Bicknell, Utah
Encyclopedia
Bicknell is a town along State Route 24
in Wayne County
, Utah
, United States
. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 353, a slight increase over the 1990 figure of 327.
Bicknell was originally called Thurber, or "Thurber Town", for A.K. Thurber, who in 1879 built the first house in the area. In 1897 the town moved to a new location due to sandy soil and poor water conditions.
In 1914 Thomas W. Bicknell
, a wealthy eastern author, historian, and Education Commissioner for Rhode Island
, offered a thousand-volume library to any Utah town that would rename itself after him. The town of Grayson also wanted the library prize, so in a compromise in 1916, Grayson took the name of Blanding
, Mr. Bicknell's wife's maiden name, as a tribute to her parents. The two towns split the library, each receiving 500 books.
According to Via magazine, Bicknell claims to be the smallest U.S. town having a year-round movie theater
. This theater also hosts the annual Bicknell International Film Festival.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.2 km²), all of it land.
Altitude: 7,125' (2,172m)
ZIP code: 84715
Bicknell is located between the Dixie National Forest
and the Fishlake National Forest
in Rabbit Valley, south central Utah. It is 17 miles (27.4 km) west of the Capitol Reef National Park
Visitors Center.
of 2000, there were 353 people, 126 households, and 95 families residing in the town. The population density
was 757.9 people per square mile (290.0/km²). There were 143 housing units at an average density of 307.0 per square mile (117.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.17% White, 0.28% Native American, 1.98% from other races
, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.12% of the population.
There were 126 households out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.7% were married couples
living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the town the population was spread out with 32.9% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,750, and the median income for a family was $34,500. Males had a median income of $29,750 versus $20,750 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,457. About 12.5% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
Utah State Route 24
State Route 24 is a state highway in south central Utah which runs south from Salina through Sevier County then east through Wayne County and north east through Emery County...
in Wayne County
Wayne County, Utah
Wayne County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. It was formed from Piute County in 1892. The county gets its name from a man who served as delegate to the constitutional convention, in honor of his son who was dragged to death by a horse. As of 2000 the population was 2,509, and by...
, Utah
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...
. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 353, a slight increase over the 1990 figure of 327.
History
In 1914 Thomas W. Bicknell
Thomas W. Bicknell
Thomas W. Bicknell , American educator, historian, and author, lived to be 91.Bicknell, born in Barrington, Rhode Island, he was the son of a farmer, minister, state legislator, and Colonel in the Bristol County, Rhode Island Militia, Thomas would become a wealthy eastern historian and educator...
, a wealthy eastern author, historian, and Education Commissioner for Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, offered a thousand-volume library to any Utah town that would rename itself after him. The town of Grayson also wanted the library prize, so in a compromise in 1916, Grayson took the name of Blanding
Blanding, Utah
Blanding is a city in San Juan County, Utah, United States. The population was 3,162 at the 2000 census, making it the most populated city in San Juan County. It was settled in the late 19th century by Mormon settlers, predominantly from the famed Hole-In-The-Rock expedition...
, Mr. Bicknell's wife's maiden name, as a tribute to her parents. The two towns split the library, each receiving 500 books.
According to Via magazine, Bicknell claims to be the smallest U.S. town having a year-round movie theater
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
. This theater also hosts the annual Bicknell International Film Festival.
Geography
Bicknell is located at 38°20′29"N 111°32′44"W (38.341383, -111.545463).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 0.5 square miles (1.2 km²), all of it land.
Altitude: 7,125' (2,172m)
ZIP code: 84715
Bicknell is located between the Dixie National Forest
Dixie National Forest
Dixie National Forest is a United States National Forest in Utah with headquarters in Cedar City. It occupies almost two million acres and stretches for about 170 miles across southern Utah. The largest national forest in Utah, it straddles the divide between the Great Basin and the Colorado River...
and the Fishlake National Forest
Fishlake National Forest
Fishlake National Forest is located in south central Utah, USA. Its namesake is the largest freshwater mountain lake in the state.-Geography:...
in Rabbit Valley, south central Utah. It is 17 miles (27.4 km) west of the Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park is a United States National Park, in south-central Utah. It is 100 miles long but fairly narrow. The park, established in 1971, preserves 378 mi² and is open all year, although May through September are the most popular months.Called "Wayne Wonderland" in the 1920s...
