Kanab, Utah

{{short description|City in and county seat of Kane County, Utah, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Kanab, Utah |settlement_type = [[City]] |nickname = Utah's Little Hollywood |motto =

|image_map = Kane County Utah incorporated and unincorporated areas Kanab highlighted.svg |map_caption = Location in [[Kane County, UT|Kane County]] and the state of [[Utah]] |image_map1 = Map of USA UT.svg |map_caption1 = Location of Utah in the United States

|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_magnitude = |area_total_km2 = 37.48 |area_land_km2 = 37.39 |area_water_km2 = 0.09 |area_total_sq_mi = 14.47 |area_land_sq_mi = 14.44 |area_water_sq_mi = 0.04

|timezone = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain (MST)]] |utc_offset = -7 |timezone_DST = MDT |utc_offset_DST = -6 |elevation_footnotes = |elevation_m = 1515 |elevation_ft = 4970 |coordinates = {{coord|37|2|8|N|112|31|52|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}} |postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]] |postal_code = 84741 |area_code = [[Area code 435|435]] |blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]] |blank_info = 49-39920<ref name= uscb>"[https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website]". ''[[United States Census Bureau]]''. Retrieved January 31, 2008.</ref> |blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID |blank1_info = 1429276<ref name="GR3">"[http://geonames.usgs.gov US Board on Geographic Names]". ''[[United States Geological Survey]]|''. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.</ref> |website = {{URL|kanab.utah.gov}} |footnotes = }}

'''Kanab''' ({{IPAc-en|k|ə|ˈ|n|æ|b}} {{respell|kə|NAB}}) is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Kane County, Utah]], United States.<ref name="GR6">"[http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx Find a County] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |date=2011-05-31 }}". ''National Association of Counties''. Retrieved June 7, 2011.</ref> As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], Kanab had a population of 4,683.<ref name="Census2020PLLede">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N&for=place%3A39920&in=state%3A49|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=February 4, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> It is located on [[Kanab Creek]] just north of the [[Arizona]] state line.

==Description== The area where Kanab is located was first settled in 1864, and the town was founded in 1870 when 10 [[Mormon]] families moved into the area.<ref>"[http://kanab.utah.gov/2185/About-Kanab About Kanab]". ''Kanab, Utah''. Retrieved April 14, 2017.</ref> Named for a [[Paiute]] word meaning "place of the willows," Fort Kanab was built on the east bank of Kanab Creek in 1864 for defense against attack and as a base for exploration of the area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kanab.utah.gov/2185/About-Kanab|title=About Kanab {{!}} Kanab, UT|website=kanab.utah.gov|access-date=2019-11-24}}</ref> The population was 4,683 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020QF">{{cite web|title=Kanab city, Utah|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Kanab_city,_Utah?g=160XX00US4939920|access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref>

Kanab is situated in the "Grand Circle" area, centrally located among [[Vermilion Cliffs National Monument]], [[Bryce Canyon National Park]], the [[Grand Canyon]] (North Rim), [[Zion National Park]], [[Pipe Spring National Monument]], Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, and [[Lake Powell]]. Other nearby attractions include [[Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument]], [[Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park]], the privately owned [[Moqui Cave]], and the largest animal sanctuary in the United States, [[Best Friends Animal Society]].

[[File:Parry Lodge Kanab Utah.jpg|thumb|left|The historic [[Parry Lodge]] in Kanab, February 2009]] Referring to Kanab's proximity to the many spectacular rock formations, a welcome sign to the town calls it "The Greatest Earth on Show."<ref>{{Cite web |last=D |first=Carol |date=2021-12-02 |title=Kanab – "The Greatest Earth on Show" |url=https://followbillandcarol.com/2021/12/01/kanab-the-greatest-earth-on-show/ |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=Just Passing Through |language=en}}</ref>

