days = 3.5
|year snow days = 16.0
| source 1 = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=slc|title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data|publisher= National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date = November 25, 2022
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00023162&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020|publisher= National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date = December 3, 2022
}}</ref>
}}

===Sevier River and Lake===
The Sevier River flows near Delta. The [[Sevier River]] is generally used for irrigation before it reaches its eventual end, the dry [[Sevier Lake]].

===DMAD===
DMAD is the initials for the Deseret Melville Abraham and Delta water company.

Just upstream of Delta, the Sevier River is dammed to provide irrigation water, reservoir storage, and cooling water for IPP [[Intermountain Power Project]]. This reservoir is referred to as the DMAD.

Agriculture is a major economic force in Delta and the Sevier valley.

===Gunnison Bend Reservoir===
Downstream of Delta, the Sevier River is dammed again for irrigation and reservoir storage. This reservoir is named Gunnison Bend Reservoir in honor of [[John Williams Gunnison]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 459
|1920= 939
|1930= 1183
|1940= 1304
|1950= 1703
|1960= 1576
|1970= 1610
|1980= 1930
|1990= 2998
|2000= 3209
|2010= 3436
|2020= 3622
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
[[File:Delta utah mainstreet christmas parade.jpg|thumb|left|Christmas Parade in Delta (2007)]]
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 3,209 people, 1,006 households, and 780 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 1,018.3 people per square mile (393.3/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 1,106 housing units at an average density of 351.0 per square mile (135.6/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 94.61% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.06% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.97% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.12% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.28% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.15% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.81% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 10.10% of the population.

There were 1,006 households, out of which 48.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.4% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.15, and the average family size was 3.71.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 38.7% under 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.4 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,773, and the median income for a family was $43,952. Males had a median income of $37,340 versus $21,369 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $13,273. About 10.1% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those aged 65 or over.

==Economy==
{{unsourced|section|date=November 2024}}
===Intermountain Power Project (IPP)===
[[Image:IntermountainPowerProjectAirByPhilKonstantin.jpg|thumb|Intermountain Power Project as seen from the air, 2008]]
One of the main sources of income for Delta is a power plant operated by the [[Intermountain Power Agency]], known as the [[Intermountain Power Project]] or I.P.P. It is also referred to as Intermountain Power Service Corporation or I.P.S.C. This [[Intermountain Power Plant|coal-powered power plant]] supplies power for much of [[Los Angeles]] county in [[California]]. The plant was originally designed for four units, but only two have been built. Each unit produces 950 megawatts of electricity.{{citation needed|date = April 2016}}

===Materion Natural Resources===
Materion's, formerly Brush Wellman, beryllium refining plant is located north of Delta in Millard County. This is one of the few sources of concentrated [[beryllium]] in the world. The plant is a mill and finishing facility for beryllium, a high-strength, lightweight metal alloy used in military, aerospace, and medical industries. The ore for the plant is trucked from Materion's mine, located in the Topaz-Spor Mountains, 50 miles west, in Juab County. This is North America's only developed source of beryllium. The facility is located here due to its access to the railway and major highways 6 and 50.

===Graymont Lime===
Graymont Lime has a plant in the [[Cricket Mountains]], about 32.5 miles southwest of Delta. It is one of the ten largest lime plants in the United States. It was previously owned by Continental Lime which Graymont Lime purchased.

===Alfalfa===
Alfalfa hay is the main crop of the Delta area. Due to the dry climate in the Delta region, farmers can control the moisture content of the hay when it is baled. This is very important to prohibit mold growth.

===Dairy===
Delta is home to many dairy farmers who may ship the milk out of the county.

==Science==

===Cosmic Ray Center===
Delta is home to the Lon and Mary Watson Cosmic Ray Center, the main staging area for the [[Telescope Array Project]] experiment.<ref>[http://www.telescopearray.org/index.php/newslist/113-cosmic-ray-visitor-center-opens Cosmic Ray Visitor Center Opens]</ref>

===Fossils and minerals===
[[Image:TopazMountainByPhilKonstantin.jpg|thumb|Topaz Mountain]]
A great attraction of Millard County's economy is the digging of [[fossil]]s. [[Trilobite]] fossils are relatively common in the region west of Delta (part of the [[House Range]]'s [[Wheeler Shale]]). Several local companies maintain fossil dig areas where they allow visitors to dig their own fossils for a small fee.

