Editing Blanding, Utah

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{short description|City in Utah, United States}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Blanding, Utah
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|motto                    = Basecamp to Adventure{{fact|date=May 2025}}
|image_skyline            = File:Blanding Utah Aerial (49806542326).jpg
|image_caption            = Aerial view of Blanding
|image_map                = San Juan County Utah incorporated and unincorporated areas Blanding highlighted.svg
|map_caption              = Location in [[San Juan County, Utah|San Juan County]] and the state of [[Utah]].
<!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Utah]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Utah|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[San Juan County, Utah|San Juan]]
|subdivision_type3        = 
|subdivision_name3        = 
|subdivision_type4        = 
|subdivision_name4        = 
<!-- Government ------------------>
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Trevor Olsen
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1905
|founder                  = Walter C. Lyman
|established_title2       = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
|established_date2        = 
|established_title3       = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
|established_date3        = 
|named_for                = Amelia Blanding Bicknell
<!-- Area    --------------------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_49.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 34.23
|area_land_km2            = 34.13
|area_water_km2           = 0.11
|area_total_sq_mi         = 13.22
|area_land_sq_mi          = 13.18
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.04
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_note          = 
|population_total         = 3394
|population_density_sq_mi = 275.73
|population_density_km2   = 106.46
<!-- General information  --------------->
|timezone                 = [[Mountain Standard Time Zone|MST]]
|utc_offset               = -7
|timezone_DST             = [[Mountain Daylight Time|MDT]]
|utc_offset_DST           = -6
|coordinates              = {{coord|37|37|24|N|109|28|44|W|region:US-UT|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 6099
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 84511
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|area_code                = 435
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 49-06370 <ref name="GR2" />
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2409863<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2409863}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://blanding-ut.gov/}} 
|footnotes                = 
}}
[[File:South face of Mormon Church meetinghouse in Blanding, Utah, USA, in fall 2018.jpg|thumb|right|LDS Church South Chapel]]
'''Blanding''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=En-us-blanding.oga|ˈ|b|l|æ|n|d|ɪ|ŋ}}) ({{Langx|NV|Shash Jaaʼ}}) is a city in [[San Juan County, Utah|San Juan County]], [[Utah]], United States. The population was 3,394 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]], making it the most populated city in San Juan County. It was settled in the late 19th century by Mormon settlers, predominantly from the famed [[Hole in the Rock (rock formation)|Hole-In-The-Rock]] expedition.  Economic contributors include mineral processing, mining, agriculture, local commerce, tourism, and transportation.

Blanding is located near both the [[Navajo Nation|Navajo]] and White Mesa [[Ute Tribe|Ute]] Native American reservations and a significant percentage of Blanding's population has family ties to these nearby cultures.  Blanding is a gateway to an abundance of nearby natural and archaeological resources, including [[The Dinosaur Museum (Utah)|The Dinosaur Museum]], [[Natural Bridges National Monument]], [[Monument Valley]], and the [[Four Corners]] area, [[Glen Canyon National Recreation Area]] (Lake Powell), [[Cedar Mesa]] archaeological and wilderness area, the [[San Juan River (Colorado River)|San Juan River]] including [[Goosenecks State Park]], and the Needles district of [[Canyonlands National Park]].  It is located approximately 1 hour south of the popular recreation hub of [[Moab, Utah|Moab]] and [[Arches National Park]].

Blanding is home to one of the nine statewide regional campuses of [[Utah State University]].

==History==
First known as '''Grayson''' (after Nellie Grayson Lyman, wife of settler Joseph Lyman), the town changed its name in 1914 when a wealthy easterner, [[Thomas W. Bicknell]], offered a thousand-volume library to any town that would adopt his name. Grayson competed with Thurber, Utah (renamed [[Bicknell, Utah|Bicknell]]) for the prize. Grayson was renamed '''Blanding''' after the maiden name of Bicknell's wife, and each town received 500 books.<ref name=Cott_1990 />

