Information AboutMoab, Utah |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT MOAB, UTAH | |
| settlements established in 1878 | |
| cities in utah | |
| grand county, utah | |
| uranium mining | |
| county seats in utah | |
| mining communities in the united states | |
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Moab is a city located in Grand County, Utah . As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 4,779. It is the County Seat of Grand County . Moab hosts a large number of tourists every year, mostly visitors of the Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, which are located close by. The town is also a popular base for Mountain Bikers who come to ride the nearby Slickrock Trail , and off-roaders who come for the annual Easter Jeep Safari. HISTORY Moab is the biblical name of a bastard son of Lot and his firstborn daughter. The biblical ''Moab'' fathered the Moabite people that lived in a mountainous strip of land running along the eastern shore of the Dead Sea . This strip of land is also named Moab. It is unknown how a city in Southeastern Utah came to use that name. During the 1800s the area around what is now Moab served as one of only two possible crossings of the Colorado River along the Old Spanish Trail . Mormon settlers attempted to establish a trading fort at the river crossing called "Elk Mountain Mission" in 1855 . The purpose was to trade with travelers attempting to cross the river. Later that year and after repeated Indian attacks, the fort was abandoned. A new round of settlers established a permanent settlement in 1878. The name Moab was in use by 1880 when the first post office was established. Moab was incorporated as a town in December 20 , 1902 . Despite the city's origins, Moab is no longer considered a principal place to cross the Colorado River. In 1883 the Denver And Rio Grande Western Railroad main line was constructed across eastern Utah and passed within 35 miles of Moab. Moab farmers who had formally traded with passing travelers, were now doing business by rail. The construction of Lee's Ferry , Navajo Bridge and Boulder Dam also provided more direct routes for California bound travelers. By the 1950s Moab's origins as a one of a handful of natural crossings of the Colorado River were long forgotten. Although the U.S. military deemed the bridge over the Colorado River Bridge at Moab important enough to place it under guard as late as World War II, fearing sabotage by German or Japanese spies. Moab's economy was originally agricultural based, but gradually shifted to mining. Uranium and Vanadium were discovered in the area in the 1910s and 1920s . Potash and Manganese came next and then oil and gas were discovered. In the 1950s Moab became the uranium Capital of the world after the Geologist Charles Steen found uranium ore. A spur railroad line built (in 1962) to service Potash mines passes within 2 miles of city limits. In 1949 famed '' (2000). Since the 1970s tourism has played an increasing role in the local economy. Partly due to the John Ford movies, the area has become a favorite for Photographers , Rafters , Hikers , and most recently Mountain Bikers . Moab is also an increasingly popular destination for four-wheelers as well as for BASE jumpers, who are allowed to practice their sport. Today Moab is accessed via U.S. Highway 191 . GEOGRAPHY Moab is located just south of the Colorado River , at 38°34'21" North, 109°32'59" West (38.572545, -109.549776) at an elevation of 4,025 Feet (1227 Meters ). According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 9.4 Km&2 (3.6 Mi&2 ). 9.4 km&2 (3.6 mi&2) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water. DEMOGRAPHICS As of the Census of 2000, there were 4,779 people, 1,936 households, and 1,169 families residing in the city. The Population Density was 506.9/km&2 (1,313.1/mi&2). There were 2,148 housing units at an average density of 227.8/km&2 (590.2/mi&2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.35% White , 0.36% African American , 5.46% Native American , 0.29% Asian , 0.08% Pacific Islander , 1.88% from Other Races , and 1.57% from two or more races. 6.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 1,936 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were Married Couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.10. In the city the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males. The median income for a household in the city was $32,620, and the median income for a family was $38,214. Males had a median income of $35,291 versus $21,339 for females. The Per Capita Income for the city was $16,228. 15.7% of the population and 12.0% of families were below the Poverty Line . 19.1% of those under the age of 18 and 10.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. City officials asked the United States government to change the Acronym of the Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB) because of the similarity of the acronym to the city's name. SEE ALSO
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