Editing Wayne County, Utah

{{Short description|County in Utah, United States}}
{{Other uses|Wayne County (disambiguation){{!}}Wayne County}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Wayne County
 | state                = Utah
 | ex image             = Loa Tithing Office Loa Utah.jpeg
 | ex image size        = 220px
 | ex image cap         = [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Wayne County, Utah|Tithing Office]] in [[Loa, Utah]].
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1892
 | founded date         = March 10
 | seat wl              = Loa
 | largest city wl      = Loa
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 2466
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 2461
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 5.8
 | area percentage      = 0.2
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 2486
 | pop_est_as_of        = 
 | population_est       = 
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Mountain
 | web                  = www.waynecountyutah.org
 | named for            = [[Wayne County, Tennessee]]
 | district             = 2nd
}}

'''Wayne County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Utah]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the population was 2,486,<ref>{{cite web|title=Wayne County, Utah|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Wasatch_County,_Utah?g=050XX00US49051|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=July 1, 2023}}</ref> making it the fourth-least populous county in Utah. Its [[county seat]] is [[Loa, Utah|Loa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>

==History==
Due to its remoteness and harsh terrain, settlements did not appear in the future Wayne County until the 1880s. By 1892, there was enough settlement and enough interest in a separate county (due mainly to the difficulty of accessing the [[Piute County, Utah|Piute County]] seat), that [[Utah Territory]] passed an act (effective date March 10, 1892)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/UT_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm |title=&#91;&#91;Newberry Library&#93;&#93;. Individual County Chronologies - Wayne County UT (accessed March 25, 2019) |access-date=March 25, 2019 |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306153326/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/UT_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> to separate the east portion of Piute into a separate county.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.waynecountyutah.org/about/about-wayne-county/history/ |title="History". This narrative says the county was established in May 1892 (possibly referring to the date its government was organized). Wayne County website (accessed 25 March 2019) |access-date=March 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324063612/http://www.waynecountyutah.org/about/about-wayne-county/history/ |archive-date=March 24, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The county was named for [[Wayne County, Tennessee]], itself named for [[Anthony Wayne]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Murphy|first=Miriam B.|title=A History of Wayne County|series=Utah Centennial County History Series|date=January 1999|publisher=Utah State Historical Society|location=Salt Lake City|isbn=0-913738-45-X|pages=78–80|url=http://utah.ptfs.com/awweb/guest.jsp?smd=1&cl=all_lib&lb_document_id=34429|format=PDF|access-date=January 27, 2015}}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The county boundaries have remained unchanged since its creation.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

==Geography==
The eastern border of Wayne County is delineated by the meanders of the [[Green River (Colorado River tributary)|Green River]], which flows southward to discharge into the [[Colorado River]]. After the two rivers join, the combined southwestern flow forms the remaining portion of the county's eastern border. The central part of the county is drained by the [[Fremont River (Utah)|Fremont River]] and [[Muddy Creek (central Utah)|Muddy Creek]]. The Fremont begins at [[Fish Lake (Utah)|Fish Lake]] in [[Sevier County, Utah|Sevier County]] and flows into Wayne County near its northwestern corner. It joins the Muddy near Hanksville to form the [[Dirty Devil River]], which flows southeastward out of the county's southern border to discharge into Colorado. Wayne County terrain varies from rough forestland on the west to arid poor soil carved by drainages and rocky outcrops.<ref name=WCU>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wayne+County,+UT/@38.3099803,-110.5835397,10.46z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x87361facee9b0009:0x611fc1f154bb0861!8m2!3d38.3337024!4d-110.8076084 ''Wayne County UT''  Google Maps (accessed 24 March 2019)]</ref> The terrain slopes to the east and south; its highest area is near its NW corner, at {{convert|9,888|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |title="Find an Altitude/Wayne County UT" Google Maps (accessed 24 March 2019) |access-date=March 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521043409/https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The county has a total area of {{convert|2466|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|2461|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|5.8|sqmi}} (0.2%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_49.txt|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=June 26, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

The [[Green River (Colorado River)|Green River]], passing through the canyons of [[Canyonlands National Park]], forms the eastern boundary. The [[San Rafael Desert]] occupies the center of the county. [[Thousand Lake Mountain]] and [[Boulder Mountain (Utah)|Boulder Mountain]] flank Rabbit Valley on the western end of the county, where forests contrast with the deserts to the east. The small population of the county is centered in Rabbit Valley, with one town of 200, Hanksville, located in Graves Valley north of the Henry Mountains. Wayne County is also home to [[Capitol Reef National Park]].

