Editing Green River, Utah

{{short description|City in Utah, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = City of Green River
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = 
<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = File:2010-Aerial photograph of Green River, Utah.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = Aerial of Green River, Utah
| image_flag               = Flag of Green River, Utah.svg
| image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps -->
| image_map                = Emery County Utah incorporated and unincorporated areas Green River highlighted.svg
| map_caption              = Location in [[Emery County, UT|Emery County]] and the state of [[Utah]]
| image_map1               = Map of USA UT.svg
| map_caption1             = Location of Utah in the United States
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Utah]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Utah|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Emery County, Utah|Emery]]
| named_for                = The [[Green River (Colorado River)|Green River]]

<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = [[Ren Hatt]]
| leader_title1            = City Manager
| leader_name1             = [[Edward Castro Bennett]]
| established_title        = [[Incorporated town|Incorporated]]
| established_date         = 1906

<!-- 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_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 70.61
| area_land_km2            = 70.29
| area_water_km2           = 0.32
| area_total_sq_mi         = 27.26
| area_land_sq_mi          = 27.14
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.12

<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 847
| population_density_km2   = 13.30
| population_density_sq_mi = 34.45

<!-- General information -->
| timezone                 = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain (MST)]]
| utc_offset               = &minus;7
| timezone_DST             = MDT
| utc_offset_DST           = &minus;6
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 1243
| elevation_ft             = 4078
| coordinates              = {{coord|38|59|36|N|110|9|0|W|region:US-UT|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 84525
| area_code                = [[Area code 435|435]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 49-31670<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 1428398<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|greenriverutah.com}}
| footnotes                = 
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| population_est           = 
| pushpin_image            = 
}}

'''Green River''' is a city in [[Emery County, Utah|Emery County]], [[Utah]], United States. The population was 847 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web |title=Green River city, Utah - Census Bureau Profile |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US4931670 |access-date=October 5, 2022 |work=U.S. Census Bureau }}</ref>

==History==
The city of Green River is located on ancestral [[Ute people|Ute]] lands, in the home locale of the Seuvarits/Sheberetch band of Ute people. The [[Old Spanish Trail (trade route)|Old Spanish Trail]] trade route passed across the [[Green River (Colorado River)|Green River]] in the area of modern Green River from 1829 into the 1850s.

[[John Wesley Powell]] embarked on the first of two voyages down the Green River from Green River, Wyoming, more than 200 miles to the north of Green River, Utah, in May 1869 and floated the river to its confluence with the Colorado and beyond. Powell left a detailed account of the river and the surrounding landscape and prepared the first thorough maps of the river basin. Powell left his mark in other ways as well. He and his men named most of the canyons, geographic features, and rapids along the Green River during his two voyages in 1869 and 1871. Powell also paved the way for later generations of explorers and scientists interested in the unique geology of the basin of the Green River.

The settlement of the Green River started as a river crossing for the U.S. mail. In 1876, Mr. Blake set up a ferry and way station on the east side of the river. It became a stopover for travelers with a ferry transporting people, supplies, and animals across the river. Today, the river is primarily used for recreational and education rafting, canoeing, and kayaking trips. The "Gates of Lodore" portion is most common for recreational trips, as it can be completed in 3-6 days.

The line commonly known as the [[Utah Division (D&RGW)|Utah Division]] of the [[Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad]] was built in 1883, and a train station was opened. The west side of the river became known as "'''Greenriver'''" (later changed to "Green River"), and the east side of the river became known as "'''Elgin'''", and is still sometimes referred to by that name today. With the railroad coming, the town quickly went from a small farm hamlet to a boom town, with workers coming to build the bridge and the roadbed for the railroad. After the railroad's completion, the Green River became a fueling and watering stop for the railroad, with switching yards and engine sheds. A hotel called the Palmer House was built and became the scheduled meal stop for trains from both directions for many years. Green River enjoyed the railroad boom until 1892, when the railroad transferred most of its operations to [[Helper, Utah|Helper]]. The population of the town declined significantly.

Throughout the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, the mining of [[uranium]] played a significant role in the economy of Green River. Several trucking companies hauled ore from mines in the Four-Corners Mining District west of Green River, the San Rafael Swell, the [[Henry Mountains]], and the area that is now [[Lake Powell]].

