Richfield, Utah

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Richfield, Utah
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption = Sevier County Courthouse


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pushpin_label_position =left
pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of Utah
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map_caption =


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map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Utah
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Sevier

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 13.7
area_land_km2 = 13.7
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 5.3
area_land_sq_mi = 5.3
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 6847
population_density_km2 = 500.9
population_density_sq_mi = 1297.4

timezone = Mountain (MST)
utc_offset = -7
timezone_DST = MDT
utc_offset_DST = -6
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 1632
elevation_ft = 5354
latd = 38 |latm = 45 |lats = 57 |latNS = N
longd = 112 |longm = 5 |longs = 15 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 84701
area_code = 435
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 49-63570GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1444889GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Richfield is a city in and the county seat of Sevier County, Utah, in the United States, and is the largest city in southern-central Utah. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 6,847. It lies in the Mormon Corridor, just off of Interstate 70 about 40 miles east of its junction with Interstate 15. The county can be best described as "rural diversified" due to the convergence of agricultural, retail and industrial activities.

Since the community lies about half the distance between Los Angeles, California and Denver, Colorado, Richfield has become a favorite rest stop for travelers going from one metropolitan area to the other.

Though not large, Richfield is remote from larger cities. One has to travel about 100 miles or more in any direction to reach a more populous town, while dozens of less populous communities are found in the general area. Its remoteness, plus its location on major transportation corridors, makes it central Utah's defacto regional capital, a shopping and "commercial capital of a vast mountain-valley region."Ward Roylance, Utah: A Guide to the State, Salt Lake City, 1982, p. 602] Many people travel to Richfield to shop, bowl, golf, to attend theater, concerts, or for religious gatherings. They are also drawn to the Community College, affiliated with Snow College, and to receive medical care. Part of Richfield's great appeal is its small size and its isolation. The community lies in a fertile valley surrounded by beautiful red rock mountains and snow covered peaks. The relatively low population allows residents to enjoy a quality of life free from congestion, pollution and noise.

Richfield is part of "Panoramaland", and is a popular thoroughfare to several nearby National Parks and Forests, all providing abundant recreational activities. The area has been long known for its outdoor recreational opportunities, such as hiking, fishing and hunting. Mountain biking and all-terrain vehicles riding events have recently added to the area's popularity.

Settlement history

Prehistoric people occupied the Richfield area for more than 7,000 years. Fremont culture remains are found near most community sites in the Sevier area and are dated from approximately CE 1 to CE 1000. During the late 1820s, Jedidiah Smith and other fur traders crossed the area. Sevier County lies on the Old Spanish Trail between Santa Fe, New Mexico and California and was used by travelers between 1830 and 1850.

In the early part of January 1864 a party of ten men under the leadership of Albert Lewis came from Sanpete County, Utah and arrived in what is now Richfield. The Mormon settlers found fertile soil, good water and wood in the nearby hills. They decided that it was a desirable site for a settlement. These pioneers made a dwelling place for all ten men, which they called 'The Hole in the Ground.' They carefully covered this hole with brush willows and other materials and made a crude chimney of rocks. This strange abode was located on today's Main Street. These men spent the remainder of the winter in this dwelling, planning and preparing for the time when they could bring their families.

The early Mormon settlements were abandoned in 1867 due to the conflict known as the Black Hawk War. But, when resettled in 1871, Richfield grew to become a regional center. The coming of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad in 1871 opened the valley for expanded agricultural commerce and mining.

In 1939, Utah Governor Henry H. Blood vetoed a proposal for a junior college in Richfield. Fifty-seven years later, Snow College opened a Richfield campus, which serves about 600 students per year.

Religion

Like most settled areas of rural Utah, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("LDS" or "Mormons") plays a prominent role. "The Mormons were unbelievably industrious colonizers. From 1847, when they founded Salt Lake City, until 1877," they founded 360 towns. [ Jim Kjelgaard, The Coming of the Mormons, New York, Random House, 1953, p. 174.] Following direction from Brigham Young, Latter-day Saints founded the town and outlying hamlets about 150 years ago, and they remain the vast majority of residents. [Leonard Arrington, "Great Basin Kingdom: An Economic History of the Latter-day Saints: 1830-1900".]