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
* {{Jct|state=UT|UT|12}}
* {{Jct|state=UT|UT|24}}
* {{Jct|state=UT|UT|72}}
* {{Jct|state=UT|UT|95}}
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
* [[Emery County, Utah|Emery County]] - north
* [[Grand County, Utah|Grand County]] - northeast
* [[San Juan County, Utah|San Juan County]] - east
* [[Garfield County, Utah|Garfield County]] - south
* [[Piute County, Utah|Piute County]] - west
* [[Sevier County, Utah|Sevier County]] (northwest)
{{div col end}}

===National forests/parks===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
* [[Canyonlands National Park]]
* [[Capitol Reef National Park]]
* [[Dixie National Forest]]
* [[Fishlake National Forest]]
* [[Glen Canyon National Recreation Area]]
{{div col end}}

===Lakes===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
* Abes Knoll Reservoir
* Alkali Lake
* Bald Knoll Reservoir
* Beaver Dam Reservoir
* Beef Hollow Reservoir
* Bicknell Reservoir
* Big Hollow Reservoir
* Black Point Reservoir
* Blackburn Reservoir
* Blind Lake (near Neff Reservoir)
* [[Blind Lake, Utah|Blind Lake]] (near Pear Lake)
* Blue Lake
* Bobs Hole
* Brinkerhoff Pond
* Buffalo Pond
* Bull Roost Reservoir
* Bullberry Lakes
* Cameron Reservoir
* Cedar Peak Lake
* Coleman Reservoir
* Cook Lake
* Cub Lake
* Curler Lake
* Cyclone Co-op Reservoir
* Cyclone Knoll Reservoir
* Dead Horse Lake
* Deadman Hollow Reservoir
* Deep Creek Lake
* Donkey Reservoir
* Dry Lake Reservoir
* East Bicknell Sand Wash Pond
* East Gate Reservoir
* Eightmile Reservoir
* Emily Lake
* Evans Reservoir
* Fish Creek Reservoir
* Flat Top Reservoir
* Flatiron Lakes
* Flossie Lake
* Government Lake
* Grass Lake (near Bobs Hole)
* Grass Lake (near Torgerson Lake)
* Green Lake
* Gripe Reservoir
* Hare Lake
* Heart Lake
* Honeymoon Lake
* Hunt Reservoir
* Jakes Knoll Reservoir
* Jane Lake
* Jay Pond
* Jim Larson Reservoir
* Lava Lake
* Lee Lake
* Left Hand Reservoir
* Lightning Lake
* Long Hollow Reservoir
* Lost Lake
* Lower Balsam Reservoir
* Lower Reservoir
* Meadow Gulch Reservoir
* Middle Balsam Reservoir
* Middle Reservoir
* Mill Meadow Reservoir (part)<ref name=WCU/>
* Miller Lake
* Mitts Reservoir
* Moroni Reservoir
* Mud Lake
* Ned Reservoir
* Neff Reservoir
* Ottos Reservoir
* Parker Hollow Reservoir
* Pass Reservoir
* Pear Lake
* Petes Pond
* Pine Creek Reservoir
* Pole Canyon Reservoir
* Raft Lake
* Right Fork Wildcat Reservoir
* Rock Lake
* Rock Point Reservoir
* Round Lake (near Heart Lake)
* Round Lake (near Lower Reservoir)
* Sage Reservoir
* Smooth Knoll Reservoir
* Snow Lake
* Snow Lakes
* Solitaire Lake
* Spray Reservoir
* Square Reservoir
* Tidwell Reservoir
* Torgerson Lake
* Twin Lakes
* Upper Balsam Reservoir
* Vance Reservoir
* West Bicknell Pond
* West Flat Top Reservoir Number 1
* West Flat Top Reservoir Number 2
* White Rock Reservoir
* Wide Hollow Reservoir
* Wildcat Reservoir
* Woodys Reservoir
{{div col end}}

