According to Liuxers, San Juan County is located in the southeastern corner of Utah, and is bordered by Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. The county covers an area of 7,921 square miles and has a population of 15,311 as of the 2020 census. The county seat is Monticello.
The main economic drivers in San Juan County are tourism, agriculture, and mining. Tourism is a big draw to the area with many people visiting for its spectacular scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities. Agriculture is also important to the economy with cattle ranching being one of the main agricultural activities in the area. Mining plays an important role in San Juan County as well with uranium being mined in the area since 1949.
The climate in San Juan County can vary greatly depending on location and elevation with temperatures ranging from hot summers to cold winters. Average annual precipitation ranges from 10-20 inches per year with most rainfall occurring during the winter months.
San Juan County has a rich history dating back thousands of years when it was home to ancient Native American tribes such as the Anasazi and Puebloan peoples. Today, San Juan County is home to two Native American tribes; Navajo Nation (Diné) and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe (UTMU).
San Juan County offers a wide range of recreational activities including camping, hiking, fishing, off-roading, hunting, mountain biking, horseback riding, rock climbing and more. There are several national parks located within San Juan County including Arches National Park (Arches), Canyonlands National Park (Canyonlands), Natural Bridges National Monument (Natural Bridges), Rainbow Bridge National Monument (Rainbow Bridge) and Hovenweep National Monument (Hovenweep). Other popular attractions include Goosenecks State Park (Goosenecks) which offers some spectacular views of the surrounding landscape; Valley Of The Gods (Valley Of The Gods) which features stunning rock formations; Dead Horse Point State Park (Dead Horse Point); Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park (Monument Valley); Bears Ears National Monument (Bears Ears); Manti-La Sal National Forest (Manti-La Sal); Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument; Glen Canyon Recreation Area(Glen Canyon);and Glen Canyon Dam(Glen Canyon Dam).
San Juan County also offers a variety of cultural attractions such as museums like Edge Of The Cedars State Park Museum which houses artifacts from ancient Puebloan cultures; Edge Of The Cedars State Park Museum which features Navajo culture; Four Corners Historical Society Museum which showcases artifacts from all four corners states; Clay Mesa Petroglyphs which are ancient rock art created by Ancestral Puebloans; Newspaper Rock State Historic Site which features petroglyphs from various cultures including Ancient Puebloans; Hovenweep National Monument which contains six prehistoric villages built by Ancestral Puebloan people over 1 000 years ago; Moki Dugway Scenic Byway(Moki Dugway); Mexican Hat Rock Formation(Mexican Hat Rock Formation); Goosenecks State Park(Goosenecks); Rainbow Bridge Trailhead(Rainbow Bridge Trailhead); Valley Of The Gods Scenic Drive(Valley Of The Gods Scenic Drive); Bears Ears Visitor Center(Bears Ears Visitor Center); Manti La Sal Mountain Range Viewpoint(Manti La Sal Mountain Range Viewpoint);and many more.
History of San Juan County, Utah
San Juan County, Utah is located in the southeastern corner of the state and has a rich Native American history. The county is home to two Native American tribes, the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. For centuries, these two tribes have lived in the area and their cultures are deeply intertwined with the history of San Juan County.
The first Europeans to arrive in San Juan County were Catholic missionaries from Spain who established missions in the area in 1776. These missions were soon abandoned due to hostile native tribes and harsh weather conditions. In 1847, Mormon pioneers arrived in San Juan County and began to settle the area. They established several towns including Bluff, Montezuma Creek, Mexican Hat, Halchita, Blanding and Monticello.
During this time, many conflicts arose between settlers and Native Americans over land rights. In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed an executive order creating a reservation for Native Americans living in San Juan County which was later expanded by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1880. This reservation was later abolished by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905 as part of his allotment policy which sought to break up reservations into individual parcels of land for farming purposes.
In 1906, a group of ranchers founded San Juan County as a separate county from Grand County with Monticello being designated as its county seat. The population of San Juan County continued to grow throughout the 20th century with more people moving into the area due to its rich natural resources such as oil and uranium deposits as well as its proximity to national parks like Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.
Today, San Juan County is home to over 15 000 people who live mainly on small farms or ranches that specialize in cattle production or agriculture such as hay production or growing vegetables for local consumption or sale at farmers markets around Utah. The county is also home to several national monuments including Bears Ears National Monument; Natural Bridges National Monument; Rainbow Bridge National Monument; Hovenweep National Monument; Manti-La Sal National Forest; Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument; Glen Canyon Recreation Area; Glen Canyon Dam; Edge Of The Cedars State Park Museum; Four Corners Historical Society Museum; Clay Mesa Petroglyphs; Newspaper Rock State Historic Site; Moki Dugway Scenic Byway;Mexican Hat Rock Formation;Goosenecks State Park;Rainbow Bridge Trailhead;Valley Of The Gods Scenic Drive; Bears Ears Visitor Center; Manti La Sal Mountain Range Viewpoint. These monuments provide visitors with insight into both ancient Puebloan cultures and contemporary Navajo culture while also offering outdoor recreation opportunities such as hiking trails, biking paths, horseback riding trails, rock climbing routes, camping sites, fishing spots, etc.
Major cities and towns in San Juan County, Utah
Monticello is the county seat of San Juan County, Utah and is home to the majority of the county’s population. It has a population of over 3,000 people and is located in the southeastern part of the county. Monticello is known for its historic downtown area, which includes many old buildings that have been preserved from when it was founded in 1887. The city also has a variety of restaurants, shops, museums, and outdoor recreation areas. The nearby Blue Mountains provide beautiful views and are popular with hikers and nature lovers.
Just south of Monticello is Bluff, a small town with a population of just over 300 people. It was founded in 1880 as a trading post for local Navajo tribes and established as an official town in 1906. Bluff has become known for its hospitality to visitors from all over the world who come to enjoy its stunning views of Monument Valley and other nearby attractions such as natural hot springs and ancient cliff dwellings. Bluff also offers visitors plenty of opportunities to explore the outdoors with plenty of hiking trails, camping sites, and scenic drives throughout the region.
Blanding is another small town located in San Juan County which has a population of around 3,500 people. Blanding’s main attractions are its close proximity to several National Parks such as Canyonlands National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument, Hovenweep National Monument, Arches National Park and Monument Valley Tribal Park which are all within driving distance from Blanding’s city limits making it ideal destination for those looking to explore some of Utah’s most beautiful landscapes.
Airports in San Juan County, Utah
San Juan County, Utah is served by two airports: the Monticello Airport and the Blanding Municipal Airport. See Utah airports. The Monticello Airport is located just a few miles north of Monticello and handles both passenger and cargo flights. It has a single runway that can accommodate small to mid-sized aircraft, making it ideal for both business and leisure travelers. The airport also provides refueling, catering, and other services to make your travel experience as convenient as possible.
The Blanding Municipal Airport is located just south of Blanding and also services both passenger and cargo flights. This airport has two runways that can accommodate larger aircraft, making it an ideal destination for those looking to fly in from larger cities such as Salt Lake City or Denver. It also offers refueling, catering, ground transportation services, car rental facilities, and other amenities to make your trip more enjoyable.
Both airports offer easy access to nearby attractions such as Canyonlands National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument, Hovenweep National Monument, Arches National Park and Monument Valley Tribal Park which are all within driving distance from either airport making them great destinations for those looking to explore some of Utah’s most beautiful landscapes.