The U.S. Air Force built the [[Green River Launch Complex]] outside Green River in 1964. It was an annex of the U.S. Army's [[White Sands Missile Range]]. From 1964 to 1973, the Air Force launched 141 [[Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System|Athena missiles]] from the Green River complex, near the Crystal Geyser, as part of research to improve nuclear missiles.<ref>{{Cite web| title=History of Green River |work=Official Website for Green River, Utah |publisher=City of Green River, Utah |url=http://www.greenriverutah.com/history.html |access-date=11 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008003304/http://www.greenriverutah.com/history.html |archive-date=October 8, 2009 }}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Green River from Green River, UT.jpg|thumb|Looking north along the [[Green River (Colorado River tributary)|Green River]] from the city]]
The city is located on the banks of the [[Green River (Colorado River)|Green River]], a major tributary of the [[Colorado River]]. The [[San Rafael Swell]] region is located west of the city, while [[Canyonlands National Park]] lies to the south. Today located exclusively in [[Emery County, Utah|Emery County]], the city was split between Emery and [[Grand County, Utah|Grand]] counties until January 6, 2003, when Emery County's boundaries were expanded to follow the city limits.<ref>[https://www.census.gov/popest/geographic/boundary_changes/geo3.php Geographic Change Notes: Utah] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502172634/http://www.census.gov/popest/geographic/boundary_changes/geo3.php |date=2008-05-02 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]], 2007. Accessed 2009-03-04.</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city of Green River has a land area of {{convert|70287692|m2|sqmi|2|order=flip}}, and a water area {{convert|319726|m2|order=flip|sqmi|2}}.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=Gazetteer Files |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_49.txt |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=Census.gov}}</ref>

[[Interstate 70 in Utah|Interstate 70]] passes just south of the city, with access from Exits 160 and 164. [[Grand Junction, Colorado]] {{convert|102|mi}} and [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]] {{convert|343|mi}} lie to the east. [[Cove Fort, Utah|Cove Fort]], I-70's western terminus, is {{convert|162|mi}} to the west with [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]] {{convert|406|mi}} via [[Interstate 15]] from Cove Fort. [[Price, Utah|Price]] lies {{convert|64|mi}} to the northwest on US Routes [[U.S. Route 6 in Utah|6]] and [[U.S. Route 191 in Utah|191]] as well as [[Salt Lake City, Utah|Salt Lake City]] {{convert|168|mi}} via [[Interstate 15 in Utah|Interstate 15]] from [[Spanish Fork, Utah|Spanish Fork]].

===Climate===

Green River has a moderate [[desert climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BWk'').

