Duchesne, Utah
Encyclopedia
Duchesne is a city in and the county seat
of Duchesne County
, Utah
, United States
. The population was 1,690 at the 2010 census.
and Duchesne
rivers in the Uintah Basin of northeastern Utah. The Duchesne river drains the Southwest slope of the Uintah Mountains and the Strawberry river drains the Eastern slopes of the Wasatch Range
and is connected to Strawberry Reservoir
. The two river combine and join the Green River
at Ouray, UT .
Native stands of Cottonwood trees and willows grow along the river banks while sage brush and rabbit brush fill the un-irrigated bench tops. Alfalfa
is the main cultivated crop of farmers in the area.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²), all of it land.
), named it Santa Caterina de Sena, and camped on its banks" "Along these three rivers we have crossed today there is plenty of good land for crops to support three good settlements, with opportunities for irrigation, beautiful cottonwood groves, good pastures, with timber and firewood nearby."
1822 - 1840 French Canadian trappers Etienne Provost
, Francois Leclerc, and Antoinne Robidoux entered the Uintah basin by way of the Old Spanish trail and made their fortunes by trapping the many beaver and trading with the Uintah tribe. From these French Canadian trappers the Duchesne river and ultimately Duchesne City received its name.
1905 - 1906 On June 7, 1905 the Secretary of the Interior directed the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to select one or more tracts of land in the Uintah Reservation suitable for townsites, so they might be reserved as such under the Statutes of the United States. Three sites were designated which are the current sites of Duchesne, Myton, and Randlett. A month later President Theodore Roosevelt approved the selections and declared these lands reserved as Townsites. On August 28 the US government opened up the Uintah Basin to settlement of land they had acquired from the Ute Indians under the allotment act of 1891. "Land lotteries" were held in Vernal, Provo, Price, Grand Junction, CO, and Vernal where each person was given a ticket with a number. On August 28 numbers 1 through 111 were allowed to make their claim. August 29 the next 111 people could make their claim and so on. Sixty people, forty six adults and fourteen children, settled on the townsite that is now Duchesne and called it by its first name "Elsie"(Glen). Government surveyors laid out the streets and the survey was accepted by the government on 18 October 1905. The first cabin was built by Charles Dickerson and Charles Ragland, in October 1905. A.M. Murdock with the help of a few men put up a large circus tent to act as a trading post and post office. The name of the town was changed to Dora for a short time, after Murdock's 23 year old daughter, then changed once again to Theodore, in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt. Sept 15, 1905, Robert Duchesne Marsh was the first "white" child born in the townsite. The first winter was harsh and the residents were living in tents or other temporary shelter. When spring came the high water of the Duchesne River overflowed it's banks flooding the town. Many of the homesteaders dreams died after the first winter and they sold their claims off for next to nothing. Judge M.M. Smith recalls "one man asked me to write out a relinquishment for him, remarking, 'I must either give up my claim or my wife. She won't live here.'" Dikes were quickly built up but washed away and some of the town was under two feet of water until June. Tents and houses were moved around to avoid the flooding problem before the next spring.
The flooding continued annually until 1910 when $5000 was finally given to make the four river cut-offs needed to fix the problem. In 1906 the first bridge was built by Wasatch County across the Duchesne river in east Theodore.
1907 - 1914 The men of Theodore organized the Boosters Club and the women organized the Standard Bearers in 1907, both groups became a forceful factor in the early development of the town. With the flooding of the rivers every spring, the Boosters club was finding it hard to attract people and business to the "muddy" little town. The Boosters club raised $500 to build a bridge across the Strawberry River at the mouth of Indian Canyon. The bridge was completed in 1908, and later replaced by the state in 1914. In 1908 A.M. Murdock took down the tent and built the first store, barber shop, and post office , the "Pioneer Supply". A town hall was built by the citizens in 1907. After the flooding issue was resolved the town grew quickly. In 1910 the population of "Theodore" was 929. The towns first newspaper, The Duchesne Record, started publication April 8, 1909. By 1910 the citizens had decided to change the name to Duchesne. The Post Office kept the name Theodore until the town's petition to change the named was acknowledged on May 5, 1911. The town was incorporated in 1913 and A.M. Murdock was the first mayor.
On July 13, 1914 "Wasatch County was divided and Duchesne County was created." Duchesne was made the county seat on Nov 5, 1914 by popular vote of the citizens of the county.
