Oakley, Utah facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oakley, Utah
City
Oakley Town Hall
Location in Summit County and the state of Utah
Country	United States
State	Utah
County	Summit
Settled	1868
Incorporated	1933
Named for	Gambel oak
Area
• Total	7.09 sq mi (18.36 km2)
• Land	7.08 sq mi (18.35 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation	6,585 ft (2,007 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	1,470
• Estimate  (2019)	1,740
• Density	245.66/sq mi (94.85/km2)
Time zone	UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code	84055
Area code(s)	435
FIPS code	49-55650
GNIS feature ID	2411296

Oakley is a city in Summit County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 2010, about 1,470 people lived there.

Geography and Climate

Where is Oakley Located?

Oakley is about 45 miles (72 km) east of Salt Lake City. It sits in the Kamas Valley. The city is a gateway to the Uinta Mountains. Its elevation is about 6,500 feet (1,981 m) above sea level.

The Weber River flows near Oakley. You can follow the scenic Weber Canyon Road to its source. Another scenic route follows the Smith and Morehouse Creek. This leads to a reservoir about 15 miles (24 km) from Oakley. Nearby towns include Marion, Kamas, and Peoa.

Land Area and Climate

The city covers about 6.3 square miles (16.3 km2) of land. There is no significant water area within the city limits.

Oakley has a humid continental climate. This means it has big temperature changes throughout the year. Summers are warm to hot, and sometimes humid. Winters are cold, and can be very cold. This climate type is known as "Dfb" on climate maps.

Population and People

How Many People Live in Oakley?

In 2000, Oakley had 948 residents. There were 278 households and 232 families. The population density was about 150 people per square mile (58 people/km2).

Most people in Oakley are White. A small percentage are Hispanic or Latino. Many households (48.2%) had children under 18. Most families (74.5%) were married couples living together.

The average age of people in Oakley in 2000 was 32 years old. About 36.8% of the population was under 18.

History of Oakley

Early Inhabitants and Explorers

Before Mormon pioneers arrived, Ute Indians lived in the valley. A monument built in 1939 honors their history. It notes that the valley was a summer home for Ute Indians. They came to hunt, fish, and gather wild plants. The monument also mentions the "Weber River Indian Trail." This trail was used by Indians, scouts, and pioneers.

In 1850, Brigham Young sent Parley P. Pratt to explore the valley. Pratt reported that it was a good valley with plenty of grass and water.

Thomas Rhodes was the first white person to spend a winter here in 1853. He was an explorer, trapper, and prospector. He was also a friend of Brigham Young. Rhodes would sometimes go into the Uinta Mountains and return with gold.

First Settlers and Naming the Town

The first settlers in Oakley were William Stevens and his wife, Emma Crowden Stevens. They moved there in 1868. Other families soon followed, like the Fraziers, Johnsons, and Hortins. Many of these family names are still important in the town today.

Oakley was first called "Oak Creek." This name came from a creek east of the town that had many oak trees. The town changed its name to "Oakley" in the late 1880s. The new name was chosen from a contest among the settlers.

Growth and Community Life

The current town hall was built in 1903. It was originally a church building. A schoolhouse was built in 1904.

Oakley officially became a town in 1933. It was built on land bought from the Union Pacific Company. Oakley has kept its small-town feel. It is mostly an agricultural community. In the past, it produced a lot of dairy products. Now, it focuses more on raising cattle and horses. People also grow hay.

Oakley is also a great place for outdoor activities. You can go hiking, fishing, horseback riding, camping, hunting, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing. All these activities are very close to town.

Memories from Early Residents

Charles Reed Seymour shared memories of Oakley in the early 1900s. He said that around 1912, Oakley was a very small community. It had about 400 to 500 people. There was a lumber mill, a flour mill, a general store, and a church.

His family's first home was a log house. Later, his father built a new concrete block house. Like most homes back then, it had an outdoor bathroom and no running water.

Seymour also shared a story about seeing a grizzly bear with his mother and siblings. They were looking for their milk cow when they saw the bear. His mother told them to stay still and quiet. The bear eventually walked away. It was common to see wild animals like bears and mountain lions in the area back then.

Local Businesses and Water Discovery

Ken Woolstenhulme bought the local grocery store, "The Merc," in 1971. He renamed it "Ken's Kash." He sold it in 2008. The store was a gathering place for locals. It was also one of the last places to sell penny candy. For a while, the store even served as the local post office.

Ken Woolstenhulme has been very involved in Oakley. He has served as postmaster, county commissioner, school board member, and town mayor.

In 1998, Mayor Doug Evans and the town found an underground water source. This water was about 1,900 feet (579 m) below the surface. Tests showed the water was very pure. It was free of modern pollution. Oakley now uses this water for its city supply. Local businesses also bottle and sell this pure water.

Local Attractions

Oakley's Famous Rodeo

Oakley is most famous for its annual rodeo. It happens every year on the Fourth of July weekend. This rodeo is approved by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. In 2005, it celebrated its 75th anniversary. A new 6,000-seat arena was built for the rodeo.

Town Park and Dining

A large town park surrounds the rodeo grounds. It hosts softball, baseball, and soccer tournaments in the summer. In the fall, there is Ute League football. Recreational soccer is played in the spring.

Oakley has two places to eat. One is the local Polar King. The other is the Road Island Diner. This diner is a former train car that was turned into a restaurant. It is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Education

Oakley is part of the South Summit School District.

There was once a boarding school for high school students called Oakley School. It was located in Oakley but closed in 2017.

Notable People

• Actress Katherine Heigl and her husband, country musician Josh Kelley, live on their ranch in Oakley.
• Jake, a famous rescue dog, lived in the city with his owner, Mary Flood.

See also

• In Spanish: Oakley (Utah) para niños