{{Weather box
| single line = yes
| location     = Green River Municipal Airport, UT
<!-- Record high temperatures -->
| Jan record high F  = 65
| Feb record high F  = 71
| Mar record high F  = 84
| Apr record high F  = 93
| May record high F  = 102
| Jun record high F  = 108
| Jul record high F  = 113
| Aug record high F  = 110
| Sep record high F  = 102
| Oct record high F  = 92
| Nov record high F  = 75
| Dec record high F  = 68
| year record high F = 113
<!-- Average high temperatures -->
| Jan high F  = 41.1
| Feb high F  = 50.5
| Mar high F  = 62.9
| Apr high F  = 72.0
| May high F  = 82.2
| Jun high F  = 93.0
| Jul high F  = 98.5
| Aug high F  = 94.9
| Sep high F  = 86.0
| Oct high F  = 71.3
| Nov high F  = 55.6
| Dec high F  = 43.5
| year high F = 71.0
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
| Jan mean F  = 27.4
| Feb mean F  = 35.9
| Mar mean F  = 46.6
| Apr mean F  = 55.1
| May mean F  = 64.5
| Jun mean F  = 74.1
| Jul mean F  = 79.9
| Aug mean F  = 77.5
| Sep mean F  = 67.5
| Oct mean F  = 54.1
| Nov mean F  = 40.1
| Dec mean F  = 30.0
| year mean F = 54.4
<!-- Average low temperatures -->
| Jan low F  = 13.7
| Feb low F  = 21.3
| Mar low F  = 30.3
| Apr low F  = 38.2
| May low F  = 46.8
| Jun low F  = 55.1
| Jul low F  = 61.3
| Aug low F  = 60.0
| Sep low F  = 49.0
| Oct low F  = 36.9
| Nov low F  = 24.6
| Dec low F  = 16.5
| year low F = 37.8
<!-- Record low temperatures -->
| Jan record low F  = -25
| Feb record low F  = -22
| Mar record low F  = 6
| Apr record low F  = 15
| May record low F  = 23
| Jun record low F  = 33
| Jul record low F  = 40
| Aug record low F  = 37
| Sep record low F  = 25
| Oct record low F  = 12
| Nov record low F  = -6
| Dec record low F  = -16
| year record low F = -25
<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. -->
| precipitation colour    =  green
| Jan precipitation inch  = 0.49
| Feb precipitation inch  = 0.59
| Mar precipitation inch  = 0.71
| Apr precipitation inch  = 0.59
| May precipitation inch  = 0.56
| Jun precipitation inch  = 0.38
| Jul precipitation inch  = 0.80
| Aug precipitation inch  = 0.78
| Sep precipitation inch  = 0.84
| Oct precipitation inch  = 0.98
| Nov precipitation inch  = 0.45
| Dec precipitation inch  = 0.43
| year precipitation inch = 7.60
<!-- Snowfall -->
<!-- IMPORTANT: Do NOT use snow depth information in the snowfall area! These are two different kinds of data! -->
| Jan snow inch  = 3.4
| Feb snow inch  = 0.6
| Mar snow inch  = 0.8
| Apr snow inch  = 0
| May snow inch  = 0
| Jun snow inch  = 0
| Jul snow inch  = 0
| Aug snow inch  = 0
| Sep snow inch  = 0
| Oct snow inch  = 0
| Nov snow inch  = 0.3
| Dec snow inch  = 2.5
| year snow inch = 7.6
<!-- Mandatory fields, source -->
| source = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org |title=Monthly Climate Normals (1981–2010) – Green River Aviation, UT |publisher=NOAA Regional Climate Centers |access-date=June 27, 2020 }}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1890 = 375
| 1900 = 222
| 1910 = 628
| 1920 = 645
| 1930 = 474
| 1940 = 470
| 1950 = 583
| 1960 = 1075
| 1970 = 1033
| 1980 = 1048
| 1990 = 866
| 2000 = 973
| 2010 = 952
| 2020 = 847
| 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>
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2020, there were 847 people and 330 households residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|34.45|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 397 housing units at an average density of {{convert|14.5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 70.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.5% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 11.6% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 17.2% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 33% of the population.

There were 330 households, out of which 60.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 18.2% had a male householder with no spouse present. The average household size was 2.77.

In the city the population was spread out, with 24.1% under 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.8 years.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,361. About 21.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]].

==Economy==
Located approximately {{convert|100|mi}} from both [[Richfield, Utah]], and [[Grand Junction, Colorado]], Green River's local economy primarily caters to serving passers-by on [[Interstate 70 in Utah|Interstate 70]], since there are no services on I-70 westbound between Green River and [[Salina, Utah|Salina]], {{convert|107|mi}} away. The economy relies heavily on hotels, fast food, and a few other restaurants and gas stations. A large [[natural gas]] field has been discovered {{convert|3|mi|0}} south of the city. The field is operated by Delta Petroleum, headquartered in [[Denver]], [[Colorado]].

Green River is famous for its [[melon]]s, sold during the growing season, and has an annual Melon Days Festival.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.melon-days.com/#/ | title=Melon Days }}</ref> It is also a popular [[Freeride (mountain biking)|freeride]] [[mountain biking]] spot.