The name Duchesne is taken from the name of the river that runs through town and may be named by fur trappers in the 1820s in honor of Mother Rose Philippine Duchesne
founder of the School of the Sacred Heart near St. Louis, Missouri although other theories as to the name exist.
A photograph dated 1909, showing the A. M. Murdock Pioneer Supply Store and post office
at Theodore, Utah (which was located approximately where Kohl's Market stood in Duchesne in 1991) appeared in a postal history magazine in 1992. The Theodore post office operated from 1905 through 1913, when it was renamed Duchesne.
and is a great fishing lake with stocks of Rainbow trout
, Small Mouth Bass, Walleye
, Yellow Perch
, and Utah Chub
. The current catch and release state record for Walleye
, and Utah Chub are held at Starvation. The reservoir is 3500 acres (14.2 km²) of surface area and is great for boating. There are four boat ramps, the largest is at the marina which also hosts RV parking, boat docs, camp sites, hot showers, and an RV waste dump.
Activities at Starvation Reservoir include the annual Starvation Walleye Classic and Desert Bass Busters Club Tourny.
On the banks of the Strawberry River that runs through town is a boardwalk that not only has beautiful views but also is great to fish off of. Other great stream fishing can be had on the Duchesne river, and Rock creek.
The High Uintahs wilderness area is thirty miles to the north and boasts great hiking, fishing and alpine camping.
ATV riding is permitted within city limits. Yellow stone ATV trail, and Reservation ridge ATV trails are located with twenty miles (32 km) of town.
Duchesne sits at the junction of three wildlife management units and is home to world class big game hunting. Mule deer
, Prong Horn Antelope, Elk
, Moose
, Bighorn Sheep
, Mountain Goat
, Black Bear
, and Mountain Lion can be observed within miles of town.
, and Utah State Route 87
. US-191 from Duchesne to Helper is designated the Indian Canyon National Scenic Byway
Duchesne Municipal Airport (Airnav U69) is located two miles (3 km) northeast of town on the blue bench. The airport has a 5800 x 60 ft (18.3 m) asphalt runway. Runway edge lights are medium intensity available from dusk - dawn, activate MIRL RY 17/35 & PAPI 17/35 - CTAF. Wind indicator is lit. Attendance is ON CALL. Services are available by request (435) 738-2464 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Mon - Fri; after hours call (435) 738-5538.
aka: "The Sundance Kid". Recent research is underway that may prove that The Sundance Kid did not die in Bolivia in 1908 but returned to his family in Utah and bought and operated a farm two miles (3 km) east of Duchesne until his death in 1936. He is buried in the Duchesne City cemetery.
Pope Museum: Home of Duchesne pioneers Fred and Marie Pope. Museum contains miniature, true to scale, vehicles that depict the life style of the early settlers of Uintah Basin. Museum is located at 370 West 100 North.
Theodore Cemetery: Early pioneer cemetery that functioned from 1906 until January 1914. John Jacobs was the first burial. Forty-one early settlers are buried here. The cemetery was abandoned because of the difficulty of digging graves in the cobblestone-laden soil. The cemetery was recently restored and a large monument with names and information is located on the north end of the cemetery. Located on "D" hill, take the dirt road on the west end of town up the hill and turn East at the top. Travel east 300 yards to the monument.
Father Escalante Monument: North of Highway 40 on east entrance of town
Early Duchesne Settlement Monument: 130 West Main on north side of the road
War Memorial, World War I monument, World War II monument, Korean War monument, Vietnam War monument, Desert Storm monument: all located at 150 West Main.
Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne Monument: by front entrance of the Pope Museum.
, and Fruitland
. Duchesne has hosted grades 1 - 8 since 1905. The first school building was built is 1907. In 1921 ninth grade classes were added. Other classes on the 10th grade level were added through the late 1920s. On May 17, 1931 Duchesne High School held a graduation ceremony for four students that composed the first senior class. The current structure was built in 2004-2005. The facility has two gymnasiums, one college sized basketball court and one smaller gymnasium left from the 1965 structure. English department with classrooms and separate writing lab. Science department with classrooms and separate lab. Utah State University provides onsite professors and distance education classes at the school so all students have the opportunity to graduate from high school with an Associates degree. Wood and metal shops. Auditorium, lunch room, and administrative offices.
