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Davis County


Wikimedia Commons
Davis County Facts:

County Website: Davis County
Area: 634 square miles
Population: 373,207 (in 2023)
Founding Year: October 5, 1850
County Seat: Farmington
Origin of County Name: after Captain Daniel C. Davis of the Mormon Battalion
Cities/Towns: Bountiful, Centerville, Clearfield, Clinton, Farmington, Fruit Heights, Kaysville, Layton, North Salt Lake, South Weber, Sunset, Syracuse, West Bountiful, West Point, Woods Cross
Economy: defense industry, small manufacturing and distribution, service industries, agriculture (especially alfalfa, grain, onions, and fruit)
Points of Interest: Antelope Island, Bountiful-Davis Art Center, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Farmington Canyon, Farmington Rock Chapel, Freeport Center, Hill Air Force Base, Howard Slough Waterfowl Management Area
Geography: Bounded by Weber County (north), Salt Lake County (south), Wasatch Mountains (east), Great Salt Lake (west); smallest land area in Utah with 223 usable square miles
Historical Significance: Home to every distinct culture group in Utah's prehistory, from Paleo-Indian big game hunters 12,000 years ago to Numic-speaking hunter-gatherers, early visits by trappers like Jedediah S. Smith in 1826 and explorers such as Jim Bridger and John C. Fremont
Notable Residents: Charles R. Mabey (Utah's fifth governor), Henry H. Blood (Utah’s seventh governor), Calvin L. Rampton (Utah’s eleventh governor), LeConte Stewart (landscape artist), George Dibble (abstract artist)
Natural Resources: Streams from the Wasatch Mountains provide water for agriculture, fertile soil supports farming and livestock

 

About Davis County:

Davis County, the smallest county in Utah by land area, covers just 630 square miles—most of which is water belonging to the Great Salt Lake. Only about 36% of the county is usable land for farming and housing. Antelope Island, located within the Great Salt Lake, is part of Davis County and is home to a herd of buffalo. Despite its limited land area, Davis County now has the third-largest population among Utah’s counties.

The area’s early history includes visits by Paleo-Indians and explorers like Jim Bridger, but permanent settlement began with Mormon pioneers who found the land well-suited for agriculture and livestock. In the early 1900s, the county flourished with successful farms and factories producing canned goods, sugar, and other products. The county plays a key role in national defense with Hill Air Force Base, its largest employer. The Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area is a vital wetland habitat in the state.

Resources:

More information for Davis County can be found at the following sites:

 

Gallery:

The Great Salt Lake and the Wasatch Mountain Range are visible from Antelope Island State Park.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) can be seen on Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake, Utah.
Image from Wikimedia Commons

A house stands in the West Bountiful Historic District in West Bountiful, Utah.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
The John, Harriet and Eliza Jennett Duncan House is a historic home located in Centerville, Utah.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
An F-15 Eagle from the Royal Air Force Lakenheath in England taxis to the runway at Hill Air Force Base.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Kyle Bushey prepares an F6 Alpha remotely controlled robot during a training exercise at Hill Air Force Base.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
A red-winged blackbird perches in the wetlands of Farmington Bay, Utah.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
This trail leads to a small bridge crossing the main channel in the Farmington Bay Area, Utah.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
The Rock Church in Farmington, Utah, is constructed from cut stone and remains a notable historic structure.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
The Syracuse DUP Museum in Syracuse, Utah, showcases the history and experiences of the pioneers who settled the area, preserving their stories through exhibits and artifacts.
Image from Wikimedia Commons