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Duchesne, Utah

Duchesne (/dˈʃn/ doo-SHAYN) is a city in and the county seat of Duchesne County, Utah, United States.[5] The population was 1,588 at the 2020 census.[6]

Duchesne, Utah
Looking SouthEast and down on Duchesne, January 2009
Motto: 
Gateway to the Uinta Basin
Location in Duchesne County and the state of Utah
Coordinates: 40°9′52″N 110°24′2″W / 40.16444°N 110.40056°W / 40.16444; -110.40056
CountryUnited States
StateUtah
CountyDuchesne
Settled1905
Named forDuchesne River
Government
 • TypeStrong Mayor-Council
 • MayorPeter Parker (C)
Area
 • Total2.80 sq mi (7.26 km2)
 • Land2.80 sq mi (7.26 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
5,518 ft (1,682 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,588
 • Density600/sq mi (230/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
ZIP code
84021
Area code435
FIPS code49-20340[2]
GNIS feature ID1427601[3]
Websitewww.duchesnecity.com

Geography edit

Duchesne is located just west of the junction of the Strawberry and Duchesne rivers in the Uintah Basin of northeastern Utah. The Duchesne River drains the southwest slope of the Uinta Mountains, and the Strawberry river drains the eastern slopes of the Wasatch Range and is connected to Strawberry Reservoir. The two rivers combine at Duchesne, and the Duchesne River continues east to join the Green River at Ouray, Utah.

Native stands of cottonwood trees and willows grow along the river banks, while sagebrush and rabbitbrush fill the unirrigated bench tops. Alfalfa is the main cultivated crop of farmers in the area.

Via highway, Salt Lake City is 114 miles (183 km) to the west, Vernal is 58 miles (93 km) to the east, and Price is 54 miles (87 km) to the south.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2), all land.[6]

Climate edit

Duchesne features a cold-semi arid climate with cold, freezing winters and warm, sometimes hot summers. Precipitation is very little as the town receives less than 10 inches on average with the wettest months, usually being in late summer to early fall, receiving only above or around 1 inch. The colder months tend to be the driest, but the little precipitation that does fall is in the form of snowfall.

Climate data for Duchesne, Utah(1991–2023 normals, extremes 1904–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 61
(16)
73
(23)
78
(26)
84
(29)
93
(34)
99
(37)
101
(38)
101
(38)
97
(36)
85
(29)
73
(23)
62
(17)
101
(38)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 46
(8)
54
(12)
68
(20)
77
(25)
84
(29)
91
(33)
94
(34)
91
(33)
87
(31)
76
(24)
61
(16)
50
(10)
95
(35)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 32.6
(0.3)
39.8
(4.3)
53.5
(11.9)
62.5
(16.9)
71.4
(21.9)
81.6
(27.6)
87.4
(30.8)
87.3
(30.7)
76.4
(24.7)
62.3
(16.8)
47.1
(8.4)
33.7
(0.9)
61.3
(16.3)
Daily mean °F (°C) 21.1
(−6.1)
27.9
(−2.3)
39.7
(4.3)
47.7
(8.7)
56.5
(13.6)
65.2
(18.4)
71.6
(22.0)
69.2
(20.7)
61.1
(16.2)
48.1
(8.9)
34.8
(1.6)
23.0
(−5.0)
47.2
(8.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 9.8
(−12.3)
16.1
(−8.8)
25.9
(−3.4)
32.8
(0.4)
41.5
(5.3)
48.9
(9.4)
55.8
(13.2)
54.0
(12.2)
45.7
(7.6)
34.2
(1.2)
22.6
(−5.2)
12.3
(−10.9)
33.3
(0.7)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −7
(−22)
−2
(−19)
12
(−11)
20
(−7)
30
(−1)
38
(3)
47
(8)
45
(7)
33
(1)
21
(−6)
9
(−13)
−4
(−20)
−10
(−23)
Record low °F (°C) −43
(−42)
−40
(−40)
−16
(−27)
4
(−16)
15
(−9)
25
(−4)
35
(2)
26
(−3)
17
(−8)
3
(−16)
−17
(−27)
−39
(−39)
−43
(−42)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.52
(13)
0.46
(12)
0.64
(16)
0.79
(20)
0.95
(24)
0.67
(17)
0.76
(19)
1.39
(35)
1.18
(30)
0.94
(24)
0.46
(12)
0.57
(14)
9.33
(236)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 7.2
(18)
6.1
(15)
2.6
(6.6)
2.1
(5.3)
0.2
(0.51)
trace 0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
trace 0.6
(1.5)
2.6
(6.6)
7.3
(19)
28.7
(72.51)
Source: NOAA[7]

History edit

18 September 1776 The Dominguez–Escalante Expedition came from the east where they crossed Blue Bench and descended into the valley north of the present-day town of Duchesne. "We ascended a not very high mesa [Blue Bench] which was level and very stony, traveled about three-quarters of a league including ascent and descent, crossed another small river [Duchesne River] which near here enters the San Cosme (Strawberry River), named it Santa Caterina de Sena, and camped on its banks." "Along these three rivers we have crossed today, there is plenty of good land for crops to support three good settlements, with opportunities for irrigation, beautiful cottonwood groves, good pastures, timber, and firewood nearby."[8]

1822–1840 French Canadian trappers Étienne Provost, François le Clerc, and Antoine Robidoux entered the Uintah Basin by way of the Old Spanish Trail and made their fortunes by trapping the many beaver and trading with the Uintah tribe. From these French Canadian trappers, the Duchesne River and ultimately Duchesne City received its name.

