Heber City is a city and county seat of
Wasatch County
Wasatch County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Utah. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 23,530. Its county seat and largest city is Heber City. The county was named for a Ute Native American word meaning ''mountain pa ...
,
Utah
Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to it ...
, United States. The population was 11,362 at the time of the 2010 census. It is located 43 miles southeast of
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the county seat, seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Sal ...
.
History
Heber City was first settled in 1859 by Robert Broadhead, James Davis, and James Gurr. John W. Witt built the first house in the area. The area was under the direction of Bishop Silas Smith, who was in Provo. In 1860
Joseph S. Murdock
Joseph Stacy Murdock (June 26, 1822 – February 14, 1899) was an American colonizer, leader, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hymns, Latter-day Saint hymn writer. He wrote the words to "Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice."
Earl ...
became the bishop over the Latter-day Saints in Heber City and vicinity.
On May 5, 1899, the Wasatch Wave published this on the 40-year anniversary of Heber, "Forty years ago this week
pril 30, 1859 this valley was first settled by a company of enterprising citizens from Provo. This company consisted of John Crook, James Carlile, Jessie Bond, Henry Chatwin, Charles N. Carroll, Thomas Rasband, John Jordan, John Carlile, Wm Giles and Mr. Carpenter, the last five named persons having since died. Forty years ago today, John Crook and Thomas Rasband commenced their first plowing in the beautiful little valley of the Timpanogos. A wonderful change has taken place of the appearance of the valley since that time. Delightful meadows and fields of waving grain have taken the place of sage brush and willows. Beautiful homes have erected where then was heard only the dismal howl of the coyote."
Geography
Heber City is located at (40.506793, -111.412292),
at an elevation of 5595 feet. The region in which Heber City is located is known as the
Wasatch Back
The Wasatch Back is a region in the Rocky Mountains in the U.S. state of Utah. It includes cities such as Park City, Heber City, and Morgan. The name ''Wasatch Back'' differentiates it from the Wasatch Front, which includes Utah's more populou ...
.
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the city has a total area of 3.5 square miles (8.9 km
2), all land.
Heber City is located near three large reservoirs,
Jordanelle,
Deer Creek, and
Strawberry
The garden strawberry (or simply strawberry; ''Fragaria × ananassa'') is a widely grown hybrid species of the genus '' Fragaria'', collectively known as the strawberries, which are cultivated worldwide for their fruit. The fruit is widely ap ...
.
Climate
Large seasonal temperature differences typify this
climatic
Climate is the long-term weather pattern in an area, typically averaged over 30 years. More rigorously, it is the mean and variability of meteorological variables over a time spanning from months to millions of years. Some of the meteorologic ...
region, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the
Köppen Climate Classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
system, Heber City has a
humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and freezing ...
, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.
The data in the chart below are from the period 1893 - 2013 (Western Regional Climate Center).
Demographics
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2010, there were 11,362 people and 3,637 households residing in the city. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was 2,113.5 people per square mile (/km
2). There were 3,637 housing units at an average density of 710.5 per square mile (/km
2). The racial makeup of the city was 87.7%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 0.4%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.8%
Native American, 1.1%
Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.1%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...
.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race were 18.4% of the population.
There were 3,362 households, out of which 50.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.6% were non-families. Of all households, 15.9% were individuals, and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years or older. The average household size was 3.35, and the average family size was 3.78. The median age was 28.5 years.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,394, and the median income for a family was $47,481. Males had a median income of $33,816 versus $21,524 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
was $17,358. About 4.8% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or older.
Economy
Heber City has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Utah. Local developers and business leaders cite that there are not enough jobs in the city itself (as 27% of residents commute to
Park City
Park City may refer to: a city in Utah.
Places
* National Park City, London, England, UK; see parks and open spaces in London
in the United States
* Park City, Illinois
* Park City, Kansas
* Park City, Kentucky
* Park City, Montana
* Park City, ...
or
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the county seat, seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Sal ...
for work) and wish to improve the city's self-reliance. Average home prices in the valley doubled from 2002–2008, and the population has grown by 25% in that same time period.
Tourism is a year-round industry in the Heber Valley. The winter season features cross-country and downhill skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling on several trails and the nearby ski resorts of
Park City
Park City may refer to: a city in Utah.
Places
* National Park City, London, England, UK; see parks and open spaces in London
in the United States
* Park City, Illinois
* Park City, Kansas
* Park City, Kentucky
* Park City, Montana
* Park City, ...
