Wayne County, Utah

Wayne County, Utah
Wayne County is a county in the U.S. state of Utah. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,486, making it the fourth-least populous county in Utah. Its county seat is Loa.
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 seat), that Utah Territory passed an act (effective date March 10, 1892) to separate the east portion of Piute into a separate county. The county was named for Wayne County, Tennessee, itself named for Anthony Wayne. The county boundaries have remained unchanged since its creation.
Geography
The eastern border of Wayne County is delineated by the meanders of the 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 and Muddy Creek. The Fremont begins at Fish Lake in 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. The terrain slopes to the east and south; its highest area is near its NW corner, at ASL. The county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.2%) is water.
The 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 flank Rabbit Valley on the western end of the county, where beautiful 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
Adjacent counties
Emery County - north
Grand County - northeast
San Juan County - east
Garfield County - south
Piute County - west
Sevier County (northwest)
National forests/parks
Canyonlands National Park
Capitol Reef National Park
Dixie National Forest
Fishlake National Forest
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Lakes
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 (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)
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
Demographics
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 2,509 people, 890 households, and 669 families in the county. The population density was . There were 1,329 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 97.29% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 1.24% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 1.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 890 households, out of which 36.20% had children under 18 living with them, 66.50% were married couples living together, 5.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.80% were non-families. 21.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81, and the average family size was 3.31.
The county population contained 32.40% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 22.50% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.50 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 103.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,000, and the median income for a family was $36,940. Males had a median income of $26,645 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,392. About 12.70% of families and 15.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.10% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those aged 65 or over.
Ancestry and ethnicity
As of 2017 the largest self-identified ancestry groups/ethnic groups in Wayne County, Utah were:
Communities
Towns
Bicknell
Hanksville
Loa (county seat)
Lyman
Torrey
Census-designated places
Fremont
Teasdale
Unincorporated communities
Caineville
Fruita
Grover
Notom
Former communities
Aldridge
Eagle City
Giles
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 2020).
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 (e-book) or (paperback)
References
External links
1892 establishments in Utah Territory
Populated places established in 1892