{{Short description| Town in the state of Utah, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement | official_name = Koosharem, Utah | settlement_type = Town | nickname = | motto = <!-- Images --> | image_skyline = Koosharem Utah.jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = Welcome sign in Koosharem, September 2007 | image_flag = | image_seal = <!-- Maps --> | image_map = Sevier County Utah incorporated and unincorporated areas Koosharem highlighted.svg | mapsize = 300px | map_caption = Location in Sevier County and the state of Utah.
<!-- Location -->| subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Utah | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Sevier
<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | established_title = Settled | established_date = 1877 | named_for = Native American word for the valley named after the deep red clover indigenous to the area.
<!-- 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_magnitude = | area_total_km2 = 2.16 | area_land_km2 = 2.16 | area_water_km2 = 0.00 | area_total_sq_mi = 0.83 | area_land_sq_mi = 0.83 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.00
<!-- Population -->| population_as_of = 2020 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 244 | population_density_km2 = 152.96 | population_density_sq_mi = 396.16 | timezone = Mountain (MST) | utc_offset = -7 | timezone_DST = MDT | utc_offset_DST = -6 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 2109 | elevation_ft = 6919 | coordinates = {{coord|38|30|39|N|111|52|57|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}} | postal_code_type = ZIP code | postal_code = 84744 | area_code = 435 | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 49-41680<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> | blank1_name = GNIS feature ID | blank1_info = 1442357<ref name="GR3-u">{{cite gnis|1442357|Koosharem|2026-02-25}}</ref> | website = | footnotes = }}
'''Koosharem''' is a town in Sevier County, Utah, United States. Koosharem is also known as "Grass Valley". It generally comprises the area known as Burrville, Utah on the north, south through the valley and through the town of Koosharem and down to the south end with the town of Greenwich, Utah. The valley is made up of private lands nestled within the Fishlake National Forest. Koosharem is situated at the cross-roads for travelers going between Capitol Reef National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park and/or Zion National Park. Koosharem is also the closest town to the famous Fish Lake. The town also serves as an important point along the many trails of the [http://www.utah.com/offroad/paiute_trail.htm Piute ATV Trail] System.
Koosharem's only store, the historic [https://c4.staticflickr.com/4/3719/9475328472_7b086a7c8a_b.jpg Grass Valley Mercantile], shares this secondary naming reference.
The name of the town Koosharem originates from the Native Americans indigenous to the area, the Piute Indians and their term for the valley named for the deep red clover that grows in the lush meadows of the Koosharem Valley,.<ref>{{cite book | last = Van Cott | first = John W. | title = Utah Place Names | year = 1990 | publisher = University of Utah Press | location = Salt Lake City | page = 216 | isbn = 0-87480-345-4}}</ref> The population was 244 at the 2020 census.<ref name="2020 Census">{{cite web |date=May 2023 |title=Census Bureau profile: Koosharem town, Utah |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Koosharem+town,+Utah |access-date=June 26, 2025 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
==Geography== According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.5 km<sup>2</sup>), all land. A 2008 annexation increased the population to an official estimate of 400.<ref>{{cite web|title=GOPB DEA Sub County Estimates |url=http://www.governor.utah.gov/DEA/subcountyestimates.html |publisher=Governor's Office of Planning and Budget – State of Utah |year=2008 |access-date=October 19, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901214154/http://governor.utah.gov/dea/subcountyestimates.html |archive-date=September 1, 2009 }}</ref>
Koosharem has one church, a cemetery, baseball diamond, fire station, a dairy, a motel, two restaurants, and a store (post office located inside that store).