1900–1905 Leases were arranged with the Ute tribe through the Indian agent "Major" H.P. Myton to provide pasture for sheep in and around where Duchesne city is located now. A story passed down from Mrs. William J. Bond about her Father Joseph W. Thomas discusses the area. "During the winter of 1901 - 02, he (Thomas) hauled supplies from Heber to the now Duchesne area, to the sheep herd camp of John E. Austin, a brother-in-law. Together with three herders, Mr. Thomas tended sheep on the West bench (D-hill) near the (Theodore) cemetery site. They moved the herds to the East desert for the winter months. The Indians had quite a village where Duchesne is now. It was a winter camp, and in spring, they scattered.

A fence was stretched across the Indian Canyon as pasture for the horses grazed there on 8" and 10" salt grass. Seguesee Jack (Ute tribe leader) refused settlers (sheep herders) permission to trespass the village site. The Indians feared the sheep would eat the good grasses."[9]

1905–1906 On 7 June 1905, the Secretary of the Interior directed the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to select one or more tracts of land in the Uintah Reservation suitable for townsites, so they might be reserved as such under the statutes of the United States.[10] Three sites were designated, which are the current sites of Duchesne, Myton, and Randlett. A month later, President Theodore Roosevelt approved the selections and declared these lands reserved as townsites. On 28 August, the US government opened up the Uintah Basin to settle land they had acquired from the Ute Indians under the allotment act of 1891. "Land lotteries" were held in Vernal, Provo, Price, Grand Junction, Colorado, and Vernal, where each person was given a ticket with a number. On 28 August, 1 through 111 was allowed to make their claim. On 29 August, the next 111 people could make their claims. Sixty people, 46 adults and 14 children, settled on the townsite that is now Duchesne and called it by its first name, "Elsie" (Glen). Government surveyors laid out the streets, and the government accepted the survey on 18 October 1905. The first cabin was built by Charles Dickerson and Charles Ragland in October 1905. A.M. Murdock, with the help of a few men, put up a large circus tent to act as a trading post and post office. The town's name was changed to "Dora" for a short time after Murdock's 23-year-old daughter, then changed once again to "Theodore", in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt. On 15 September 1905, Robert Duchesne Marsh was the first "white" child born in the townsite. The first winter was harsh, and the residents lived in tents or other temporary shelters. When spring came, the high water of the Duchesne River overflowed its banks, flooding the town. Many homesteaders' dreams died after the first winter, and they sold their claims off for next to nothing. Judge M. M. Smith recalls, "One man asked me to write out a relinquishment for him, remarking, 'I must either give up my claim or my wife. She won't live here.'" Dikes were quickly built up but washed away, and some of the town was under 2 feet (0.61 m) of water until June. Tents and houses were moved around to avoid the flooding problem before the next spring.

The flooding continued annually until 1910[11] when $5,000 was finally given to make the four river cut-offs needed to fix the problem. In 1906 the first bridge was built by Wasatch County across the Duchesne River in east Theodore.

1907–1914 The men of Theodore organized the Boosters Club, and the women organized the Standard Bearers in 1907. Both groups became a forceful factor in the early development of the town. With the flooding of the rivers every spring, the Boosters club was finding it hard to attract people and business to the "muddy" little town. The Boosters Club raised $500 to build a bridge across the Strawberry River at the mouth of Indian Canyon. The bridge was completed in 1908 and later replaced by the state in 1914. In 1908 A. M. Murdock took down the tent and built the first store, barber shop, and post office, the "Pioneer Supply". The citizens built a town hall in 1907. After the flooding issue was resolved, the town grew quickly. In 1910 the population of "Theodore" was 929.[12] The town's first newspaper, The Duchesne Record, started publication 8 April 1909. By 1910 the citizens had decided to change the name to "Duchesne". The post office kept the name "Theodore" until the town's petition to change the name was acknowledged on 5 May 1911. The town was incorporated in 1913, and A. M. Murdock was the first mayor.

On 13 July 1914, "Wasatch County was divided, and Duchesne County was created." Duchesne was made the county seat on 5 Nov 1914 by the popular vote of the county's citizens.[13]

The name "Duchesne" is taken from the name of the river that runs through town and may have been named by fur trappers in the 1820s in honor of Mother Rose Philippine Duchesne, founder of the School of the Sacred Heart near St. Louis, Missouri, although other theories as to the name exist.

A photograph dated 1909, showing the A. M. Murdock Pioneer Supply Store and post office at Theodore, Utah (which was located approximately where Kohl's Market stood in Duchesne in 1991) appeared in a postal history magazine in 1992.[14] The Theodore post office operated from 1905 through 1913, when it was renamed Duchesne.[15]

Amenities edit

  • Duchesne Library
  • Swimming pool
  • Skate park
  • Two community parks, which include slides, swings, picnic tables, a football field, and baseball diamonds
  • Boardwalk along the Strawberry River, with a great view of surrounding scenery
  • Ice skating pond, seasonal and located behind the library
  • Duchesne County Fair Grounds with covered rodeo arena
  • Duchesne County Centennial Event Center, 2000 seat indoor arena, multiple conference rooms with seating up to 300

Recreation edit

Duchesne City and the surrounding area play host to some of the best camping, fishing, boating, hunting, hiking, water skiing, and ATV riding in the state. 4 miles (6 km) to the west of Duchesne city is Fred Hayes State Park at Starvation. Starvation Reservoir is the base of the state park. Located on the Strawberry River, it was created as part of the Central Utah Project and is great fishing and boating lake with stocks of rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch, and Utah chub. The current catch and release state record[16] for walleye and Utah chub are held at Starvation. The reservoir has 3,500 acres (14 km2) of surface area and is great for boating. There are four boat ramps; the largest is at the marina, which also hosts RV parking, boat docs, campsites, hot showers, and an RV waste dump. Activities at Starvation Reservoir include the annual Starvation Walleye Classic and Desert Bass Busters Club Tourny.