{{Panorama|image=File:Great Gallery panorama.jpg|height=230|caption=Panorama of the [[Great Gallery]] in [[Canyonlands National Park]]}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 1907
|1910= 1749
|1920= 2097
|1930= 2067
|1940= 2394
|1950= 2205
|1960= 1728
|1970= 1483
|1980= 1911
|1990= 2177
|2000= 2509
|2010= 2778
|2020= 2486
|estref= 
|align-fn=center
|footnote=US Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=June 26, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=June 26, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ut190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=US Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=June 26, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=US Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=June 26, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name=QF>{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/49/49055.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905095339/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/49/49055.html|archive-date=September 5, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> 2020<ref>[https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html 2020 Population and Housing State Data | Utah]</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
According to the [[2020 United States census]]<ref name="2020CensusDHC">{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2023/dec/2020-census-dhc.html|title=2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics File (DHC)|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=November 3, 2024}}</ref> and [[American Community Survey|2020 American Community Survey]],<ref name="2020ACS">{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/developers/data-sets/acs-5year.2020.html|title=American Community Survey 5-Year Data (2009-2022)|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=November 3, 2024}}</ref> there were 2,486 people in Wayne County with a [[population density]] of 1.0 people per square mile (0.4/km<sup>2</sup>). Among non-[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people, the racial makeup was 2,267 (91.2%) [[White Americans|White]], 1 (0.0%) [[African Americans|African American]], 19 (0.8%) [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 16 (0.6%) [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 3 (0.1%) [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 5 (0.2%) from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|other races]], and 79 (3.2%) from [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]]. 96 (3.9%) people were Hispanic or Latino.

There were 1,239 (49.84%) males and 1,247 (50.16%) females, and the population distribution by age was 536 (21.6%) under the age of 18, 1,334 (53.7%) from 18 to 64, and 616 (24.8%) who were at least 65 years old. The median age was 47.3 years.

There were 1,064 households in Wayne County with an average size of 2.34 of which 711 (66.8%) were families and 353 (33.2%) were non-families. Among all families, 601 (56.5%) were [[Marriage|married couples]], 49 (4.6%) were male householders with no spouse, and 61 (5.7%) were female householders with no spouse. Among all non-families, 307 (28.9%) were a single person living alone and 46 (4.3%) were two or more people living together. 290 (27.3%) of all households had children under the age of 18. 814 (76.5%) of households were [[Owner-occupancy|owner-occupied]] while 250 (23.5%) were [[Renting|renter-occupied]].

The median income for a Wayne County household was $49,299 and the median family income was $62,069, with a [[per-capita income]] of $23,184. The median income for males that were [[Full-time job|full-time employees]] was $50,625 and for females $34,653. 10.1% of the population and 6.8% of families were below the [[Poverty threshold|poverty line]].

In terms of education attainment, out of the 1,822 people in Wayne County 25 years or older, 190 (10.4%) had [[High school dropouts in the United States|not completed high school]], 346 (19.0%) had a [[high school diploma]] or equivalency, 848 (46.5%) had some college or [[associate degree]], 374 (20.5%) had a [[bachelor's degree]], and 64 (3.5%) had a [[Postgraduate education|graduate]] or [[professional degree]].

===Ancestry and ethnicity===
As of 2017 the largest self-identified ancestry groups/ethnic groups in Wayne County, Utah were:<ref name="factfinder.census.gov">{{Cite web |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/17_5YR/DP02/0500000US49055 |title=American FactFinder - Results |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213040930/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/17_5YR/DP02/0500000US49055 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size: 90%;"
|-
! Largest ancestries (2017) !! Percent 
|-
| [[English Americans|English]] ||45.5% 
|-
| [[German Americans|German]] || 16.3%
|-
| [[Dutch American|Dutch]] || 8.4%
|-
| [[Danish American|Danish]] || 7.6% 
|-
| [[Irish American|Irish]] || 5.8% 
|-
| [[Scottish American|Scottish]] || 5.4% 
|-
| [[Swedish American|Swedish]] || 3.9% 
|-
| [[American ancestry|American]] || 2.3%
|-
| [[Welsh American|Welsh]] || 1.7%
|-
| [[Polish Americans|Polish]] || 1.2%
|}