Locals refer to Kanab as "Little Hollywood" due to its history as a filming location for many movies and television series, prominently [[Western (genre)|Westerns]] such as ''[[Stagecoach (1939 film)|Stagecoach]]'' (1939), ''[[The Lone Ranger (TV series)|The Lone Ranger]]'', ''[[Death Valley Days]]''. ''[[Gunsmoke]]'', ''[[Daniel Boone (1964 TV series)|Daniel Boone]]'', ''[[El Dorado (1966 film)|El Dorado]]'' (1966), ''[[Planet of the Apes (1968 film)|Planet of the Apes]] (1968)'', ''[[Mackenna's Gold]]'', ''WindRunner: A Spirited Journey'', ''[[Western Union (film)|Western Union]]'' (1941), ''[[The Desperadoes]]'' (1943), ''[[In Old Oklahoma]]'' (1943), ''[[Buffalo Bill (1944 film)|Buffalo Bill]]'' (1944), ''[[Westward the Women]]'' (1952), ''[[The Yellow Tomahawk]]'' (1954), ''[[Tomahawk Trail]]'' (1957), ''[[Fort Bowie]]'' (1958), ''[[Sergeants Three]]'' (1962), ''[[Duel at Diablo]]'' (1966), ''[[Ride in the Whirlwind]]'' (1965), ''[[Convict Stage]]'' (1965), ''[[The Shooting (film)|The Shooting]]'' (1966), and ''[[The Outlaw Josey Wales]]'' (1976).<ref>Maddrey, Joseph (2016). ''The Quick, the Dead and the Revived: The Many Lives of the Western Film''. McFarland. Page 178. {{ISBN|9781476625492}}.</ref><ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20110717001549/http://www.thegrandcanyons.com/this-is-the-west.html Kanab, Utah - This is the West]". ''Office of Tourism and Film Commission''. Kane County, Utah. Archived from [http://www.thegrandcanyons.com/this-is-the-west.html the original] on July 17, 2011.</ref>

==Demographics== {{US Census population |align=right |1890= 409 |1900= 710 |1910= 733 |1920= 1102 |1930= 1195 |1940= 1397 |1950= 1287 |1960= 1645 |1970= 1381 |1980= 2148 |1990= 3289 |2000= 3564 |2010= 4312 |2020= 4683 |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">"[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html Census of Population and Housing] ". ''United States Census Bureau''. Retrieved June 4, 2015.</ref> | align-fn = center }}

===Racial and ethnic composition===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Kanab city, Utah – Racial composition''' {{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}} !Race (''NH = Non-Hispanic'') !{{partial|2020}}<ref>{{cite web |title=HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE (2020) |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P9?t=Race+and+Ethnicity&g=160XX00US4939920&d=DEC+Demographic+and+Housing+Characteristics |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> !2010<ref>{{cite web |title=HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE (2010) |url=https://data.census.gov/table?t=Race+and+Ethnicity&g=160XX00US4939920&y=2010 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> !2000<ref>{{cite book |title=Utah: 2000 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |pages=36–37 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2002/dec/phc-1-46.pdf}}</ref> !1990<ref>{{cite book |title=Utah: 1990 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |pages=14 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-2/cp-2-46.pdf}}</ref> !1980<ref>{{cite book |title=General Population Characteristics: Utah |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |pages=13 |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_utABCD-02.pdf}}</ref> |- |[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH) |style='background: #ffffe6; |90.1% (4,221) |93.2% (4,017) |95.8% (3,414) |98.1% (3,227) |98% (2,105) |- |[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black]] alone (NH) |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.3% (16) |0.3% (11) |0.1% (2) |0.3% (10) |0% (0) |- |[[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]] alone (NH) |style='background: #ffffe6; |1.1% (53) |1% (43) |0.9% (33) |0.2% (7) |<td rowspan="4">|1.3% (27) |- |[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH) |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.9% (42) |0.3% (12) |0.3% (9) |<td rowspan="2">|0.2% (6) |- |[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH) |style='background: #ffffe6; |0% (0) |0% (0) |0% (1) |- |[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH) |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.2% (10) |0% (0) |0% (0) |0% (0) |- |[[Multiracial Americans|Multiracial]] (NH) |style='background: #ffffe6; |2.4% (112) |1.1% (49) |1.1% (38) |— |— |- |[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic/Latino]] (any race) |style='background: #ffffe6; |4.9% (229) |4.2% (180) |1.9% (67) |1.2% (39) |0.7% (16) |}

