Amalga, Utah
Encyclopedia
Amalga is a town in Cache County, Utah
, United States
. The population was 488 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Logan, Utah
-Idaho
(partial) Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
A large portion of the town's population are dairy farmers, with many families owning their own herds. The town contains the Cache Valley Cheese plant. The overwhelming majority of the population belongs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Nearby Smithfield
shares its Post Office and library with the town.
settler Hans Jorgensen in 1869. Other settlers began arriving in 1891. By March 22, 1891, when the Alto Branch of the LDS Church was organized, the town had a schoolhouse that was used for social gatherings and church meetings.
In 1916, the Amalgamated Sugar Company
agreed to build a factory in town to process sugar beets, and the town name became Amalga. A spur line was established by the Utah Idaho Central Railroad, and a large hotel opened. The factory, built by Dyer Construction Company, was built by the 1917 season for $900,000.
Coinciding with the organization of the city, the Amalga Ward of the LDS Church was established on March 10, 1918, choosing its name from the Amalgamated Sugar Company.
The factory was shut down in 1929 due to the sugar beet blight. The equipment was dismantled and reassembled in Sacramento, California
. The hotel was torn down, as were the workers' houses. The railroad was also removed, and sugar beets were shipped by truck to Smithfield
, then taken to a factory in Lewiston
for processing. The warehouse and land was sold to the "Tueller brothers" in late 1937.
In 1941, the Cache Valley Dairy Association purchased the former sugar beet plant to allow the co-op to process their own milk into Swiss cheese
. The co-op hired Edwin Gossner to produce the cheese, which he did from 1942 until 1966, when he left to form Gossner Foods
in west Logan.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²), of which, 3.4 square miles (8.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (4.26%) is water. Most of the water is located in a single swamp to the north of the cheese factory.
of 2000, there were 427 people, 119 households, and 106 families residing in the town. The population density
was 126.8 people per square mile (48.9/km²). There were 123 housing units at an average density of 36.5 per square mile (14.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.91% White, 0.47% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 4.92% from other races
, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.84% of the population.
There were 119 households out of which 58.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 81.5% were married couples
living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 10.9% were non-families. 10.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.59 and the average family size was 3.87.
In the town the population was spread out with 39.8% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 12.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,143, and the median income for a family was $44,375. Males had a median income of $37,500 versus $21,607 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,106. About 7.5% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 488 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Logan, Utah
Logan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
-Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
(partial) Metropolitan Statistical Area
Logan metropolitan area
The Logan Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties – one in Utah and one in Idaho, anchored by the city of Logan...
.
A large portion of the town's population are dairy farmers, with many families owning their own herds. The town contains the Cache Valley Cheese plant. The overwhelming majority of the population belongs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Nearby Smithfield
Smithfield, Utah
Smithfield is a city in Cache County, Utah, United States. The population was 9,495 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Logan, Utah-Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the second largest city in the area after the county seat, Logan...
shares its Post Office and library with the town.
History
Amalga was settled by MormonMormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
settler Hans Jorgensen in 1869. Other settlers began arriving in 1891. By March 22, 1891, when the Alto Branch of the LDS Church was organized, the town had a schoolhouse that was used for social gatherings and church meetings.
In 1916, the Amalgamated Sugar Company
Amalgamated Sugar Company
The Amalgamated Sugar Company is a sugar beet refining company run on a cooperative basis. It was founded in 1897 in Logan, Utah, and is now located in Nampa, Idaho, United States. The company markets its sugar under the White Satin brand.-Founding:...
agreed to build a factory in town to process sugar beets, and the town name became Amalga. A spur line was established by the Utah Idaho Central Railroad, and a large hotel opened. The factory, built by Dyer Construction Company, was built by the 1917 season for $900,000.
Coinciding with the organization of the city, the Amalga Ward of the LDS Church was established on March 10, 1918, choosing its name from the Amalgamated Sugar Company.
The factory was shut down in 1929 due to the sugar beet blight. The equipment was dismantled and reassembled in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
. The hotel was torn down, as were the workers' houses. The railroad was also removed, and sugar beets were shipped by truck to Smithfield
Smithfield, Utah
Smithfield is a city in Cache County, Utah, United States. The population was 9,495 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Logan, Utah-Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the second largest city in the area after the county seat, Logan...
, then taken to a factory in Lewiston
Lewiston, Utah
Lewiston is a city in Cache County, Utah, United States. The population was 1,766 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Logan, Utah-Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Lewiston is located at ....
for processing. The warehouse and land was sold to the "Tueller brothers" in late 1937.
In 1941, the Cache Valley Dairy Association purchased the former sugar beet plant to allow the co-op to process their own milk into Swiss cheese
Swiss cheese
Swiss cheese is a generic name in North America for several related varieties of cheese which resemble the Swiss Emmental. Some types of Swiss cheese have a distinctive appearance, as the blocks of the cheese are riddled with holes known as "eyes". Swiss cheese has a piquant, but not very sharp,...
. The co-op hired Edwin Gossner to produce the cheese, which he did from 1942 until 1966, when he left to form Gossner Foods
Gossner Foods
Gossner Foods is one of the largest cheese manufacturers in the United States, and is based in Logan, Utah.-Overview:Gossner Foods specializes in producing varieties of Swiss cheese, but makes 30 types of cheese all together....
in west Logan.
Geography
Amalga is located at 41°51′49"N 111°53′35"W (41.863717, -111.893177).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²), of which, 3.4 square miles (8.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (4.26%) is water. Most of the water is located in a single swamp to the north of the cheese factory.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 427 people, 119 households, and 106 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 126.8 people per square mile (48.9/km²). There were 123 housing units at an average density of 36.5 per square mile (14.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.91% White, 0.47% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 4.92% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.84% of the population.
There were 119 households out of which 58.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 81.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 10.9% were non-families. 10.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.59 and the average family size was 3.87.
In the town the population was spread out with 39.8% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 12.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,143, and the median income for a family was $44,375. Males had a median income of $37,500 versus $21,607 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $14,106. About 7.5% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.