Duchesne High school colors are blue and white; the mascot is the eagle. Duchesne high school sponsors a men's football team, men's and women's basketball teams, men's wrestling, women's volleyball, as well as a track and field team and cross country team. Duchesne High competes in the 1A division of the UHSAA. Men's teams have won state titles in basketball (1989), football (2006, 2010, 2011), wrestling (1981, 2008), and track and field (1993, 2004, 2005). Duchesne has sponsored athletes that have achieved all-region, all-state, all-American, and even a finalist for the High School Heisman in 2007.
Duchesne Elementary serves grades K–6
Duchesne High School serves grades 7–12.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has two chapels located at 130 South 300 East and 901 North 500 East.
The First Baptist Church is located at 592 East 400 South
The Catholic Church has a small mission office on west main street. The Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha mission is under direction of the Saint Helen Parish in Roosevelt, UT
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a seminary located at 181 North 200 West
but not developed until the early 1970s. Duchesne city is located in the area of vast oil and natural gas reserves spanning the north-east corner of Utah and extending into western Colorado. As prices for crude rise oil industry jobs open up in the town but also disappear when crude price fall. Currently (2009–2011) environmental groups have brought litigation against federal agencies slowing the award of leases on public land slowing the development of oil resources and drilling affecting the economy of Duchesne and the surrounding area.
Duchesne has also benefited from the water resources of the Duchesne and Strawbery rivers that flow close to the town. The Central Utah Project
was active in the area twenty years and provided good jobs from 1967 to 1987. A recent expansion to the water treatment plant north-west of town will start supplying culinary water to the community of Roosevelt some 30 miles away.
Duchesne is home to a number of heavy machine and steel manufacturers. A wide variety of products and parts are manufactured as diverse as underground cranes, shield haulers, rifle barrels, steam locomotive parts, drill collars, turbine parts, gears sprockets and splines for the oil fields, steel mills, coal mines, trona mines, power plants, other machine shops, manufacturers and other industries in many capacities. Products are shipped both domestically and to Canada, Mexico, South America, Australia, and Europe.
Agriculture has always been a mainstay for many Duchesne residents and surrounding communities. The vast amount of federally owned and leased lands have given cattle ranchers and sheep ranchers good grazing for over 120 years in the area. Over grazing in the early 20th century has led to reform in the grazing areas and a steady decline in sheep and cow production throughout the area. Small family farms are the mainstay.
Duchesne has always been rich in its rugged beauty and tourism. Thousands are drawn during and warmer months to enjoy boating on Starvation Reservoir, fishing on the Strawberry and Duchesne Rivers, and camping in the High Uintahs.
of 2000, there were 1,408 people, 463 households, and 342 families residing in the city. The population density
was 611.3 people per square mile (236.4/km²). There were 550 housing units at an average density of 238.8 per square mile (92.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.95% White, 0.28% African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races
, and 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.77% of the population.
There were 463 households out of which 45.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.1% were married couples
living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% 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 3.55.
In the city the population was spread out with 37.1% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,426, and the median income for a family was $37,174. Males had a median income of $35,046 versus $20,417 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,337. About 11.2% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Duchesne County
Duchesne County, Utah
Duchesne County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2010 the population was 18,607, a 29.5% increase over the 2000 figure of 14,371. Its county seat is Duchesne and the largest city is Roosevelt.-Geography:...
, 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...
. The population was 1,690 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Duchesne city is located at 40°9′52"N 110°24′2"W (40.164388, -110.400607). just west of the junction of the StrawberryStrawberry River (Utah)
The Strawberry River is an river located in eastern Utah, United States.Strawberry River's headwaters are located in the Wasatch Mountains of the western Uintah Basin...
and Duchesne
Duchesne River
The Duchesne River, located in Uintah Basin region of Utah in the western United States, is a tributary of the Green River. The watershed of the river covers the Northeastern corner of Utah...
rivers in the Uintah Basin of northeastern Utah. The Duchesne river drains the Southwest slope of the Uintah Mountains and the Strawberry river drains the Eastern slopes of the Wasatch Range
Wasatch Range
The Wasatch Range is a mountain range that stretches approximately from the Utah-Idaho border, south through central Utah in the western United States. It is generally considered the western edge of the greater Rocky Mountains, and the eastern edge of the Great Basin region...
and is connected to Strawberry Reservoir
Strawberry Reservoir
Strawberry Reservoir is a large reservoir in the U.S. state of Utah. It is Utah's most popular fishery, receiving over 1.5 million angling hours annually and is part of the program. Game fish in the reservoir include sterilized rainbow trout, bear lake cutthroat trout, kokanee salmon and crayfish....