Near Delta is a mountain called [[Topaz Mountain]], which derives its name from the [[topaz]] that is abundant in the area.
Other minerals and rocks that are prevalent near Delta include [[obsidian]], [[opal]], and [[geode]]s.{{citation needed|date = February 2017}}

==Education==

=== Schools ===
Delta currently has three public schools: Delta elementary school, Delta Middle school, and Delta High school. Delta also has a vocational school with the Delta Technical Center, which offers many Technical classes, including welding, Machining/metalworking, and Woodworking

==== Delta South Elementary ====
Delta South Elementary School is located at 450 South Center Street in Delta, Utah. DSES was originally built in 1982 to accommodate the growth in population due to the construction of the Intermountain Power Plant. The new school was finished in time for the 1983–84 school year and housed grades K-4. In 1989 the fifth grade was moved back to the elementary school. Because of declining enrollment figures, Delta South Elementary was closed in 2009. Delta Early Childhood Center was created using two-thirds of the South Elementary building to accommodate preschool and kindergarten students in West Millard County. At the end of the 2014–15 school year, the Delta area schools were reconfigured, placing all students in preschool, kindergarten, and first and second grades at Delta South Elementary School.

==== Delta Middle School ====
Delta Middle School serves approximately 420 students in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades and is located in Delta, Utah. Its students come from the City of Delta and several smaller communities in Millard County.

DMS has a staff of 21 teachers, nine instructional assistants, and eleven additional support personnel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.millardk12.org/schools/dms/|title=Home|website=www.millardk12.org|access-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref>

==== Delta High School ====
[[Delta High School (Utah)|Delta High School]] is a public school located in rural central Utah, drawing students from several small outlying communities. With a new school and a diverse student population, Delta High is the hub of an agricultural-based community.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://datagateway.schools.utah.gov/Accountability/PACE/2014/17/704/H|title=Utah Education PACE Report Card|date=2013|access-date=June 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405021319/https://datagateway.schools.utah.gov/Accountability/PACE/2014/17/704/H|archive-date=April 5, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to the 2013-2014 DHS [https://web.archive.org/web/20160405021319/https://datagateway.schools.utah.gov/Accountability/PACE/2014/17/704/H report card] Delta had 549 students enrolled from the grades 9th-12th and an 87% graduation rate.

==Entertainment==
{{unsourced|section|date=November 2024}}
===Snow Goose Festival===
The Snow Goose Festival occurs every winter as the geese migrating through Delta stop at Gunnison Bend Reservoir.

===Demolition Derby===
Each July 4, the Hinckley Lions Club sponsors a demolition derby at the Millard County Fairgrounds. The derby attracts crowds of over 3,000 people. It is one of the largest derbies in the United States, with up to eleven rounds of competition, including pickup trucks, figure 8 compact car competition, powder puff, a championship round, and a wipe-out round. Following the derby, there is a fireworks display sponsored by Delta City.

===Days of the Old West Rodeo===
A Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Rodeo takes place every year.

==See also==
{{Portal|Utah}}
* [[List of cities and towns in Utah]]

==References==
{{Reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Delta, Utah}}
* {{Official website|http://www.delta.utah.gov/}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Delta
|North     = {{flagicon|US|army}} [[Dugway Proving Ground]]
|Northeast = [[Lynndyl, Utah|Lynndyl]], [[Leamington, Utah|Leamington]]
|East      = [[Oak City, Utah|Oak City]]
|Southeast = [[Holden, Utah|Holden]]<br/>[[Fillmore, Utah|Fillmore]]<br/>[[Meadow, Utah|Meadow]]
|South     = [[Beaver, Utah|Beaver]]
|Southwest = [[Milford, Utah|Milford]]
|West      = [[Hinckley, Utah|Hinckley]]
|Northwest = ''[[Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge]]''
}}

{{Millard County, Utah}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Utah]]
[[Category:Cities in Millard County, Utah]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1907]]
[[Category:1907 establishments in Utah]]
[[Category:Great Basin National Heritage Area]]