Delta, Utah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Delta, Utah
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Location in Millard County and the state of Utah.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| County | Millard |
| Settled | 1906 |
| Named for | Delta of the Sevier River |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.61 sq mi (22.31 km2) |
| • Land | 8.49 sq mi (22.00 km2) |
| • Water | 0.12 sq mi (0.31 km2) |
| Elevation | 4,639 ft (1,414 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,622 |
| • Density | 420.67/sq mi (162.35/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
84624
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| Area code(s) | 435 |
| FIPS code | 49-18910 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410320 |
| Website | http://www.delta.utah.gov/ |
Delta is the biggest city in Millard County, Utah, United States. It is found in the northeastern part of Millard County, right next to the Sevier River. The area around Delta is mostly farmland. In 2020, about 3,622 people lived there.
Contents
History of Delta
Delta started as a small railroad switch called Aiken. In 1905, its name changed to Melville when people began planning to build an irrigation system and a dam. People could buy land cheaply if they agreed to develop it.
The name changed again to Burtner in 1908 because "Melville" sounded too much like "Millville," another town in Utah. Finally, on May 11, 1911, the town was named Delta. This name fits well because the area is a delta of the Sevier River.
Topaz Relocation Camp
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During World War II, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, many Japanese-Americans were moved to special camps. This was done to protect military areas. One of these camps, called the Central Utah Relocation Center, was built near Delta. People from the San Francisco Bay Area lived there.
Today, the Topaz Museum in Delta helps keep the history of these camps alive. It shares information about what happened there.
Great Basin Museum
You can learn about the history of the Delta area at The Great Basin Museum. It has many displays and items from the past.
Gunnison Massacre Site
John Williams Gunnison was a leader of a government team exploring near the Sevier Lake. He and his team were attacked by Pahvant Native Americans and killed. This site marks that historical event.
Geography and Climate
Delta is located in a flat area. The city covers about 3.2 square miles (8.3 square kilometers) of land.
Delta's Climate
Delta has a cold semi-arid climate. This means it gets hot summers and cold winters. Because Delta is high up and dry, the temperature drops quickly after the sun goes down, especially in summer. Winters are chilly, with temperatures often below freezing at night. Delta's weather is similar to Salt Lake City but much drier.
| Climate data for Delta, Utah, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1965–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 64 (18) |
74 (23) |
86 (30) |
94 (34) |
103 (39) |
107 (42) |
110 (43) |
106 (41) |
106 (41) |
92 (33) |
79 (26) |
70 (21) |
110 (43) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 53.6 (12.0) |
62.6 (17.0) |
75.7 (24.3) |
83.2 (28.4) |
91.1 (32.8) |
100.1 (37.8) |
104.2 (40.1) |
101.7 (38.7) |
95.4 (35.2) |
85.4 (29.7) |
68.6 (20.3) |
57.4 (14.1) |
104.5 (40.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 39.1 (3.9) |
46.5 (8.1) |
58.0 (14.4) |
64.9 (18.3) |
75.5 (24.2) |
86.7 (30.4) |
95.1 (35.1) |
92.9 (33.8) |
82.2 (27.9) |
67.5 (19.7) |
51.4 (10.8) |
39.4 (4.1) |
66.6 (19.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 27.4 (−2.6) |
33.5 (0.8) |
42.6 (5.9) |
48.8 (9.3) |
58.2 (14.6) |
68.0 (20.0) |
76.2 (24.6) |
74.2 (23.4) |
63.9 (17.7) |
50.4 (10.2) |
37.1 (2.8) |
27.1 (−2.7) |
50.6 (10.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 15.7 (−9.1) |
20.6 (−6.3) |
27.1 (−2.7) |
32.6 (0.3) |
40.9 (4.9) |
49.3 (9.6) |
57.4 (14.1) |
55.6 (13.1) |
45.6 (7.6) |
33.4 (0.8) |
22.8 (−5.1) |
14.8 (−9.6) |
34.7 (1.5) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −3.1 (−19.5) |
2.6 (−16.3) |
13.7 (−10.2) |
18.8 (−7.3) |
26.9 (−2.8) |
35.2 (1.8) |
46.1 (7.8) |
45.1 (7.3) |
30.2 (−1.0) |
18.4 (−7.6) |
5.2 (−14.9) |
−3.3 (−19.6) |
−8.4 (−22.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −25 (−32) |
−27 (−33) |
−8 (−22) |
12 (−11) |
15 (−9) |
25 (−4) |
37 (3) |
35 (2) |
21 (−6) |
−2 (−19) |
−13 (−25) |
−30 (−34) |
−30 (−34) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.63 (16) |
0.64 (16) |
0.80 (20) |
0.94 (24) |
0.92 (23) |
0.48 (12) |
0.35 (8.9) |
0.54 (14) |
0.71 (18) |
0.91 (23) |
0.50 (13) |
0.59 (15) |
8.01 (203) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 5.5 (14) |
5.3 (13) |
3.9 (9.9) |
2.2 (5.6) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.8 (2.0) |
3.2 (8.1) |
4.4 (11) |
25.3 (64) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5.6 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 6.3 | 6.1 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 5.4 | 60.1 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 3.3 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 3.5 | 16.0 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Sevier River and Lake
The Sevier River flows close to Delta. Farmers use most of its water for irrigation. The river eventually ends at the dry Sevier Lake.