===2020 census===

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], Kanab had a population of 4,683. The median age was 42.0 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.3 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME%2CDP1_0021P%2CDP1_0024P%2CDP1_0025C%2CDP1_0049C%2CDP1_0045C%2CDP1_0069C%2CDP1_0073C%2CDP1_0125P%2CDP1_0126P%2CDP1_0129P%2CDP1_0133P%2CDP1_0137P%2CDP1_0138P%2CDP1_0139P%2CDP1_0141P%2CDP1_0142P%2CDP1_0143P%2CDP1_0145P%2CDP1_0146P%2CDP1_0147C%2CDP1_0148C%2CDP1_0149C%2CDP1_0156C%2CDP1_0157C%2CDP1_0158C%2CDP1_0159P%2CDP1_0160P&for=place%3A39920&in=state%3A49|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=February 19, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME%2CP2_002N%2CP2_003N&for=place%3A39920&in=state%3A49|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=February 19, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 1,815 households in Kanab, of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.5% were married-couple households, 15.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 2,209 housing units, of which 17.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.4%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

{| class="wikitable" |+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N%2CP1_003N%2CP1_004N%2CP1_005N%2CP1_006N%2CP1_007N%2CP1_008N%2CP1_009N%2CP2_001N%2CP2_002N%2CH1_001N%2CH1_002N&for=place%3A39920&in=state%3A49|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=February 19, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> ! Race !! Number !! Percent |- | [[White Americans|White]] || 4,351 || 92.9% |- | [[African Americans|Black or African American]] || 19 || 0.4% |- | [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian and Alaska Native]] || 56 || 1.2% |- | [[Asian Americans|Asian]] || 44 || 0.9% |- | [[Native Hawaiians|Native Hawaiian]] and [[Pacific Islander|Other Pacific Islander]] || 0 || 0.0% |- | Some other race || 28 || 0.6% |- | [[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races]] || 185 || 4.0% |- | ''[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race)'' || 229 || 4.9% |}

===2010 census===

As of the 2010 [[census]],<ref name= uscb /> 4,312 people, 1,729 households, and 1,130 families resided in the township. The [[population density]] was 308 people per square mile (98.2/km2). The 1,999 housing units had an average density of 141.8 per square mile (41.1/km2). The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|racial makeup]] of the town was 96.2% White, 0.3% African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 4.2% of the population.

Of the 1,729 households, 25.7% had children under 18 living with them, a decrease of 6.4% compared to the 2000 census; 65.4% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were nonfamilies, an increase of 7.9% over the 2000 census. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.08.

The median income for a household in the town was $42,286, and for a family was $48,008. Males had a median income of $30,018 versus $22,205 for females. 4.0% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the [[Poverty threshold|poverty line]], including 4.6% of those under 18 and 4.9% of those 65 or over.

==Geography and climate== Kanab is located on the western [[Colorado Plateau]]. U.S. Routes [[U.S. Route 89|89]] and [[U.S. Route 89A|89A]] meet in the center of town. US 89 leads north {{convert|21|mi}} to [[Orderville, Utah|Orderville]] and southeast {{convert|74|mi}} to [[Page, Arizona]], while US 89A leads south {{convert|7|mi|0}} to [[Fredonia, Arizona]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|37.9|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.09|sqkm|order=flip|2}}, or 0.24%, is covered by water. The city's downtown sits on flat ground to the east of Kanab Creek, which flows south to meet the [[Colorado River]] in the [[Grand Canyon]].

Kanab has a borderline [[semiarid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BSk''), more typical of exposed regions around [[Arizona]]'s [[Mogollon Rim]]. The town is rather wetter, especially during the winter, and hotter than the typical Mountain West cool, semiarid climate. The dry spring season from April to June is warm to hot during the day and very clear, but the hot sun and thin air typical of Utah mean that nights remain cool and frosts can occur even in May. In the summer, [[North American Monsoon|monsoon]] thunderstorms break up the dry weather between July and October. The winters are mild during the day and cold at night, but get more snow than most places in southern Utah. Snowfall varies a considerably from year to year, with some years receiving almost none to {{convert|74.5|in|cm}} falling in 2001. On average, 70.9 days will reach {{convert|90|F|C}} and 7.6 will reach {{convert|100|F|C}}. Although Kanab is in hardiness zone of 7A with an average yearly low of just under {{convert|5|F|C}}, only 1.5 days fail to climb above freezing on average.

