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Garfield County


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Garfield County Facts:

County Website: Garfield County
Area: 5,208 square miles
Population: 5,314 (in 2023)
Founding Year: Founded March 9, 1882
County Seat: Panguitch
Origin of County Name: after President James A. Garfield
Cities/Towns: Antimony, Boulder, Bryce Canyon, Cannonville, Escalante, Hatch, Henrieville, Panguitch, Tropic
Economy: cattle, lumber, tourism
Points of Interest: Bryce Canyon National Park, Lake Powell, Anasazi State Park, Panguitch Lake, Escalante DUP Building, Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, Boulder Mountain, Burr Trail
Geography: Bounded by Colorado River (east), Dirty Devil River (east), San Rafael Desert (west); Bryce Canyon National Park (southwest), Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument (middle), Capitol Reef National Park (east-central), Canyonlands National Park (northeast)
Historical Significance: Home to Ancestral Pueblo and Fremont cultures; early settlers from Beaver and Parowan in March 1864; territorial legislature created the county in 1882
Notable Residents: Isaac Riddle: Early Latter-day Saint settler,  Eddie Kimball: Prominent BYU coach and athletic director, Whittni Morgan, Miss Utah in 2010
Natural Resources: Streams from high plateaus; farming, ranching, and recreation important to economy

About Garfield County:

Garfield County was named in 1882 after the assassinated U.S. President James A. Garfield, though the region’s history reaches back much further. Evidence of the prehistoric Anasazi culture can be found at the Anasazi State Museum near the city of Boulder. The county is rich in natural resources—such as vast rangelands and forests—which have supported major industries since pioneer times.


Today, one of Garfield County’s dominant industries is tourism. Although there is an active oilfield currently producing, most of the county’s energy resources—including coal, tar sands, and uranium—have not been developed. The county offers plenty to see, with two national parks: Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef, among other attractions. Before you leave, be sure to see the hoodoos—Bryce Canyon’s world-famous rock formations.

Resources:

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

Gallery:


The Garfield County Courthouse is located in the city of Panguitch, Utah.
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A northward view along Main Street showcases the preserved architecture of the Panguitch Historic District.
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The Panguitch Social Hall is a historic building located in Panguitch, Utah.
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The Panguitch Carnegie Library is a historic building in Panguitch, Utah.
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 An old Western town near Panguitch, Utah, offers a glimpse into the area’s frontier past.
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A general store in Tropic, Utah, serves as a reminder of the town’s small-town local history.
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A replica of Ebenezer Bryce’s cabin, the namesake of Bryce Canyon National Park, can be found in Tropic, Utah.
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The sign for Bryce Canyon Airport is located in Garfield County, Utah.
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The hoodoos glow at sunset in Bryce Canyon National Park.
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Thor's Hammer formation is a natural marvel found in Bryce Canyon National Park.
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The lodge at Bryce Canyon National Park welcomes visitors as a popular tourist destination.
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An arch in Bryce Canyon National Park stands as a natural wonder sculpted by centuries of erosion.
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Packrafting the Escalante River offers an adventurous way to explore the canyon landscapes of southern Utah.
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Metate Arch, located in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument near Escalante, Utah, is a natural sandstone formation.
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A barn in Escalante, Utah, built in the 1800s, helps tell the stories of the pioneers who settled the land.
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A view of the Straight Cliffs Formation can be seen from Escalante, Utah, showcasing the region’s geological features.
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A view from a Lodge in Boulder, Utah, offers a peaceful glimpse of the surrounding natural beauty.
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Lower Calf Creek Falls, a picturesque waterfall, is located in Capitol Reef National Park.
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A pithouse in the Anasazi Indian State Park in Boulder, Utah, offers a glimpse into the lives of the ancient Ancestral Puebloan people who once inhabited the area.
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Ruins discovered at the Anasazi Indian State Park provide valuable insights into the architecture and daily life of the ancient Ancestral Puebloans.
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