Weber County, Utah

Weber County (/ˈwiːbər/ WEE-bər) is a county in the U.S. state of Utah. As of the 2020 census, the population was 262,223,[1] making it Utah's fourth-most populous county. Its county seat and largest city is Ogden,[2] the home of Weber State University. The county was named for the Weber River.

Weber County
County
Historic United States Post Office and Courthouse in Ogden, Utah.
Historic United States Post Office and Courthouse in Ogden, Utah.
Map of Utah highlighting Weber County
Location within the U.S. state of Utah
Map of the United States highlighting Utah
Utah's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°18′N 111°55′W
Country United States
State Utah
FoundedJanuary 31, 1850 (created)
March 3, 1852 (organized)
Named forWeber River
SeatOgden
Largest cityOgden
Area
 • Total659 sq mi (1,710 km2)
 • Land576 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Water83 sq mi (210 km2)  13%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total262,223
 • Estimate 
(2021)
267,066
 • Density400/sq mi (150/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.co.weber.ut.us

Weber County is part of the Ogden-Clearfield, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Salt Lake City-Provo-Orem, UT Combined Statistical Area.

History

The Weber Valley was visited by many trappers seeking beavers and muskrats along its streams. One of the first on record reached the area in 1824, traveling from Fort Bridger. He reported that the Bear River flowed into a salt bay. Peter Skene Ogden passed through in 1826, representing the Hudson's Bay Company. He traded in this area for several years, near present-day North Ogden. John C. Frémont explored the Weber Valley in 1843 and made maps of the area. The Fremont reports encouraged readers to seek their fortunes in the western frontier. Miles Goodyear was a fur trapper who constructed a way station on the Weber River in 1845. In 1847 he sold it to incoming Mormon pioneers. James Brown purchased and changed the site's name to Brownsville (later changed to Ogden).[3]

After the Mormon pioneers began filling out into the future state of Utah, the fledgling government (as of 1849 known as State of Deseret) began a system of government. On January 31, 1850, the legislature provided for the creation of six counties to generally cover the area, named in this order:

  • Weber (with Ogden as county seat)
  • Great Salt Lake
  • Utah
  • San Pete
  • Tuilla
  • Little Salt Lake[4]

The county boundaries were better defined by the 1852 Utah Territory legislature. The borders were adjusted by subsequent acts in 1855, 1856, and 1862. The creation of Nevada Territory in 1862 also administratively reduced the county's territory significantly since its 1852 description had it running to the Sierra Nevada mountains in central California. A final adjustment in 1880 concerning the various lands in the Great Salt Lake area brought the county's borders to their present configuration.[5]

As of the 1852 description, the original Weber County stretched from California in the west, to the Oregon boundary on the north, to a point in the middle Davis County in the south.[6] As Nevada and the State of Utah evolved, Weber County was trimmed so that it now occupies a stretch of the Wasatch Front, part of the eastern shores of Great Salt Lake, and much of the rugged Wasatch Mountains.

Geography

The county extends from high in the Wasatch Range in the east into a portion of the Great Salt Lake to the west, where the county's elongated point exists. The Weber and Ogden rivers and their tributaries run through its valleys.[7] The Weber County Surveyor's office divides the county into two regions, the "Lower Valley" and the "Upper Valley", divided by the ridge of the Wasatch front range south through the county. Lower Valley, adjacent to the Lake, is the county's more populous part. The Upper Valley consists mostly of the Ogden Valley, the watershed of the Ogden River. The county's highest elevation is Willard Peak in the Wasatch Mountains, at 9,763 ft (2,976 m) ASL.[8] The county has an area of 659 square miles (1,710 km2), of which 576 square miles (1,490 km2) is land and 83 square miles (210 km2) (13%) is water.[9] It is the second-smallest county in Utah by land area and third-smallest by total area.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas
  • Cache National Forest (part)
  • Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area
  • Weber Memorial Park
  • Willard Bay Upland Game Management Area (part)[7]

Lakes
  • Beus Pond (aka Beus Reservoir)
  • Bluebell Spring
  • Box Spring
  • Bybee Pond (aka Lybee Reservoir)
  • Causey Reservoir
  • Choke Spring
  • Cold Springs
  • Cutler Spring
  • Deseret Spring (aka Desert Spring)
  • Front Hollow Spring
  • Glassman Pond
  • Great Salt Lake (part)
  • Green Pond
  • Huntsville Reservoir
  • Lime Kiln Spring
  • Limestone Spring
  • Little Monte Springs
  • Lower Dry Bread Pond
  • Meadow Creek Pond
  • Monastery Spring
  • Norma Springs
  • Pineview Reservoir
  • The Horseshoe Bend
  • Twenty-First Street Pond
  • Utaba Reservoir

