Midway is a city in northwestern
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 ...
,
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 its ...
, United States. It is located in the Heber Valley, approximately west of
Heber City and southeast of
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the capital and most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in Utah. With a population of 200,133 in 2020, th ...
, on the opposite side of the
Wasatch Mountains
The Wasatch Range ( ) or Wasatch Mountains is a mountain range in the western United States that runs about from the Utah-Idaho border south to central Utah. It is the western edge of the greater Rocky Mountains, and the eastern edge of the ...
. The population was 3,845 at the
2010 census.
History
A post office called Midway has been in operation since 1864. The town was so named for its central location in an agricultural district.
Geography
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
An economy is an area of th ...
, the city has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.7 km
2), all land. The region in which Midway sits is known as the
Wasatch Back. Midway is bisected from north to south by
Snake Creek, which includes the Midway Fish Hatchery just before the creek joins the middle section of the
Provo River
The Provo River is located in Utah County and Wasatch County, Utah, in the United States. It rises in the Uinta Mountains at Wall Lake and flows about southwest to Utah Lake at the city of Provo, Utah.
Course
The two main branches of Provo Riv ...
above
Deer Creek Reservoir
The Deer Creek Dam and Reservoir hydroelectric facilities are on the Provo River in western Wasatch County, Utah, United States, about northeast of Provo. The dam is a zoned earthfill structure high with a crest length of . The dam contains ...
.
Climate
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 meteorological ...
region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot 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, nota ...
system, Midway 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 freez ...
, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census Midway had a population of 3,845. The ethnic and racial makeup of the population was 92.6% non-Hispanic White, 0.2% African-American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.9% reporting two or more races and 5.5% Hispanic.
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 in ...
of 2000, there were 2,121 people, 687 households, and 550 families residing in the city. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: 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 geographical ...
was 633.3 people per square mile (/km
2). There were 1,000 housing units at an average density of 298.6 per square mile (/km
2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.22%
White
White is the lightness, 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 diffuse reflection, reflect and scattering, scatter all the ...
, 0.05%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...
, 0.38%
Native American, 0.19%
Asian, 0.19%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of Ocea ...
, 0.38% from
other races, and 1.60% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, 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 viceroyalties for ...
or
Latino of any race were 2.78% of the population.
There were 687 households, out of which 43.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.0% 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, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.9% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.53.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 33.5% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $51,071, and the median income for a family was $55,809. Males had a median income of $40,870 versus $25,682 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 ...
for the city was $22,551. About 3.4% of families and 5.2% 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 6.4% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.
City Council
Midway is governed by a five person city council. The members of the city council as of September 2019 are Lisa Orme, Steve Dougherty, Jeff Drury, Kevin Payne, and JC Simonsen.
Swiss Days
Midway
Swiss Days Swiss Days is the name of an annual festival that takes place in three American towns with Swiss heritage, Berne, Indiana, Midway, Utah, and Santa Clara, Utah.
Notes
External links
Bernes Swiss DaysMidway Swiss Days{{Webarchive, url=https://w ...
brings thousands of people to the town. The event was started in 1947 through the efforts of Luke's Hot Pots Resort owners, Joseph B. and Pauline S. Erwin. It was originally called Harvest Days. They formed a club known as the "Midway Boosters," which is still active, and whose members promote city improvements and activities. In order to attract larger crowds to Midway, the idea of a Swiss theme was created by
Orma W. Wallengren
Orma W. Wallengren, also known as Claire Whitaker and Claire Whitaker Peterson, was the author of the screenplay of Latter-day Saint films ''Johnny Lingo'' and '' Man's Search for Happiness''. Under the name of Clair Whitaker she was a writer for ...
(a.k.a. Clair Peterson) whose family owned and operated the Homestead Resort, replacing the name and theme of Harvest Days with Swiss Days.
Notable facts

In the film ''
127 Hours
''127 Hours'' is a 2010 biographical psychological survival drama film co-written, produced and directed by Danny Boyle. The film stars James Franco, Kate Mara, Amber Tamblyn and Clémence Poésy. In the film, canyoneer Aron Ralston must ...
'', the scene where Ralston and 2 girls drop into a hidden pool was filmed at
Homestead caldera
The Homestead Caldera known locally as "The Crater" is a natural geothermal hot spring surrounded by a rock dome. It is located in Midway, Utah.
History
The Homestead Caldera is estimated to be around 10,000 years old and is one of many geot ...
at the Homestead Resort.
Midway was the city nearest the site of the
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games and commonly known as Salt Lake 2002 ( arp, Niico'ooowu' 2002; Gosiute dialect, Gosiute Shoshoni: ''Tit'-so-pi 2002''; nv, Sooléí 2002; Shoshoni language, Shoshoni: ''Soó ...
cross-country and biathlon events, which took place at
Soldier Hollow
Soldier Hollow is a cross-country ski venue located at the mouth of a hollow of the same name about southeast of Salt Lake City in Wasatch Mountain State Park in northwestern Wasatch County, Utah, United States. The venue was created for the 2 ...
.
The community is also known for the large "hot-pot" or geo-thermal
Homestead caldera
The Homestead Caldera known locally as "The Crater" is a natural geothermal hot spring surrounded by a rock dome. It is located in Midway, Utah.
History
The Homestead Caldera is estimated to be around 10,000 years old and is one of many geot ...
at the Homestead Resort. There is year-round scuba diving in the caldera's 90-95 degree water.
The Homestead is also the site of an 18-hole golf course designed by
Bruce Summerhays
Bruce Patton Summerhays (born February 14, 1944) is an American professional golfer. He served as a mission president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tampa, Florida.
Career
Summerhays was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He att ...
,
Senior PGA Tour Pro.
Midway stood in for the fictional town of Everwood,
Colorado
Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the wes ...
, in the closing scenes of the episode, "Foreverwood", the series finale of the TV show, ''
Everwood
''Everwood'' (known as ''Our New Life in Everwood'' in the United Kingdom) is an American drama television series created by Greg Berlanti. Berlanti, Mickey Liddell, Rina Mimoun, Andrew A. Ackerman and Michael Green served as executive produc ...
''. Background shots overlooking the town were filmed from Memorial Hill, with the
Wasatch Range
The Wasatch Range ( ) or Wasatch Mountains is a mountain range in the western United States that runs about from the Utah-Idaho border south to central Utah. It is the western edge of the greater Rocky Mountains, and the eastern edge of the ...
in the background.
Midway was highlighted in the 2019 Hallmark Movie The Mistletoe Secret.
The 1974 NBC T.V. series titled "Movin 'On", filmed an episode named 'Hoots' in Midway. It was about a farm family who were Hutterites. The local farmers who were not of this descent wanted the family out of the area. Claude Akins was the star of the Movin' On series. This episode has been remastered and is available on DVD and on
YouTube
YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second most ...
.
See also
*
List of cities in Utah
References
External links
*
Swiss Days
{{authority control
Cities in Utah
Cities in Wasatch County, Utah
Populated places established in 1859
Swiss-American culture in Utah
1859 establishments in Utah Territory