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Grand County


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Grand County Facts:

County Website: Grand County
Area: 3,684 square miles
Population: 9,706 (in 2023)
Founding Year: 1890
County Seat: Moab
Origin of County Name: the Colorado River, which flows through the county, was first called the Grand River
Cities/Towns: Castle Valley, Moab
Economy: tourism, agriculture, livestock, mining
Points of Interest: Arches National Park, Manti-LaSal National Forest, Colorado River, Dead Horse Point State Park
Geography: Eastern Utah, Colorado Plateau, Colorado River, deserts, cliffs, Arches National Park, La Sal Mountains, Mount Waas 12,336 ft
Historical Significance: 1855 settlement, Old Spanish Trail, uranium boom of 1950s, economic growth
Notable Residents: Arnie Beyeler (baseball coach), Kay Dalton (football coach), Orson Pratt Huish (hymn writer), Sarah J. Elliott (suffragist)
Natural Resources: Oil, natural gas, tar sands, oil shale, potash, uranium, livestock grazing

 

About Grand County:

Arches National Park, located in the southern part of Grand County, is one of Utah's most iconic national parks and is home to the famous Delicate Arch. Evidence such as cliff dwellings and rock art indicates that the early Ancestral Pueblan people may have lived in the area as early as 0 A.D. They left the region in the 1300s, possibly due to conflicts with the nearby Navajo or in search of more reliable water sources during a period of drought. The town of Cisco, once a thriving hub for ranching and mining, eventually became a ghost town after Interstate 70 was constructed through the county without diverting five miles to connect to Cisco.
In 1855, the first Mormon settlement in Moab was unsuccessful. Today, however, Moab—Grand County's most well-known city—has grown into a popular destination for outdoor recreation, including mountain biking, hiking, four-wheeling and river adventures. While many residents of Grand County live in small farming communities, the county has flourished thanks to tourism, drawing visitors from around the world to experience some of Utah's most inspiring landscapes.

Resources:

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

 

Gallery:


Double Arch in Arches National Park is a natural formation where two massive arches share a common end, making it one of the park’s most popular and photogenic landmarks.
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A moonrise above the Windows Section in Arches National Park creates a breathtaking scene as the soft light illuminates the towering red rock formations.
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Balanced Rock in Arches National Park is one of the park’s most iconic landmarks, featuring a large, teetering boulder balanced on a slender pedestal of Entrada sandstone.
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Park Avenue in Arches National Park is a scenic trail flanked by towering sandstone monoliths that resemble a grand city skyline.
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The entrance sign for Dead Horse Point State Park welcomes visitors to the park, which is known for its dramatic views of the Colorado River and Canyonlands National Park.
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The Colorado River overlook at Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah, offers a magnificent view of the area's breathtaking beauty.
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Dead Horse Point State Park offers one of the most iconic vistas in the American Southwest, where cliffs and winding canyons showcase the power of nature over time.
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Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata), a member of the Mustard family (Brassicaceae), grows naturally in Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah.
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The La Sal Mountain Range, visible from Arches National Park, provides a stunning backdrop of snow-capped peaks against the park’s red rock formations.
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A slickrock trail in Moab, Utah, winds through the desert landscape with the La Sal Mountain Range rising in the background.
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Porcupine Ridge offers breathtaking views overlooking Castle Valley, Utah, showcasing the area’s rock formations and expansive landscape.
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Convent Mesa, is a striking sandstone formation located near Moab and Castle Valley, Utah, and is popular among climbers and photographers.
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Moab is a city located in Grand County in eastern Utah, known for its proximity to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and its outdoor recreation scene.
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The Moab Cabin is one of the oldest surviving dwellings in Moab, Utah. It stands as a historical reminder of the area's early pioneer settlement and development.
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Star Hall is a historic theater in Moab, Utah, known for hosting community events, performances and cultural gatherings since the early 1900s.
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The Arthur Taylor House is a historic home in Moab, Utah, that reflects the early architectural style and settlement history of the region.
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