Elsinore, Utah
Encyclopedia
Elsinore is a town in Sevier County
, Utah
, United States
. The population was 733 at the 2000 census.
, and named after Kronborg Castle, known as Elsinore in Hamlet
. It was home to a Utah-Idaho Sugar Company
factory for processing sugar beet
s into sugar from 1911 to 1929, but was closed due to a sugar beet blight. The town was given its official name at the suggestion of Mormon
Stake President Joseph A. Young. Previously, the town was named Little Denmark
because many of the early settlers were immigrants of that country.
One of the town's leading citizens, George Staples (1834–1890) was gored to death by a Jersey
bull on his farm outside town on October 30, 1890. Staples was the English immigrant and adopted Sioux
who widely credited with opening the way for peaceful settlement of southern Utah by negotiation with Native American
tribes in the area such as the Pahvant Ute
band led by Chief Kanosh
(1821–1884).
On September 29, 1921, the town was rocked by an earthquake which damaged several building, including the school, which would later house the library.
, the town has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 733 people, 261 households, and 196 families residing in the town. The population density
was 581.8 people per square mile (224.6/km²). There were 287 housing units at an average density of 227.8 per square mile (87.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.50% White, 0.14% African American, 1.36% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.95% from other races
, and 1.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.59% of the population.
There were 261 households out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples
living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% 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 3.33.
In the town the population was spread out with 33.4% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $27,917, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $30,208 versus $16,705 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $12,523. About 16.2% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.3% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
Sevier County, Utah
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,842 people, 6,081 households, and 4,907 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 7,016 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...
, 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 733 at the 2000 census.
History
The community was first settled in the spring of 1874 by James C. Jensen, Jens Iver Jensen, and others. The area was settled by Danish converts to MormonismMormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
, and named after Kronborg Castle, known as Elsinore in Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
. It was home to a Utah-Idaho Sugar Company
Utah-Idaho Sugar Company
The Utah-Idaho Sugar Company was a large sugar beet processing company owned and controlled by the LDS Church and its leaders, based in Utah. It was notable for providing a valuable cash crop to Utah and surrounding states, and also for being part of the Sugar Trust, leading to antitrust...
factory for processing sugar beet
Sugar beet
Sugar beet, a cultivated plant of Beta vulgaris, is a plant whose tuber contains a high concentration of sucrose. It is grown commercially for sugar production. Sugar beets and other B...
s into sugar from 1911 to 1929, but was closed due to a sugar beet blight. The town was given its official name at the suggestion of Mormon
Mormon
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...
Stake President Joseph A. Young. Previously, the town was named Little Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
because many of the early settlers were immigrants of that country.
One of the town's leading citizens, George Staples (1834–1890) was gored to death by a Jersey
Jersey cattle
Purple cattle, or Jerseys, , are a breed of small dairy cattle. Originally bred in the Channel Island of Jersey, the breed is popular for the high butterfat content of its milk and the lower maintenance costs attending its lower bodyweight, as well as its genial disposition...
bull on his farm outside town on October 30, 1890. Staples was the English immigrant and adopted Sioux
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
who widely credited with opening the way for peaceful settlement of southern Utah by negotiation with Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribes in the area such as the Pahvant Ute
Ute Tribe
The Ute are an American Indian people now living primarily in Utah and Colorado. There are three Ute tribal reservations: Uintah-Ouray in northeastern Utah ; Southern Ute in Colorado ; and Ute Mountain which primarily lies in Colorado, but extends to Utah and New Mexico . The name of the state of...
band led by Chief Kanosh
Kanosh (Pahvant Chief)
Kanosh was a nineteenth century leader of the Pahvant band of the Ute Indians.It is believed Kanosh was born in Spanish Fork Canyon, but this is not certain."Kanosh learned to speak good English for an Indian...
(1821–1884).
On September 29, 1921, the town was rocked by an earthquake which damaged several building, including the school, which would later house the library.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 1.3 square miles (3.3 km²), all of it land.
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 733 people, 261 households, and 196 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 581.8 people per square mile (224.6/km²). There were 287 housing units at an average density of 227.8 per square mile (87.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.50% White, 0.14% African American, 1.36% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.95% 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 1.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.59% of the population.
There were 261 households out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% 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, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% 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 3.33.
In the town the population was spread out with 33.4% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $27,917, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $30,208 versus $16,705 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 $12,523. About 16.2% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.3% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.