Midvale, Utah

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.8 square miles (15.1 km²), all of it land.

Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Midvale has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 27,029 people, 10,089 households, and 6,638 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,627.4 people per square mile (1,787.0/km²). There were 10,730 housing units at an average density of 1,837.0 per square mile (709.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.44% White, 1.18% African American, 1.29% Native American, 1.85% Asian, 0.58% Pacific Islander, 9.96% from other races, and 2.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.77% of the population.

There were 10,089 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the city, the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 16.7% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 16.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,130, and the median income for a family was $43,322. Males had a median income of $31,325 versus $25,382 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,609. About 9.4% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.3% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

Midvale City has a nonpartisan mayor-council form of government. The mayor and five councilors are elected to four-year terms. The current Mayor of Midvale is Dr. JoAnn B. Seghini. City Council members include Robert M. Hale, Paul Glover, Brent Moore, Wayne Sharp, and Colleen Costello.

Midvale Fire and Police are furnished by arrangement with the Unified Police and Fire of Salt Lake County. Midvale no longer fields its own police or fire departments.

Education

History

Just like the wandering Ute bands before them, Utah's Pioneer settlers began with a dependence on the land and the landscape; thus, early pioneers were quick to recognize the richness inherent in the Salt Lake Valley. They saw the abundant creeks and the grassy valley and envisioned farmlands and fields. They discovered the minerals and ores that envisioned thriving communities of commerce and industry.

Such was the beginning of Midvale City. The eastern part of the city forming agricultural neighborhoods, and the western areas forming a mining and milling settlement, each relying on the other for sustenance, protection, social interaction and commerce. The Union Fort area of Midvale City began as a center of agriculture.

The Old Town area of Midvale City began as a center of mining and industry. Pioneer families began arriving in 1851 to start the settlement, which blossomed in the 1870s as a result of mining in Bingham Canyon and the coming of the railroad. The area was then known as Bingham Junction, and was an important midpoint along the rail between mining in Little Cottonwood Canyon to the east and Bingham Canyon to the west. With the discovery of silver in Little Cottonwood Canyon and in Bingham Canyon, new people rushed to be a part of the growing business and industry located in the middle valley in Midvale City. Along with industry came the hotels, boarding houses, saloons, schools, and the people who made Midvale City's Old Town a center of the community.

Some scenes from the mini-series The Stand as well as scenes from the movies Halloween 4, Gentlemen Broncos, and The Sandlot, were filmed in downtown Midvale, including the interior of an old fashioned drugstore by the name of Vincent Drug. The store stayed in business and retained products in packaging over 50 years old for this type of display purpose. Vincent Drug was finally shut down in 2003.

Economy

Ally Bank, Arctic Circle Restaurants and Overstock.com are headquartered here.

School Improvement Network, an education consulting company, moved its national headquarters to Midvale in 2011.

Notable people