On the banks of the Strawberry River that runs through town is a boardwalk that not only has beautiful views but also is great to fish from. Other great stream fishing can be had on the Duchesne River and Rock Creek.

The High Uintas wilderness area is 30 miles (48 km) to the north and boasts great camping, hiking, and fishing. ATV riding is permitted within city limits. The Yellow Stone and Reservation Ridge ATV trails are located with 20 miles (32 km) of town.

Duchesne sits at the junction of three wildlife management units and is home to world-class big game hunting. Mule deer, pronghorn antelope, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, black bear, and mountain lion can be observed within miles of town.

Transportation edit

Duchesne sits at the junction of U.S. Route 40, U.S. Route 191, and State Route 87. US-191 from Duchesne to Helper is designated the Indian Canyon National Scenic Byway.[17]

Duchesne Municipal Airport (Airnav U69)[18] is located 2 miles (3 km) northeast of town on the Blue Bench. The airport has a 5,800 by 60 ft (1,768 by 18 m) asphalt runway. Runway edge lights are medium intensity available from dusk - dawn, activate MIRL RY 17/35 & PAPI 17/35 - CTAF. Wind indicator is lit. Attendance is ON CALL. Services are available by request (435) 738-2464 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Mon - Fri; after hours call (435) 738-5538.

The proposed Uinta Basin Rail project would build a new railroad line into Duchesne for transporting oil drilled in the area.

Points of interest edit

  • Grave of William Long, aka Harry Longabaugh, aka "the Sundance Kid". Research[19] is underway that may prove that the Sundance Kid did not die in Bolivia in 1908 but returned to his family in Utah and bought and operated a farm 2 miles (3 km) east of Duchesne until his death in 1936. He is buried in the Duchesne City cemetery.[clarification needed][20]
  • Pope Museum: Home of Duchesne pioneers Fred and Marie Pope. The museum contains miniature, true-to-scale vehicles that depict the lifestyle of the early settlers of the Uintah Basin. The museum is located at 370 West 100 North.
  • Theodore Cemetery: Early pioneer cemetery that functioned from 1906 until January 1914. John Jacobs was the first burial. Forty-one early settlers are buried here. The cemetery was abandoned because of the difficulty of digging graves in the cobblestone-laden soil. The cemetery was recently restored, and a large monument with names and information is located on the north end of the cemetery. Located on "D" hill, take the dirt road on the west end of town up the hill and turn east at the top. Travel east 300 yards to the monument.
  • Father Escalante Monument: North of Highway 40 on the east entrance of town
  • Early Duchesne Settlement Monument: 130 West Main on the north side of the road
  • War Memorial, World War I monument, World War II monument, Korean War monument, Vietnam War monument, Desert Storm monument: all located at 150 West Main.
  • Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne Monument: by the front entrance of the Pope Museum.

Schools edit

It is within the Duchesne County School District.

Duchesne has one public elementary school and one public high school. The schools serve all of Duchesne City as well as the communities of Bridgeland, Utahn, Strawberry, and Fruitland. Duchesne has hosted grades 1 through 8 since 1905. The first school building was built in 1907.[21] In 1921 ninth grade classes were added. Other classes on the 10th-grade level were added through the late 1920s. On May 17, 1931, Duchesne High School held a graduation ceremony for four students that composed the first senior class. The current structure was built in 2004–2005. The facility has two gymnasiums, one college-sized basketball court, and one smaller gymnasium left from the 1965 structure. English department with classrooms and a separate writing lab. Science department with classrooms and separate lab. Utah State University provides onsite distance education classes at the school, so all students have the opportunity to graduate from high school with an associate degree. Wood and metal shops. Auditorium, lunch room, and administrative offices.

Duchesne High school colors are blue and white; the mascot is the eagle. Duchesne High School sponsors a men's football team, men's and women's basketball teams, men's wrestling, women's volleyball, as well as a track and field team and cross country team. Duchesne added men's baseball in the 2017–18 school year. Duchesne High competes in the 2A division of the UHSAA in all activities, but Football competes in 1A. Men's teams have won state titles in boys basketball (1989), football (2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013,2016), wrestling (1981, 2008, 2015), boys cross country (1994, 1998), and boys track and field (1993, 2004, 2005). The women's drill team named the Talons has won fifteen (2004-2018) consecutive state championships.

  • Duchesne Elementary serves grades K–6.
  • Duchesne High School serves grades 7–12.

Churches edit

Three organized churches serve Duchesne city and the surrounding area.

  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has two chapels located at 130 South 300 East and 901 North 500 East, and a seminary located at 181 North 200 West.
  • The First Baptist Church is located at 592 East 400 South.
  • The Catholic Church has a small mission office on West Main Street. The Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha mission is under the direction of Saint Helen Parish in Roosevelt, Utah.

Industry edit

In 1948 oil was found in the Uintah Basin but not developed until the early 1970s. Duchesne city is located in vast oil and natural gas reserves spanning the northeast corner of Utah and extending into western Colorado. As prices for crude rise, oil industry jobs open up in the town but also disappear when crude prices fall. Although reserves are vast, oil production is stifled to almost 50% of capacity by a lack of transportation of the paraffin-rich crude. Currently, crude is only transported to refineries in the Salt Lake City area using trucks. Pipelines can not be used because of the high wax content of the crude. Currently(2019), a study is being conducted on the feasibility of a rail line passing through Duchesne to allow transport of the crude to bigger markets.