. The two river combine and join the Green River
Green River (Utah)
The Green River, located in the western United States, is the chief tributary of the Colorado River. The watershed of the river, known as the Green River Basin, covers parts of Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. The Green River is long, beginning in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming and flowing...
at Ouray, UT .
Native stands of Cottonwood trees and willows grow along the river banks while sage brush and rabbit brush fill the un-irrigated bench tops. Alfalfa
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
is the main cultivated crop of farmers in the area.
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 city has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²), all of it land.
History
18 September 1776 The Dominguez-Escalante expedition came from the east where they crossed blue bench and descended into Utah north of the present day town of Duchesne. "We ascended a not very high mesa(blue bench)which was level and very stony, traveled about three quarters of a league including ascent and descent, crossed another small river (Duchesne River) which near here enters the San Cosme (Strawberry RiverStrawberry River
Strawberry River may refer to:*Strawberry River , USA*Strawberry River , USA...
), named it Santa Caterina de Sena, and camped on its banks" "Along these three rivers we have crossed today there is plenty of good land for crops to support three good settlements, with opportunities for irrigation, beautiful cottonwood groves, good pastures, with timber and firewood nearby."
1822 - 1840 French Canadian trappers Etienne Provost
Étienne Provost
Étienne Provost was a French Canadian fur trader whose trapping and trading activities in the American southwest preceded Mexican independence...
, Francois Leclerc, and Antoinne Robidoux entered the Uintah basin by way of the Old Spanish trail and made their fortunes by trapping the many beaver and trading with the Uintah tribe. From these French Canadian trappers the Duchesne river and ultimately Duchesne City received its name.
1905 - 1906 On June 7, 1905 the Secretary of the Interior directed the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to select one or more tracts of land in the Uintah Reservation suitable for townsites, so they might be reserved as such under the Statutes of the United States. Three sites were designated which are the current sites of Duchesne, Myton, and Randlett. A month later President Theodore Roosevelt approved the selections and declared these lands reserved as Townsites. On August 28 the US government opened up the Uintah Basin to settlement of land they had acquired from the Ute Indians under the allotment act of 1891. "Land lotteries" were held in Vernal, Provo, Price, Grand Junction, CO, and Vernal where each person was given a ticket with a number. On August 28 numbers 1 through 111 were allowed to make their claim. August 29 the next 111 people could make their claim and so on. Sixty people, forty six adults and fourteen children, settled on the townsite that is now Duchesne and called it by its first name "Elsie"(Glen). Government surveyors laid out the streets and the survey was accepted by the government on 18 October 1905. The first cabin was built by Charles Dickerson and Charles Ragland, in October 1905. A.M. Murdock with the help of a few men put up a large circus tent to act as a trading post and post office. The name of the town was changed to Dora for a short time, after Murdock's 23 year old daughter, then changed once again to Theodore, in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt. Sept 15, 1905, Robert Duchesne Marsh was the first "white" child born in the townsite. The first winter was harsh and the residents were living in tents or other temporary shelter. When spring came the high water of the Duchesne River overflowed it's banks flooding the town. Many of the homesteaders dreams died after the first winter and they sold their claims off for next to nothing. Judge M.M. Smith recalls "one man asked me to write out a relinquishment for him, remarking, 'I must either give up my claim or my wife. She won't live here.'" Dikes were quickly built up but washed away and some of the town was under two feet of water until June. Tents and houses were moved around to avoid the flooding problem before the next spring.
The flooding continued annually until 1910 when $5000 was finally given to make the four river cut-offs needed to fix the problem. In 1906 the first bridge was built by Wasatch County across the Duchesne river in east Theodore.