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18501,186—
18608,675631.5%
18707,858−9.4%
188012,34457.1%
189022,72384.1%
190025,23911.1%
191035,17939.4%
192043,66324.1%
193052,17219.5%
194056,7148.7%
195083,31946.9%
1960110,74432.9%
1970126,27814.0%
1980144,61614.5%
1990158,3309.5%
2000196,53324.1%
2010231,23617.7%
2020262,22313.4%
2021 (est.)267,066[1]1.8%
United States Census Bureau[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13]
2010–2020, 2021[1]

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 231,236 people in the county, organized into 78,784 households and 57,867 families.[14] The population density was 351 people per square mile (136 people/km2). There were 86,187 housing units at an average density of 131 units per square mile (51 units/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 85.2% White, 1.4% Black or African American, 1.3% Asian, 0.8% Native American, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 6.59% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. 16.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[14]

In the 2000 United States Census, there were 196,533 people in the county, organized into 65,698 households and 49,536 families. The population density was 341 people per square mile (132 people/km2). There were 70,454 housing units at an average density of 122 units per square mile (47 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.69% White, 1.40% Black or African American, 1.28% Asian, 0.77% Native American, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 6.59% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. 12.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

By 2005 80.4% of the population was non-Hispanic whites. 1.5% were African-Americans, while 0.9% were Native Americans. Asians were 1.4% of the population. Latinos were 15.2% of the county population.

There were 78,748 households, of which 36.8% had children under 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 21.1% of all households had an individual who was 65 years of age or older, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90, and the average family size was 3.40.[14]

Ages
Weber County Age Breakdown
Age Range Number Percent
Under 5 years 20,837 9.0
5 to 9 years 19,667 8.5
10 to 14 years 18,375 7.9
15 to 19 years 17,261 7.5
20 to 24 years 17,636 7.6
25 to 29 years 19,131 8.3
30 to 34 years 17,469 7.6
35 to 39 years 14,559 6.3
40 to 44 years 12,899 5.6
45 to 49 years 14,160 6.1
50 to 54 years 14,123 6.1
55 to 59 years 11,904 5.1
60 to 64 years 9,824 4.2
65 years and over 23,388 10.1

The median age was 30.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.[14]

Income and employment

As of the 2010 census, the median income for a household in the county was $62,036, and the median income for a family was $71,359. Males had a median income of $49,081 versus $34,954 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,275. 12.1% of the population and 8.7% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 15.4% of those under 18 and 8.5% of those 65 and older lived below the poverty line.[14]

The 2000 census found the median income for a household in the county was $44,014, and the median income for a family was $49,724. Males had a median income of $36,239 versus $24,719 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,246. 9.30% of the population and 6.90% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 11.10% of those under 18 and 5.50% of those 65 and older lived below the poverty line.

In the 2010 census, 67.0% of people over 16 were in labor, and 33.0% were not in labor. The unemployment rate was 3.2%.[14]

Ancestry

As of 2017, the largest self-identified ancestry groups in Weber County, Utah were:[15]

  • English (21.6%)
  • German (10.5%)
  • "American" (7.5%)
  • Irish (6.1%)
  • Scottish (4.1%)
  • Danish (3.9%)
  • Italian (3.6%)
  • Dutch (3.1%)
  • Swedish (3.0%)
  • Welsh (1.9%)
  • Norwegian (1.9%)

Politics and government

Like most of Utah, Weber County voters usually vote Republican. In no national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