<div style="width:75%;"> {{Weather box |location = Kanab, Utah 1991–2020, extremes 1899- |single line = Y |Jan record high F = 72 |Feb record high F = 77 |Mar record high F = 85 |Apr record high F = 90 |May record high F = 101 |Jun record high F = 107 |Jul record high F = 108 |Aug record high F = 106 |Sep record high F = 104 |Oct record high F = 94 |Nov record high F = 81 |Dec record high F = 74 |Jan high F = 49.4 |Feb high F = 54.0 |Mar high F = 62.2 |Apr high F = 69.2 |May high F = 78.2 |Jun high F = 89.7 |Jul high F = 94.2 |Aug high F = 91.5 |Sep high F = 84.8 |Oct high F = 72.7 |Nov high F = 59.3 |Dec high F = 48.5 |Jan low F = 24.8 |Feb low F = 27.8 |Mar low F = 32.6 |Apr low F = 37.3 |May low F = 44.7 |Jun low F = 52.5 |Jul low F = 60.6 |Aug low F = 59.5 |Sep low F = 52.0 |Oct low F = 41.2 |Nov low F = 31.4 |Dec low F = 24.6 |Jan record low F = −20 |Feb record low F = −12 |Mar record low F = 1 |Apr record low F = 8 |May record low F = 16 |Jun record low F = 23 |Jul record low F = 31 |Aug record low F = 35 |Sep record low F = 24 |Oct record low F = 9 |Nov record low F = -4 |Dec record low F = −12 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation inch = 1.71 |Feb precipitation inch = 1.92 |Mar precipitation inch = 1.40 |Apr precipitation inch = 0.88 |May precipitation inch = 0.59 |Jun precipitation inch = 0.29 |Jul precipitation inch = 1.25 |Aug precipitation inch = 1.45 |Sep precipitation inch = 1.62 |Oct precipitation inch = 1.51 |Nov precipitation inch = 0.97 |Dec precipitation inch = 1.37 |Jan precipitation days = 6.1 |Feb precipitation days = 6.8 |Mar precipitation days = 5.8 |Apr precipitation days = 5.1 |May precipitation days = 4.0 |Jun precipitation days = 2.2 |Jul precipitation days = 5.5 |Aug precipitation days = 6.9 |Sep precipitation days = 4.7 |Oct precipitation days = 4.3 |Nov precipitation days = 3.6 |Dec precipitation days = 5.5 |unit precipitation days = 0.01 inch |Jan snow inch = 5.4 |Feb snow inch = 5.8 |Mar snow inch = 1.8 |Apr snow inch = 1.8 |May snow inch = 0 |Jun snow inch = 0 |Jul snow inch = 0 |Aug snow inch = 0 |Sep snow inch = 0 |Oct snow inch = 0.2 |Nov snow inch = 1.8 |Dec snow inch = 5.3 |Jan snow days = 2.0 |Feb snow days = 2.0 |Mar snow days = 1.0 |Apr snow days = 0.7 |May snow days = 0 |Jun snow days = 0 |Jul snow days = 0 |Aug snow days = 0 |Sep snow days = 0 |Oct snow days = 0.1 |Nov snow days = 1.6 |Dec snow days = 2.3 |unit snow days = 0.1 inch |source 1 = NCEI<ref>{{cite web |title=Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020 |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00424508&format=pdf |website=noaa.gov| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209035601/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00424508&format=pdf| archive-date=2024-12-09| url-status=live}}</ref> |source 2 = Nowdata<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=slc|title=National Weather Service - NWS Salt Lake City|access-date=May 13, 2021|archive-date=May 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520233857/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=slc|url-status=dead}}</ref> }} </div>

==Transportation== Kanab is served by the [[Kanab Municipal Airport]], a general aviation facility. [[U.S. Route 89 in Utah|U.S. Route 89]] (US 89) passes through the city and [[U.S. Route 89A in Utah|U.S. Route 89A]] within Utah is entirely within the [[city limits]] and has its northern terminus at US 89.