Duchesne has benefited from the water resources of the Duchesne and Strawberry rivers that flow close to the town. The Central Utah Project was active in the area for 20 years and provided good jobs from 1967 to 1987. A recent expansion to the water treatment plant northwest of town will start supplying culinary water to the community of Roosevelt some 30 miles (48 km) away.

Duchesne is home to several heavy machines and steel manufacturers. A wide variety of products and parts are manufactured, including underground cranes, shield haulers, rifle barrels, steam locomotive parts, drill collars, turbine parts, gears, sprockets, and splines for the oil fields, steel mills, coal mines, trona mines, power plants, other machine shops, manufacturers and other industries in many capacities. Products are shipped domestically to Canada, Mexico, South America, Australia, and Europe.

Agriculture has always been a mainstay for many Duchesne residents and surrounding communities. The vast amount of federally owned and leased lands have given cattle and sheep ranchers good grazing for over 120 years in the area. Overgrazing in the early 20th century has led to reform in the grazing areas and a steady decline in sheep and cow production throughout the area. Small family farms are the mainstay.

Duchesne has always been rich in its rugged beauty and tourism. Thousands are drawn during warmer months to enjoy boating on Starvation Reservoir, fishing on the Strawberry and Duchesne rivers, and camping in the High Uintas.

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1910929
1920700−24.7%
1930590−15.7%
194090753.7%
1950804−11.4%
1960770−4.2%
19701,09442.1%
19801,67753.3%
19901,308−22.0%
20001,4087.6%
20101,69020.0%
2019 (est.)1,710[4]1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[22]

Demographics edit

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,690 people, 797 households, and 601 families residing in the city. The population density was 893 people per square mile. There were 550 housing units at an average density of 238.8 per square mile (92.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.01% White, 0.0% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.64% from other races, and 0.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.57% of the population.

There were 797 households, out of which 44.67% had children under 18 living with them, 63.82% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97, and the average family size was 3.55.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 31.88% under the age of 18, 14.45% from 18 to 24, 21.72% from 25 to 44, 20.81% from 45 to 64, and 10.15% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,318, and the median income for a family was $58,009. The per capita income for the city was $20,262.

2015 edit

As of 2015 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Duchesne, Utah are:[23]

Largest ancestries (2015) Percent
English   36.4%
German   20.4%
Irish   12.2%
Swedish   7.3%
Scottish   5.9%
Danish   5.9%
Italian   5.2%
American   4.5%
Dutch   2.3%
Norwegian   2.2%
Welsh   2.0%
French   1.5%
Swiss   2.0%

Climate edit

Duchesne has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk).

Climate data for Duchesne, Utah (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 31.9
(−0.1)
38.4
(3.6)
52.6
(11.4)
62.7
(17.1)
71.8
(22.1)
81.2
(27.3)
87.1
(30.6)
84.4
(29.1)
75.6
(24.2)
62.4
(16.9)
46.3
(7.9)
33.2
(0.7)
60.6
(15.9)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 8.2
(−13.2)
14.2
(−9.9)
25.4
(−3.7)
32.6
(0.3)
40.6
(4.8)
48.1
(8.9)
54.7
(12.6)
53.1
(11.7)
44.5
(6.9)
33.5
(0.8)
22.0
(−5.6)
10.9
(−11.7)
32.3
(0.2)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.55
(14)
0.59
(15)
0.66
(17)
0.88
(22)
0.99
(25)
0.75
(19)
0.96
(24)
1.31
(33)
1.21
(31)
1.00
(25)
0.54
(14)
0.66
(17)
10.09
(256)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 7.1
(18)
6.7
(17)
2.6
(6.6)
1.5
(3.8)
0.2
(0.51)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.7
(1.8)
2.8
(7.1)
7.9
(20)
29.6
(75)
Source: NOAA[24]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  5. ^ . National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Duchesne city, Utah". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  7. ^ Climate Summary in Duchesne, Utah(NOAA) https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=slc
  8. ^ Father Escalate journals
  9. ^ Mrs. Wm. J. Bond Contributes an Early Story, Duchesne city Library
  10. ^ A PROCLAMATION, By the President of the United States of America., July 31, 1905. Proclamations. 34 Stat., Part 3, 3139.
  11. ^ The Duchesne Record, July 22, 1910, Pg 1, column 3, "The Work Starts in Theodore"
  12. ^ 1910 US Census
  13. ^ The Duchesne Record, 4 Sept 1915, "Roll Call on the 10th Opening Anniversary"
  14. ^ Robertson, A. Lee, and Pack, Dennis H. "The Theodore, Utah, Post Office: A Remarkable Portrait", in La Posta: A Journal of American Postal History, July 1992, pp 40-41. West Linn, Oregon: La Posta Publications. ISSN 0885-7385.
  15. ^ Helbock, Richard W. (1998) United States Post Offices, Volume 1 - The West, p. 196, Lake Oswego, Oregon: La Posta Publications.
  16. ^ . wildlife.utah.gov. Archived from the original on September 24, 2006.
  17. ^ "Scenic Drives & Byways in Utah".
  18. ^ "AirNav: U69 - Duchesne Municipal Airport".
  19. ^ Deseret News, Tuesday Dec. 16, 2008 "Is Sundance really buried in Duchesne"
  20. ^ . Archived from the original on February 16, 2008. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  21. ^ Historical marker located at 150 West Main Street, Duchesne, 4-inch (10 cm) round plaque on back of monument.
  22. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  23. ^ "American FactFinder - Results". Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  24. ^ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 5, 2013.

