Orderville, Utah
Encyclopedia
Orderville is a town in Kane County
, Utah
, United States
. The population was 596 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 9.2 square miles (23.8 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 596 people, 194 households, and 150 families residing in the town. The population density
was 64.9 people per square mile (25.1/km²). There were 240 housing units at an average density of 26.1 per square mile (10.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.65% White, 0.50% Native American, 0.17% from other races
, and 1.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.51% of the population.
There were 194 households out of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.0% were married couples
living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.2% were non-families. 19.1% 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 3.07 and the average family size was 3.57.
In the town the population was spread out with 36.6% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 20.5% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,769, and the median income for a family was $37,250. Males had a median income of $31,875 versus $22,321 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $12,671. 11.3% of the population and 6.7% of families were below the poverty line. 12.1% of those under the age of 18 are below the poverty line as are 5.6% of those 66 or older.
in 1875 specifically to live the United Order
, a voluntary form of communalism
defined by Joseph Smith. Orderville was settled primarily by destitute refugees from failed settlements on the Muddy River
in Nevada. The extreme poverty of these settlers likely contributed significantly to their devotion to the principles of the United Order.
Although the United Order was practiced in many Utah
communities during the late 1870s, Orderville was unique in both the level of success it experienced under the communal living style, and in the duration of the experiment. In the course of a few years, Orderville grew into a thriving, self-sufficient community. The success and relative wealth of the community attracted more settlers and Orderville grew to about 700 people. Orderville not only provided for the needs of its population, but produced a significant surplus for sale to other communities, which was used to purchase additional land and equipment.
The Order continued in Orderville for approximately 10 years. During the early 1880s, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lost interest in the experiment, but Orderville attempted to continue it. In 1885, the enforcement of the Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act of 1882
effectively ended the Order by jailing many of the Order's leaders and driving many of the others underground.
Kane County, Utah
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,046 people, 2,237 households, and 1,628 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 3,767 housing units at an average density of 1 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 596 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Orderville is located at 37°16′33.39"N 112°37′56.89"W (37.262348, -112.653266).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 9.2 square miles (23.8 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 596 people, 194 households, and 150 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 64.9 people per square mile (25.1/km²). There were 240 housing units at an average density of 26.1 per square mile (10.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.65% White, 0.50% Native American, 0.17% 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 1.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.51% of the population.
There were 194 households out of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.0% 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, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.2% were non-families. 19.1% 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 3.07 and the average family size was 3.57.
In the town the population was spread out with 36.6% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 20.5% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,769, and the median income for a family was $37,250. Males had a median income of $31,875 versus $22,321 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 $12,671. 11.3% of the population and 6.7% of families were below the poverty line. 12.1% of those under the age of 18 are below the poverty line as are 5.6% of those 66 or older.
History
Orderville was established at the direction of Latter-day Saint leader Brigham YoungBrigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
in 1875 specifically to live the United Order
United Order
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the United Order was one of several 19th century church collectivist programs. Early versions of the Order beginning in 1831 attempted to implement the Law of Consecration, a form of Christian communism, modeled after the New Testament church which had "all things...
, a voluntary form of communalism
Communalism
Communalism is a term with three distinct meanings according to the Random House Unabridged Dictionary'.'These include "a theory of government or a system of government in which independent communes participate in a federation". "the principles and practice of communal ownership"...
defined by Joseph Smith. Orderville was settled primarily by destitute refugees from failed settlements on the Muddy River
Muddy River
The Muddy River, formerly known as the Moapa River, is a short river located in the southern part of the state in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is in the Mojave Desert, approximately 60 miles north of Las Vegas.-Geography:...
in Nevada. The extreme poverty of these settlers likely contributed significantly to their devotion to the principles of the United Order.
Although the United Order was practiced in many 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...
communities during the late 1870s, Orderville was unique in both the level of success it experienced under the communal living style, and in the duration of the experiment. In the course of a few years, Orderville grew into a thriving, self-sufficient community. The success and relative wealth of the community attracted more settlers and Orderville grew to about 700 people. Orderville not only provided for the needs of its population, but produced a significant surplus for sale to other communities, which was used to purchase additional land and equipment.
The Order continued in Orderville for approximately 10 years. During the early 1880s, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lost interest in the experiment, but Orderville attempted to continue it. In 1885, the enforcement of the Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act of 1882
Edmunds Act
The Edmunds Act, also known as the Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act of 1882, is a United States federal statute, signed into law on March 23, 1882, declaring polygamy a felony. The act is named for U.S. Senator George F. Edmunds of Vermont...
effectively ended the Order by jailing many of the Order's leaders and driving many of the others underground.