National Park Express provides bus service from Kanab to [[St. George, Utah|St. George]] and [[Las Vegas]].<ref>{{cite web | title=One-Way Shuttle Service Tours | National Park Express, Vegas | date=August 17, 2023 | url=https://nationalparkexpress.com/shuttle-service/ }}</ref>

==Jackson Flat Reservoir== [[File:Jackson Flat Reservoir.jpg|thumb|left|The Jackson Flat Reservoir, March 2017]]

In 2010, construction began on the Jackson Flat Reservoir under the direction of the Kane County Water Conservancy District. The reservoir had been in various stages of planning for 19 years. Completion of the reservoir took two years of construction, and one year of filling.<ref>"[https://kcwcd.com/jackson-flat-reservoir/ Jackson Flat Reservoir]". ''Kane County Water Conservancy District''.</ref> The dam structure is composed of 800,000 yards of clay, dirt, and rock. The project was supervised by four engineering firms, including the Utah state engineer of Dam Safety and the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Army Corps of Engineers]]. The 4,228 acre-feet reservoir is an off-stream site fed by a 24-inch pipe capable of transferring 23 acre-feet of water per day. The average depth of the reservoir is {{convert|28|ft}}, with a conservation pool that will sustain a 400 acre-foot pool of water. In April 2015, the reservoir reached 3,000 acre-feet of water. Water volumes vary throughout the year as reserves are tapped during summer to supplement local irrigation needs, and are then refilled during the winter based on annual rainfall. The reservoir is located directly south of Kanab, east of the municipal airport, and is visible from Highway 89A.

During planning and construction, crews discovered 10 sites of prehistoric [[Anasazi]] ruins, including human remains. Sites that would be below the water line were fully excavated and remains turned over to the local [[Southern Paiute people|Paiute]] tribe for proper care and burial ceremonies. Sites above the projected water line remain unexcavated.<ref>[http://www.archaeologicalconservancy.org/jackson-flat-reservoir/ Jackson Flat Reservoir (Utah)]". ''The Archaeological Conservancy''. June 12, 2014.</ref>

The Jackson Flat Reservoir has been stocked with [[trout]], [[catfish]], and [[bluegill]] fish varieties. The site supports nonmotorized boating, fishing, swimming, concerts, and stargazing.

==Controversies==

===Natural Family Resolution=== On January 10, 2006, then-mayor Kim Lawson and the city council unanimously passed Resolution 1-1-06R, titled "The Natural Family: A Vision for the City of Kanab":<ref name= endorses>Havnes, Mark. "Kanab endorses 'natural' families - City Council resolution: Opponents call the declaration outmoded and discriminatory: Kanab votes for family declaration". ''The Salt Lake Tribune''. January 18, 2006.</ref><ref name=resolution>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20090323184919/http://kanab.utah.gov/artman/publish/council/article_187.shtml Kanab, Utah City Council Meeting: Meeting Minutes]". ''Kanab City Council''. City of Kanab, Utah. January 10, 2006. Archived from [http://kanab.utah.gov/artman/publish/council/article_187.shtml the original] on March 23, 2009.</ref>

{{blockquote|On the fifth anniversary of the Sutherland Institute it was said that "words matter". They have to be followed by deeds, and you have to be prepared to communicate them clearly, vividly, simply, and with repetition that is unending. Today there are large waves coming towards us in all directions, the most serious (in my opinion said the Mayor) is the denigration of the natural family as the fundamental unit of society. It has been determined that the natural family results in healthier, happier, more productive, and more civically-engaged adults as well as healthier, happier, safer, and better educated children. We envision a local culture that upholds the marriage of a woman to a man, and a man to a woman, as ordained of God. This culture affirms marriage as the best path to health, security, fulfillment, and joy. It casts the home built on marriage as the source of true political sovereignty and ordered liberty. We envision parents as the first educators of their children.<ref name= resolution/>}}

The nonbinding resolution was formulated by the [[Sutherland Institute]], a conservative advocacy group in [[Salt Lake City]].<ref name= endorses/> The symbolic resolution created controversy within the city.<ref name= stirs>Havnes, Mark. "'Natural family' stand stirs Kanab". ''The Salt Lake Tribune''. January 20, 2006.</ref><ref name= spawns>Havnes, Mark. "Kanab 's 'natural family' decree spawns tourism backlash: Tourists steer clear of Kanab". ''The Salt Lake Tribune''. February 5, 2006.</ref> Hundreds of tourists canceled trips to Kanab after learning about the resolution.<ref>Emerson, Judy. "City in Utah worries about issue's effect on tourism". ''Rockford Register Star'' (Rockford, Illinois). February 19, 2006.</ref><ref>Dobner, Jennifer. "'Natural family' resolution greeted with boycott". ''Associated Press''. Houston Chronicle. March 24, 2006.</ref><ref>Havnes, Mark. "Kanab businesses burned by boycott". ''The Salt Lake Tribune''. April 1, 2006.</ref>