On the morning of June 10, 2009, sixteen Blanding residents were arrested in more than a dozen raids performed by federal agents and indicted as part of an undercover investigation of violations of the [[Archeological Resources Protection Act]]. Eight others around the [[Four Corners]] region were also indicted.<ref name="sltrib_20090610_chargelist" /> The raid was the largest undercover sting of its kind in the country.<ref name="ksl_20180510_raidcriticism" /><ref name="latimes_20090611_24charged" /> The raid was the conclusion of a two-year investigation by FBI and BLM agents code-named "Cerberus Action" in which an undercover agent was able to purchase 256 artifacts for $335,685. One indicted resident, Dr. James DeMar Redd, died by suicide on June 11. The undercover informant, Ted Gardiner, died by suicide on March 1, 2010.<ref name="latimes_20140921_stingdesert" />

==Demographics==
{{update|section|date=May 2025|reason=Newer information is available from the 2020 census report}}
{{US Census population
|align=
|1910= 385
|1920= 1072
|1930= 1001
|1940= 1438
|1950= 1177
|1960= 1805
|1970= 2250
|1980= 3118
|1990= 3162
|2000= 3162
|2010= 3375
|2020= 3394
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus" />{{fv|date=May 2025|reason=No mention of Blanding at the given link}}
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2010, there were 3,375 people, 1,013 households, and 785 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 1,332.7 people per square mile (515.1/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 1,110 housing units at an average density of 417.7 per square mile (161.4/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 66.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 29.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.09% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], .5% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.8% of the population.

There were 1,013 households, out of which 43.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.19, and the average family size was 3.71.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 39.2% under the age of 19, 9.87% from 20 to 24, 22% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $43,946, and the median income for a family was $50,833. Males had a median income of $42,667 versus $21,615 for females. About 14.1% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 34.0% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those aged 65 or over.

==Education==
The [[San Juan School District]] operates Blanding Elementary School, Albert R. Lyman Middle School, and [[San Juan High School (Utah)|San Juan High School]] in Blanding.

[[Utah State University]] has a campus in Blanding.

==Geography==
Blanding is located in the [[Four Corners]] area of the [[Colorado Plateau]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 2.4&nbsp;square miles (6.1&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), all land.

===Climate===
According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Blanding has a [[cold semi-arid climate]], abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Blanding was {{convert|110|F|C|1}} on June 22, 1905, while the coldest temperature recorded was {{convert|-23|F|C|1}} on February 8, 1933.<ref name=NOWData/>

{{Weather box
|location = Blanding, Utah, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1904–present
|single line = Yes
|collapsed   = yes
|Jan record high F = 63
|Feb record high F = 74
|Mar record high F = 86
|Apr record high F = 88
|May record high F = 98
|Jun record high F = 110
|Jul record high F = 109
|Aug record high F = 106
|Sep record high F = 100
|Oct record high F = 99
|Nov record high F = 79
|Dec record high F = 65

|Jan avg record high F = 52.6
|Feb avg record high F = 58.5
|Mar avg record high F = 70.1
|Apr avg record high F = 78.5
|May avg record high F = 87.7
|Jun avg record high F = 95.9
|Jul avg record high F = 98.9
|Aug avg record high F = 95.1
|Sep avg record high F = 90.2
|Oct avg record high F = 79.8
|Nov avg record high F = 66.1
|Dec avg record high F = 53.8
|year avg record high F = 99.3

|Jan high F = 39.6
|Feb high F = 44.6
|Mar high F = 54.6
|Apr high F = 62.2
|May high F = 72.5
|Jun high F = 84.4
|Jul high F = 88.8
|Aug high F = 85.9
|Sep high F = 78.0
|Oct high F = 64.6
|Nov high F = 50.7
|Dec high F = 39.7
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 31.0
|Feb mean F = 35.4
|Mar mean F = 43.6
|Apr mean F = 49.9
|May mean F = 59.3
|Jun mean F = 70.1
|Jul mean F = 75.5
|Aug mean F = 73.2
|Sep mean F = 65.5
|Oct mean F = 53.1
|Nov mean F = 40.8
|Dec mean F = 31.2
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 22.3
|Feb low F = 26.3
|Mar low F = 32.5
|Apr low F = 37.6
|May low F = 46.2
|Jun low F = 55.9
|Jul low F = 62.1
|Aug low F = 60.4
|Sep low F = 53.0
|Oct low F = 41.7
|Nov low F = 30.8
|Dec low F = 22.7
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 8.1
|Feb avg record low F = 12.4
|Mar avg record low F = 19.5
|Apr avg record low F = 24.7
|May avg record low F = 32.6
|Jun avg record low F = 42.9
|Jul avg record low F = 55.0
|Aug avg record low F = 53.0
|Sep avg record low F = 40.3
|Oct avg record low F = 27.0
|Nov avg record low F = 16.1
|Dec avg record low F = 7.8
|year avg record low F = 4.8