Further reading edit

  • (1994) article in the Utah History Encyclopedia. The article was written by John D. Barton and the Encyclopedia was published by the University of Utah Press. ISBN 9780874804256. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024 and retrieved on April 18, 2024.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • The Uintah Basin Standard and archives of other local papers


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Not to be confused with Duchesne County Utah the county in which the city is located Duchesne d uː ˈ ʃ eɪ n doo SHAYN is a city in and the county seat of Duchesne County Utah United States 5 The population was 1 588 at the 2020 census 6 Duchesne UtahCityLooking SouthEast and down on Duchesne January 2009logoMotto Gateway to the Uinta BasinLocation in Duchesne County and the state of UtahCoordinates 40 9 52 N 110 24 2 W 40 16444 N 110 40056 W 40 16444 110 40056CountryUnited StatesStateUtahCountyDuchesneSettled1905Named forDuchesne RiverGovernment TypeStrong Mayor Council MayorPeter Parker C Area 1 Total2 80 sq mi 7 26 km2 Land2 80 sq mi 7 26 km2 Water0 00 sq mi 0 00 km2 Elevation5 518 ft 1 682 m Population 2020 Total1 588 Density600 sq mi 230 km2 Time zoneUTC 7 Mountain MST Summer DST UTC 6 MDT ZIP code84021Area code435FIPS code49 20340 2 GNIS feature ID1427601 3 Websitewww wbr duchesnecity wbr com Contents 1 Geography 2 Climate 3 History 4 Amenities 5 Recreation 6 Transportation 7 Points of interest 8 Schools 9 Churches 10 Industry 11 Demographics 11 1 2015 12 Climate 13 See also 14 References 15 Further reading 16 External linksGeography editDuchesne is located just west of the junction of the Strawberry and Duchesne rivers in the Uintah Basin of northeastern Utah The Duchesne River drains the southwest slope of the Uinta Mountains and the Strawberry river drains the eastern slopes of the Wasatch Range and is connected to Strawberry Reservoir The two rivers combine at Duchesne and the Duchesne River continues east to join the Green River at Ouray Utah Native stands of cottonwood trees and willows grow along the river banks while sagebrush and rabbitbrush fill the unirrigated bench tops Alfalfa is the main cultivated crop of farmers in the area Via highway Salt Lake City is 114 miles 183 km to the west Vernal is 58 miles 93 km to the east and Price is 54 miles 87 km to the south According to the United States Census Bureau the city has a total area of 2 5 square miles 6 5 km2 all land 6 Climate editDuchesne features a cold semi arid climate with cold freezing winters and warm sometimes hot summers Precipitation is very little as the town receives less than 10 inches on average with the wettest months usually being in late summer to early fall receiving only above or around 1 inch The colder months tend to be the driest but the little precipitation that does fall is in the form of snowfall Climate data for Duchesne Utah 1991 2023 normals extremes 1904 present Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high F C 61 16 73 23 78 26 84 29 93 34 99 37 101 38 101 38 97 36 85 29 73 23 62 17 101 38 Mean maximum F C 46 8 54 12 68 20 77 25 84 29 91 33 94 34 91 33 87 31 76 24 61 16 50 10 95 35 Mean daily maximum F C 32 6 0 3 39 8 4 3 53 5 11 9 62 5 16 9 71 4 21 9 81 6 27 6 87 4 30 8 87 3 30 7 76 4 24 7 62 3 16 8 47 1 8 4 33 7 0 9 61 3 16 3 Daily mean F C 21 1 6 1 27 9 2 3 39 7 4 3 47 7 8 7 56 5 13 6 65 2 18 4 71 6 22 0 69 2 20 7 61 1 16 2 48 1 8 9 34 8 1 6 23 0 5 0 47 2 8 4 Mean daily minimum F C 9 8 12 3 16 1 8 8 25 9 3 4 32 8 0 4 41 5 5 3 48 9 9 4 55 8 13 2 54 0 12 2 45 7 7 6 34 2 1 2 22 6 5 2 12 3 10 9 33 3 0 7 Mean minimum F C 7 22 2 19 12 11 20 7 30 1 38 3 47 8 45 7 33 1 21 6 9 13 4 20 10 23 Record low F C 43 42 40 40 16 27 4 16 15 9 25 4 35 2 26 3 17 8 3 16 17 27 39 39 43 42 Average precipitation inches mm 0 52 13 0 46 12 0 64 16 0 79 20 0 95 24 0 67 17 0 76 19 1 39 35 1 18 30 0 94 24 0 46 12 0 57 14 9 33 236 Average snowfall inches cm 7 2 18 6 1 15 2 6 6 6 2 1 5 3 0 2 0 51 trace 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 trace 0 6 1 5 2 6 6 6 7 3 19 28 7 72 51 Source NOAA 7 History edit18 September 1776 The Dominguez Escalante Expedition came from the east where they crossed Blue Bench and descended into the valley north of the present day town of Duchesne We ascended a not very high mesa Blue Bench which was level and very stony traveled about three quarters of a league including ascent and descent crossed another small river Duchesne River which near here enters the San Cosme Strawberry River named it Santa Caterina de Sena and camped on its banks Along these three rivers we have crossed today there is plenty of good land for crops to support three good settlements with opportunities for irrigation beautiful cottonwood groves good pastures timber and firewood nearby 8 1822 1840 French Canadian trappers Etienne Provost Francois le Clerc and Antoine Robidoux entered the Uintah Basin by way of the Old Spanish Trail and made their fortunes by trapping the many beaver and trading with the Uintah tribe From these French Canadian trappers the Duchesne River and ultimately Duchesne City received its name 1900 1905 Leases were arranged with the Ute tribe through the Indian agent Major H P Myton to provide pasture for sheep in and around where Duchesne city is located now A story passed down from Mrs William J Bond about her Father Joseph W Thomas discusses the area During the winter of 1901 02 he Thomas hauled supplies from Heber to the now Duchesne area to the sheep herd camp of John E Austin a brother in law Together with three herders Mr Thomas tended sheep on the West bench D hill near the Theodore cemetery site They moved the herds to the East desert for the winter months The Indians had quite a village where Duchesne is now It was a winter camp and in spring they scattered A fence was stretched across the Indian Canyon as pasture for the horses grazed there on 8 and 10 salt grass Seguesee Jack Ute tribe leader refused settlers sheep herders permission to trespass the village site The Indians feared the sheep would eat the good grasses 9 1905 1906 On 7 June 1905 the Secretary of the Interior directed the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to