Summit County Resource Assessment

Summit County has played a pivotal role in the settlement of Utah and the Western United States being on the route of the first Mormon pioneers as they made their way to Utah. Summit County, the 13th county in the territory, was first recognized by the Utah Legislature Friday, January 13, 1854.

The high alpine valleys tucked between the Uinta and Wasatch Mountains served as traditional hunting grounds for the Shoshone and Ute tribes for thousands of years, before the arrival of the white man. The natural riches of the mountains continue to supply much needed water for the area and the Wasatch front from the numerous mountain springs, four rivers, and two major storage reservoirs at Echo and Rockport. Minerals from the mines have produced silver, gold, lead and zinc worth millions of dollars that helped build the state and Intermountain west. Timber and coal have been an economic resource; however there are no coal mines currently in operation.

Agriculture has been a prominent industry with irrigated hay fields and pastures in the valleys. Sheep and cattle are raised in the valleys and utilize the rangeland in the mountains in the summer. In recent years a new trend in land ownership has changed the nature of agriculture in some areas from large scale full-time livestock operations to small 10 to 20 acre properties owned by retirees and businessmen who value a pastoral lifestyle.

Complete Assessment - Land Use Statistics

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Summit County, Utah Resource Assessment (885 KB)

Summary Assessment - Land Use Statistics

Last Modified:  09/19/2006

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