# Aurora, Utah

Aurora is a city in north-central Sevier County, Utah, United States. The population was 923 in the 2020 Census.
Aurora is predominantly supported by agriculture, coal mining, and the service sector. Most residents commute to one of the neighboring communities to work. Children go to school at one of the three schools in Salina Utah. The current growth in the community is attributed to the growth of business and industry in the region.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1 square mile (2.6 km$^2$), all land.

### Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Aurora has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.

## History

Aurora was founded in 1875 by Ezra White (or Ezra Curtis, according to some accounts) and three other families along the banks of the Sevier River. Three men came along and discovered the land. They went back to Provo and started to settle back in 1875, They settled on the bend of the Sevier River, and it had a bunch of Willow trees, so they chose the name Willowbend. The name was changed to Aurora due to the presence of the Northern Lights . It also changed because the colors reminded the Postmaster of the Roman Goddess of dawn. The city was moved west two to three miles along the Rocky Ford Canal to avoid the spring flooding accompanying life along the Sevier. This location also enabled significant cultivation of the foothills. Those families that settled in the region often left the comfortable surroundings of Northern Utah to settle in what one original resident described as a desolate region without a green tree in sight. Over time, however, settlers planted crops, and trees and utilized irrigation to create a very beautiful and livable community.
Nestled in the fertile Sevier Valley, Aurora slowly grew as more settlers moved west. While growth occurred more rapidly in the accompanying communities of Salina and Richfield, Aurora grew largely due to the settling of children of many of the large families in the city. Most current residents can track their lineage to one of the four founding families of the city.

## Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 947 people, 303 households, and 269 families residing in the city. The population density was 936.1 people per square mile (362.0/km$^2$). There were 321 housing units at an average density of 317.3 per square mile (122.7/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 97.68% White, 0.53% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 0.84% from other races, and 0.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.37% of the population.
There were 303 households, of which 43.6% had children under 18 living with them, 83.8% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.2% were non-families. 10.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.13, and the average family size was 3.38.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 33.2% under 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% aged 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 100.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,911, and the median income for a family was $50,000. Males had a median income of $38,750 versus $20,156 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,920. About 3.5% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those aged 65 or over.

## Notable person

* David E. Sorensen, an LDS Church leader