|Jan record low F = -20
|Feb record low F = -23
|Mar record low F = -3
|Apr record low F = 10
|May record low F = 14
|Jun record low F = 28
|Jul record low F = 32
|Aug record low F = 38
|Sep record low F = 20
|Oct record low F = 10
|Nov record low F = -7
|Dec record low F = -13

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.56
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.33
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.96
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.76
|May precipitation inch = 0.79
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.34
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.06
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.21
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.29
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.41
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.92
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.26
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 6.3
|Feb precipitation days = 6.6
|Mar precipitation days = 5.4
|Apr precipitation days = 5.1
|May precipitation days = 5.4
|Jun precipitation days = 2.7
|Jul precipitation days = 7.0
|Aug precipitation days = 8.0
|Sep precipitation days = 6.2
|Oct precipitation days = 5.4
|Nov precipitation days = 4.2
|Dec precipitation days = 6.1

|Jan snow inch = 11.2
|Feb snow inch = 7.8
|Mar snow inch = 3.6
|Apr snow inch = 2.1
|May snow inch = 0.1
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.6
|Nov snow inch = 3.3
|Dec snow inch = 9.4
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 3.9
|Feb snow days = 3.2
|Mar snow days = 1.5
|Apr snow days = 0.9
|May snow days = 0.1
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.3
|Nov snow days = 1.4
|Dec snow days = 3.1

|Jan snow depth inch = 
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|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00420738&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Blanding, UT
|access-date = November 13, 2022
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=gjt
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Grand Junction
|access-date = November 13, 2022
}}
</ref>
}}

== Notable people ==
{{div col}}
* [[Ron Dewar]] (1941–2024) – jazz musician<ref>{{cite web |title=Ronald Dewar Obituary |url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/ronald-dewar-obituary?pid=206054101 |website=[[Legacy.com]] |access-date=January 25, 2025}}</ref>
* [[Albert R. Lyman]] (1880–1973) – writer, pioneer, and early settler of Blanding<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hardy |first1=Jeffrey S. |title=Mormon Missionary Diaries |url=https://lib.byu.edu/collections/mormon-missionary-diaries/about/diarists/albert-robison-lyman/ |website=[[Harold B. Lee Library]] |access-date=January 25, 2025}}</ref>
* [[Phil Lyman]] – [[Utah House of Representatives]] member<ref>{{cite web |title=Phil Lyman |url=https://www.utahconstitution.com/phil-lyman |website=Utah Citizens for the Constitution |access-date=January 25, 2025}}</ref>
* [[Buu Nygren]] (b. 1986) – [[President of the Navajo Nation|president of the Navajo Nation]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bauer |first1=Ethan |title=Buu Nygren leads the nation |url=https://www.deseret.com/2023/2/27/23591937/buu-nygren-navajo-nation/ |access-date=January 25, 2025 |work=[[Deseret News]] |date=March 6, 2023}}</ref>
* [[DeVan L. Shumway]] (1930–2008) – [[Publishing|publisher]], spokesman for the [[Committee for the Re-Election of the President]], and aide to [[Richard Nixon]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sullivan |first1=Patricia |title=Nixon Aide DeVan L. Shumway, 77 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2008/04/26/nixon-aide-devan-l-shumway-77/e9c2b4e4-df28-4e6f-a0e5-cccb86229dd9/ |access-date=January 25, 2025 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=April 25, 2008}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center">
File:The Dinosaur Museum, Blanding, Utah 03.jpg | Exhibit in the dinosaur museum, Blanding, Utah taken 2019
File:Blanding Utah city office.jpeg | City office of Blanding, Utah, taken 2009
</gallery>