1907 - 1914 The men of Theodore organized the Boosters Club and the women organized the Standard Bearers in 1907, both groups became a forceful factor in the early development of the town. With the flooding of the rivers every spring, the Boosters club was finding it hard to attract people and business to the "muddy" little town. The Boosters club raised $500 to build a bridge across the Strawberry River at the mouth of Indian Canyon. The bridge was completed in 1908, and later replaced by the state in 1914. In 1908 A.M. Murdock took down the tent and built the first store, barber shop, and post office , the "Pioneer Supply". A town hall was built by the citizens in 1907. After the flooding issue was resolved the town grew quickly. In 1910 the population of "Theodore" was 929. The towns first newspaper, The Duchesne Record, started publication April 8, 1909. By 1910 the citizens had decided to change the name to Duchesne. The Post Office kept the name Theodore until the town's petition to change the named was acknowledged on May 5, 1911. The town was incorporated in 1913 and A.M. Murdock was the first mayor.
On July 13, 1914 "Wasatch County was divided and Duchesne County was created." Duchesne was made the county seat on Nov 5, 1914 by popular vote of the citizens of the county.
The name Duchesne is taken from the name of the river that runs through town and may be named by fur trappers in the 1820s in honor of Mother Rose Philippine Duchesne
Rose Philippine Duchesne
Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, R.S.C.J., was a Catholic Religious Sister and French-American saint. She spent the last half of her life teaching and serving the people of the Midwestern United States....
founder of the School of the Sacred Heart near St. Louis, Missouri although other theories as to the name exist.
A photograph dated 1909, showing the A. M. Murdock Pioneer Supply Store and post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
at Theodore, Utah (which was located approximately where Kohl's Market stood in Duchesne in 1991) appeared in a postal history magazine in 1992. The Theodore post office operated from 1905 through 1913, when it was renamed Duchesne.
Amenities
Duchesne city hosts an outdoor swimming pool, bowling alley, and library. There is also ball diamonds, and a large covered rodeo arena.Recreation
Duchesne and the surrounding area plays host to some of the best camping, fishing, boating, hunting, hiking, water skiing, and ATV riding in the state. Four miles to the west of Duchesne is Starvation Reservoir state park. Starvation reservoir was created as part of the Central Utah ProjectCentral Utah Project
The Central Utah Project is a United States federal water project. It was authorized for construction under the Colorado River Storage Project Act of April 11, 1956 as a participating project...
and is a great fishing lake with stocks of Rainbow trout
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
, Small Mouth Bass, Walleye
Walleye
Walleye is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European pikeperch...
, Yellow Perch
Yellow perch
The yellow perch is a species of perch found in the United States and Canada, where it is often referred to by the shortform perch. Yellow perch look similar to the European perch, but are paler and more yellowish, with less red in the fins. They have six to eight dark, vertical bars on their sides...
, and Utah Chub
Utah chub
The Utah chub is a cyprinid fish native to western North America, where it is abundant in the upper Snake River and throughout the Lake Bonneville basin....
. The current catch and release state record for Walleye
Walleye
Walleye is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European pikeperch...
, and Utah Chub are held at Starvation. The reservoir is 3500 acres (14.2 km²) of surface area and is great for boating. There are four boat ramps, the largest is at the marina which also hosts RV parking, boat docs, camp sites, hot showers, and an RV waste dump.
Activities at Starvation Reservoir include the annual Starvation Walleye Classic and Desert Bass Busters Club Tourny.
On the banks of the Strawberry River that runs through town is a boardwalk that not only has beautiful views but also is great to fish off of. Other great stream fishing can be had on the Duchesne river, and Rock creek.
The High Uintahs wilderness area is thirty miles to the north and boasts great hiking, fishing and alpine camping.
ATV riding is permitted within city limits. Yellow stone ATV trail, and Reservation ridge ATV trails are located with twenty miles (32 km) of town.
Duchesne sits at the junction of three wildlife management units and is home to world class big game hunting. Mule deer
Mule Deer
The mule deer is a deer indigenous to western North America. The Mule Deer gets its name from its large mule-like ears. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer...
, Prong Horn Antelope, Elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
, Moose
Moose
The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration...
, Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn Sheep
The bighorn sheep is a species of sheep in North America named for its large horns. These horns can weigh up to , while the sheep themselves weigh up to . Recent genetic testing indicates that there are three distinct subspecies of Ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: Ovis canadensis sierrae...
, Mountain Goat
Mountain goat
The Mountain Goat , also known as the Rocky Mountain Goat, is a large-hoofed mammal found only in North America. Despite its vernacular name, it is not a member of Capra, the genus of true goats...
, Black Bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
, and Mountain Lion can be observed within miles of town.
