Davis County, Utah

History

The legislature of the provisional State of Deseret defined the county in an October 5, 1850, act, which also designated Farmington as the seat due to its location midway between boundaries at the Weber River on the north and the Jordan River on the south. It was named for Daniel C. Davis, a captain in the Mormon Battalion. The county boundaries were altered in 1852, 1854, 1855, and 1862. In 1880, the county gained part of the islands and waters of Great Salt Lake that had previously been attached to Salt Lake County. The county boundary has remained unchanged since that time.

During its first 50 years, Davis County grew slowly. With the advent of the Utah Central Rail Road in 1870, a transition to mechanized agriculture and a surge of commerce, banking, improved roads, new water systems, and electrification of homes began. However, by 1940, the population was barely 16,000.

With the establishment of Hill Air Force Base in northern Davis County and southern Weber County, there was a surge in civilian employment after World War II. The county doubled in population between 1940 and 1950 and doubled again between 1950 and 1960 as part of the nationwide suburb boom that was occurring at the time. By 1990, there were 188,000 residents, and in 2000, there were 239,000. As of 2020, the county population is above 360,000.

Geography

Davis County has an area of 634 sqmi, of which 299 sqmi is land and 335 sqmi (53%) is water. It is Utah's smallest county by land area and second smallest by total area.

The county lies generally between the Great Salt Lake on the west and the Wasatch Range on the east, which rises to a height of 9707 ft in the county at Thurston Peak.

The Great Salt Lake is surrounded by marshland and mudflats and lies at an average elevation of approximately 4200 ft, varying depending on the water level, which can lead to drastic changes in the lake's size due to its shallowness. Davis County includes Antelope Island, the lake's largest island. The entire island is a state park, designated to protect natural scenery and especially wildlife on the island, which includes bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and a bison herd.

The inhabited portion of Davis County between the lake and the mountain range is called the Wasatch Front, a narrow stretch of land that restricts north–south transportation in the county.

Adjacent counties

• Weber County - north
• Morgan County - east
• Salt Lake County - south
• Tooele County - west
• Box Elder County - northwest

Protected areas

• Antelope Island State Park
• Crystal West Unit Farmington Bay (part)
• Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area
• Howard Slough Waterfowl Management Area
• Wasatch-Cache National Forest (part)

Lakes

• Adams Reservoir
• Farmington Bay
• Hobbs Reservoir
• Holmes Reservoir

Climate

Eastern parts of Davis County experience a humid continental climate (Dsa), while western parts may experience a mediterranean climate (Csa). Summers are dry and hot, and winters are cold and wet, but rarely frigid. Snow is frequent during winter, with up to 90 in annually on high bench areas in the east and at least 60 in on the valley floor. Annual precipitation averages between 18 and in the county, with spring being the wettest season and summer the driest. Summers are hot, with several days each year averaging above 95 °F. However, the humidity is low, making for comparatively comfortable temperatures. In winter, temperatures sometimes drop below 0 °F, but rarely for extended periods of time. Compared to Salt Lake County to the south, the weather in Davis County is extreme. Lake-effect snows hit the southern portion of the county harder, and even in non-lake-effect storms, the lack of a rain shadow in Davis County (much of Salt Lake County lies in the rain shadow of the Oquirrh Mountains) means that storms often hit Davis County harder. In addition, canyon winds from the east can sometimes cause devastating wind damage, and wind gusts above 100 mph have been reported. This frequently occurrence happens when a powerful high-pressure system is over Wyoming. Extreme wind events, however, seem to have declined in frequency in recent years.

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020

2020 census

According to the 2020 United States census and 2020 American Community Survey, there were 362,679 people in Davis County with a population density of 1,116.9 people per square mile (431.2/km2). Among non-Hispanic or Latino people, the racial makeup was 292,458 (80.6%) White, 4,008 (1.1%) African American, 1,464 (0.4%) Native American, 6,907 (1.9%) Asian, 3,204 (0.9%) Pacific Islander, 1,244 (0.3%) from other races, and 14,099 (3.9%) from two or more races. 39,295 (10.8%) people were Hispanic or Latino.

There were 182,251 (50.25%) males and 180,428 (49.75%) females, and the population distribution by age was 116,295 (32.1%) under the age of 18, 207,510 (57.2%) from 18 to 64, and 38,874 (10.7%) who were at least 65 years old. The median age was 31.4 years.

There were 111,552 households in Davis County with an average size of 3.25, of which 88,909 (79.7%) were families and 22,643 (20.3%) were non-families. Among all families, 72,995 (65.4%) were married couples, 5,369 (4.8%) were male householders with no spouse, and 10,545 (9.5%) were female householders with no spouse. Among all non-families, 18,004 (16.1%) were a single person living alone, and 4,639 (4.2%) were two or more people living together. 50,193 (45.0%) of all households had children under the age of 18. 84,985 (76.2%) of households were owner-occupied while 26,567 (23.8%) were renter-occupied.

