Escalante, Utah
Encyclopedia
Escalante is a city in Garfield County
, Utah
, United States
, along Utah Scenic Byway 12. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 818.
The town was named after Silvestre Vélez de Escalante, a Franciscan
missionary
and the first European explorer in the region. In 1776, Escalante and his Spanish superior Francisco Atanasio Domínguez left from Santa Fe, New Mexico
on an attempt to reach Monterey, California
(EarthMetrics,1989). During this journey, usually referred to as the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition
, Escalante and his companions passed by the Grand Canyon
and were among the first white men to enter Utah
.
Indian War of the mid-1860s. They recorded finding wild potatoes growing in the area and named a valley just east of the Escalante Mountains "Potato Valley". In 1872, a group of settlers from Panguitch
investigated the area, meeting members of the John Wesley Powell
expedition. Powell's group recommended any new community be named Escalante in honor of the explorer, even though the 1776 expedition never reached the remote valley. The community of Escalante was finally settled in 1875. The even more isolated community of Boulder
to the north was established as a ranching community in 1889.
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.6 km²), none of which is covered with water.
of 2000, there were 818 people, 304 households, and 220 families residing in the city. The population density
was 278.2 people per square mile (107.4/km²). There were 404 housing units at an average density of 137.4 per square mile (53.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.89% White, 2.32% Native American, 0.98% Asian, 0.24% from other races
, and 2.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.03% of the population.
There were 304 households out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.2% were married couples
living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 102.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,143, and the median income for a family was $35,500. Males had a median income of $30,385 versus $19,028 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,501. About 7.3% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
Garfield County, Utah
Garfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2000 the population was 4,735. It was named for James A. Garfield, President of the United States in 1881. Its county seat and largest city is Panguitch.-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...
, along Utah Scenic Byway 12. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 818.
The town was named after Silvestre Vélez de Escalante, a Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
and the first European explorer in the region. In 1776, Escalante and his Spanish superior Francisco Atanasio Domínguez left from Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
on an attempt to reach Monterey, California
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
(EarthMetrics,1989). During this journey, usually referred to as the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition
Dominguez-Escalante Expedition
The Dominguez-Escalante Expedition was conducted in 1776 to find an overland route from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Spanish missions in California...
, Escalante and his companions passed by the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, the 15th national park in the United States...
and were among the first white men to enter 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...
.
Settlement history
Members of the Southern Utah militia, under the leadership of Captain James Andrus, passed through the Escalante area during the Black HawkBlack Hawk War (Utah)
The Black Hawk War, or Black Hawk's War, from 1865 to 1872, is the name of the estimated 150 military engagement between Mormon settlers in the Four Corners region and members of the Ute, Paiute, Apache and Navajo tribes, led by a local Ute chief, Antonga Black Hawk...
Indian War of the mid-1860s. They recorded finding wild potatoes growing in the area and named a valley just east of the Escalante Mountains "Potato Valley". In 1872, a group of settlers from Panguitch
Panguitch, Utah
Panguitch is a city in and the county seat of Garfield County, Utah, United States. The population was 1,623 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Panguitch is located at ....
investigated the area, meeting members of the John Wesley Powell
John Wesley Powell
John Wesley Powell was a U.S. soldier, geologist, explorer of the American West, and director of major scientific and cultural institutions...
expedition. Powell's group recommended any new community be named Escalante in honor of the explorer, even though the 1776 expedition never reached the remote valley. The community of Escalante was finally settled in 1875. The even more isolated community of Boulder
Boulder, Utah
Boulder is a town in Garfield County, Utah, United States, 27 miles northeast of Escalante on Utah Scenic Byway 12 at its intersection with the Burr Trail...
to the north was established as a ranching community in 1889.
Geography
Escalante is located at 37°46′10"N 111°36′5"W (37.769482, -111.601382) and is surrounded by part of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National MonumentGrand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument contains 1.9 million acres of land in southern Utah, the United States. There are three main regions: the Grand Staircase, the Kaiparowits Plateau, and the Canyons of the Escalante. President Bill Clinton designated the area as a U.S. National...
.
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 2.9 square miles (7.6 km²), none of which is covered with water.
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 818 people, 304 households, and 220 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 278.2 people per square mile (107.4/km²). There were 404 housing units at an average density of 137.4 per square mile (53.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.89% White, 2.32% Native American, 0.98% Asian, 0.24% 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 2.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.03% of the population.
There were 304 households out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.2% 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, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 102.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,143, and the median income for a family was $35,500. Males had a median income of $30,385 versus $19,028 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 $13,501. About 7.3% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.