Editing Kamas, Utah

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Kamas, Utah
|settlement_type          = [[List of municipalities in Utah|City]]
|motto                    =
<!-- Images and maps-->
|image_skyline            = Welcome to Kamas sign on SR-248, Apr 16.jpg
|image_caption            = 
|image_map                = Summit County Utah incorporated and unincorporated areas Kamas highlighted.svg
|map_caption              = Location in [[Summit County, Utah|Summit County]] and the state of [[Utah]]
<!-- 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        = [[Summit County, Utah|Summit]]
<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_title        = Settled
|established_date         = 1859
|named_for                = ''[[Camassia quamash]]''
<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024">{{cite web|title=2024 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url= https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer2024_gaz_place_49.txt| publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 6, 2025}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 10.10
|area_land_km2            = 10.10
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 3.90
|area_land_sq_mi          = 3.90
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 2092
|population_density_sq_mi = 566.94
|population_density_km2   = 219.29
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain (MST)]]
|utc_offset               = -7
|timezone_DST             = MDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -6
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 6690
|coordinates              = {{coord|40|39|12|N|111|15|39|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 84036
|area_code                = [[Area code 435|435]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 49-39810<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              = 2410162<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410162}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://kamascityut.gov/}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Kamas''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|æ|m|ə|s}} {{respell|KAM|əs}}) is a city in southwestern [[Summit County, Utah]], United States. The population was 2,092 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]]. It is {{convert|42|mi|km}} east of downtown [[Salt Lake City]].<ref>[http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=Kamas&1s=UT&2c=Salt+Lake+City&2s=UT MapQuest Maps - Driving Directions - Map]. Mapquest.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-21.</ref> Its main industries are cattle ranching and lumber. The town is known as "The Gateway to the [[Uinta Mountains]]".

==History==
[[File:Fire station, Kamas, Utah, Apr 16.jpg|thumb|left|South Summit Fire District Kamas Station in Kamas (2016)]]
Kamas derives its name from ''[[Camassia quamash]]'', a flowering grass that grows in the region and was a source of food for Native Americans.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n171 172]}}</ref>

Kamas was inhabited intermittently by several Native American ethnic groups, including members of the [[Ute Tribe|Ute]], [[Shoshone]], and Snake tribes. The first permanent settlements in the valley are believed to have been built by [[Mormon pioneers]], including [[Abraham Marchant]], John Lambert, and [[John Pack]], who settled under the direction of [[Brigham Young]].

One prominent figure in Kamas folklore history is [[Thomas Rhoads]]. According to legend, guides from a local Ute Tribe revealed to Rhoads the location of a gold mine from which he was allowed to take gold to assist in the construction of the [[Salt Lake Temple]]. The only condition the Ute guides gave for revealing the mine's location was that Rhoads not reveal it to anyone else. He adhered to the terms of this agreement until his death. The [[Lost Rhoades Mine|"Rhoads Mine"]] is now considered lost, but its legend survives in several books on the topic.<ref>{{cite web |publisher =Carl Rhodes |title=The Lost Rhoads Mine by Twila Van Leer | url=http://rhodesfamily.org/lostmine.htm |access-date=2009-05-05}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2011}}

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|1.6|mi2|km2}}, all land.

===Climate===
According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Kamas has a [[warm-summer humid continental climate]], abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.<ref>[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/K%C3%B6ppen_Climate_Types_Utah.png Köppen climate types] Wikimedia</ref> The hottest temperature recorded in Kamas is {{convert|101|F|C|1}}, on July 13, 2002, and the coldest is {{convert|-31|F|C|1}}, on December 21, 1990.<ref name=NOWData />