select one or more tracts of land in the Uintah Reservation suitable for townsites so they might be reserved as such under the statutes of the United States 10 Three sites were designated which are the current sites of Duchesne Myton and Randlett A month later President Theodore Roosevelt approved the selections and declared these lands reserved as townsites On 28 August the US government opened up the Uintah Basin to settle land they had acquired from the Ute Indians under the allotment act of 1891 Land lotteries were held in Vernal Provo Price Grand Junction Colorado and Vernal where each person was given a ticket with a number On 28 August 1 through 111 was allowed to make their claim On 29 August the next 111 people could make their claims Sixty people 46 adults and 14 children settled on the townsite that is now Duchesne and called it by its first name Elsie Glen Government surveyors laid out the streets and the government accepted the survey on 18 October 1905 The first cabin was built by Charles Dickerson and Charles Ragland in October 1905 A M Murdock with the help of a few men put up a large circus tent to act as a trading post and post office The town s name was changed to Dora for a short time after Murdock s 23 year old daughter then changed once again to Theodore in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt On 15 September 1905 Robert Duchesne Marsh was the first white child born in the townsite The first winter was harsh and the residents lived in tents or other temporary shelters When spring came the high water of the Duchesne River overflowed its banks flooding the town Many homesteaders dreams died after the first winter and they sold their claims off for next to nothing Judge M M Smith recalls One man asked me to write out a relinquishment for him remarking I must either give up my claim or my wife She won t live here Dikes were quickly built up but washed away and some of the town was under 2 feet 0 61 m of water until June Tents and houses were moved around to avoid the flooding problem before the next spring The flooding continued annually until 1910 11 when 5 000 was finally given to make the four river cut offs needed to fix the problem In 1906 the first bridge was built by Wasatch County across the Duchesne River in east Theodore 1907 1914 The men of Theodore organized the Boosters Club and the women organized the Standard Bearers in 1907 Both groups became a forceful factor in the early development of the town With the flooding of the rivers every spring the Boosters club was finding it hard to attract people and business to the muddy little town The Boosters Club raised 500 to build a bridge across the Strawberry River at the mouth of Indian Canyon The bridge was completed in 1908 and later replaced by the state in 1914 In 1908 A M Murdock took down the tent and built the first store barber shop and post office the Pioneer Supply The citizens built a town hall in 1907 After the flooding issue was resolved the town grew quickly In 1910 the population of Theodore was 929 12 The town s first newspaper The Duchesne Record started publication 8 April 1909 By 1910 the citizens had decided to change the name to Duchesne The post office kept the name Theodore until the town s petition to change the name was acknowledged on 5 May 1911 The town was incorporated in 1913 and A M Murdock was the first mayor On 13 July 1914 Wasatch County was divided and Duchesne County was created Duchesne was made the county seat on 5 Nov 1914 by the popular vote of the county s citizens 13 The name Duchesne is taken from the name of the river that runs through town and may have been named by fur trappers in the 1820s in honor of Mother Rose Philippine Duchesne founder of the School of the Sacred Heart near St Louis Missouri although other theories as to the name exist A photograph dated 1909 showing the A M Murdock Pioneer Supply Store and post office at Theodore Utah which was located approximately where Kohl s Market stood in Duchesne in 1991 appeared in a postal history magazine in 1992 14 The Theodore post office operated from 1905 through 1913 when it was renamed Duchesne 15 Amenities editDuchesne Library Swimming pool Skate park Two community parks which include slides swings picnic tables a football field and baseball diamonds Boardwalk along the Strawberry River with a great view of surrounding scenery Ice skating pond seasonal and located behind the library Duchesne County Fair Grounds with covered rodeo arena Duchesne County Centennial Event Center 2000 seat indoor arena multiple conference rooms with seating up to 300Recreation editDuchesne City and the surrounding area play host to some of the best camping fishing boating hunting hiking water skiing and ATV riding in the state 4 miles 6 km to the west of Duchesne city is Fred Hayes State Park at Starvation Starvation Reservoir is the base of the state park Located on the Strawberry River it was created as part of the Central Utah Project and is great fishing and boating lake with stocks of rainbow trout smallmouth bass walleye yellow perch and Utah chub The current catch and release state record 16 for walleye and Utah chub are held at Starvation The reservoir has 3 500 acres 14 km2 of surface area and is great for boating There are four boat ramps the largest is at the marina which also hosts RV parking boat docs campsites hot showers and an RV waste dump Activities at Starvation Reservoir include the annual Starvation Walleye Classic and Desert Bass Busters Club Tourny On the banks of the Strawberry River that runs through town is a boardwalk that not only has beautiful views but also is great to fish from Other great stream fishing can be had on the Duchesne River and Rock Creek The High Uintas wilderness area is 30 miles 48 km to the north and boasts great camping hiking and fishing ATV riding is permitted within city limits The Yellow Stone and Reservation Ridge ATV trails are located with 20 miles 32 km of town Duchesne sits at the junction of three wildlife management units and is home to world class big game hunting Mule deer pronghorn antelope elk moose bighorn sheep mountain goat black bear and mountain lion can be