Located on the northeastern part of the state, Duchesne County is home to many people and is a beautiful place. What do you know about Duchesne County?
Fun Facts About Duchesne County
- In 2020, Duchesne County was home to over 19,000 people.
- The County is named after the Duchesne River.
- The county seat is Duchesne.
- The largest city in the county is Roosevelt.
How to pronounce Duchesne
One of the most important things to know about Duchesne County is to know how to pronounce it. Many people outside of Utah, make fun of Utahans for the way we pronounce things. This is one of those things. Many people think Duchesne is pronounced duh-chez-nee, but it is actually pronounced doo-shayn. The word “Duchesne” is French meaning Oak. Duchesne County was named after the Duchesne River. Where the river got the name, I’m not sure. I’ve seen a few different answers for that. The most common answer to the question, where did Duchesne River get its name, it was named by fur trappers in the 1820s to honor Mother Rose Philippine Duchesne. The next most common is that it was named after a French fur trapper. Again, I’m not exactly sure where the Duchesne River got its name.
History of Duchesne County
“The Uintah Reservation was created in 1861 by President Abraham Lincoln for the permanent home of the Uintah and White River Utes. Later the Uncompahgre Utes were moved to the Uintah and newly created Uncompahgre Indian reservations from western Colorado. At the turn of the century under the Dawes Act, both Indian reservations were thrown open to homesteaders. This was done after allotments of land were made to Indians of the three tribes. On August 27, 1905, homesteading began in earnest on the former Uintah Reservation.
The settlement of Duchesne County is unique in Utah history, for unlike much of the state, it did not occur under the direction of Brigham Young or the Mormon church. Rather, it was settled by individuals who obtained 160 acres under the federal Homestead Act. Homesteaders were required to prove that they intended to farm the land. After five years of living on the land, making improvements, and paying $1.25 per acre, homesteaders were given title to their homesteads.”
Towns/Cities in Duchesne County
- Duchesne
- Roosevelt
- Myton
- Altamont
- Tabiona
- Bluebell
- Neola
Top Sights In Duchesne County
- Kings Peak
- Mirror Lake
- High Uintas Wilderness
- Starvation State Park
- Bald Mountain
- Naturalist Basin
- Moon Lake
- Four Lakes Basin
- Gilbert Peak
- and much more.