Millard County, Utah

The Utah Territory legislature created the county on October 4, 1851, with territory not previously covered by county creations and including some area in the future state of Nevada. It was named for the thirteenth US President Millard Fillmore, who was in office then.[3] Fillmore was designated as the county seat. The county boundaries were altered in 1852 and again in 1854. On March 2, 1861, the US government created the Nevada Territory, which effectively de-annexed the described portion of Millard County falling in that Territorial Proclamation. The county boundary was further altered in 1862, 1866, 1888, and in 1919. In 1921 a boundary adjustment with Sevier brought Millard to its present configuration.[4]

Fillmore, located near the geographic center of the territory, was originally built as the capital of Utah Territory. The Utah Territorial Legislature approved a plan to locate the capital in the Pahvant Valley. On October 28, 1851, Utah Governor Brigham Young traveled to the valley and chose the specific site for Fillmore. The town was surveyed that same day. A colonizing company soon followed; they built houses, a grist mill, and a sawmill. Construction of the Territorial Statehouse was initiated in 1852. The Territorial legislature met in Fillmore for the first (and only time) in 1855. The following year they voted to keep the capital in Great Salt Lake City.[5]

Millard County lies on the west side of Utah. Its west border abuts the east border of the state of Nevada. The county terrain consists of arid, rough undulating flatlands interrupted by numerous hills and mountain ridges.[6] The highest point in the county is Mine Camp Peak in the Central Utah Plateaus, at 10,222 feet (3,116 m) ASL.[7] The county has a total area of 6,828 square miles (17,680 km²), of which 6,572 square miles (17,020 km²) is land and 255 square miles (660 km²) (3.7%) is water.[8] It is the third-largest county in Utah by area.

The Sevier Desert covers much of Millard County, being the seafloor of ancient Lake Bonneville. Sevier Lake, a mostly dry remnant of Lake Bonneville, is in central Millard County. The Pahvant Mountains form the county's eastern boundary. Fillmore and other farming communities lie at the base of the Pahvant Mountains. Delta sits several miles from the banks of the Sevier River in the middle of the basin.

Great Stone Face

The Great Stone Face and a portrait of Joseph Smith Jr.

Pahvant Valley in Millard County has several ancient lava flows and extinct volcanoes, known as the Black Rock Desert volcanic field, including the "Black Rock" lava flow. About 17 miles (27 km) southwest of Delta, near Black Rock's northwest perimeter is a feature named the "Great Stone Face", which protrudes about four stories above the general elevation.[9] Locals claim that this rock formation, when viewed at the correct angle, appears similar to a profile of Joseph Smith.[10][11] At ground level, within view of the "Great Stone Face", is a large, smooth-faced rock covered in Native American petroglyphs.

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 12,405 people, 3,840 households, and 3,091 families in the county. The population density was 1.89 people per square mile (0.73 people/km²). There were 4,522 housing units at an average density of 0.69 units per square mile (0.27 units/km²). In 2000 there were 3,840 households, of which 46.10% had children under 18 living with them, 70.60% were married couples living together, 7.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.50% were non-families. 18.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.19, and the average family size was 3.66.

The county population contained 37.30% under 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 22.90% from 25 to 44, 19.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.90 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 101.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,178, and the median income for a family was $41,797. Males had a median income of $36,989 versus $20,168 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,408. About 9.40% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.20% of those under age 18 and 7.20% of those aged 65 or over.

The 2000 Census reported the racial makeup of the county was 93.94% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 1.31% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 2.76% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. 7.18% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

By 2005, 86.7% of Millard County's population was non-Hispanic whites. The proportion of African Americans had doubled to 0.2%. Native Americans were now 1.5% of the country's population. Asians had fallen to only 0.4% of the population. 11.0% of the population was Latino, just above the 10.9% for Utah.[19]

As of 2010, Millard County had a population of 12,310. The ethnic and racial makeup of the population was 84.7% non-Hispanic white, 0.1% black, 1.0% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.5% reporting two or more races, and 12.8% Hispanic or Latino.[20]

Millard County is working hard to make it easier to build Earthships, straw bale homes, and other ecological and sustainable housing.[21]

Millard County is the home of the Telescope Array Project ultra-high-energy cosmic ray observatory. The Lon and Mary Watson Millard County Cosmic Ray Center was dedicated on March 20, 2006.[22]

The Topaz War Relocation Center was a World War II Japanese internment camp located in Millard County 15 miles (24 km) west of Delta. The location is open to the public, with a memorial at the northwest corner.

Millard County has traditionally voted Republican. In no national election since 1944 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

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  Little Sahara Sand Dunes
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  The Great Stone Face
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  Notch Peak as seen from the south on the valley floor
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  Topaz Internment Camp

• Cove Fort, Utah
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Millard County, Utah
• USS Millard County (LST-987)
• Willden Fort

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Millard County, Utah.

• Official website

39.05°N 113.10°W / 39.05; -113.10