Kamas, Utah

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kamas is a city in Summit County, Utah, United States. The population was 1,274 at the 2000 census.

The main industries are cattle ranching and tourism. The town is known to outsiders as "The Gateway to the Uintas." Fishing, camping, hiking, mountain climbing and other outdoor recreational activities are popular among locals and tourists. Kamas is the closest city to the Camp Steiner Boy Scout camp

The town is home to the South Summit school systems (incorporating Elementary, Middle and High schools). The local towns that have students attending school here are: Peoa, Oakley, Marion, Kamas, Francis, and Woodland, as well as students in nearby Weber and Mirror Lake Canyons.

The predominant religion of the area, as with most rural towns of Utah, is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, though there is a baptist congregation also located in Kamas.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
- 2.1 Year 2000
3 Local History and Folklore
4 Local Events
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Geography

Kamas is located at 40°38′32″N, 111°16′39″W (40.642338, -111.277536)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.1 km² (1.6 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Year 2000

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 1,274 people, 445 households, and 327 families residing in the city. The population density was 309.4/km² (801.9/mi²). There were 482 housing units at an average density of 117.0/km² (303.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.31% White, 0.39% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 2.04% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.89% of the population.

There were 445 households out of which 41.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.37.

In the city the population was spread out with 33.0% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,667, and the median income for a family was $46,750. Males had a median income of $30,703 versus $22,434 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,761. About 3.6% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Local History and Folklore

Kamas was inhabited intermittently by several tribes of Indians, including members of the Ute, Shoshone, and Snake tribes. The first permanent settlements in the valley are believed to have been built by Mormon Pioneers who settled under the direction of Brigham Young.

One prominent figure in Kamas folklore history is Thomas Rhodes. According to legend, Indian guides from an area Ute Tribe revealed to Rhodes the location of a gold mine from which he was allowed to take gold to assist in the construction of the Salt Lake Temple. The only condition the Indian guides gave for revealing the location of this mine was if Rhodes agreed not to reveal the location of the mine to any other person. Rhodes adhered to the terms of this agreement until his eventual death from an illness.

The "Rhodes Mine" is now considered lost, but its legend survives in several books which have been published on the topic.

[edit] Local Events

Kamas hosts the annual High Unitas Classic, a two-day bicycle race that takes place every summer, usually in mid-June. The race features a mountain stage that takes participants from downtown Kamas and up the Mirror Lake Highway into Evanston, Wyoming.