observed within miles of town Transportation editDuchesne sits at the junction of U S Route 40 U S Route 191 and State Route 87 US 191 from Duchesne to Helper is designated the Indian Canyon National Scenic Byway 17 Duchesne Municipal Airport Airnav U69 18 is located 2 miles 3 km northeast of town on the Blue Bench The airport has a 5 800 by 60 ft 1 768 by 18 m asphalt runway Runway edge lights are medium intensity available from dusk dawn activate MIRL RY 17 35 amp PAPI 17 35 CTAF Wind indicator is lit Attendance is ON CALL Services are available by request 435 738 2464 from 9 00 am to 5 00 pm Mon Fri after hours call 435 738 5538 The proposed Uinta Basin Rail project would build a new railroad line into Duchesne for transporting oil drilled in the area Points of interest editGrave of William Long aka Harry Longabaugh aka the Sundance Kid Research 19 is underway that may prove that the Sundance Kid did not die in Bolivia in 1908 but returned to his family in Utah and bought and operated a farm 2 miles 3 km east of Duchesne until his death in 1936 He is buried in the Duchesne City cemetery clarification needed 20 Pope Museum Home of Duchesne pioneers Fred and Marie Pope The museum contains miniature true to scale vehicles that depict the lifestyle of the early settlers of the Uintah Basin The museum is located at 370 West 100 North Theodore Cemetery Early pioneer cemetery that functioned from 1906 until January 1914 John Jacobs was the first burial Forty one early settlers are buried here The cemetery was abandoned because of the difficulty of digging graves in the cobblestone laden soil The cemetery was recently restored and a large monument with names and information is located on the north end of the cemetery Located on D hill take the dirt road on the west end of town up the hill and turn east at the top Travel east 300 yards to the monument Father Escalante Monument North of Highway 40 on the east entrance of town Early Duchesne Settlement Monument 130 West Main on the north side of the road War Memorial World War I monument World War II monument Korean War monument Vietnam War monument Desert Storm monument all located at 150 West Main Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne Monument by the front entrance of the Pope Museum Schools editIt is within the Duchesne County School District Duchesne has one public elementary school and one public high school The schools serve all of Duchesne City as well as the communities of Bridgeland Utahn Strawberry and Fruitland Duchesne has hosted grades 1 through 8 since 1905 The first school building was built in 1907 21 In 1921 ninth grade classes were added Other classes on the 10th grade level were added through the late 1920s On May 17 1931 Duchesne High School held a graduation ceremony for four students that composed the first senior class The current structure was built in 2004 2005 The facility has two gymnasiums one college sized basketball court and one smaller gymnasium left from the 1965 structure English department with classrooms and a separate writing lab Science department with classrooms and separate lab Utah State University provides onsite distance education classes at the school so all students have the opportunity to graduate from high school with an associate degree Wood and metal shops Auditorium lunch room and administrative offices Duchesne High school colors are blue and white the mascot is the eagle Duchesne High School sponsors a men s football team men s and women s basketball teams men s wrestling women s volleyball as well as a track and field team and cross country team Duchesne added men s baseball in the 2017 18 school year Duchesne High competes in the 2A division of the UHSAA in all activities but Football competes in 1A Men s teams have won state titles in boys basketball 1989 football 2006 2010 2011 2012 2013 2016 wrestling 1981 2008 2015 boys cross country 1994 1998 and boys track and field 1993 2004 2005 The women s drill team named the Talons has won fifteen 2004 2018 consecutive state championships Duchesne Elementary serves grades K 6 Duchesne High School serves grades 7 12 Churches editThree organized churches serve Duchesne city and the surrounding area The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints has two chapels located at 130 South 300 East and 901 North 500 East and a seminary located at 181 North 200 West The First Baptist Church is located at 592 East 400 South The Catholic Church has a small mission office on West Main Street The Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha mission is under the direction of Saint Helen Parish in Roosevelt Utah Industry editIn 1948 oil was found in the Uintah Basin but not developed until the early 1970s Duchesne city is located in vast oil and natural gas reserves spanning the northeast corner of Utah and extending into western Colorado As prices for crude rise oil industry jobs open up in the town but also disappear when crude prices fall Although reserves are vast oil production is stifled to almost 50 of capacity by a lack of transportation of the paraffin rich crude Currently crude is only transported to refineries in the Salt Lake City area using trucks Pipelines can not be used because of the high wax content of the crude Currently 2019 a study is being conducted on the feasibility of a rail line passing through Duchesne to allow transport of the crude to bigger markets Duchesne has benefited from the water resources of the Duchesne and Strawberry rivers that flow close to the town The Central Utah Project was active in the area for 20 years and provided good jobs from 1967 to 1987 A recent expansion to the water treatment plant northwest of town will start supplying culinary water to the community of Roosevelt some 30 miles 48 km away Duchesne is home to several heavy machines and steel manufacturers A wide variety of products and parts are manufactured including underground cranes shield haulers rifle barrels steam locomotive parts drill collars turbine parts gears sprockets and splines for the oil fields steel mills coal mines trona mines power plants other machine shops manufacturers and other industries in many capacities Products are