{{Weather box
|location = Kamas, Utah, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1949–present
|single line = Yes
|collapsed   = yes
|Jan record high F = 59
|Feb record high F = 62
|Mar record high F = 76
|Apr record high F = 84
|May record high F = 92
|Jun record high F = 97
|Jul record high F = 101
|Aug record high F = 98
|Sep record high F = 95
|Oct record high F = 85
|Nov record high F = 75
|Dec record high F = 62

|Jan avg record high F = 50.0
|Feb avg record high F = 53.2
|Mar avg record high F = 63.6
|Apr avg record high F = 73.3
|May avg record high F = 81.7
|Jun avg record high F = 88.9
|Jul avg record high F = 93.8
|Aug avg record high F = 92.3
|Sep avg record high F = 86.6
|Oct avg record high F = 76.6
|Nov avg record high F = 63.6
|Dec avg record high F = 52.0
|year avg record high F = 94.7

|Jan high F = 34.8
|Feb high F = 38.2
|Mar high F = 47.2
|Apr high F = 55.4
|May high F = 65.3
|Jun high F = 76.2
|Jul high F = 84.5
|Aug high F = 82.9
|Sep high F = 73.6
|Oct high F = 59.2
|Nov high F = 44.7
|Dec high F = 34.4
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 25.0
|Feb mean F = 27.8
|Mar mean F = 35.9
|Apr mean F = 42.6
|May mean F = 50.8
|Jun mean F = 59.4
|Jul mean F = 67.1
|Aug mean F = 65.8
|Sep mean F = 57.2
|Oct mean F = 45.2
|Nov mean F = 33.7
|Dec mean F = 25.0
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 15.2
|Feb low F = 17.4
|Mar low F = 24.7
|Apr low F = 29.8
|May low F = 36.3
|Jun low F = 42.7
|Jul low F = 49.8
|Aug low F = 48.7
|Sep low F = 40.7
|Oct low F = 31.2
|Nov low F = 22.8
|Dec low F = 15.6
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -6.6
|Feb avg record low F = -3.3
|Mar avg record low F = 6.3
|Apr avg record low F = 15.4
|May avg record low F = 23.5
|Jun avg record low F = 30.6
|Jul avg record low F = 38.9
|Aug avg record low F = 37.5
|Sep avg record low F = 26.2
|Oct avg record low F = 14.9
|Nov avg record low F = 2.0
|Dec avg record low F = -5.8
|year avg record low F = -10.8

|Jan record low F = -26
|Feb record low F = -30
|Mar record low F = -11
|Apr record low F = 4
|May record low F = 13
|Jun record low F = 22
|Jul record low F = 29
|Aug record low F = 24
|Sep record low F = 16
|Oct record low F = -5
|Nov record low F = -18
|Dec record low F = -31

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.79
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.34
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.46
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.55
|May precipitation inch = 1.66
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.95
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.82
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.08
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.52
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.60
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.38
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.49
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 9.6
|Feb precipitation days = 8.6
|Mar precipitation days = 8.5
|Apr precipitation days = 8.9
|May precipitation days = 8.3
|Jun precipitation days = 5.2
|Jul precipitation days = 5.3
|Aug precipitation days = 6.0
|Sep precipitation days = 6.2
|Oct precipitation days = 7.5
|Nov precipitation days = 7.3
|Dec precipitation days = 7.9

|Jan snow inch = 22.1
|Feb snow inch = 17.9
|Mar snow inch = 12.3
|Apr snow inch = 7.4
|May snow inch = 2.2
|Jun snow inch = 0.3
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.5
|Oct snow inch = 2.3
|Nov snow inch = 13.4
|Dec snow inch = 18.5
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 8.7
|Feb snow days = 7.5
|Mar snow days = 4.8
|Apr snow days = 3.7
|May snow days = 0.9
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.1
|Oct snow days = 1.1
|Nov snow days = 4.5
|Dec snow days = 7.2

|Jan snow depth inch = 15.8
|Feb snow depth inch = 15.8
|Mar snow depth inch = 10.0
|Apr snow depth inch = 2.1
|May snow depth inch = 0.3
|Jun snow depth inch = 0.0
|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0
|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0
|Sep snow depth inch = 0.3
|Oct snow depth inch = 1.4
|Nov snow depth inch = 6.3
|Dec snow depth inch = 9.8
|year snow depth inch = 17.5

