Koosharem is a town in

Sevier County, Utah Sevier County ( ) is a county in Utah, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 21,522. Its county seat and largest city is Richfield. Pando, a clonal quaking aspen stand, that, according to some sources, is ...

, United States. Koosharem is also known as "Grass Valley". It generally comprises the area known as Burrville, Utah on the north, south through the valley and through the town of Koosharem and down to the south end with the town of Greenwich, Utah. The valley is made up of private lands nestled within the Fishlake National Forest. Koosharem is situated at the cross-roads for travelers going between Capitol Reef National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park and/or Zion National Park. Koosharem is also the closest town to the famous Fish Lake. The town also serves as an important point along the many trails of th
Piute ATV Trail
System. Koosharem's only store, the histori
Grass Valley Mercantile
shares this secondary naming reference. The name of the town Koosharem originates from the Native Americans indigenous to the area, the Piute Indians and their term for the valley named for the deep red clover that grows in the lush meadows of the Koosharem Valley,. The population was 244 at the 2020 census.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the town has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.5 km²), all land. A 2008

annexation Annexation, in international law, is the forcible acquisition and assertion of legal title over one state's territory by another state, usually following military occupation of the territory. In current international law, it is generally held t ...

increased the population to an official estimate of 400. Koosharem has one church, a cemetery, baseball diamond, fire station, a dairy, a motel, two restaurants, and a store (post office located inside that store). Koosharem is rural and isolated but relatively centrally located. The table shows driving miles from the center of Koosharem to the following: Koosharem and the Grass Valley include habitat for threatened and endangered species. These species include the Greater Sage Grouse, the Utah Prairie Dog, Pygmy Rabbit,

bald eagles The bald eagle (''Haliaeetus leucocephalus'') is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known subspecies and forms a Species complex, species pair with the white-tailed eagle (''Haliaeetus albicilla''), which occupies ...

golden eagles The golden eagle (''Aquila chrysaetos'') is a bird of prey living in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. They are one of the best-known birds of p ...

, western toads, and ferruginous hawks.

Climate

Koosharem has a

cold semi-arid climate Cold is the presence of low temperature, especially in the atmosphere. In common usage, cold is often a subjective perception. A lower bound to temperature is absolute zero, defined as 0.00K on the Kelvin scale, an absolute thermodynamic ...

(

Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer * Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan * Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...

''BSk'').

Economy

Koosharem's economy is based on a combination of traditional agriculture and growing tourism-related industries. Agriculture. Farming and ranching remain significant economic activities in the area, utilizing the local land for crop cultivation and livestock raising. Tourism and Recreation. The town's location near natural attractions has led to the development of tourism-based businesses: # Fishlake National Forest and the Paiute ATV Trail attract outdoor enthusiasts. # Proximity to national parks brings in visitors. # The area is known for hunting, particularly elk. In 2008, the world recor
"Spider Bull" Elk
was harvested near Koosharem. # Local businesses offer ATV rentals for trail exploration. Local Businesses. The town center includes: # Koosharem Mercantile (locally known as "the Merc"), a general store serving as a community hub. # Two restaurants: Red Clover Cafe and Koosharem Cafe. Other Economic Contributors # Sorenson's Ranch School for troubled youth provides employment opportunities. # Guiding services for hunters and tourists. Koosharem's economy continues to evolve, balancing its agricultural roots with an expanding service sector catering to both residents and visitors. riders, and sight seers.

Demographics

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2010, there were 327 people residing in Koosharem, an 18.48% increase from 2000. In the 2000 census, there were 276 people, 88 households, and 79 families residing in the town. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), 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 geog ...

was 497.1 people per square mile (190.3/km²). There were 133 housing units at an average density of 239.5 per square mile (91.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.93%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 1.45% Native American, 1.09% Asian, 0.36%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, 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 th ...

, 1.81% from other races, and 0.36% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race were 4.71% of the population. There were 88 households, out of which 46.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 80.7% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 9.1% were non-families. 9.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.14 and the average family size was 3.30. In the town, the population was spread out, with 35.1% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.4 males. The median income for a household in the town was $34,583, and the median income for a family was $40,625. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $18,929 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the town was $13,481. About 5.3% of families and 8.8% 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 ...

, including 16.0% of those under the age of 18 and none of those 65 or over.

Education

Koosharem is located in the Sevier School District. * Elementary Education: Koosharem Elementary School serves the town's elementary-aged school students. * Secondary Education: Koosharem does not have a dedicated junior high or high school. Students attend school in either: ** Piute High School in Junction, Utah; or ** Richfield High School in Richfield, Utah * Transportation: School buses transport Koosharem students to both Junction and Richfield daily.

References