Koosharem is rural and isolated but relatively centrally located. The table shows driving miles from the center of Koosharem to the following: {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Destination !! Road Miles |- | Bryce Canyon National Park || 70 |- | Fish Lake, Sevier County || 15 |- | Zion National Park || 133 |- | Richfield, Utah || 29 |- | Sigurd, Utah || 28 |- | Salt Lake City, Utah (Airport) || 185 |- | Las Vegas, Nevada (Airport) || 292 |- | Moab, Utah || 195 |- | Grand Junction, Colorado || 244 |- |}
Koosharem and the Grass Valley include habitat for threatened and endangered species. These species include the Greater Sage Grouse,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://utahcbcp.org/files/uploads/parm/PARMfnl-10-06-web.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=June 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609123431/http://utahcbcp.org/files/uploads/parm/PARMfnl-10-06-web.pdf |archive-date=June 9, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the Utah Prairie Dog, Pygmy Rabbit,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4927&context=etd|title=Scholars Archive BYU|access-date=August 7, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cspinet.org/new/pdf/pygmy_rabbit_listing_petition_2003.doc |title=Archived copy |access-date=June 9, 2015 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231011/http://www.cspinet.org/new/pdf/pygmy_rabbit_listing_petition_2003.doc |url-status=dead }}</ref> bald eagles, golden eagles, western toads, and ferruginous hawks.
===Climate=== Koosharem has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen ''BSk''). {{Weather box |location = Koosharem, Utah, 1991–2020 normals, 1893-2020 extremes: 6930ft (2112m) |single line = Yes |Jan record high F = 64 |Feb record high F = 69 |Mar record high F = 77 |Apr record high F = 79 |May record high F = 91 |Jun record high F = 96 |Jul record high F = 98 |Aug record high F = 98 |Sep record high F = 92 |Oct record high F = 90 |Nov record high F = 78 |Dec record high F = 63 |year record high F =
|Jan avg record high F = 51.8 |Feb avg record high F = 55.5 |Mar avg record high F = 65.1 |Apr avg record high F = 72.9 |May avg record high F = 81.8 |Jun avg record high F = 87.6 |Jul avg record high F = 92.4 |Aug avg record high F = 89.1 |Sep avg record high F = 83.8 |Oct avg record high F = 77.5 |Nov avg record high F = 64.4 |Dec avg record high F = 54.4 |year avg record high F = 91.3
|Jan high F = 38.7 |Feb high F = 43.0 |Mar high F = 51.7 |Apr high F = 59.1 |May high F = 68.6 |Jun high F = 79.6 |Jul high F = 84.9 |Aug high F = 81.8 |Sep high F = 74.8 |Oct high F = 62.5 |Nov high F = 50.7 |Dec high F = 39.4 |year high F =
|Jan mean F = 25.3 |Feb mean F = 29.3 |Mar mean F = 36.5 |Apr mean F = 42.9 |May mean F = 50.5 |Jun mean F = 60.3 |Jul mean F = 66.4 |Aug mean F = 64.2 |Sep mean F = 56.9 |Oct mean F = 45.3 |Nov mean F = 34.8 |Dec mean F = 25.0 |year mean F =
|Jan low F = 11.9 |Feb low F = 15.6 |Mar low F = 21.4 |Apr low F = 26.7 |May low F = 32.4 |Jun low F = 41.1 |Jul low F = 47.9 |Aug low F = 46.6 |Sep low F = 39.0 |Oct low F = 28.2 |Nov low F = 18.9 |Dec low F = 10.7 |year low F =
|Jan avg record low F= -9.1 |Feb avg record low F= -1.5 |Mar avg record low F = 5.7 |Apr avg record low F = 14.3 |May avg record low F = 21.4 |Jun avg record low F = 29.4 |Jul avg record low F = 37.4 |Aug avg record low F = 37.3 |Sep avg record low F = 25.4 |Oct avg record low F = 14.9 |Nov avg record low F = 2.0 |Dec avg record low F = -7.0 |year avg record low F = -11.6
|Jan record low F = −28 |Feb record low F = −24 |Mar record low F = −13 |Apr record low F = 0 |May record low F = 12 |Jun record low F = 18 |Jul record low F = 27 |Aug record low F = 26 |Sep record low F = 11 |Oct record low F = -6 |Nov record low F = -17 |Dec record low F = −32 |year record low F =
|precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation inch = 0.70 |Feb precipitation inch = 0.48 |Mar precipitation inch = 0.72 |Apr precipitation inch = 0.59 |May precipitation inch = 0.88 |Jun precipitation inch = 0.55 |Jul precipitation inch = 1.29 |Aug precipitation inch = 1.37 |Sep precipitation inch = 1.14 |Oct precipitation inch = 1.16 |Nov precipitation inch = 0.56 |Dec precipitation inch = 0.65 |year precipitation inch =
|Jan snow inch = 7.30 |Feb snow inch = 5.90 |Mar snow inch = 6.40 |Apr snow inch = 2.20 |May snow inch = 1.00 |Jun snow inch = 0.20 |Jul snow inch = 0.00 |Aug snow inch = 0.00 |Sep snow inch = 0.10 |Oct snow inch = 1.90 |Nov snow inch = 4.80 |Dec snow inch = 8.30 |year snow inch =
|source 1 = NOAA (1981-2010 snowfall)<ref name = NOAA1> {{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00424764&format=pdf |title = Koosharem, Utah 1991-2020 Monthly Normals |access-date = November 14, 2023 }} </ref><ref name = NOAA2> {{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00424764&format=pdf |title = Koosharem, Utah 1981-2010 Monthly Normals |access-date = November 14, 2023 }} </ref> |source 2 = XMACIS2 (records & monthly max/mins)<ref name = XMACIS2> {{cite web |url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/ |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title = xmACIS |access-date = November 14, 2023 }} </ref> }}
==Economy== Koosharem's economy is based on a combination of traditional agriculture and growing tourism-related industries.
