Centerfield, Utah Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Centerfield, Utah
City
Centerfield City Hall, June 2005
Location in Sanpete County and the state of Utah.
Country	United States
State	Utah
County	Sanpete
Settled	1869
Incorporated	1909
Area
• Total	1.91 sq mi (4.93 km²)
• Land	1.91 sq mi (4.93 km²)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km²)
Elevation	5,099 ft (1,554 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	1,367
• Estimate (2019)	1,495
• Density	784.78/sq mi (303.03/km²)
Time zone	UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code	84622
Area code(s)	435
FIPS code	49-11870
GNIS feature ID	1426506

Centerfield is a city located in southwestern Sanpete County, Utah, United States. In 2020, about 1,341 people lived there. Centerfield was once a town, but it is now classified as a city. It got its name because it is in the middle of a large valley.

Geography and Climate
- What is Centerfield's Climate Like?
Population and People
History of Centerfield
Education
Images for kids
See also

Geography and Climate

Centerfield covers about 1.8 square miles (4.7 square kilometers) of land.

What is Centerfield's Climate Like?

Centerfield has a semi-arid climate. This means it's usually dry, but not a desert. It gets some rain, but not a lot.

Population and People

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1910	841	—
1920	566	−32.7%
1930	554	−2.1%
1940	598	7.9%
1950	601	0.5%
1960	475	−21.0%
1970	419	−11.8%
1980	653	55.8%
1990	766	17.3%
2000	1,048	36.8%
2010	1,367	30.4%
2019 (est.)	1,495	9.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2000, there were 1,048 people living in Centerfield. The population density was about 581 people per square mile. Most people were White, with a smaller number of Native American, Asian, and other races. About 8.5% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino background.

Many households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 3.4 people. The average age of people in Centerfield was 25 years old. This means it's a relatively young community.

History of Centerfield

Welcome to Centerfield sign, November 2015

Centerfield was first settled in 1869. It was known by a few different names before it became Centerfield.

What was Centerfield Called Before?

Around 1880, Centerfield was sometimes called "Skin Town." This unusual name came from a time when many cattle died during a harsh winter. Ranchers saved the cowhides and hung them on fences to dry using a new tanning method. So many hides were drying that the fences looked like they were covered in "skins."

It was also known as South Gunnison or Twin Town. When the town officially became a city in 1907, residents chose the name Centerfield. They picked this name because of its central spot in the valley.

How Did Centerfield Grow?

Centerfield started as a small farming community south of Gunnison. Farmers worked small plots of land with simple tools. After conflicts with Native Americans ended, people began building log and adobe houses.

In 1876, residents asked for a school closer to their homes. By 1882, a log cabin was built. It served as a school, church, and community hall. A stone church was built in 1886-87, showing the strong community spirit.

The Sugar Factory in Centerfield

In 1918, the Gunnison Valley Sugar Company built a large sugar factory in Centerfield. This factory helped process sugar beets grown in the area. The equipment for this factory came from a plant in Washington State.

Later, in 1920, the William Wrigley Jr. Company bought the factory. They used the sugar to make chewing gum! The factory changed hands again in 1940. It closed in 1956, reopened for a few years, and then was sold for parts in 1966.