Santa Clara, Utah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Santa Clara, Utah
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Santa Clara City Hall
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Location in surrounding Washington County and the southwestern portion of the state of Utah
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Utah |
| County | Washington |
| Settled | 1854 |
| Founded by | Jacob Hamblin (1819-1886) |
| Named for | Santa Clara River |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.13 sq mi (15.87 km2) |
| • Land | 6.12 sq mi (15.85 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,759 ft (841 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,553 |
| • Density | 1,375.33/sq mi (531.03/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
84765
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| Area code(s) | 435 |
| FIPS code | 49-67660 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411818 |
Santa Clara is a city in southwestern Utah. It is located in Washington County and is part of the St. George Metropolitan Area. The city's population has grown a lot recently. In 2020, about 7,553 people lived there. This was up from 6,003 people in 2010. The area is close to the states of Arizona and Nevada. Santa Clara is a western suburb of St. George, Utah, which is a larger city nearby.
Contents
History of Santa Clara
Early Settlement and Founding
In 1854, a man named Jacob Hamblin was asked by Brigham Young to go on a mission. This mission was to the southern Paiute Native American areas. These areas were part of the Utah Territory at the time. Hamblin settled in Santa Clara, near where the city of St. George, Utah is today. Santa Clara is one of the oldest towns in this part of Utah.
Building Fort Clara
The first settlers built a place called Fort Clara. It was also known as Fort Santa Clara. They built it during the winter of 1855–1856. In the fall of 1861, people from Switzerland arrived. They were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Great Flood of 1862
In early 1862, a very big flood happened. The Santa Clara River overflowed. The flood destroyed Fort Clara and most other buildings. It also ruined the irrigation systems they had built. This event was part of a huge flood known as the Great Flood of 1862.
Jacob Hamblin's first home was destroyed in this flood. His second wife, Rachael, saved one of their young children. But the child later died from being too cold. Rachael also got very sick from the cold. After this, Hamblin built a new home on a hill. This was to avoid future floods. Today, this home is a museum. Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints give tours there every day.
Swiss Immigrants and Pioneers
In the 1800s, many people in Santa Clara were immigrants from Switzerland. They had joined the Latter-day Saints faith in Europe. Then they traveled across the Atlantic Ocean and North America to come to Utah.
One of these pioneers was Daniel Bonelli. After the 1862 flood, he helped settle St. Thomas, Nevada. He was a farmer and a salt miner. He also owned Bonelli's Ferry. This ferry was important for travel between the Utah Territory and the Arizona Territory. It was located where the Virgin River and the Colorado River meet.
Geography of Santa Clara
Santa Clara covers an area of about 4.9 square miles (12.7 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a very small part, about 0.04 square miles (0.1 square kilometers), is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 194 | — | |
| 1890 | 202 | 4.1% | |
| 1900 | 358 | 77.2% | |
| 1910 | 390 | 8.9% | |
| 1920 | 305 | −21.8% | |
| 1930 | 249 | −18.4% | |
| 1940 | 283 | 13.7% | |
| 1950 | 319 | 12.7% | |
| 1960 | 291 | −8.8% | |
| 1970 | 271 | −6.9% | |
| 1980 | 1,091 | 302.6% | |
| 1990 | 2,322 | 112.8% | |
| 2000 | 4,630 | 99.4% | |
| 2010 | 6,003 | 29.7% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 8,417 | 40.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 4,630 people living in Santa Clara. These people lived in 1,225 households. Most households were families, with 1,134 families living in the city. The population has grown a lot since then.
Many households in Santa Clara have children. About 57.3% of households had children under 18. Most households (86.0%) were married couples. The average household had about 3.78 people. The average family had about 3.96 people.
The population is quite young. About 40.2% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age in the city was 26 years.
Arts and Culture
Santa Clara has some important historical sites. These sites are important to the local history and to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One famous place is the historic Jacob Hamblin Home. This was the home of the pioneer settler Jacob Hamblin. Another important building is the old Relief Society house, which was built in 1907.
Education
Santa Clara has several public schools. All of these schools are part of the Washington County School District. These schools offer many sports and activities. They compete in Region 9 of the Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA).
Elementary Schools
- Santa Clara Elementary (for grades K-5)
- Arrowhead Elementary School (for grades K-5)
- Lava Ridge Intermediate School (for grades 6-7)
Secondary Schools
- Snow Canyon Middle School (for grades 8-9 in St. George, Utah)
- Snow Canyon High School (for grades 10-12 in St. George)
Higher Education
- Utah Tech University (located in St. George)
Notable People
- Wilford Brimley, a famous Hollywood actor and stuntman known for cowboy roles.
Images for kids
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Santa Clara City Hall
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Map showing Santa Clara's location
See also
In Spanish: Santa Clara (Utah) para niños