A writer once said that the " [s] eparation of Church and State in [Salt Lake City] is about three blocks," referring to the distance from the Utah State Capitol to LDS Church headquarters.Fact|date=February 2007 In Richfield, and virtually all other southern Utah towns where the Latter-day Saints make up over 80% of the populace, the separation can fairly be said to be somewhat less than that.Fact|date=February 2007

Yet even in this heart of Mormon Country, non-Mormons and non-participating Mormons, called "less-actives," fill a percentage of elective offices. [Wallace Stegner, Mormon Country, about 1940.] However, largely due to Latter-day Saint influence, the city and the surrounding county are heavily Republican. In the 2006 elections no city or county office had a Democrat on the ballot in the whole of Sevier County.Fact|date=February 2007

The Richfield Area offers 20 major denominational churches: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, First Baptist Church, Sister of Holy Cross, Jehovah's Witnesses, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Valley Community Church, and others.

Geography and Climate

Richfield is located at coor dms|38|45|57|N|112|5|15|W|city (38.765939, -112.087638).GR|1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.3 square miles (13.7 km²), all of it land. Richfield is located 5, 280 feet above sea level.

The Utah Department of Transportation divides Utah up into three whole Regions (Ogden, Salt Lake, Provo) and a fourth Region which is split up into three Districts. One of these Districts is named after Richfield. Richfield is served by major transportation access - situated along Interstate 70 and within 30 minutes of Interstate 15. Richfield is located 159 miles from Salt Lake City and 164 miles from St. George.

Richfield experiences four distinct seasons. Winter high temperatures average in the 30s and 40s with many milder days; low temperatures average in the teens and twenties, with a few mornings starting near or below zero. Snowfall is common, but usually melts in a day or two; however, deeper lasting snow cover is not uncommon. Still, December and January average among Richfield's drier months. Summer days are warm, with normal July highs in the 90s and occasional hot spells that near 100 degrees. Nighttime temperatures during the summer are comfortable--usually in the 50s or 60s. July through September, "monsoonal" thunderstorms frequently form over the nearby peaks contributing to over a third of the 8.5 inches of annual rainfall. Because of its low humidity and mile-high altitude, the Sevier Valley experiences its average first frost by late September and its last in late May, despite the typically warm fall and spring days.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 6,847 people, 2,166 households, and 1,682 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,297.4 people per square mile (500.7/km²). There were 2,327 housing units at an average density of 440.9/sq mi (170.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.41% White, 0.39% African American, 3.29% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.35% of the population.

There were 2,166 households out of which 44.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.2% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.45.

In the city the population was spread out with 35.4% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 17.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,024, and the median income for a family was $40,284. Males had a median income of $33,000 versus $20,489 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,320. About 7.0% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

The city has seen a steady increase in population in every Decennial Census since 1890, at which time it was reported to have 1,531 people residing in the city. [http://www.governor.utah.gov/dea/HTMLBriefs/CityCountyBrief/Historic/CityPop.htm]

Famous People

* Jake Garn, served as a U.S. Senator representing Utah; the first member of the United States Congress to fly in space - born in Richfield
* Joseph Hansen, secretary and guard to Leon Trotsky in Mexico for the last three years before Trotsky was murdered - born in Richfield
* Walter Frederick Morrison, the inventor of the Frisbee - born in Richfield

See also

* Clear Creek (Utah)
* Fishlake National Forest
* Fish Lake, Utah
* Fremont Indian State Park
* Glenwood, Utah
* Intermountain Health Care
* KUES, PBS station, local channel 19 (a full power relay station of KUED, carrying a remodulated analog signal) [http://www.kued.org/about/annual_report0203.html]
* Richfield Municipal Airport
** - RIF
** - KRIF
*
* Sevier River
* "The Richfield Reaper" — local newspaper

Notes

External links

* [http://www.richfieldcity.com Official city website]
* [http://www.svatc.tec.ut.us/ Website] for Snow College Richfield Campus