Back to Counties

Rich County


Wikimedia Commons
Rich County Facts:

County Website: Rich County
Area: 1,086 square miles
Population: 2,464 (in 2018)
County Seat: Randolph
Origin of County Name: two versions exist - (1) named for the fertility of the Bear River Valley (the county was first called Richland), (2) named for Charles C. Rich, a Mormon apostle, instrumental in the settlement of the Bear Lake area
Cities/Towns: Garden City, Laketown, Randolph, Woodruff
Economy: agriculture, cattle, sheep, recreation
Points of Interest: Bear Lake State Park, Pickleville Playhouse, Randolph LDS Tabernacle

 

About Rich County:

Visitors to Rich County are probably on their way to Bear Lake, the county’s largest natural resource. In 1827 and 1828 the early trappers held a Rendezvous, a large gathering to trade furs for supplies, on the south shore. The Bannock and Shoshone Indians lived throughout the area when in 1864 Charles C. Rich was sent by Brigham Young to begin a settlement. It is possible that the name of the county came from Mr. Rich. Also the name could have come from the rich soil in the area. It became known as Richland County and was later shortened to Rich County in 1868.

Bear Lake is known around the state for Bear Lake Raspberries. When visiting you can visit any of the restaurants and ask for a Raspberry milkshake. One of the local folk tales centers around the Bear Lake Monster, who is rarely heard but often seen. There are many comfortable places to stay in the county, such as resorts, public beaches, and summer homes. While there are many campsites in the area, Rendezvous Beach provides camping at or near the spot where the early trappers held their own Rendezvous mentioned above. If you’re going to camp you might want to avoid wintertime since the town of Woodruff is known state wide for its very cold winters (with the state record for coldest temperature at –50F). While Bear Lake is important to the county, even more valuable are the productive farms and livestock that can be seen throughout the county while driving the highways.

 

Resources:

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

 

Gallery:


The Pickleville Playhouse, a theater in Garden City, Utah, is named for the former town of Pickleville.
Image from Wikimedia Commons

Raspberry market in Garden City, Utah.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
Bear Lake in Garden City, Utah.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
Bear Lake has a unique aquamarine color due to minerals.
Image from Wikimedia Commons

Rich County Courthouse, Randolph, Utah.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
The Randolph Tabernacle, a historic building in Randolph, Utah.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
Bear Lake Raspberry Corner in Garden City, Utah.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
The Woodruff Stake House is a historic building in Woodruff, Utah.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
Longleaf fleabane (Erigeron corymbosus), Aster family (Asteraceae) found in the small hills along road SR-30 in Rich County, Utah.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
Bear Lake is known for raspberries.
Image from Max Pixel