The median income for a Davis County household was $87,570, and the median family income was $96,482, with a per-capita income of $32,819. The median income for males who were full-time employees was $63,558 and for females $42,136. 5.3% of the population and 4.2% of families were below the poverty line.

In terms of education attainment, out of the 205,899 people in Davis County 25 years or older, 8,458 (4.1%) had not completed high school, 43,575 (21.2%) had a high school diploma or equivalency, 75,283 (36.6%) had some college or associate degree, 53,067 (25.8%) had a bachelor's degree, and 25,516 (12.4%) had a graduate or professional degree.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 306,479 people, 93,545 households, and 76,205 families in the county. The population density was 1,025 /mi2. There were 97,570 housing units at an average density of 320.95 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 90.04% White, 1.21% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 1.77% Asian, 0.59% Pacific Islander, 3.24% from other races, and 2.69% from two or more races. 8.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 93,545 households, out of which 45.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.99% were married couples living together, 9.59% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.54% were non-families. 15.23% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.27% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.24, and the average family size was 3.63.

The county population contained 37.23% under the age of 20, 6.56% from 20 to 24, 28.13% from 25 to 44, 19.92% from 45 to 64, and 8.15% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.85 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.09 males.

Law and government

A three-member board of commissioners is the county's governing body. The commissioners are elected to staggered four-year terms. They are responsible for all county services and operations. They approve, adopt, and amend the budget; they also serve as the legislative body and regulate business licensing in the county's unincorporated areas. The county commissioners (as of 2021) are:

• Bob J. Stevenson, chair (term ends January 5, 2027)
• Randy B. Elliott, vice chair (term ends January 6, 2025)
• Lorene Miner Kamalu (term ends January 5, 2027)

Other elected offices include the County Attorney, Assessor, Clerk/Auditor, Sheriff, Recorder, Surveyor, and Treasurer.

• The assessor is responsible for the valuation of all real property in the county. The current assessor is Dale Peterson (as of March 2018).
• The clerk/auditor serves as the county's chief financial and budget officer. The current Clerk/Auditor is Curtis Koch (as of March 2018).
• The treasurer is responsible for the collection and investment of county funds. The current Treasurer is Mark Altom (as of March 2019).

Davis County voters are traditionally Republican. In no national election since 1948 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).

Economy

Davis County is often characterized as a bedroom community. According to the Census Bureau's 2004 American Community Survey, 42.3% of the population works in another county. South Davis County commuters who work in Salt Lake County frequently encounter commuting time traffic bottlenecks between Davis and Salt Lake Counties. The Legacy Parkway and the FrontRunner commuter rail project were built to alleviate this problem.

The commuter rail stations in the county have spurred plans for extensive transit-oriented development (TOD), including the Station Park development in Farmington. Farmington is also the home of the Lagoon Amusement Park, the primary amusement park on the Wasatch Front.

Davis County's largest employer is Hill Air Force Base. Earnings of civilians at Hill AFB are almost double the state average. Hill AFB accounts for about 12% of the economy of Davis County and about 2.6% of the economy of Utah. Hill AFB provides employment for nearly 23,000 military and civilian personnel (approximately 4,500 active duty, 1,200 reservists, 13,000 federal civil servants, and 4,000 civilian contractors). Other large employers include Davis School District, Lagoon Amusement Park, and Lifetime Products.

Education

Public education in Davis County is provided by the Davis School District. There are currently 59 elementary schools, 16 junior high schools, 9 high schools, and 3 alternative schools in the school district. The high schools are as follows, showing where they are located:

• Bountiful High School - Bountiful
• Clearfield High School - Clearfield
• Davis High School - Kaysville
• Layton High School - Layton
• Northridge High School - Layton
• Syracuse High School - Syracuse
• Farmington High School - Farmington
• Viewmont High School - Bountiful
• Woods Cross High School - Woods Cross The campus of Davis Technical College is in Kaysville.

Utah State University owns and operates the Utah Botanical Center in Kaysville, which includes an education center. Weber State University also operates campuses in Layton and Farmington.

Transportation

The most important road in the county is Interstate 15, which runs north–south through the center of the county. US-89 enters parallel to I-15 from Salt Lake County to the south and runs north through North Salt Lake and Bountiful as a city road before merging with I-15. It re-emerges in Farmington near the Lagoon Amusement Park, heading along the eastern benches on the slopes of the Wasatch Range, entering Weber County near South Weber. The Utah Department of Transportation is currently (2019) upgrading US-89 to a freeway through eastern Layton north to its interchange with I-84 near the Weber County border. Congestion is a significant problem in the county, as east–west transportation is restricted by the narrow urban corridor and many of its citizens commute south to Salt Lake County.