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00424467&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Kamas, UT
|access-date = November 5, 2022
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=slc
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Salt Lake City
|access-date = November 5, 2022
}}
</ref>
}}{{clear|left}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=
|1900= 440
|1910= 418
|1920= 563
|1930= 558
|1940= 729
|1950= 721
|1960= 749
|1970= 806
|1980= 1064
|1990= 1061
|2000= 1274
|2010= 1811
|estyear=2019
|estimate=2276
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2019CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|date=May 24, 2020|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref>
|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>
}}
Kamas is part of the [[Salt Lake City, Utah|Salt Lake City]], Utah [[Salt Lake City metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 1,274 people, 445 households, and 327 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{#expr: (1274/1.6) round 1 }} people per square mile  ({{#expr: ((1/2.59)*(1274/1.6)) round 1 }}/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 482 housing units at an average density of 303.4 per square mile  ({{#expr: ((1/2.59)*303.4) round 1 }}/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 96.31% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.39% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.16% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.31% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.08% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.04% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.71% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 5.89% of the population.

There were 445 households, out of which 41.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.37.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 33.0% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,667, and the median income for a family was $46,750. Males had a median income of $30,703 versus $22,434 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,761. About 3.6% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

===Religion===
The predominant religion of the area, as with most rural towns of Utah, is [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], although [[Kamas Bible Church]] is also located in Kamas. There is also a small Catholic minority, many of whom attend church either in [[Heber City]] or [[Park City, Utah|Park City]].{{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed for the whole sentence|date=September 2019}}

==Education==
Kamas is in the [[South Summit School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st49_ut/schooldistrict_maps/c49043_summit/DC20SD_C49043.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Summit County, UT|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2022-11-02}}</ref> It is home to the South Summit school district's facilities, and has a high school, a middle school, and an elementary school (all called South Summit). Nearby towns [[Peoa, Utah|Peoa]], [[Oakley, Utah|Oakley]], [[Marion, Utah|Marion]], [[Francis, Utah|Francis]], and [[Woodland, Utah|Woodland]] all send students to these schools. Students in nearby [[Weber Canyon]] and Mirror Lake Canyon also reside in the school district.

==Events==
Kamas is the starting point for the [[High Uintas Classic]], a two-day bicycle race that takes place every summer, usually in mid-June. The race features a mountain stage that takes participants on the [[Mirror Lake Highway]] from downtown Kamas over [[Bald Mountain Pass]] and into [[Evanston, Wyoming]]. Part of the route for the final two stages of the 2012 [[Tour of Utah]] cycling race went through downtown Kamas. The Tour of Utah returned in 2013 and cyclists went through Kamas again during the sixth and final stage.

Kamas hosts [[Fiesta Days]], a community celebration on and around July 24, Utah's [[Pioneer Day (Utah)|Pioneer Day]] holiday. Fiesta Days includes rodeos, a demolition derby, a parade, and the Miss Fiesta Days beauty/scholarship pageant.

Kamas hosts the High Country Classic wrestling tournament every January.

==Transportation==
[[High Valley Transit]] provides service to Kamas on the 102 to Park City, with three round trips in the morning and three in the afternoon.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.highvalleytransit.org/bus-102-to-francis-city-offices | title=102 to Francis City Offices Bus Route }}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Clark E. Bronson]] (b.  1939) - sculptor
*[[Steve Schmidt]] (b. 1970) - political and corporate strategist

==See also==
* [[List of cities and towns in Utah]]
* [[High Uintas Wilderness]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Kamas, Utah}}
* {{official website|http://www.kamascity.net/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090510063228/http://www.co.summit.ut.us/history/kamas/kamas.html Kamas Historical Society]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100611155622/http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/k/KAMAS.html History of Kamas]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Kamas
|North     = [[Oakley, Utah|Oakley]]
|Northeast = {{flagicon|Wyoming}} [[Mountain View, Wyoming|Mountain View]]
|East      = ''[[Wasatch National Forest]]'' / [[Manila, Utah|Manila]]
|Southeast = ''[[Wasatch National Forest]]'' / [[Tabiona, Utah|Tabiona]]
|South     = [[Francis, Utah|Francis]]
|Southwest = [[Midway, Utah|Midway]], [[Heber City, Utah|Heber City]]
|West      = [[Hideout, Utah|Hideout]]
|Northwest = [[Park City, Utah|Park City]]
}}

{{Summit County, Utah}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Utah]]
[[Category:Cities in Summit County, Utah]]
[[Category:Salt Lake City metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1859]]
[[Category:1859 establishments in Utah Territory]]