Hildale, Utah

Hildale is a city in Washington County, Utah, United States. The population was 1,127 at the 2020 census.[3]

Hildale, Utah
City
Approaching Hildale in the evening from the northwest on Utah State Route 59
Approaching Hildale in the evening from the northwest on Utah State Route 59
Location in Washington County and the U.S. state of Utah
Location in Washington County and the U.S. state of Utah
Coordinates: 37°0′10″N 112°59′14″W
CountryUnited States
StateUtah
CountyWashington
Incorporated1962
Became a cityMarch 20, 1990
Government
 • MayorDonia Jessop
Area
 • Total5.60 sq mi (14.51 km2)
 • Land5.60 sq mi (14.51 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
[1]
5,043 ft (1,537 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,127
 • Density517.14/sq mi (199.65/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code
84784
Area code435
FIPS code49-35300[2]
GNIS feature ID1450387[1]
WebsiteOfficial website

Hildale is located on the border of Utah and Arizona.

History

Hildale, formerly known as Short Creek Community, was founded in 1913[4] by members of the Council of Friends, a breakaway group from the Salt Lake City-based the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[5]

During a flash flood on 14 September 2015, at least 12 members of two related families from the community were killed while stopped in a low water crossing at the mouth of Maxwell Canyon in Hildale. A thirteenth person was still missing as of 16 March 2021.[6][7][8] The flooding resulted from the moisture from Hurricane Linda.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km2), all land.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Hildale has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.[9]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1970480—
19801,009110.2%
19901,32531.3%
20001,89543.0%
20102,72643.9%
20201,127−58.7%

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 1,895 people, 232 households, and 215 families residing in the city. The population density was 644.2 per square mile (248.9/km2). There were 243 housing units at an average density of 82.6 per square mile (31.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.41% White, 0.21% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.63% Pacific Islander, 0.84% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population.

There were 232 households, out of which 76.7% had children under 18 living with them, 82.3% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 6.9% were non-families. 6.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 8.17, and the average family size was 8.10.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 63.6% under 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 18.4% from 25 to 44, 6.3% from 45 to 64, and 2.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 13 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 75.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,679, and the median income for a family was $31,750. Males had a median income of $25,170 versus $16,071 for females. The per capita income for the city was $4,782. About 37.0% of families and 41.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.0% of those under age 18 and 31.8% of those aged 65 or over.

Government
Colorado City, AZ/Hildale, UT Post Office

In January 2018, the city's first female mayor, Donia Jessop, was sworn in along with a new city council. This also marked the first time positions in city government have been held by people who are not members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.[10] About a month afterward, 11 city employees resigned, at least one of whom said that his religion prevented him from "following a woman, and from serving on a board with apostates."[11][12]

Education

Hildale is within the Washington County School District. Water Canyon School, a K-12 school, is in the city.[13]

Around 1998, the city's elementary-age students attended the Phelps School in Hildale while many older students attended school in Colorado City Unified School District in Arizona.[14]

In 2014 Washington County School District purchased the old Phelps Elementary Building and a building next to it. After a quick remodel, the old Phelps Elementary School was reopened as Water Canyon School.[15] Two years later, the building next to Phelps was completed and opened as Water Canyon High School.[16]

See also

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hildale
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. "Explore Census Data".
  4. Zoellner, Tom (June 28, 1998), "Polygamy: Throughout its history, Colorado City has been home for those who believe in virtues of plural marriage", The Salt Lake Tribune, p. J1, Archive Article ID: 100F28A4D3D36BEC (NewsBank), archived from the original on May 5, 2000
  5. Kelly, David (June 14, 2022). "A real estate boom transforms a community with a polygamist past". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  6. DeMille, David (September 15, 2015). "Hildale tragedy adds to So. Utah's sad history with floods". The (St. George, UT) Spectrum. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  7. Reavy, Pat (September 16, 2015). "16, possibly 20 die in devastating southern Utah flash floods". Deseret News. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  8. "Details on victims of Hildale flash flood". The (St. George, UT) Spectrum. September 15, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  9. "Hildale, Utah Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  10. Raymond Hammon (January 8, 2018). "Large Turnout to Hildale City Council Swearing-In". Canaan Mountain Herald. Archived from the original on February 5, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  11. Hartman, Taylor (February 13, 2018). "11 Hildale city employees resign; at least one because of religious beliefs". Fox 13 Salt Lake City. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  12. Reed, Brad (February 11, 2018). "11 government employees quit after election of first woman mayor in fundamentalist Mormon city". Raw Story. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  13. "Home page". Water Canyon School. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  14. Zoellner, Tom (June 28, 1998), "Schools: Local Control, But Little Local Money; Much of the funding used for education comes from beyond the boundaries of polygamous border towns", The Salt Lake Tribune, Archive Article Id: 100F39868A5608CB (NewsBank), archived from the original on November 14, 1999.
  15. "Hildale public school reopens after more than a decade". Fox 13 News.
  16. "High school opens in polygamous town on Utah-Arizona border". Salt Lake Tribune.
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