Helper, Utah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Helper, Utah
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North along Main Street, September 2023
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Location within Carbon County and the State of Utah
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Location of Utah in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| County | Carbon |
| Settled | c. 1881 |
| Incorporated | 1907 |
| Became a city | October 9, 1915 |
| Founded by | Teancum Pratt |
| Named for | Helper engines |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.81 sq mi (4.68 km2) |
| • Land | 1.81 sq mi (4.68 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 5,909 ft (1,801 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 2,201 |
| • Density | 1,164.91/sq mi (449.87/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
84526
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| Area code(s) | 435 |
| FIPS code | 49-34530 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410737 |
Helper is a city in Carbon County, Utah, United States. It is about 110 miles (177 km) southeast of Salt Lake City. In 2010, 2,201 people lived there.
The city is located along the Price River and U.S. Route 6/U.S. Route 191. This route is a shortcut between Provo and Interstate 70. Helper is also home to the Western Mining and Railroad Museum. This museum shows what life was like in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Contents
Exploring Helper's Past
Helper started to grow when the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW) arrived in 1881. The railroad built many homes and planned to make Helper a major freight stop. This happened after they changed the train tracks from narrow to standard size. By 1892, Helper became an important point between two major railroad terminals. A new train station and other buildings were built.
In 1897, a famous outlaw named Butch Cassidy and his partner Elzy Lay robbed a coal company nearby. They had stayed in Helper the day before. People say Butch Cassidy even visited Helper sometimes after that.
How Helper Grew and Changed
Helper grew slowly but steadily. At first, it had a few stores and saloons. A school was built in 1891. By 1895, the railroad buildings in Helper had electricity. They also built two reservoirs for water.
Helper became a place with many different cultures. The railroad and coal mines needed many workers. So, people from southern and eastern Europe and Asia came to Helper. Chinese workers arrived early to work in the mines and on the railroads. Later, Italians and Austrians also began to arrive. In 1900, Helper had 385 people from 16 different countries.
After a coal miners' strike in 1903–04, some Italian workers moved to Helper. They started businesses and farms along the Price River. This helped Helper grow even more.
A Hub for Many Cultures
In the early 1900s, Greek and Japanese immigrants also came to Helper. Helper became a central spot for the coal mining areas. It offered services to the nearby mining camps. By 1912, Helper had about 850 people and 29 businesses. The town officially became a city in 1907.
By the 1920s, Helper had many businesses owned by different ethnic groups. There were specialty shops, cafes, theaters, and general stores. This showed that immigrants could start their own businesses in Helper.
Helper was known as a "hub" because it was located among many mining camps. It was a safe place where workers and others could gather during difficult times. People from different cultures shared their traditions. Over time, many of these traditions changed and mixed in Helper.
Helper During Tough Times
Even during the Great Depression, Helper stayed somewhat stable because it was a railroad center. The city hall was built in 1927, and a civic auditorium in 1936. The railroad also brought in more business by connecting with other major train lines.
Coal mining increased during World War II and stayed strong for a while. However, some towns near Helper could not survive hard economic times. Many became ghost towns between the 1930s and 1970s. These include places like Castle Gate and Standardville.
In 2006, True West Magazine named Helper the top western town.
Power Plant Changes
A power plant in Helper, which had been running since 1954, closed on April 15, 2015. This was due to new rules about air pollution.
Why Helper Got Its Name
Helper is located at the entrance of Price Canyon. Trains traveling west from the Price side to the Salt Lake City side needed extra "helper" engines. These engines helped push the trains up the steep 15-mile (24 km) climb to Soldier Summit. The town was named after these special helper engines used by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad.
Helper's Location and Weather
Helper covers about 1.8 square miles (4.68 square kilometers) of land. It is located along the Price River.
Climate in Helper
Helper has a climate with hot summers.
| Climate data for Helper, Utah | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 57 (14) |
64 (18) |
80 (27) |
80 (27) |
93 (34) |
98 (37) |
105 (41) |
102 (39) |
90 (32) |
86 (30) |
78 (26) |
55 (13) |
105 (41) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 36 (2) |
41 (5) |
50 (10) |
58 (14) |
69 (21) |
80 (27) |
87 (31) |
84 (29) |
74 (23) |
60 (16) |
46 (8) |
36 (2) |
60 (16) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 18 (−8) |
21 (−6) |
29 (−2) |
34 (1) |
42 (6) |
52 (11) |
58 (14) |
57 (14) |
48 (9) |
37 (3) |
26 (−3) |
18 (−8) |
37 (3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −9 (−23) |
−9 (−23) |
2 (−17) |
11 (−12) |
20 (−7) |
29 (−2) |
36 (2) |
35 (2) |
26 (−3) |
12 (−11) |
0 (−18) |
−14 (−26) |
−14 (−26) |
| Average rainfall inches (mm) | 1.03 (26) |
1.09 (28) |
0.96 (24) |
1.24 (31) |
1.25 (32) |
1.03 (26) |
1.22 (31) |
1.27 (32) |
1.89 (48) |
1.70 (43) |
0.67 (17) |
0.81 (21) |
14.16 (359) |
| Source: Weather.com | |||||||||||||
Who Lives in Helper?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 402 | — | |
| 1910 | 905 | 125.1% | |
| 1920 | 1,606 | 77.5% | |
| 1930 | 2,707 | 68.6% | |
| 1940 | 2,843 | 5.0% | |
| 1950 | 2,850 | 0.2% | |
| 1960 | 2,459 | −13.7% | |
| 1970 | 1,964 | −20.1% | |
| 1980 | 2,724 | 38.7% | |
| 1990 | 2,148 | −21.1% | |
| 2000 | 2,025 | −5.7% | |
| 2010 | 2,201 | 8.7% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 2,105 | −4.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, Helper had 2,025 people living in 814 households. About 31.8% of households had children under 18. Many families were married couples living together. The average household had 2.44 people.
The population included people of different ages. About 25.5% were under 18. The average age was 39 years old.
Schools in Helper
Helper has two schools that are part of the Carbon School District.
- Sally Mauro Elementary is the elementary school.
- Helper Middle School is located nearby.
Getting Around Helper
Amtrak, the national passenger train service, stops at Helper station. The California Zephyr train travels through Helper every day. It goes between Chicago and Emeryville, California. Helper is also on U.S. Route 6 and 191. These roads connect to other major routes like I-70.
Famous People from Helper
- Tom M. Apostol, a mathematician.
- Pat Boyack, a musician.
- Jay Lambert, an Olympic boxer.
- Helen Z. Papanikolas, a historian and writer.
See also
In Spanish: Helper para niños
