# Kamas, Utah

Kamas (/ˈkæməs/ KAM-əs) is a city in southwestern Summit County, Utah, United States. The population was 1,811 at the 2010 census. It is 42 miles (68 km) east of downtown Salt Lake City. Its main industries are cattle ranching and lumber. The town is known as "The Gateway to the Uinta Mountains".

## History

Kamas derives its name from Camassia quamash, a flowering grass that grows in the region and was a source of food for Native Americans.
Kamas was inhabited intermittently by several Native American ethnic groups, including members of the 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 "Rhoads Mine" is now considered lost, but its legend survives in several books on the topic.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km$^2$), all land.

### Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Kamas has a warm-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Kamas is 101 °F (38.3 °C), on July 13, 2002, and the coldest is −31 °F (−35.0 °C), on December 21, 1990.
Climate data for Kamas, Utah, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1949–present :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 59 (15) | 62 (17) | 76 (24) | 84 (29) | 92 (33) | 97 (36) | 101 (38) | 98 (37) | 95 (35) | 85 (29) | 75 (24) | 62 (17) | 101 (38) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 50.0 (10.0) | 53.2 (11.8) | 63.6 (17.6) | 73.3 (22.9) | 81.7 (27.6) | 88.9 (31.6) | 93.8 (34.3) | 92.3 (33.5) | 86.6 (30.3) | 76.6 (24.8) | 63.6 (17.6) | 52.0 (11.1) | 94.7 (34.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 34.8 (1.6) | 38.2 (3.4) | 47.2 (8.4) | 55.4 (13.0) | 65.3 (18.5) | 76.2 (24.6) | 84.5 (29.2) | 82.9 (28.3) | 73.6 (23.1) | 59.2 (15.1) | 44.7 (7.1) | 34.4 (1.3) | 58.0 (14.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 25.0 (−3.9) | 27.8 (−2.3) | 35.9 (2.2) | 42.6 (5.9) | 50.8 (10.4) | 59.4 (15.2) | 67.1 (19.5) | 65.8 (18.8) | 57.2 (14.0) | 45.2 (7.3) | 33.7 (0.9) | 25.0 (−3.9) | 44.6 (7.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 15.2 (−9.3) | 17.4 (−8.1) | 24.7 (−4.1) | 29.8 (−1.2) | 36.3 (2.4) | 42.7 (5.9) | 49.8 (9.9) | 48.7 (9.3) | 40.7 (4.8) | 31.2 (−0.4) | 22.8 (−5.1) | 15.6 (−9.1) | 31.2 (−0.4) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −6.6 (−21.4) | −3.3 (−19.6) | 6.3 (−14.3) | 15.4 (−9.2) | 23.5 (−4.7) | 30.6 (−0.8) | 38.9 (3.8) | 37.5 (3.1) | 26.2 (−3.2) | 14.9 (−9.5) | 2.0 (−16.7) | −5.8 (−21.0) | −10.8 (−23.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −26 (−32) | −30 (−34) | −11 (−24) | 4 (−16) | 13 (−11) | 22 (−6) | 29 (−2) | 24 (−4) | 16 (−9) | −5 (−21) | −18 (−28) | −31 (−35) | −31 (−35) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.79 (45) | 1.34 (34) | 1.46 (37) | 1.55 (39) | 1.66 (42) | 0.95 (24) | 0.82 (21) | 1.08 (27) | 1.52 (39) | 1.60 (41) | 1.38 (35) | 1.49 (38) | 16.64 (422) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 22.1 (56) | 17.9 (45) | 12.3 (31) | 7.4 (19) | 2.2 (5.6) | 0.3 (0.76) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.5 (1.3) | 2.3 (5.8) | 13.4 (34) | 18.5 (47) | 96.9 (245.46) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 15.8 (40) | 15.8 (40) | 10.0 (25) | 2.1 (5.3) | 0.3 (0.76) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.3 (0.76) | 1.4 (3.6) | 6.3 (16) | 9.8 (25) | 17.5 (44) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.6 | 8.6 | 8.5 | 8.9 | 8.3 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 6.0 | 6.2 | 7.5 | 7.3 | 7.9 | 89.3 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 8.7 | 7.5 | 4.8 | 3.7 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 4.5 | 7.2 | 38.5 |
| Source 1: NOAA ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

Kamas is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area.
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,274 people, 445 households, and 327 families residing in the city. The population density was 796.3 people per square mile (307.4/km$^2$). There were 482 housing units at an average density of 303.4 per square mile (117.1/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 96.31% White, 0.39% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 2.04% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or 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 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.

## Education

Kamas is in the South Summit School District. 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, Oakley, Marion, Francis, and 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 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.

## Notable people

* Clark E. Bronson (b. 1939) - sculptor
* Steve Schmidt (b. 1970) - political and corporate strategist