A proposed nuclear power plant, the [[Blue Castle Project]], is located approximately five miles west-northwest of the town.<ref name="emery county progress 20170124">{{cite web|url=http://www.ecprogress.com/index.php?tier=1&article_id=19985|title=Update on the Nuclear Power Plant for Green River|first=Patsy|last=Stoddard|date=January 24, 2017|publisher=Emery County Progress |location=[[Castle Dale, Utah]]|access-date=February 9, 2017|archive-date=February 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211075715/http://www.ecprogress.com/index.php?tier=1&article_id=19985|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
[[File:Amtrak Green River.jpg|thumb|229x229px|Amtrak #5 pulling into Green River]]
[[Amtrak]], the national passenger rail system, provides service to [[Green River (Amtrak station)|Green River station]], operating its ''[[California Zephyr]]'' daily in both directions between [[Chicago Union Station|Chicago]] and [[Emeryville, California]].

Interstate 70, along with U.S. 6, U.S. 191, and U.S. 50, also passes through Green River, the first eastbound services after [[Salina, Utah|Salina]] and the final westbound services, because the two cities are {{convert|110|mi}} apart, the longest stretch of the interstate with no services in the United States.

The Main road in Green River is a short State road, SR 19, with Business I-70.

==Notable people==
* [[Bert Loper]], river-runner

==In popular culture==
The town becomes the new home of the Mousekewitz-family in ''[[An American Tail: Fievel Goes West]]'' as well as the main location in the subsequent television series ''[[Fievel's American Tails]]''.

Two chapters of [[Stephen King]]'s novel ''[[The Stand]]'' are set in a post-apocalyptic Green River.

Green River is the home of three of the characters in [[Edward Abbey]]'s novel, ''[[The Monkey Wrench Gang]]''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Erisman |first1=Fred |title=A Variant Text of the Monkey Wrench Gang |journal=Western American Literature |date=1979 |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=227–228 |doi=10.1353/wal.1979.0095 |s2cid=165877705 |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/530959 |access-date=5 July 2023}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Utah}}
* [[List of municipalities in Utah]]

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==Further reading==
*{{Citation | last = Geary | first = Edward A. | title = Utah History Encyclopedia | publisher = University of Utah Press | year = 1994 | chapter = Green River | chapter-url = https://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/g/GREEN_RIVER_TOWN.shtml | url = https://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240321165359/https://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/g/GREEN_RIVER_TOWN.shtml | archive-date = March 21, 2024 | isbn = 9780874804256 | access-date = May 7, 2024}}
*Glennon, J.A., Pfaff, R.M. (2005). "The operation and geography of carbon-dioxide-driven, cold-water [[geysers]]," ''GOSA Transactions'', vol. 9, pp.&nbsp;184–192.

==External links==
{{commons category|Green River, Utah}}
* [http://www.greenriverutah.com/ City of Green River official website]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Green River
|North     = [[Myton, Utah|Myton]], [[Ballard, Utah|Ballard]]
|Northeast = {{flagicon|Colorado}} [[Dinosaur, Colorado|Dinosaur]]<br/>{{flagicon|Colorado}} [[Rangely, Colorado|Rangely]]
|East      = {{flagicon|Colorado}} [[Fruita, Colorado|Fruita]]<br/>''[[Colorado River]]'' / {{flagicon|Colorado}} [[Grand Junction, Colorado|Grand Junction]]
|Southeast = ''[[Arches National Park]]'' / [[Castle Valley, Utah|Castle Valley]]<br/>[[Moab, Utah|Moab]]
|South     = ''[[Canyonlands National Park]]''
|Southwest = [[Torrey, Utah|Torrey]] / ''[[Goblin Valley State Park]]''<br/>[[Hanksville, Utah|Hanksville]]
|West      = [[Castle Dale, Utah|Castle Dale]], [[Clawson, Utah|Clawson]]<br>[[Ferron, Utah|Ferron]], [[Emery, Utah|Emery]]
|Northwest = [[Wellington, Utah|Wellington]], [[East Carbon-Sunnyside, Utah|East Carbon-Sunnyside]],<br/>[[Elmo, Utah|Elmo]], [[Huntington, Utah|Huntington]], [[Cleveland, Utah|Cleveland]]
}}

{{Emery County, Utah}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Emery County, Utah]]
[[Category:Green River (Colorado River tributary)]]
[[Category:Old Spanish Trail (trade route)]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1876]]
[[Category:Cities in Utah]]
[[Category:1876 establishments in Utah Territory]]