In [[Arthur Frommer]]'s monthly travel column, Frommer called the city "[[homophobic]]" and urged readers to boycott the city.<ref>"[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/30/us/30kanab.html?_r=0 Welcome to Our Town. Or, Maybe Not]". ''The New York Times''. April 30, 2006.</ref>

A local civic group, the Kanab Boosters, published an open letter to ask Frommer to reconsider his boycott, making it clear that "only a small number of people agree with our city council regarding the Natural Family Proclamation."<ref name= boosters>"[http://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/ci_3655874 Letter from Kanab Boosters to travel writer Arthur Frommer]". ''The Salt Lake Tribune''. March 30, 2016.</ref> The Boosters also designed and provided stickers for citizens and resident business owners opposed to the resolution.<ref name= sticker>Havnes, Mark. "[http://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/ci_3638519 Kanab businesses open arms to all with new sticker]". ''The Salt Lake Tribune''. March 25, 2006.</ref> The stickers featured a string of [[Rainbow flag (LGBT movement)|rainbow-colored]] human figures underneath the red rocks of Kanab and the words "Everyone welcome here".<ref name= sticker/>

In response to the criticism of the resolution, the Sutherland Institute clarified, saying that the resolution said that children are reared properly when a mother is home a significant amount of time and that a gay relationship is not a natural family.<ref>Smart, Christopher; Eddington, Mark. "'Natural family' resolution reworked". ''The Salt Lake Tribune''. April 5, 2006.</ref>

===Bikini ban=== In June 2008, Kanab's city council voted to prohibit the wearing of [[bikini]]s and men's [[swim briefs]] at the city's new swimming pool.<ref>"Utah city to repeal poolside bikini ban". ''Daily Herald'' (Everett, Washington). June 13, 2008.</ref> The ban was rescinded within a month.<ref>Robinson, Doug. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20110118072119/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700239474/Bikini-ban-fun-while-it-lasted.html Bikini ban fun while it lasted]". ''[[Deseret News]]''. July 1, 2008. Retrieved April 8, 2017.</ref>

==Kanab ambersnail== Three Lakes, a privately owned [[wet meadow]] near Kanab, is one of only two natural habitats for the [[Kanab ambersnail]], a species listed as endangered in 1992 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and as a species of conservation priority for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

==Notable people== * [[LaVoy Finicum]] – born here * [[Jacob Hamblin]] * [[William Thomas Stewart]] * [[Kelly Sweet]] * [[Mary Elizabeth Woolley]]

==Gallery== <gallery> Kanab,_Utah_01.jpg|Moqui Cave Kanab,_Utah_04_Parry_Lodge.jpg|Parry Lodge, Historic Movie Motel Kanab,_Utah_02_Little_Hollywood_museum_of_western_film_sets.jpg|Little Hollywood Museum of Western Film Kanab, Utah Post Office.jpg|Kanab Post Office </gallery>

==See also== {{portal|Utah}} * [[List of municipalities in Utah]] * [[Buckskin Gulch]] * [[Coyote Buttes]] * [[Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness]] * [[The Wave (Arizona)]] * [[Wire Pass Trailhead]]

==References== {{reflist|22em}}

==Further reading== * (1994) [https://web.archive.org/web/20240321170216/https://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/k/KANAB.shtml "Kanab"] article in the [https://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/ ''Utah History Encyclopedia.''] The article was written by Martha Sonntag Bradley and the Encyclopedia was published by the University of Utah Press. ISBN 9780874804256. Archived from [https://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/k/KANAB.shtml the original] on March 21, 2024, and retrieved on May 20, 2024.

==External links== {{commons category|Kanab, Utah}} {{Wikivoyage|Kanab}} * [http://kanab.utah.gov Official website] * [http://www.kanabchamber.com Kanab Chamber of Commerce] * [http://www.kaneutah.com Kane County Office of Tourism] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20050917102645/http://historyresearch.utah.gov/agencyhistories/566.html History of Kanab]

[[Category:Kanab, Utah| ]] [[Category:Cities in Utah]] [[Category:Cities in Kane County, Utah]] [[Category:County seats in Utah]] [[Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1870]] [[Category:1870 establishments in Utah Territory]]