Visitors Center.
Distances
- 120 miles (northeast of) Bryce Canyon National ParkBryce Canyon National ParkBryce Canyon National Park is a national park located in southwestern Utah in the United States. The major feature of the park is Bryce Canyon which, despite its name, is not a canyon but a giant natural amphitheater created by erosion along the eastern side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau...
- 164 miles (southwest of) PricePrice, UtahPrice is a city in Carbon County, Utah, United States. The city is home to the USU-College of Eastern Utah, as well as the large USU Eastern Prehistoric Museum affiliated with the college. Price is located within short distances from both Nine Mile Canyon and the Manti-La Sal National Forest...
- 165 miles (west of) MoabMoab, UtahMoab is a city in Grand County, in eastern Utah, in the western United States. The population was 4,779 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat and largest city in Grand County. Moab hosts a large number of tourists every year, mostly visitors to the nearby Arches and Canyonlands National Parks...
- 169 miles (south of) ProvoProvo, UtahProvo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
- 212 miles (south of) Salt Lake City
- 228 miles (northeast of) St. GeorgeSt. George, UtahSt. George is a city located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Utah, and the county seat of Washington County, Utah. It is the principal city of and is included in the St. George, Utah, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is 119 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, and 303 miles ...
Area sites
- Bicknell Bottoms wildlife habitat, and fish hatchery. (3½ miles SE)
- Boulder MountainBoulder Mountain (Utah)Boulder Mountain in Utah, USA makes up half of the Aquarius Plateau of South Central Utah in Wayne and Garfield counties. The mountain rises to the west of Capitol Reef National Park and consists of steep slopes and cliffs with over 50,000 acres of rolling forest and meadowlands on the top...
(11,317 ft/3,439 m - 37 miles (59.5 km) SE) - Capitol Reef National ParkCapitol Reef National ParkCapitol Reef National Park is a United States National Park, in south-central Utah. It is 100 miles long but fairly narrow. The park, established in 1971, preserves 378 mi² and is open all year, although May through September are the most popular months.Called "Wayne Wonderland" in the 1920s...
(17 miles E) - Fruita schoolhouseFruita SchoolhouseThe Fruita Schoolhouse is located in Fruita, Utah. The Behunin family, early settlers of the Capitol Reef area, donated the land in 1892. For over a decade the school had a dirt roof and in 1935 the bare walls were chinked in. Elijah Cutler Behunin donated the land for the school and his daughter,...
(20 miles E) - TeasdaleTeasdale, UtahTeasdale is a census-designated place in western Wayne County, Utah, United States, between the Dixie and Fishlake National Forests. The population was 191 at the 2010 census. Teasdale lies along local roads south of State Route 24, southeast of the town of Loa, the county seat of Wayne County...
Tithing Office and Granary (6 miles SE) - Thousand Lake MountainThousand Lake MountainThousand Lake Mountain is in South-Central Utah, United States, just North and West of Capitol Reef National Park and North of Boulder Mountain. Thousand Lake Mountain is surrounded by several small towns . The areas on and around Thousand Lake Mountain are used for farming, camping, hiking,...
(11,305 ft/3,443 m - 17 miles (27.4 km) NNE)
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 353 people, 126 households, and 95 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 757.9 people per square mile (290.0/km²). There were 143 housing units at an average density of 307.0 per square mile (117.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.17% White, 0.28% Native American, 1.98% 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 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.12% of the population.
There were 126 households out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.7% 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, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the town the population was spread out with 32.9% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,750, and the median income for a family was $34,500. Males had a median income of $29,750 versus $20,750 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 $13,457. About 12.5% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.