shipped domestically to Canada Mexico South America Australia and Europe Agriculture has always been a mainstay for many Duchesne residents and surrounding communities The vast amount of federally owned and leased lands have given cattle and sheep ranchers good grazing for over 120 years in the area Overgrazing in the early 20th century has led to reform in the grazing areas and a steady decline in sheep and cow production throughout the area Small family farms are the mainstay Duchesne has always been rich in its rugged beauty and tourism Thousands are drawn during warmer months to enjoy boating on Starvation Reservoir fishing on the Strawberry and Duchesne rivers and camping in the High Uintas Historical population CensusPop Note 1910929 1920700 24 7 1930590 15 7 194090753 7 1950804 11 4 1960770 4 2 19701 09442 1 19801 67753 3 19901 308 22 0 20001 4087 6 20101 69020 0 2019 est 1 710 4 1 2 U S Decennial Census 22 Demographics editAs of the census 2 of 2010 there were 1 690 people 797 households and 601 families residing in the city The population density was 893 people per square mile There were 550 housing units at an average density of 238 8 per square mile 92 3 km2 The racial makeup of the city was 98 01 White 0 0 African American 0 37 Native American 0 0 Asian 0 0 Pacific Islander 1 64 from other races and 0 0 from two or more races Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2 57 of the population There were 797 households out of which 44 67 had children under 18 living with them 63 82 were married couples living together 8 9 had a female householder with no husband present and 26 1 were non families 22 0 of all households were made up of individuals and 10 8 had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older The average household size was 2 97 and the average family size was 3 55 In the city the age distribution of the population shows 31 88 under the age of 18 14 45 from 18 to 24 21 72 from 25 to 44 20 81 from 45 to 64 and 10 15 who were 65 years of age or older The median age was 28 years The median income for a household in the city was 46 318 and the median income for a family was 58 009 The per capita income for the city was 20 262 2015 edit As of 2015 the largest self reported ancestry groups in Duchesne Utah are 23 Largest ancestries 2015 Percent English nbsp 36 4 German nbsp 20 4 Irish nbsp 12 2 Swedish nbsp 7 3 Scottish nbsp 5 9 Danish nbsp 5 9 Italian nbsp 5 2 American nbsp 4 5 Dutch nbsp 2 3 Norwegian nbsp 2 2 Welsh nbsp 2 0 French nbsp 1 5 Swiss nbsp 2 0 Climate editDuchesne has a cold semi arid climate Koppen climate classification BSk Climate data for Duchesne Utah 1981 2010 Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Mean daily maximum F C 31 9 0 1 38 4 3 6 52 6 11 4 62 7 17 1 71 8 22 1 81 2 27 3 87 1 30 6 84 4 29 1 75 6 24 2 62 4 16 9 46 3 7 9 33 2 0 7 60 6 15 9 Mean daily minimum F C 8 2 13 2 14 2 9 9 25 4 3 7 32 6 0 3 40 6 4 8 48 1 8 9 54 7 12 6 53 1 11 7 44 5 6 9 33 5 0 8 22 0 5 6 10 9 11 7 32 3 0 2 Average precipitation inches mm 0 55 14 0 59 15 0 66 17 0 88 22 0 99 25 0 75 19 0 96 24 1 31 33 1 21 31 1 00 25 0 54 14 0 66 17 10 09 256 Average snowfall inches cm 7 1 18 6 7 17 2 6 6 6 1 5 3 8 0 2 0 51 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 1 8 2 8 7 1 7 9 20 29 6 75 Source NOAA 24 See also edit nbsp Utah portal List of cities and towns in Utah High Uintas Wilderness Uinta Mountains Uintah BasinReferences edit 2019 U S Gazetteer Files United States Census Bureau Retrieved August 7 2020 a b U S Census website United States Census Bureau Retrieved January 31 2008 US Board on Geographic Names United States Geological Survey October 25 2007 Retrieved January 31 2008 a b Population and Housing Unit Estimates United States Census Bureau May 24 2020 Retrieved May 27 2020 Find a County National Association of Counties Archived from the original on July 12 2012 Retrieved June 7 2011 a b Geographic Identifiers 2010 Demographic Profile Data G001 Duchesne city Utah American Factfinder U S Census Bureau Archived from the original on February 13 2020 Retrieved January 12 2016 Climate Summary in Duchesne Utah NOAA https www weather gov wrh Climate wfo slc Father Escalate journals Mrs Wm J Bond Contributes an Early Story Duchesne city Library A PROCLAMATION By the President of the United States of America July 31 1905 Proclamations 34 Stat Part 3 3139 The Duchesne Record July 22 1910 Pg 1 column 3 The Work Starts in Theodore 1910 US Census The Duchesne Record 4 Sept 1915 Roll Call on the 10th Opening Anniversary Robertson A Lee and Pack Dennis H The Theodore Utah Post Office A Remarkable Portrait in La Posta A Journal of American Postal History July 1992 pp 40 41 West Linn Oregon La Posta Publications ISSN 0885 7385 Helbock Richard W 1998 United States Post Offices Volume 1 The West p 196 Lake Oswego Oregon La Posta Publications Utah Division of Wildlife Resources wildlife utah gov Archived from the original on September 24 2006 Scenic Drives amp Byways in Utah AirNav U69 Duchesne Municipal Airport Deseret News Tuesday Dec 16 2008 Is Sundance really buried in Duchesne THE SUNDANCE KID HARRY lONGABAUGH HENRY LONG MYSTERY Archived from the original on February 16 2008 Retrieved July 30 2019 Historical marker located at 150 West Main Street Duchesne 4 inch 10 cm round plaque on back of monument Census of Population and Housing Census gov Retrieved June 4 2015 American FactFinder Results Archived from the original on February 14 2020 Retrieved March 29 2020 NOWData NOAA Online Weather Data National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved May 5 2013 Further reading edit 1994 Duchesne article in the Utah History Encyclopedia The article was written by John D Barton and the Encyclopedia was published by the University of Utah Press ISBN 9780874804256 Archived from the original on March 21 2024 and retrieved on April 18 2024 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Duchesne Utah Official website The Uintah Basin Standard and archives of other local papers Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Duchesne Utah amp oldid 1219613250, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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