State elected offices
Position District Name Affiliation First elected
  Senate 18 F. Ann Millner Republican 2014[16]
  Senate 19 John D. Johnson Republican 2020[17]
  Senate 20 D. Gregg Buxton Republican 2016[18]
  House of Representatives 7 Ryan Wilcox Republican 2020[19]
  House of Representatives 8 Steve Waldrip Republican 2018[20]
  House of Representatives 9 Cal Musselman Republican 2018[21]
  House of Representatives 10 Rosemary Lesser Democrat 2021[22]
  House of Representatives 11 Kelly Miles Republican 2016[23]
  House of Representatives 12 Mike Schultz Republican 2014[24]
  House of Representatives 29 Matthew Gwynn Republican 2020[25]
  Board of Education 1 Jennie Earl Nonpartisan 2018[26]
  Board of Education 2 Scott Hansen Nonpartisan 2018[27]
  Board of Education 4 Brent Strate Republican 2020[28]
United States presidential election results for Weber County, Utah[29]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 65,949 58.54% 40,695 36.13% 6,005 5.33%
2016 40,235 46.78% 23,131 26.89% 22,640 26.32%
2012 54,224 71.08% 19,841 26.01% 2,225 2.92%
2008 45,885 61.99% 25,666 34.67% 2,471 3.34%
2004 51,199 70.43% 19,862 27.32% 1,630 2.24%
2000 39,254 62.56% 19,890 31.70% 3,598 5.73%
1996 27,443 48.79% 21,404 38.06% 7,395 13.15%
1992 26,812 39.30% 17,795 26.09% 23,609 34.61%
1988 39,676 63.97% 21,431 34.56% 911 1.47%
1984 44,590 70.40% 18,346 28.97% 398 0.63%
1980 43,807 69.98% 15,404 24.61% 3,388 5.41%
1976 34,811 58.33% 23,111 38.72% 1,762 2.95%
1972 37,753 68.23% 14,503 26.21% 3,078 5.56%
1968 27,034 52.82% 20,465 39.98% 3,683 7.20%
1964 20,206 40.52% 29,666 59.48% 0 0.00%
1960 22,293 47.88% 24,239 52.06% 31 0.07%
1956 22,542 55.95% 17,747 44.05% 0 0.00%
1952 20,692 51.11% 19,795 48.89% 0 0.00%
1948 12,445 37.08% 20,861 62.16% 253 0.75%
1944 9,518 32.59% 19,639 67.25% 48 0.16%
1940 7,946 30.55% 18,037 69.35% 24 0.09%
1936 4,989 21.86% 17,594 77.08% 243 1.06%
1932 8,019 39.02% 11,541 56.16% 989 4.81%
1928 9,934 53.79% 8,361 45.27% 173 0.94%
1924 7,382 43.60% 3,970 23.45% 5,579 32.95%
1920 7,122 50.71% 5,239 37.30% 1,684 11.99%
1916 4,720 35.45% 8,139 61.14% 454 3.41%
1912 3,171 29.31% 2,986 27.60% 4,661 43.09%
1908 5,881 56.06% 3,965 37.80% 644 6.14%
1904 6,331 62.36% 3,108 30.61% 714 7.03%
1900 4,585 52.35% 4,092 46.72% 82 0.94%
1896 1,373 17.79% 6,343 82.21% 0 0.00%

Education

Tertiary institutions and organizations of education in Weber County:

The two K-12 school districts in the county are Ogden City School District and Weber School District.[30]

There is also a state-operated school, Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Townships

Census-designated places

Census county division

Unincorporated communities

Notable residents

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. History - Buenaventura Park (accessed March 31, 2019)
  4. Richard C. Roberts & Richard W. Sadler, A History of Weber County (1997). Accessed 31 March 2019
  5. "Utah: Individual County Chronologies". Utah Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  6. Fisher, Richard Swainson (1855). A new and complete statistical gazetteer of the United States of America. New York: J.H. Colton Co. p. 870. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  7. Weber County UT Google Maps (accessed 31 March 2019)
  8. "Utah County High Points/Weber County. Peakbagger.com (accessed 31 March 2019)". Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  9. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  10. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  12. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  14. Bureau, U. S. Census. "U.S. Census website". census.gov. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  15. Factfinder (US Census Bureau)
  16. "Senator Millner Utah Senate". senate.utah.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  17. "Senator Johnson Utah Senate". senate.utah.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  18. "Senator Buxton Utah Senate". senate.utah.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  19. "Rep. Wilcox, Ryan D." Utah House of Representatives. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  20. "Rep. Waldrip, Steve". Utah House of Representatives. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  21. "Rep. Musselman, Calvin R." Utah House of Representatives. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  22. "Rep. Lesser, Rosemary T." Utah House of Representatives. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  23. "Rep. Miles, Kelly B." Utah House of Representatives. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  24. "Rep. Schultz, Mike". Utah House of Representatives. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  25. "Rep. Gwynn, Matthew". Utah House of Representatives. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  26. "Jennie Earl". www.schools.utah.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  27. "Scott Hansen". www.schools.utah.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  28. "Brent Strate". www.schools.utah.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  29. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  30. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Weber County, UT" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2022. - Text list

41.30°N 111.92°W / 41.30; -111.92

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