Bluff, Utah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bluff, Utah
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Incorporated town and municipality
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Location in San Juan County and the state of Utah
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| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| County | San Juan |
| Established | AD 650 |
| Founded | April 6, 1880 |
| Incorporated | August 31, 2018 |
| Founded by | Silas S. Smith |
| Named for | Bluffs (cliffs) along the San Juan River |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council government |
| Area | |
| • Total | 36.71 sq mi (95.08 km2) |
| • Land | 36.47 sq mi (94.45 km2) |
| • Water | 0.24 sq mi (0.63 km2) |
| Elevation | 4,380 ft (1,340 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 240 |
| • Density | 6.72/sq mi (2.59/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
84512
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| Area code(s) | 435 |
| FIPS code | 49-06700 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2798080 |
Bluff (which is called Navajo: Tséłgaii Deezʼáhí in Navajo) is a small town in San Juan County, Utah, United States. In 2020, about 240 people lived there. Bluff officially became a town in 2018. Ann Leppanen is the current mayor.
Contents
Exploring Bluff, Utah
Bluff is a historic town in southeastern Utah. It is known for its beautiful natural surroundings. The town is named after the tall cliffs, or "bluffs," found along the San Juan River.
The History of Bluff
Bluff was founded by a group of settlers in 1880. About 230 people, led by Silas S. Smith and Jens Nielson, traveled a difficult 200-mile (320-kilometer) trail. They were looking to start a farming community. They arrived in Bluff in April 1880. The trail they followed was so challenging it went through a place called "Hole in the Rock".
The town's population changed a lot over the years. By 1930, only about 70 people lived there. But in the 1950s, many people moved to Bluff because of a uranium mining boom. When the uranium mining slowed down in the 1970s, the town's population went down again. Today, Bluff remains a small but interesting town.
Where is Bluff Located?
Bluff is in the southeastern part of Utah. This area is known for its many canyons and is part of the Colorado Plateau. The town sits right next to the San Juan River. It is also where Cottonwood Wash meets the San Juan River. Main roads like U.S. routes 163 and 191 pass through the town.
The town covers an area of about 22.6 square miles (58.7 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Bluff's Climate and Weather
Bluff has a dry climate, like a cold desert. Winters are cool and usually dry, with some snow. It doesn't snow a lot, but it does get chilly. Nights often drop below freezing.
Spring arrives quickly in February and is the driest time of year. Temperatures become warm, but sometimes there can be late snow. Summers are long and hot, with temperatures often reaching 90°F (32°C) or even 100°F (38°C). Even though days are hot, nights usually cool down. Fall brings cooler temperatures, and snow can start in late November.
You can find more detailed weather information in the table below:
| Climate data for Bluff, Utah (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1911–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 69 (21) |
76 (24) |
86 (30) |
94 (34) |
102 (39) |
106 (41) |
109 (43) |
106 (41) |
102 (39) |
95 (35) |
85 (29) |
69 (21) |
109 (43) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 55.2 (12.9) |
64.3 (17.9) |
76.3 (24.6) |
85.0 (29.4) |
93.2 (34.0) |
101.1 (38.4) |
103.4 (39.7) |
99.8 (37.7) |
94.7 (34.8) |
83.7 (28.7) |
68.8 (20.4) |
56.7 (13.7) |
103.7 (39.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 43.2 (6.2) |
51.4 (10.8) |
62.8 (17.1) |
71.4 (21.9) |
80.7 (27.1) |
91.8 (33.2) |
95.9 (35.5) |
92.6 (33.7) |
84.2 (29.0) |
70.2 (21.2) |
55.1 (12.8) |
43.0 (6.1) |
70.2 (21.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 31.5 (−0.3) |
38.1 (3.4) |
47.4 (8.6) |
55.3 (12.9) |
64.1 (17.8) |
73.7 (23.2) |
79.8 (26.6) |
77.4 (25.2) |
68.0 (20.0) |
54.2 (12.3) |
40.9 (4.9) |
31.4 (−0.3) |
55.2 (12.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 19.7 (−6.8) |
24.8 (−4.0) |
31.9 (−0.1) |
39.1 (3.9) |
47.6 (8.7) |
55.5 (13.1) |
63.8 (17.7) |
62.2 (16.8) |
51.8 (11.0) |
38.2 (3.4) |
26.8 (−2.9) |
19.7 (−6.8) |
40.1 (4.5) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 6.4 (−14.2) |
12.3 (−10.9) |
19.0 (−7.2) |
25.6 (−3.6) |
34.4 (1.3) |
43.5 (6.4) |
52.1 (11.2) |
52.0 (11.1) |
37.8 (3.2) |
24.2 (−4.3) |
12.7 (−10.7) |
6.8 (−14.0) |
2.1 (−16.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −22 (−30) |
−13 (−25) |
4 (−16) |
16 (−9) |
23 (−5) |
33 (1) |
40 (4) |
37 (3) |
23 (−5) |
10 (−12) |
−2 (−19) |
−22 (−30) |
−22 (−30) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.83 (21) |
0.62 (16) |
0.47 (12) |
0.34 (8.6) |
0.50 (13) |
0.20 (5.1) |
0.62 (16) |
0.94 (24) |
0.84 (21) |
0.77 (20) |
0.48 (12) |
0.67 (17) |
7.28 (185) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 2.5 (6.4) |
1.6 (4.1) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.3 (0.76) |
2.6 (6.6) |
7.4 (19) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 4.3 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 2.7 | 3.8 | 43.3 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 4.5 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People Living in Bluff
In 2000, Bluff had 320 residents. The town is home to a mix of people. About 62.5% of the people were White, and 35% were Native American. About 4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The population includes people of all ages. About 26% were under 18 years old. Around 10% were 65 years or older. The average age in Bluff was 38 years old.
Education in Bluff
The San Juan School District runs Bluff Elementary School. This school serves the children living in Bluff.
Fun Things to See and Do in Bluff
Bluff has several interesting places to visit and events to enjoy:
- Bluff Fort and Visitors Center: Learn about the town's early history.
- Navajo Twin Rocks: These are famous rock formations.
- Bluff Pioneer Cemetery: A historic cemetery.
- Trading Post: A place to find unique items.
- Bears Ear Education Center: Learn about the nearby Bears Ears National Monument.
- Historic buildings and sites: Many old buildings in Bluff are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
There are also fun events throughout the year:
- Winter Balloon Festival: Held in January, you can see hot air balloons.
- Bluff Arts Festival: Happens in October, celebrating local art.
- Utah Navajo Fair: Takes place in September.
Famous People from Bluff
Some notable people have connections to Bluff:
- Charles Lang: An award-winning cinematographer (someone who works with cameras for movies).
- Albert R. Lyman: A writer.
- Jane McKechnie Walton: A pioneer.
- Ellen Meloy: A writer.
- Charles Redd: A rancher and politician who served in the Utah House of Representatives.
Images for kids
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Characteristic scenery of Bluff, Utah
See also
In Spanish: Bluff (Utah) para niños