. In the summer and fall, golfing, off-roading, hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreational activities are abundant. Heber is also home to the
Heber Valley Historic Railroad (HVRR), which was known as the Heber Creeper before 1989.
Heber City's youth are employed largely in the surrounding golf courses, restaurants, and specialty shops in Heber City and the surrounding area. Local contractors and farmers are also a major source of employment for the youth. The adult population work mostly in Park City, Salt Lake City, Provo, and Orem. Skiing and Snowboarding are very popular among Heber City's youth, and many people go to Park City mountain resort, Canyons, or Deer Valley, all of which are in Park City. Farming and ranching are a large economic force, but this has diminished slightly. The largest local employer is the Wasatch County School District.
Education
Within the city limits are Heber Valley, Old Mill, Daniels Canyon, and J.R. Smith Elementary Schools, Timpanogos Middle School, Rocky Mountain Middle School,
Wasatch High School, and Wasatch Alternative High School. An additional school in the Heber Valley is Midway Elementary School. All of these schools are part of the Wasatch County School District.
Utah Valley University
Utah Valley University (UVU) is a public university in Orem, Utah. UVU offers master's, bachelor's, associate degrees, and certificates. Previously called Utah Valley State College, the school attained university status in July 2008.
History ...
maintains a satellite campus just north of Heber City along the
US-40 corridor.
Transportation
U.S. Route 40 and
U.S. Route 189
U.S. Route 189 is a spur of U.S. Route 89. It currently runs for 322 miles (518 km) from Provo, Utah at Interstate 15 to Jackson, Wyoming. The highway was not part of the original 1926 U.S. Highway system. The highway was created in the ...
both cross the city.
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 (I-80) is an east–west transcontinental freeway that crosses the United States from downtown San Francisco, California, to Teaneck, New Jersey, in the New York metropolitan area. The highway was designated in 1956 as one o ...
is located approximately eighteen miles north of the city and can be accessed via Highway 40, while
Interstate 15
Interstate 15 (I-15) is a major Interstate Highway System, Interstate Highway in the western United States, running through Southern California and the Intermountain West. I-15 begins near the Mexico–United States border, Mexican border i ...
can be accessed via Highway 189 through
Provo Canyon
Provo Canyon is located in unincorporated Utah County and Wasatch County, Utah. Provo Canyon runs between Mount Timpanogos on the north and Mount Cascade on the south. The canyon extends from Orem on the west end to Heber City on the east. Provo ...
and is approximately twenty-five miles away. A typical drive to downtown Salt Lake City is 45 to 60 minutes.
Heber City was connected to
Provo by a railroad line. The line, completed in 1899, was used by
Denver & Rio Grande Western
The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad , often shortened to ''Rio Grande'', D&RG or D&RGW, formerly the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, was an American Class I railroad company. The railroad started as a narrow-gauge line running south from De ...
until 1967. Today, a portion of the line is used by the famous
Heber Valley Railroad
The Heber Valley Railroad (HVRX) is a heritage railroad based in Heber City, Utah. It operates passenger excursion trains along a line between Heber City and Vivian Park, which is located in Provo Canyon. The HVRX carries over 110,000 passen ...
, a heritage railroad open to the public.
The
Heber City Municipal Airport, or Russ McDonald Field, FAA identifier HCR, is located two miles south of the city, near the junction of
U.S. Route 40 and
U.S. Route 189
U.S. Route 189 is a spur of U.S. Route 89. It currently runs for 322 miles (518 km) from Provo, Utah at Interstate 15 to Jackson, Wyoming. The highway was not part of the original 1926 U.S. Highway system. The highway was created in the ...
, and is capable of handling aircraft up to large corporate jets, including Gulfstreams and Global Express. Approximately 85 aircraft are based at the airport. The airport is served by a GPS instrument approach procedure, allowing aircraft to arrive at the airport in adverse weather. During the winter ski season, and particularly the
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival (formerly Utah/US Film Festival, then US Film and Video Festival) is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with more than 46,66 ...
, the airport is crowded with corporate jets as it is the closest airport to
Park City
Park City may refer to: a city in Utah.
Places
* National Park City, London, England, UK; see parks and open spaces in London
in the United States
* Park City, Illinois
* Park City, Kansas
* Park City, Kentucky
* Park City, Montana
* Park City, ...
. The airport is also home to the Heber Valley Airshow, held each summer. The nearest airport with commercial airline service is
Salt Lake City International Airport
Salt Lake City International Airport is a civil-military airport located about west of Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, in the United States. The airport is the closest commercial airport for more than 2.5 million people and is within a 30-minu ...
.