==See also==
{{portal|Utah}}
* [[List of municipalities in Utah]]
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
;Community
* [[Arizona breccia pipe uranium mineralization]]
* [[Blanding Municipal Airport]]
* [[KBDX]]
* [[Swallow's Nest (Blanding, Utah)]]
;Geographically
* [[Abajo Mountains]]
* [[Bears Ears National Monument]]
* [[Colorado Plateau]]
* [[Four Corners]]
* [[Hovenweep National Monument]]
;Roadways
* [[U.S. Route 191 in Utah]]
* [[Utah State Route 95]]
* [[Utah State Route 262]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em|refs=

<ref name="GR2">{{cite web
| url           = https://www.census.gov
| publisher     = [[United States Census Bureau]]
| access-date    = 2008-01-31
| title         = U.S. Census website
}}</ref>

<ref name=Cott_1990>{{cite book
| last          = Van Cott
| first         = John W.
| title         = Utah Place Names
| year          = 1990
| publisher     = [[University of Utah Press]]
| location      = Salt Lake City, Utah
| page = 39
| isbn = 0-87480-345-4
}}</ref>

<!-- unused ref  <ref name="USCensusEst2016">{{cite web
| url           = https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2016.html
| title         = Population and Housing Unit Estimates
| access-date    = June 9, 2017
}}</ref>-->

<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web
| url           = https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html
| title         = Census of Population and Housing
| publisher     = Census.gov
| access-date    = June 4, 2015
}}</ref>

<ref name="latimes_20090611_24charged">{{cite news
| first1         = Nicholas
| last1          = Riccardi
| first2        = Jim
| last2         = Tankersley
| url           = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jun-11-na-artifacts11-story.html
| title         = 24 charged in crackdown on Native American artifact looting
| date          = 2009-06-11
| access-date   = 2018-11-03
| work          = [[Los Angeles Times]]
| archive-url   = https://web.archive.org/web/20090803213357/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jun/11/nation/na-artifacts11
| archive-date  = 2009-08-03
| url-status      = live
}}</ref>

<ref name="ksl_20180510_raidcriticism">{{cite news
| first         = Amy Joi
| last          = O'Donoghue
| url           = https://www.ksl.com/?nid=1417&sid=46317366
| title         = Blanding artifacts raid raises questions, criticism years later
| date          = 2018-05-10
| access-date   = 2018-11-03
| work          = [[KSL-TV|KSL.com]]
| archive-url   = https://web.archive.org/web/20181103130228/https://www.ksl.com/?nid=1417&sid=46317366
| archive-date  = 2018-11-03
| url-status      = live
}}</ref>

<ref name="sltrib_20090610_chargelist">{{cite news
 |author       = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->
 |url          = http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_12565834
 |title        = A breakdown of the artifact theft charges
 |date         = 2009-06-10
 |work         = [[The Salt Lake Tribune]]
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20090616122233/http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_12565834
 |archive-date = 2009-06-16
 |url-status     = dead
}}</ref>

<ref name="latimes_20140921_stingdesert">{{cite news
| first         = Joe
| last          = Mozingo
| url           = http://graphics.latimes.com/utah-sting/
| title         = A Sting in the Desert
| date          = 2014-09-21
| access-date   = 2018-11-03
| work          = [[Los Angeles Times]]
}}</ref>

}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.blandingutah.org/ Blanding City Chamber of Commerce]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Blanding
|North     = [[Monticello, Utah|Monticello]]
|Northeast = {{flagicon|Colorado}} [[Dove Creek, Colorado|Dove Creek]]
|East      = {{flagicon|Colorado}} [[Dolores, Colorado|Dolores]]
|Southeast = {{flagicon|Colorado}} [[Cortez, Colorado|Cortez]]
|South     = ''[[Canyon de Chelly National Monument]]''<br/>{{flagicon|Arizona}} [[Holbrook, Arizona|Holbrook]], {{flagicon|Arizona}} [[St. Johns, Arizona|St. Johns]]
|Southwest = [[Big Water, Utah|Big Water]] / ''Colorado River''<br/>{{flagicon|Arizona}} [[Page, Arizona|Page]]
|West      = [[Boulder, Utah|Boulder]]<br/>[[Escalante, Utah|Escalante]] / ''Colorado River''
|Northwest = [[Torrey, Utah|Torrey]], [[Hanksville, Utah|Hanksville]] / ''[[Colorado River]]''
}}

{{San Juan County, Utah}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Utah]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1905]]
[[Category:Cities in San Juan County, Utah]]
[[Category:1905 establishments in Utah]]