Oakley is a city in Summit County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 948 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Oakley is located at 40°43′7″N 111°17′16″W / 40.71861°N 111.28778°W / 40.71861; -111.28778 (40.718595, -111.287863)[3].
It is located 45 miles east of Salt Lake City on SR-32, in the Kamas Valley. With an elevation of 6500', it is a gateway to the Uinta Mountains. Scenic route Weber Canyon Road follows the Weber River to its headwaters; it also follows the Smith and Morehouse Creek to its reservoir in its own scenic canyon 15 miles from Oakley. The towns of Marion, Kamas, and Peoa are its neighbors, and the Weber River flows nearby.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
In the 2000 census[1], Oakley had 948 people, 278 households, and 232 families residing within the city. The population density was 150.5 people per square mile (58.1/km²). There were 330 housing units, with an average density of 52.4 housing units/sq mi (20.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.41% White, 0.11% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 2.95% from other races, and 0.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.32% of the population.
Of the 278 households, 48.2% had children under the age of 18; 74.5% were married couples living together; 6.5% had a female as head of household with no husband present; and 16.5% were non-families. Of the city's households, 10.8% were individuals; and 4.3% were persons living alone who were 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.41, and the average family size was 3.74.
In the city, 36.8% of the population were under the age of 18; 8.3% from were from 18 to 24; 28.7% were from 25 to 44; 19.9% were from 45 to 64; and 6.2% were 65 or older. The median age was 32. For every 100 females, there were 107.9 males; for every 100 females 18 or over, there were 102.4 males.
The median household income in the 2000 census was $61,250; the median income for a family was $62,059. Males had a median income of $41,250, compared to $30,625 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,855. About 1.6% of families and 2.3% of the population of the city were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
History
A Mormon pioneer, Parley P. Pratt, was sent to this valley from Salt Lake City by Brigham Young in 1850 to check on the possibility of establishing settlements along the Weber River and the nearby Provo River. His report was, ". . . a good valley, abundant grass and plenty of water".
The first white man to winter there, in 1853, was Thomas Rhodes. An explorer, trapper, prospector, part-time farmer, and close friend of Brigham Young, he was occasionally called from his California prospecting by Brigham Young when there was a need for money for the church. Rhodes would disappear for a week or so into the Uinta Mountains and return with a supply of gold.
The first settlers in Oakley were William Stevens and wife, Emma Crowder Stevens; they moved there in 1868. Soon to follow were relatives and friends, among them the Fraziers, Hortins, Richards, Wildes and Gibbons, to name a few; all these names are still prominent in the town.
Oakley's original name was "Oak Creek", derived from the name of a creek that ran just east of the present town site and that was thickly overgrown with oak trees. The town changed its name to "Oakley" in late 1886 or early 1887; the new name was chosen from many names submitted by the settlers in a contest.
Incorporated in 1933 on land originally purchased from the Union Pacific Company by the early settlers in the land sale of the 1880s, Oakley has maintained its small town (1200 pop.) charm as primarily an agricultural community. At one time, it was a large producer of dairy products. More recently, it has focused on cattle- and horse-feeding, "haying", and still some dairy production. In addition, it is a base for recreational activities, which abound--hiking, fishing, horseback riding, camping, hunting, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing--all within a very short distance from town.
Local Attractions
The town features a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse that now serves as city hall; a small gas station (Dutch's service); a skateboard park; a small grocery store (Ken's Kash, originally known as the Weber Mercantile); the Oakley Polar King; and Utah's only restaurant on the National Registry of Historic Places, the Road Island Diner.
Oakley is most famous for its annual rodeo, held each year on the Fourth of July weekend. This rodeo, sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, celebrated its 75th birthday in 2005 with the opening of a $3 million, 6,000-seat arena.
Prominent Residents
Kenneth Woolstenhulme, former Mayor and current Summit County Commissioner.
Richard Maynes, a member of the Quorum of the Seventy in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
External links
