Sunnyside, Utah
Encyclopedia
Sunnyside is a city in Carbon County
, Utah
, United States
. The population was 404 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8.1 km²), all of it land.
, there were 404 people, 160 households, and 104 families residing in the city. The population density
was 128.6 people per square mile (49.7/km²). There were 183 housing units with an average density of 58.3 per square mile (22.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.84% White, 0.50% African American, 6.93% from other races
, and 1.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.30% of the population.
There were 160 households, of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples
living together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals (single person) and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 7.2% aged 18 to 24, 24.3% aged 25 to 44, 24.0% aged 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,955. The median income for a family was $36,875. Males had a median income of $39,688 versus $18,333 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,752. About 12.8% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.2% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.
and established the Whitmore Cattle Ranch. In 1883, the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
(D&RGW) extended its line from the railhead at Deseret to Price, Utah
. Along this 60 miles (96.6 km) stretch two additional railheads were added, one at Woodside
, and another 20 miles (32.2 km) north at Sunnyside, named for its location on the sunny side of the Book Cliffs.
For over a century, Sunnyside was the leader in coal production in Carbon County. The history of coal mining in Sunnyside began shortly after Jefferson Tidwell and his three sons discovered coal in Whitmore Canyon in 1896. By 1898, the Pleasant Valley Coal Company had acquired the rights to the coal from Tidwell. On July 4 of that year, the Sunnyside railhead was abandoned by the D&RGW, and the coal camp located in Whitmore Canyon was named Sunnyside. By 1901, the D&RGW and its subsidiary, Utah Fuel Coal Company, acquired the operation.
For fifty years, Utah Fuel operated the coal mines in Sunnyside, selling its interest to Kaiser Steel Corporation in 1949. The financial investments of these companies turned Tidwell's mining operation into a major coal industry, inextricably tied to Sunnyside.
Sunnyside was officially incorporated
as a town in 1916, with a mayor and four trustees. Until 1994, the mayor was not an elected official. Instead, the office was held by the Superintendent of Mines for Utah Fuel, then later by Kaiser Steel Corporation when it took over in 1950.
. Students attend middle and high school in Price
.
Carbon County, Utah
Carbon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. Named for the major coal deposits in the area, the county seat and largest city, is Price. Carbon County is the second largest natural gas producer in Utah , with 94 billion cubic feet produced in 2008. As of 2010 the population was...
, 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 404 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Sunnyside is located at 39°33′8"N 110°24′3"W (39.552126, -110.400835).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 3.1 square miles (8.1 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the 2000 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...
, there were 404 people, 160 households, and 104 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 128.6 people per square mile (49.7/km²). There were 183 housing units with an average density of 58.3 per square mile (22.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.84% White, 0.50% African American, 6.93% 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 1.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.30% of the population.
There were 160 households, of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% 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, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals (single person) and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 7.2% aged 18 to 24, 24.3% aged 25 to 44, 24.0% aged 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,955. The median income for a family was $36,875. Males had a median income of $39,688 versus $18,333 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 $13,752. About 12.8% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.2% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.
History
The area known as Sunnyside, Utah, was founded in 1879, when George and James Whitmore arrived at the base of the Book CliffsBook Cliffs
The Book Cliffs are a series of mountains and cliffs in western Colorado and eastern Utah, in the western United States. They are so named because many of them have the triangular appearance of a book that has been opened up, then turned on its sides and set to rest on the open sides of the book,...
and established the Whitmore Cattle Ranch. In 1883, the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad , often shortened to Rio Grande or D&RGW, formerly the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, is a defunct U.S. railroad company. The railroad started as a narrow gauge line running south from Denver, Colorado in 1870; however, served mainly as a transcontinental...
(D&RGW) extended its line from the railhead at Deseret to Price, Utah
Price, Utah
Price 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...
. Along this 60 miles (96.6 km) stretch two additional railheads were added, one at Woodside
Woodside, Utah
Woodside is a ghost town located on the west bank of the Price River in the nearly uninhabited eastern part of Emery County, Utah, United States. Its fenced-in filling station is one of the only signs of human activity along the lonely stretch of U.S...
, and another 20 miles (32.2 km) north at Sunnyside, named for its location on the sunny side of the Book Cliffs.
For over a century, Sunnyside was the leader in coal production in Carbon County. The history of coal mining in Sunnyside began shortly after Jefferson Tidwell and his three sons discovered coal in Whitmore Canyon in 1896. By 1898, the Pleasant Valley Coal Company had acquired the rights to the coal from Tidwell. On July 4 of that year, the Sunnyside railhead was abandoned by the D&RGW, and the coal camp located in Whitmore Canyon was named Sunnyside. By 1901, the D&RGW and its subsidiary, Utah Fuel Coal Company, acquired the operation.
For fifty years, Utah Fuel operated the coal mines in Sunnyside, selling its interest to Kaiser Steel Corporation in 1949. The financial investments of these companies turned Tidwell's mining operation into a major coal industry, inextricably tied to Sunnyside.
Sunnyside was officially incorporated
Incorporated town
-Canada:Incorporated towns are a form of local government in Canada, which is a responsibility of provincial rather than federal government.-United States:...
as a town in 1916, with a mayor and four trustees. Until 1994, the mayor was not an elected official. Instead, the office was held by the Superintendent of Mines for Utah Fuel, then later by Kaiser Steel Corporation when it took over in 1950.
Education
Sunnyside is located in the Carbon School District. It has one elementary school, which also accommodates students from East Carbon CityEast Carbon, Utah
East Carbon is a city in Carbon County, Utah, United States. The population was 1,393 at the 2000 census. East Carbon was incorporated on July 23, 1973, from the merger of the two struggling mining towns of Dragerton and Columbia.-Geography:...
. Students attend middle and high school in Price
Price, Utah
Price 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...
.