Transportation
Duchesne sits at the junction of U.S. Highway 40, U.S. Highway 191U.S. Route 191 in Utah
U.S. Route 191 is a major north–south state highway through the eastern part of the U.S. state of Utah. The present alignment of US-191, which stretches from Mexico to Canada, was created in 1981 through Utah...
, and Utah State Route 87
Utah State Route 87
Utah State Route 87 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Utah. Over a span of , it connects the communities of Altamont, Boneta, Bluebell, and Upalco to Duchesne and US-40/191 in Duchesne County.-Route description:...
. US-191 from Duchesne to Helper is designated the Indian Canyon National Scenic Byway
Duchesne Municipal Airport (Airnav U69) is located two miles (3 km) northeast of town on the blue bench. The airport has a 5800 x 60 ft (18.3 m) asphalt runway. Runway edge lights are medium intensity available from dusk - dawn, activate MIRL RY 17/35 & PAPI 17/35 - CTAF. Wind indicator is lit. Attendance is ON CALL. Services are available by request (435) 738-2464 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Mon - Fri; after hours call (435) 738-5538.
Points of interest
Grave of William Long aka: Harry LongabaughHarry Longabaugh
Harry Alonzo Longabaugh , better known as the Sundance Kid, was an outlaw and member of Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch, in the American Old West. Longabaugh likely met Butch Cassidy after Parker was released from prison around 1896...
aka: "The Sundance Kid". Recent research is underway that may prove that The Sundance Kid did not die in Bolivia in 1908 but returned to his family in Utah and bought and operated a farm two miles (3 km) east of Duchesne until his death in 1936. He is buried in the Duchesne City cemetery.
Pope Museum: Home of Duchesne pioneers Fred and Marie Pope. Museum contains miniature, true to scale, vehicles that depict the life style of the early settlers of Uintah Basin. Museum is located at 370 West 100 North.
Theodore Cemetery: Early pioneer cemetery that functioned from 1906 until January 1914. John Jacobs was the first burial. Forty-one early settlers are buried here. The cemetery was abandoned because of the difficulty of digging graves in the cobblestone-laden soil. The cemetery was recently restored and a large monument with names and information is located on the north end of the cemetery. Located on "D" hill, take the dirt road on the west end of town up the hill and turn East at the top. Travel east 300 yards to the monument.
Father Escalante Monument: North of Highway 40 on east entrance of town
Early Duchesne Settlement Monument: 130 West Main on north side of the road
War Memorial, World War I monument, World War II monument, Korean War monument, Vietnam War monument, Desert Storm monument: all located at 150 West Main.
Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne Monument: by front entrance of the Pope Museum.
Schools
Duchesne has one public elementary school and one public high school. The schools not only service all of Duchesne City but also the communities of Bridgeland, Utahn, StrawberryStrawberry, Utah
Strawberry is an unincorporated community in western Duchesne County, Utah, United States. Most of the inhabitants live along the Strawberry River between the Strawberry River pinnacles and Starvation Reservoir west of the city of Duchesne, the county seat of Duchesne County.-History:1905-1910 In...
, and Fruitland
Fruitland, Utah
Fruitland is an unincorporated community in western Duchesne County, Utah, United States, on the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation. It lies along U.S. Route 40 west of the city of Duchesne, the county seat of Duchesne County. Its elevation is 6,624 feet...
. Duchesne has hosted grades 1 - 8 since 1905. The first school building was built is 1907. In 1921 ninth grade classes were added. Other classes on the 10th grade level were added through the late 1920s. On May 17, 1931 Duchesne High School held a graduation ceremony for four students that composed the first senior class. The current structure was built in 2004-2005. The facility has two gymnasiums, one college sized basketball court and one smaller gymnasium left from the 1965 structure. English department with classrooms and separate writing lab. Science department with classrooms and separate lab. Utah State University provides onsite professors and distance education classes at the school so all students have the opportunity to graduate from high school with an Associates degree. Wood and metal shops. Auditorium, lunch room, and administrative offices.
Duchesne High school colors are blue and white; the mascot is the eagle. Duchesne high school sponsors a men's football team, men's and women's basketball teams, men's wrestling, women's volleyball, as well as a track and field team and cross country team. Duchesne High competes in the 1A division of the UHSAA. Men's teams have won state titles in basketball (1989), football (2006, 2010, 2011), wrestling (1981, 2008), and track and field (1993, 2004, 2005). Duchesne has sponsored athletes that have achieved all-region, all-state, all-American, and even a finalist for the High School Heisman in 2007.