==Communities==
===Towns===
* [[Bicknell, Utah|Bicknell]]
* [[Hanksville, Utah|Hanksville]]
* [[Loa, Utah|Loa]] (county seat)
* [[Lyman, Utah|Lyman]]
* [[Torrey, Utah|Torrey]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Fremont, Utah|Fremont]]
* [[Teasdale, Utah|Teasdale]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Caineville, Utah|Caineville]]
* [[Fruita, Utah|Fruita]]
* [[Grover, Utah|Grover]]
* [[Notom, Utah|Notom]]

===Former communities===
* [[Aldridge, Utah|Aldridge]]
* [[Eagle City, Utah|Eagle City]]
* [[Giles, Utah|Giles]]

[[File:Scenery north of Hanksville, Utah.jpg|thumb|View north of Hanksville from Route 24. [[Factory Butte (Wayne County, Utah)|Factory Butte]] in background.]]

==Politics and government==
Wayne County voters are traditionally Republican. In only one national election since 1948 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).

{| class="wikitable"
|+State elected offices
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" |Position
!District
! style="text-align:center;" |Name
! valign="bottom" |Affiliation
! style="vertical-align:bottom; text-align:center;" |First elected
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
|[[Utah Senate|Senate]]
|24
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Derrin Owens]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" |2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=Senator Owens Utah Senate|url=https://senate.utah.gov/sen/OWENSD/|access-date=November 16, 2021|website=senate.utah.gov}}</ref>
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
|[[Utah House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
|73
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Phil Lyman]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" |2018<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rep. Lyman, Phil|url=https://house.utah.gov/rep/LYMANP/|access-date=November 15, 2021|website=Utah House of Representatives|language=en-US|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115182904/https://house.utah.gov/rep/LYMANP/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| style="background-color:lightgrey" |&nbsp;
|Board of Education
|14
| style="text-align:center;" |Mark Huntsman
| style="text-align:center;" |Nonpartisan
| style="text-align:center;" |2014<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mark Huntsman|url=https://www.schools.utah.gov/board/members/utah/markhuntsman|access-date=November 15, 2021|website=www.schools.utah.gov|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115183003/https://www.schools.utah.gov/board/members/utah/markhuntsman|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|}

{{PresHead|place=Wayne County, Utah|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 31, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|1,238|381|41|Utah}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,229|365|36|Utah}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|966|271|189|Utah}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,089|215|23|Utah}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|940|335|67|Utah}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,062|279|19|Utah}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|953|202|70|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|741|265|136|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|706|236|283|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|784|353|6|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|930|224|5|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|835|226|37|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|555|334|50|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|597|183|52|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|511|248|54|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|400|412|0|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|446|382|0|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|499|283|0|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|536|275|0|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|367|460|4|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|325|430|0|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|380|500|1|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|329|522|3|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|398|401|9|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|422|195|2|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|331|241|6|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|396|224|19|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|225|393|9|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1912|Republican|282|183|77|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|279|184|96|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|310|251|21|Utah}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|324|282|6|Utah}}
{{PresFoot|1896|Democratic|78|405|0|Utah}}

==Education==
There is one school district, [[Wayne School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st49_ut/schooldistrict_maps/c49055_wayne/DC20SD_C49055.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Wayne County, UT|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-09-28}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st49_ut/schooldistrict_maps/c49055_wayne/DC20SD_C49055_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Wayne County, Utah]]
* For additional History of Wayne County Utah see "Utah's Stolen Treasures" by Gene Covington {{ISBN|978-1-62516-335-6}} (e-book) or {{ISBN|978-1-61897-954-4}} (paperback)

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

==External links==
{{Commons category|Wayne County, Utah}}
* {{Official website|http://www.waynecountyutah.org}}
{{clear}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Wayne County
|North     = [[Emery County, Utah|Emery County]]
|Northeast = [[Grand County, Utah|Grand County]] 
|East      = [[San Juan County, Utah|San Juan County]]
|South     = [[Garfield County, Utah|Garfield County]]
|West      = [[Piute County, Utah|Piute County]]
|Northwest = [[Sevier County, Utah|Sevier County]]
}}

{{Wayne County, Utah}}
{{Utah}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|38.36|-110.90|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-UT_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Wayne County, Utah| ]]
[[Category:1892 establishments in Utah Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1892]]