Brigham City is a city located in Box Elder County, Utah. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 17,411. By 2004 its estimated population had decreased slightly to 17,149. It is the county seat of Box Elder County. It lies on the western slope of the Wellsville Mountains, a branch of the Wasatch Range at the western terminus of Box Elder Canyon. Brigham City saw most of its growth during the 1950s and 1960s, but has seen a struggling economy and stagnating growth since then. It is currently the headquarters of Thiokol, the company that created the solid rocket boosters for the Space Shuttle.
Brigham City is located at 41°30'37" North, 112°0'54" West (41.510192, -112.015011).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 37.1 km2 (14.3 mi2). 37.1 km2 (14.3 mi2) of it is land and 0.1 km2 (0.04 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 0.14% water. It lies at an elevation of 4,315 feet (1,315 meters).
Brigham City lies on the western slopes of the Wellsville Mountains, a branch of the Wasatch Range, at the western end of Sardine Canyon. Brigham City is generally considered to be the northern end of the Wasatch Front. To the west is a large, flat region of desert scrub, eventually giving way to marshlands on the edge of the Great Salt Lake. Interstates 15 and 84 pass to the west of the city together. U.S. Highway 89 approaches from the south and U.S. Highway 91 comes from I-15/84 to the west. They intersect in the city, climbing through Sardine Canyon together. Two routes of the Utah Transit Authority's extensive bus sytem also provide access to Brigham City.
The climate of Brigham City is generally the same as that of the rest of the Wasatch Front. Snow is heavy in winter and precipitation is light, averaging approximately 18 in (45 cm) annually. Summers are hot, but humidity remains low and overnight temperatures are cool. The wettest season is spring, while summer is the driest.
As of the census of 2000, there are 17,411 people, 5,526 households, and 4,409 families residing in the city. The population density is 469.8/km2 (1,216.4/mi2). There are 5,838 housing units at an average density of 157.5/km2 (407.9/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 91.26% White, 0.24% African American, 1.63% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 4.07% from other races, and 1.93% from two or more races. 7.67% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 5,526 households out of which 44.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.4% are married couples living together, 9.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 20.2% are non-families. 18.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.09 and the average family size is 3.53.
In the city the population is spread out with 34.2% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 29 years. For every 100 females there are 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 96.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $42,335, and the median income for a family is $46,891. Males have a median income of $39,271 versus $22,061 for females. The per capita income for the city is $15,503. 8.7% of the population and 7.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 9.7% of those under the age of 18 and 7.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Mormon pioneer William Davis first explored the Brigham City area in 1850. He returned with his family and others a year later to create permanent homes. Brigham Young directed Lorenzo Snow to create a self-sufficient city there in 1853. Snow directed both religious and political affairs in the settlement, eventually naming it Brigham City in 1855 after the church president. In 1864, the cooperative movement began in earnest with the creation of a mercantile co-op store. Other industries were added, and the Brigham City Co-op is widely recognized as the most successful of the Mormon Co-op ventures. Economic hardships brought an end to the Co-op in 1895, though the Co-op had first started selling businesses off in 1876. Through the Depression, Brigham City remained a typical small, Mormon Utah town.
World War II changed Brigham City's image forever. The federal government created Bushnell General Hospital on Brigham City's south side to treat soldiers wounded in the war. The hospital brought an economic boom to the nearby area. Locals sold supplies and food to the hospital while hospital staff patronized local businesses. After the war, the hospital's buildings were used as Intermountain Indian School. Many young Native Americans attended the boarding school until it closed in 1984, though the Intermountain "I" on the mountain is still visible in tandem with Box Elder High School's "B". The facility has left its mark in a number of other ways. Most of the buildings still stand. Some have been converted into businesses and condos, while others remain empty.
Despite layoffs over the past decade, much of Brigham City's economy still relies on Thiokol, the creator of many missiles, as well as the solid rocket booster for the Space Shuttle. Additionally, the local Autoliv (formerly a part of Thiokol) airbag plants also net Brigham City many jobs. The addition of a WalMart distribution center in nearby Corinne has also brought new jobs.
Source:
BrighamCityUT.com
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