Roosevelt, Utah facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Roosevelt, Utah
City
Location in Duchesne County and the state of Utah
Country	United States
State	Utah
County	Duchesne
Founded	1905
Named for	Theodore Roosevelt
Area
• Total	6.76 sq mi (17.50 km2)
• Land	6.76 sq mi (17.50 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	5,197 ft (1,584 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,747
• Density	998.08/sq mi (385.54/km2)
Time zone	UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code	84066
Area code(s)	435
FIPS code	49-64670
GNIS feature ID	2410991

Roosevelt is a city in Duchesne County, Utah, United States. It is a growing community. In 2020, about 6,747 people lived there. This was an increase of 701 people from 2010.

The city's name is pronounced "ROH-zə-velt". This is how President Theodore Roosevelt said his own name. He said it sounded like "Rosavelt."

Roosevelt is also home to a campus of Utah State University. This means students can study there.

Exploring Roosevelt's Location and Climate

Roosevelt is a city with interesting geography and weather. It sits in a special part of Utah.

Where is Roosevelt Located?

The city is on the eastern edge of Duchesne County. It is very close to the border with Uintah County. The town of Ballard is right next to Roosevelt on its east side.

Two main roads, U.S. Routes 40 and 191, go through Roosevelt. They are called Main Street. These roads connect Roosevelt to other towns. For example, you can drive about 30 miles east to Vernal. Or, you can go about 28 miles west to Duchesne.

The city of Roosevelt covers an area of about 6.76 square miles (17.5 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

Roosevelt's Weather Patterns

Roosevelt has a cold semi-arid climate. This means it is generally dry, but it can get very cold in winter. It also gets quite hot in summer.

The hottest temperature ever recorded in Roosevelt was 105°F (41°C). This happened on July 18, 1998. The coldest temperature recorded was -47°F (-44°C). This was on February 6, 1989.

People Living in Roosevelt

The number of people living in Roosevelt has changed over the years. It has grown quite a bit.

The Story of Roosevelt: How the City Began

Roosevelt has a fascinating history. It started as a place where people could claim land.

Early Days and Homesteading

In 1905, a new law allowed people to settle on land that was part of the Ute Indian Reservation. Many people hoped to get a piece of this land. They gathered in cities like Provo and Grand Junction. They wanted to win a chance to claim land in the fertile Uinta Basin.

Throughout late 1905 and early 1906, these settlers arrived in the Uinta Basin. They were looking for a new home.

Founding the Town of Roosevelt

The town of Roosevelt began in early 1906. A man named Ed Harmston turned his land claim into a town. He planned out different plots for homes and businesses. His wife decided to name the new town after the President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt.

At first, the town was called Dry Gulch City. This name came from a nearby gulch (a small canyon). This gulch only had water during the spring when snow melted. Soon, the new town had a store, a post office, and an irrigation company. In 1907, the Harmstons gave 2 acres of land for a school. The first class had about fifteen students. They had to bring their own books from home.

Roosevelt quickly became an important center for the area. It grew bigger than nearby towns like Myton and Duchesne.

Becoming an Official City

Roosevelt is located on U.S. Route 40. It is in the northeast part of Utah, south of the Uinta Mountains. The city is about 5,250 feet (1,600 meters) above sea level.

The town officially became a city on February 21, 1913. This happened after 44 citizens voted for it. From 1906 to 1914, Roosevelt was part of Wasatch County. But in 1914, Duchesne County was created from part of Wasatch County. Roosevelt was the biggest town in the new county. People thought it would become the county seat (the main town for the county government). However, after a county-wide vote, the county seat went to Duchesne instead.

Roosevelt's Economy: How People Make a Living

Roosevelt is a busy place. It serves as a business hub for many people in the surrounding area.

Main Industries in Roosevelt

Even though Roosevelt has about 6,700 residents, it is the business center for many more people. These people live in smaller towns and farming communities nearby.

Roosevelt is in an area with a lot of oil reserves. These oil fields stretch across northeast Utah and into western Colorado. When oil prices go up, the town's economy "booms." This means there are more jobs and businesses do well. When oil prices drop, times can be harder. There is a plan to build a new railroad line, called the Uinta Basin Rail project. This railroad would help transport the oil drilled in the area.

In the past, Roosevelt had an oil refinery called "Plateau." This refinery processed a special type of oil found in the area. It was known as "Uinta Basin Black Wax Crude." This oil needed a different refining process than most other types of oil.

Other Ways People Earn Money

Besides oil, farming is also very important around Roosevelt. Farmers raise beef cattle, sheep, pigs, and horses. They also produce honey and hay.

Roosevelt is also home to the only hospital in the county. It is called Uintah Basin Medical Center. This hospital provides important healthcare services for the community.

Learning in Roosevelt: Education Opportunities

Roosevelt is a center for education in Duchesne County. It has schools for all ages.

Schools in the Area

Roosevelt is part of the Duchesne County School District. This district manages the public schools in the area.

The city has several schools. These include:

• Eagle View Elementary (Kindergarten to 8th grade)
• East Elementary School (Kindergarten to 5th grade)
• Kings Peak Elementary (Kindergarten to 5th grade)
• Centennial Elementary (Kindergarten to 5th grade)
• Roosevelt Junior High School (6th to 8th grade)
• Thompsen School (3rd to 12th grade)

High School and Higher Education

Roosevelt is home to Union High School. This school used to be right on the border between Duchesne and Uintah Counties. That's why it was named "Union."

A new Union High School building was recently built. It is located just behind the old school, a little further west. The new school was needed because the old one was getting too small for all the students. The new building provides more space for future generations.

Roosevelt also has higher education options. These include Uintah Basin Technical College and Utah State University's Uintah Basin Regional Campus. These places offer training and college courses.

Community Life and Traditions in Roosevelt

Roosevelt is a place where many different cultures and beliefs come together.

Religion and Diversity

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest religious group in Roosevelt. They have three main meeting places in town. However, the community also includes other religious groups. These include Roman Catholic, Christian Assembly of God, Baptist, and Jehovah's Witnesses. There are also other smaller church groups.

Roosevelt is located near the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation. This is where the Ute Indian Tribe has its headquarters. Because of this, Roosevelt is a multicultural community. Many Caucasians and Native Americans live there.

Local Celebrations

Throughout the summer and fall, many Pow-Wows and Indian Ceremonies are held in the area. These events celebrate Native American culture and traditions.

Roosevelt also has its own yearly celebration called UBIC (Uintah Basin in Celebration). This event started a long time ago. It used to be a display of new farming and industrial tools. Today, it is a big party with a parade, a talent show, concerts, and dances. It's a fun time for everyone in the community.

Famous People from Roosevelt

• Reed Cowan, an Emmy-winning news anchor, filmmaker, and helper of others.
• Laraine Day, a well-known actress.

See also

In Spanish: Roosevelt (Utah) para niños