'''Agriculture.''' Farming and ranching remain significant economic activities in the area, utilizing the local land for crop cultivation and livestock raising.
'''Tourism and Recreation.''' The town's location near natural attractions has led to the development of tourism-based businesses:
# Fishlake National Forest and the Paiute ATV Trail attract outdoor enthusiasts. # Proximity to national parks brings in visitors. # The area is known for hunting, particularly elk. In 2008, the world record [https://web.archive.org/web/20150609165702/http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2009/01/05/new-world-record-elk-the-spider-bull/ "Spider Bull" Elk] was harvested near Koosharem. # Local businesses offer ATV rentals for trail exploration.
'''Local Businesses.''' The town center includes:
# Koosharem Mercantile (locally known as "the Merc"), a general store serving as a community hub. # Two restaurants: Red Clover Cafe and Koosharem Cafe.
'''Other Economic Contributors'''
# Sorenson's Ranch School for troubled youth provides employment opportunities. # Guiding services for hunters and tourists.
Koosharem's economy continues to evolve, balancing its agricultural roots with an expanding service sector catering to both residents and visitors. riders, and sight seers.
==Demographics== {{US Census population | align = left | 1890 = 232 | 1900 = 400 | 1910 = 287 | 1920 = 373 | 1930 = 319 | 1940 = 375 | 1950 = 300 | 1960 = 148 | 1970 = 141 | 1980 = 183 | 1990 = 266 | 2000 = 276 | 2010 = 327 | 2020 = 244 | footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<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> }} As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2010, there were 327 people residing in Koosharem, an 18.48% increase from 2000. In the 2000 census, there were 276 people, 88 households, and 79 families residing in the town. The population density was 497.1 people per square mile (190.3/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 133 housing units at an average density of 239.5 per square mile (91.7/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the town was 94.93% White, 1.45% Native American, 1.09% Asian, 0.36% Pacific Islander, 1.81% from other races, and 0.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.71% of the population.
There were 88 households, out of which 46.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 80.7% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 9.1% were non-families. 9.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.14 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 35.1% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,583, and the median income for a family was $40,625. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $18,929 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,481. About 5.3% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under the age of 18 and none of those 65 or over.
==Education== Koosharem is located in the Sevier School District.
* '''Elementary Education:''' Koosharem Elementary School serves the town's elementary-aged school students. * '''Secondary Education:''' Koosharem does not have a dedicated junior high or high school. Students attend school in either: ** Piute High School in Junction, Utah; or ** Richfield High School in Richfield, Utah * '''Transportation:''' School buses transport Koosharem students to both Junction and Richfield daily.
==See also== {{Portal|Utah}} * List of cities and towns in Utah
==References== {{Reflist|22em}}
{{Geographic Location |Centre = Koosharem |North = Glenwood, Salina |Northeast = Emery |East = ''Fish Lake''<br />Loa |Southeast = Escalante, Boulder |South = Antimony |Southwest = Junction, Kingston |West = Marysvale |Northwest = Elsinore, Central Valley, Annabella<br />Joseph, Monroe }}
{{Sevier County, Utah}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Towns in Utah Category:Towns in Sevier County, Utah Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1877 Category:1877 establishments in Utah Territory