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Writer's pictureLucian@going2paris.net

Green River, Utah


Green River State Park

October 29, 2020


Green River is in the middle of nowhere. The good news is you can get here quickly. This is the highest speed limit I have seen. There are so few roads in southern Utah that Google Maps forced me to take I-70 for about 20 miles. I got the Sequoia to 75 mph and decided that was fast enough.




Green River is a city in Emery County, Utah, United States. The population was 952 at the 2010 census.  It’s elevation is 4,078 ft.



Geography


The city is located on the banks of the Green River, a major tributary of the Colorado River. The San Rafael Swell region is to the west of the city, while Canyonlands National Park lies to the south. Today located exclusively in Emery County, the city was split between Emery and Grand counties until January 6, 2003, when Emery County's boundaries were expanded to follow the city limits.


According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Green River has a total area of 12.6 square miles, of which 12.5 square miles is land and 0.1 square miles, or 0.87%, is water.


Interstate 70 passes just south of the city, with access from Exits 160 and 164. Grand Junction, Colorado lies 102 miles to the east and Cove Fort, I-70's western terminus, is 162 miles to the west. Price lies 64 miles to the northwest on US Routes 6 and 191. [ In other words, it is in the middle of nowhere.  As you approach the “city” from the east on I-70, you are warned the next services are in 110 miles.]


Crystal Geyser, a cold water "geyser"—actually a carbon-dioxide driven, erupting well—is located about nine miles southeast of town.



Climate


Green River has a cold desert climate.


Do you know why I took a photo of Ray’s?


History


The 1829 to 1850s Old Spanish Trail trade route passed across the Green River in the area of modern Green River from 1829 into the 1850s.


John Wesley Powell embarked on the first of two voyages down the Green River in May 1869 and floated the river all the way to its confluence with the Colorado and beyond. Powell left a detailed account of the river and the surrounding landscape and prepared the first thorough maps of the river basin. Powell left his mark on the in other ways as well. He and his men named most of the canyons, geographic features, and rapids along the Green River during his two voyages in 1869 and 1871. Powell also paved the way for later generations of explorers and scientists interested in the unique geology of the basin of the Green River.


The settlement of Green River started as a river crossing for the U.S. mail. In 1876, a Mr. Blake set up a ferry and way station on the east side of the river. It became a stopover for travelers with a ferry for transporting people, supplies, and animals across the river.


In 1883 the line commonly known as the Utah Division of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad [again!] was built and a train station was opened. The west side of the river became known as "Greenriver" (later changed to "Green River"), and the east side of the river became known as "Elgin", and is still referred to by that name today. With the coming of the railroad, the town quickly went from a small farm hamlet to a boom town with workers coming to build the bridge and the road bed for the railroad. After completion of the railroad, Green River became a fueling, watering stop for the railroad, with switching yards and engine sheds. A hotel called the Palmer House was built and became the scheduled meal stop for trains from both directions for many years. Green River enjoyed the railroad boom until 1892, when the railroad transferred most of its operations to Helper. The population of the town declined significantly.


Throughout the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s the mining of uranium played a significant role in the economy of Green River. Several trucking companies hauled ore from mines in the Four-Corners Mining District west of Green River, the San Rafael Swell, the Henry Mountains, and the area that is now Lake Powell.


The U.S. Air Force built the Green River Launch Complex just outside Green River in 1964. It was an annex of the U.S. Army's White Sands Missile Range. From 1964 to 1973 the Air Force launched 141 Athena missiles from the Green River complex, near the Crystal Geyser, as part of research to improve nuclear missiles.




Family owned, eh?


Transportation


Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Green River station, operating its California Zephyr daily in both directions between Chicago and Emeryville, California.


Interstate 70, along with U.S. 6, U.S. 191, and U.S. 50, also passes through Green River, the first eastbound services after Salina and the final westbound services, due to the fact that the two cities are 110 miles apart, the longest stretch with no services in the United States.


The Main road in Green River is a short State road, SR 19, with Business I-70.



Demographics


As of the census of 2000, there were 973 people, 329 households, and 238 families residing in the city. The population density was 77.8 people per square mile (30.0/km2). There were 376 housing units at an average density of 30.0 per square mile (11.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 88.3% White, 0.9% African American, 1.2% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 7.1% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.6% of the population.


There were 329 households, out of which 41.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.48.


In the city, the population was spread out, with 35.7% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.


The median income for a household in the city was $28,000, and the median income for a family was $31,667. Males had a median income of $28,417 versus $16,477 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,326. About 12.5% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.8% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.



Economy


Located approximately 100 miles (160 km) from both Richfield, Utah, and Grand Junction, Colorado, Green River's local economy primarily caters to serving passers-by on Interstate 70, since there are no services on I-70 westbound between Green River and Salina, 107 miles away. The economy relies heavily on hotels, fast food and a few other restaurants and gas stations. A large natural gas field has been discovered 3 miles south of the city. The field is operated by Delta Petroleum headquartered in Denver, Colorado.


Green River is famous for its melons, sold during the growing season. It is also a popular freeride mountain biking spot.


It can be seen in films such as New World Disorder 7. Green River is the setting for the Bud Shumway mystery series by Chinle Miller, the first being The Ghost Rock Café, named for a landmark on the San Rafael Swell.


A proposed nuclear power plant, the Blue Castle Project, is located about five miles west-northwest of the town.



In Popular Culture


The town becomes the new home of the Mousekewitz-family in An American Tail: Fievel Goes West as well as the main location in the subsequent television series Fievel's American Tails.


The town was featured in the film "The Wizard" with Corey Woods sneaking his brother, Jimmy out of a mental institution to California for a Nintendo tournament.


The final chapters of Stephen King's novel The Stand are set in a post-apocalyptic Green River.


Green River has been home to world renowned authors Pearl Baker (‘Robber’s Roost Recollections’) and Rebecca Davis (‘Blind Owl Blues’).



Golf


Green River State Park golf course is a golf oasis on the banks of the Green River, with the Book Cliffs towering in the distance. The elevated tees and greens add character to a leisurely round of golf. The course offers fairways lined with mature cottonwood trees and water hazards from the meandering Green River. Surrounded by natural wonder, this nine-hole classic was designed to challenge the experienced player, but remain playable to newer golfers.


Green River Golf Course also features a new championship level 18-hole disc golf course. Disc golf supplies are available at the clubhouse along with disc rentals.


Green River State Park golf course is affordable, and coupled with a fantastic layout and superb greens, is fast becoming a destination spot. The pro shop offers club and cart rental, clothing, accessories, and refreshment


2020 Golf and Disc Golf Fees


Nine holes                                      $13.00


18 holes                                         $23.00


Half Cart                                        $7.00 per person


Full Cart                                         $14.00 per person


Disc Golf (18-Holes)                       $7.00


* fees include all applicable state and local taxes


Season Pass                                    $250.00 + tax


20 Punch Pass                              $180.00 + tax



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