Duchesne Elementary serves grades K–6
Duchesne High School serves grades 7–12.
Churches
Duchesne city and the surrounding area is serviced by three organized churches.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has two chapels located at 130 South 300 East and 901 North 500 East.
The First Baptist Church is located at 592 East 400 South
The Catholic Church has a small mission office on west main street. The Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha mission is under direction of the Saint Helen Parish in Roosevelt, UT
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a seminary located at 181 North 200 West
Industry
In 1948 oil was found in the Uintah BasinUintah Basin
The Uintah Basin, also spelled Uinta Basin, is a physiographic section of the larger Colorado Plateaus province, which in turn is part of the larger Intermontane Plateaus physiographic division. It is also a geologic structural basin in eastern Utah, east of the Wasatch Mountains and south of the...
but not developed until the early 1970s. Duchesne city is located in the area of vast oil and natural gas reserves spanning the north-east corner of Utah and extending into western Colorado. As prices for crude rise oil industry jobs open up in the town but also disappear when crude price fall. Currently (2009–2011) environmental groups have brought litigation against federal agencies slowing the award of leases on public land slowing the development of oil resources and drilling affecting the economy of Duchesne and the surrounding area.
Duchesne has also benefited from the water resources of the Duchesne and Strawbery rivers that flow close to the town. The Central Utah Project
Central Utah Project
The Central Utah Project is a United States federal water project. It was authorized for construction under the Colorado River Storage Project Act of April 11, 1956 as a participating project...
was active in the area twenty years and provided good jobs from 1967 to 1987. A recent expansion to the water treatment plant north-west of town will start supplying culinary water to the community of Roosevelt some 30 miles away.
Duchesne is home to a number of heavy machine and steel manufacturers. A wide variety of products and parts are manufactured as diverse as underground cranes, shield haulers, rifle barrels, steam locomotive parts, drill collars, turbine parts, gears sprockets and splines for the oil fields, steel mills, coal mines, trona mines, power plants, other machine shops, manufacturers and other industries in many capacities. Products are shipped both domestically and to Canada, Mexico, South America, Australia, and Europe.
Agriculture has always been a mainstay for many Duchesne residents and surrounding communities. The vast amount of federally owned and leased lands have given cattle ranchers and sheep ranchers good grazing for over 120 years in the area. Over grazing in the early 20th century has led to reform in the grazing areas and a steady decline in sheep and cow production throughout the area. Small family farms are the mainstay.
Duchesne has always been rich in its rugged beauty and tourism. Thousands are drawn during and warmer months to enjoy boating on Starvation Reservoir, fishing on the Strawberry and Duchesne Rivers, and camping in the High Uintahs.
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 1,408 people, 463 households, and 342 families residing in the city. 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 611.3 people per square mile (236.4/km²). There were 550 housing units at an average density of 238.8 per square mile (92.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.95% White, 0.28% African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 0.36% 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 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.77% of the population.
There were 463 households out of which 45.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.1% 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, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% 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 3.55.
In the city the population was spread out with 37.1% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,426, and the median income for a family was $37,174. Males had a median income of $35,046 versus $20,417 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 city was $12,337. About 11.2% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.
See also
- High Uintas WildernessHigh Uintas WildernessThe High Uintas Wilderness is a wilderness area located in northeastern Utah, United States. The wilderness covers the Uinta Mountains, encompassing parts of Duchesne and Summit counties. Designated as a wilderness in 1984, the area is located within parts of Ashley National Forest and Wasatch...
- Uintah BasinUintah BasinThe Uintah Basin, also spelled Uinta Basin, is a physiographic section of the larger Colorado Plateaus province, which in turn is part of the larger Intermontane Plateaus physiographic division. It is also a geologic structural basin in eastern Utah, east of the Wasatch Mountains and south of the...
- Starvation Reservoir
- Uinta MountainsUinta MountainsThe Uinta Mountains are a high chain of mountains in northeastern Utah and extreme northwestern Colorado in the United States. A subrange of the Rocky Mountains, they are unusual for being the highest range in the contiguous United States running east to west, and lie approximately east of Salt...