DMAD Reservoir
Upstream from Delta, the Sevier River is dammed. This creates the DMAD reservoir. DMAD stands for Deseret Melville Abraham and Delta water company. This reservoir provides water for farms and helps cool the Intermountain Power Project. Farming is very important to Delta's economy.
Gunnison Bend Reservoir
Downstream from Delta, the Sevier River is dammed again. This creates the Gunnison Bend Reservoir. It is also used for irrigation and storing water. The reservoir is named after John Williams Gunnison.
Population and People
Delta has grown steadily over the years. In 2000, there were 3,209 people living in the city. Most residents are White, with a notable Hispanic or Latino population. The city has many families, and about 48% of households have children under 18. The average age in Delta is 28 years old.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 459 | — | |
| 1920 | 939 | 104.6% | |
| 1930 | 1,183 | 26.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,304 | 10.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,703 | 30.6% | |
| 1960 | 1,576 | −7.5% | |
| 1970 | 1,610 | 2.2% | |
| 1980 | 1,930 | 19.9% | |
| 1990 | 2,998 | 55.3% | |
| 2000 | 3,209 | 7.0% | |
| 2010 | 3,436 | 7.1% | |
| 2020 | 3,622 | 5.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Economy and Jobs
Delta has several important industries that provide jobs for its residents.
Intermountain Power Project (IPP)
One of the biggest employers in Delta is the Intermountain Power Project, or I.P.P. This large power plant uses coal to make electricity. It sends a lot of this power to Los Angeles in California. The plant has two big units, each making a lot of electricity.
Materion Natural Resources
North of Delta, there is a plant called Materion's. It refines a special metal called beryllium. Beryllium is very strong and light. It is used in things like military equipment, spacecraft, and medical tools. This plant is one of the only places in North America that processes beryllium.
Graymont Lime
Graymont Lime has a large plant southwest of Delta. It is one of the biggest lime plants in the United States. Lime is used in many industries, like construction and agriculture.
Farming in Delta
Agriculture is a big part of Delta's economy.
- Alfalfa Hay: Alfalfa hay is the main crop grown in the Delta area. Because the climate is dry, farmers can control how much moisture is in the hay when they bale it. This helps prevent mold from growing.
- Dairy Farms: Many dairy farmers live in Delta. They produce milk that is often sent to other places.
Science and Discoveries
Cosmic Ray Center
Delta is home to the Lon and Mary Watson Cosmic Ray Center. This center is a main base for the Telescope Array Project. Scientists here study cosmic rays, which are tiny particles from space.
Fossils and Minerals
Millard County is a great place to find fossils. You can find Trilobite fossils west of Delta. Several local companies let visitors dig for their own fossils for a small fee.
Near Delta, there is a mountain called Topaz Mountain. It gets its name from the beautiful topaz crystals found there. Other cool minerals and rocks found near Delta include obsidian, opal, and geodes.
Education in Delta
Delta has three public schools for students of all ages. There is also a special vocational school.
Schools in Delta
- Delta Elementary School: This school teaches younger students.
- Delta Middle School: This school serves students in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. It has about 420 students from Delta and nearby communities.
- Delta High School: This public high school serves students from Delta and surrounding small towns. It is a central part of the community.
- Delta Technical Center: This vocational school offers hands-on classes. Students can learn skills like welding, machining, and woodworking.
Fun Things to Do
Delta has several exciting events and attractions throughout the year.
Snow Goose Festival
Every winter, the Snow Goose Festival takes place. Many geese stop at Gunnison Bend Reservoir during their migration. People come to watch these beautiful birds.
Demolition Derby
Each year on July 4th, the Hinckley Lions Club puts on a huge demolition derby. Cars crash into each other in a fun competition. Over 3,000 people come to watch this exciting event. After the derby, Delta City sponsors a fireworks show.
Days of the Old West Rodeo
A professional rodeo, called the Days of the Old West Rodeo, happens every year. Cowboys and cowgirls compete in different rodeo events.
Images for kids
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Delta, Utah skyline
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Location of Delta in Millard County
See also
In Spanish: Delta (Utah) para niños