To relieve congestion in the county, the Legacy Parkway began construction in 2006. Construction began near the US-89/I-15 interchange in Farmington in 2004, but was soon halted due to a lawsuit filed by environmentalists, who were concerned that the road would harm marshlands along the eastern edge of the Great Salt Lake. They requested an independent evaluation for completeness of the environmental impact statement. A settlement was reached in 2005, and the final injunction was lifted in 2006. The Legacy Parkway opened in 2008, running from the US-89/I-15 interchange in Farmington southward to connect with I-215 near the border with Salt Lake County. An extensive trail system, wetland protection measures, and landscaping were implemented along the highway in response to the environmental concerns, in addition to a lower speed limit and a ban of semi-trailer trucks on the highway. However, this compromise will expire in 2020, and the roadway is expected to begin functioning under normal Interstate System regulations (i.e., trucks and higher speed limits allowed).

In 2008, the Utah Transit Authority opened the FrontRunner commuter rail line from Salt Lake City north to Ogden, serving the length of Davis County with stations in Woods Cross, Farmington, Layton, and Clearfield.

Major highways

• [[File:I-15.svg|25px]] Interstate 15
• [[File:I-84.svg|25px]] Interstate 84
• [[File:I-215.svg|25px]] Interstate 215
• [[File:US 89.svg|25px]] U.S. Route 89
• [[File:Utah SR 67.svg|25px]] State Route 67 - Legacy Parkway
• [[File:Utah SR 68.svg|25px]] State Route 68 - Redwood Road
• [[File:Utah SR 177.svg|25px]] State Route 177 - West Davis Corridor
• [[File:Utah SR 193.svg|25px]] State Route 193 - Bernard Fisher Highway

Communities

Cities

• Bountiful
• Centerville
• Clearfield
• Clinton
• Farmington
• Fruit Heights
• Kaysville
• Layton
• North Salt Lake
• South Weber
• Sunset
• Syracuse
• West Bountiful
• West Point
• Woods Cross

Townships

• Mutton Hollow

References

References

1. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Davis County, Utah". [[United States Census Bureau]].
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. Gannett, Henry. (1905). "The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States". Govt. Print. Off..
5. "Individual County Chronologies/Davis County UT [[Newberry Library]]. (accessed March 30, 2019)".
6. HAFB officially opened on November 7, 1940.
7. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau.
8. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Thurston+Peak/@41.0574671,-111.7981673,12z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x8753aa838ff85bd3:0x21f118747babbf89!8m2!3d41.0818883!4d-111.8516053 ''Thurston Peak UT'' Google Maps (accessed 30 March 2019)]
9. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Davis+County,+UT/@40.9637215,-112.2560667,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x8752e2e5a7083e79:0x6efd43cbe6f65937!8m2!3d40.9628845!4d-112.0953297 ''Davis County UT'' Google Maps (accessed March 30, 2019)]
10. [https://www.deseret.com/2006/2/10/19936236/active-weather-151-neighboring-counties-davis-and-s-l-differ-widely-in-weather/ Deseret News - 'Active' weather — Neighboring counties Davis and S.L. differ widely in weather] . February 9, 2006.
11. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau.
12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
13. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau.
14. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". US Census Bureau.
15. "State & County QuickFacts". [[United States Census Bureau]].
16. [https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html 2020 Population and Housing State Data. Utah]
17. United States Census Bureau. "2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics File (DHC)".
18. United States Census Bureau. "American Community Survey 5-Year Data (2009-2022)".
19. [http://www.daviscountyutah.gov/commission/portfolio Portfolio, Davis County Commission (Davis County website, accessed 29 March 2019)]
20. "Assessor".
21. "Clerk/Auditor".
22. "Davis County Treasurer{{!}}About Us".
23. "Senator Millner Utah Senate".
24. "Senator Buxton Utah Senate".
25. "Senator Stevenson Utah Senate".
26. "Senator Adams Utah Senate".
27. "Senator Weiler Utah Senate".
28. "Rep. Miles, Kelly B.".
29. "Rep. Schultz, Mike".
30. "Rep. Peterson, Paul".
31. "Rep. Lisonbee, Karianne".
32. "Rep. Wilson, Brad".
33. "Rep. Handy, Stephen G.".
34. "Rep. Barlow, Stewart E.".
35. "Rep. Hawkes, Timothy D.".
36. "Rep. Ward, Raymond P.".
37. "Rep. Ballard, Melissa G.".
38. "Brent Strate".
39. "Laura Belnap".
40. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections".
41. "American FactFinder". Factfinder.census.gov.
42. [http://www.business.utah.edu/updir/1624_bebr_HAFB04.pdf] {{dead link. (June 2016)
43. [http://www.hill.af.mil/main/library/history/index.html] {{webarchive. link. (January 12, 2008)
44. "Archived copy".
45. [https://www.datc.edu/ Utah Technical College. Davis Applied Technology College in Utah] {{Webarchive. link. (March 19, 2013. Datc.edu. Retrieved July 21, 2013.)
46. Arave, Lynn. (September 7, 2008). "Legacy Parkway opens to public on Saturday". [[Deseret News]].
47. [https://kslnewsradio.com/1902927/legacy-parkway-truck-ban/ Davis County fights to keep Legacy Parkway closed off to trucks (KSL News, 21 March 2019)]