Publicly funded transportation is being discussed but has not yet reached the implementation stage. Currently the only form of public transportation are two round-trips operated by Salt Lake Express on its Vernal - Salt Lake City route.
[https://webstore.saltlakeexpress.com/]
Notable people
*
Tyson Apostol
Tyson Apostol (born June 17, 1979) is an American reality television personality, best known for his appearances on multiple seasons of the CBS reality television show '' Survivor''. Apostol originally competed on '' Survivor: Tocantins'' in 2009 ...
(born 1979), winner of ''
Survivor: Blood vs. Water''
*
J. Reuben Clark
Joshua Reuben Clark Jr. (September 1, 1871 – October 6, 1961) was an American attorney, civil servant, and a prominent leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Born in Grantsville, Utah Territory, Clark was a ...
(1871–1961), attorney, author, LDS apostle
*
Ernie Lively
Ernie Lively (born Ernest Wilson Brown Jr.; January 29, 1947 – June 3, 2021) was an American actor and acting coach, and the father of actors Lori Lively, Jason Lively, Robyn Lively, Eric Lively, and Blake Lively.
Life and career
Lively was b ...
(1947–2021), actor and father of actress
Blake Lively
Blake Ellender Lively ( Brown; born August 25, 1987) is an American actress. Born in Los Angeles, Lively is the daughter of actor Ernie Lively, and made her professional debut in his directorial project ''Sandman'' (1998). She starred as Brid ...
and actor
Eric Lively
Eric Lawrence Lively (né Brown; born July 31, 1981) is an American actor. He played the role of Andy Evans in '' Speak'' (2004), Carey Bell in ''So Weird'' (1999–2001), and Mark Wayland in ''The L Word'' (2005).
Early life
Eric Lawrence Liv ...
, as well as a stepfather of actor Jason Lively and actresses
Lori Lively
Lori Lynn Lively is an American actress, television co-host/designer, and acting coach. Best known for ''Dead Space'' (1991).
Early life
Lively was born into a family of actors. Her mother, adoptive father and all four siblings are, or hav ...
and
Robyn Lively
Robyn Elaine Lively Johnson (born February 7, 1972) is an American actress. She is known for her roles in the 1989 films ''Teen Witch'' and ''The Karate Kid Part III.'' She is also known for her roles in the TV shows ''Doogie Howser, M.D.''; '' ...
*
Jason Lively
Ronald Jason Lively (born March 12, 1968) is an American actor. He is best known for ''European Vacation'' (1985), ''Night of the Creeps'' (1986), and ''Ghost Chase'' (1987).
Early life
Ronald Jason Lively was born on March 12, 1968 in Carroll ...
(born 1968), actor and entrepreneur
*
Cael Sanderson
Cael Norman Sanderson ( ; born June 20, 1979) is an American former folkstyle and freestyle wrestler who is the current head coach of Penn State University's wrestling team. As a wrestler, he won an Olympic Gold medal and was undefeated in four ...
(born 1979), only four-time undefeated
collegiate wrestling
Collegiate wrestling (also known as folkstyle wrestling) is the form of wrestling practiced at the college and university level in the United States. This style of wrestling, with some slight modifications, is also practiced at high school and mi ...
champion in
NCAA Division I
NCAA Division I (D-I) is the highest level of College athletics, intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States, which accepts players globally. D-I schools include the major ...
history; 2004 Olympic Gold medalist in
freestyle wrestling
Freestyle wrestling is a style of wrestling originated from Great Britain and the United States. Along with Greco-Roman, it is one of the two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic Games. American high school and men's college wrestling ...
*
Sofía Gómez Villafañe
Sofía Gómez Villafane (born 15 April 1994) is an Argentine cross-country mountain biker and cyclo-cross cyclist. She represented Argentina at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Women's cross-country.
Career
She was raised in Esquel, Patagonia ...
(born 1994),
cross-country
Cross country or cross-country may refer to:
Places
* Cross Country, Baltimore, a neighborhood in northwest Baltimore, Maryland
* Cross County Parkway, an east–west parkway in Westchester County, NY
* Cross County Shopping Center, a mall in Yo ...
mountain biker and
cyclo-cross cyclist
See also
*
List of cities and towns in Utah
A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to:
People
* List (surname)
Organizations
* List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
* SC Germania List, German rugby union ...
*
Heber, Utah micropolitan area
References
External links
*
Wasatch County School DistrictPublic Schools
{{Authority control
1859 establishments in Utah Territory
Cities in Utah
Cities in Wasatch County, Utah
County seats in Utah
Micropolitan areas of Utah
Populated places established in 1859