This County in Utah Has Less People Than Most Tiny Towns and Is Shrinking

If you are frustrated with all the traffic and crowded neighbors where you live, there is a county in Utah that has plenty of room. Daggett County is Utah's least populated county and stands at number 32 for least populated in the entire United States.

A Declining Population with Lots of Room for Growth

Not only is there plenty of room in this county at the northeast corner of Utah with just 935 total residents, it is getting roomier. Between the 2010 census and 2020, Daggett County lost 124 residents.

The county takes in the north side of the Uintah mountains and borders Wyoming. It would probably be completely empty if not for Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. Dutch John sits near the Dam and is the second biggest town with a population of 139.

man sitting on cliff during daytime

An Aging Population: Demographics of Daggett County

The County Seat is the town of Manila that sits as the gateway to Flaming Gorge and boasts a population of 321 people. The economy relies on tourism and government sector jobs. However, the population is getting younger.

The people living in Daggett County skew older than the average in Utah. Because there are less children and young families, the chance of the population growing from within is unlikely unless this changes.

Read More: Provo Job Growth Outpaces Every Other US City

There isn't a lot of shopping and it takes a trip around the mountains to Vernal to get to a Walmart. Still, for those of us looking for a slower pace with plenty of outdoor recreation, Daggett County may have cornered the market.