TheUtah Territory legislature created the county on October 4, 1851, with territory not previously covered by county creations and including some area in the future state ofNevada. It was named for the thirteenth US PresidentMillard Fillmore, who was in office then.[4] Fillmore was designated as the county seat. The county boundaries were altered in 1852 and again in 1854. On March 2, 1861, the US government created theNevada Territory, which effectively de-annexed the described portion of Millard County falling in that Territorial Proclamation. The county boundary was further altered in 1862, 1866, 1888, and in 1919. In 1921 a boundary adjustment withSevier brought Millard to its present configuration.[5]
Fillmore, located near the geographic center of the territory, was originally built as the capital of Utah Territory. The Utah Territorial Legislature approved a plan to locate the capital in the Pahvant Valley. On October 28, 1851, Utah GovernorBrigham Young traveled to the valley and chose the specific site for Fillmore. The town was surveyed that same day. A colonizing company soon followed; they built houses, a grist mill, and a sawmill. Construction of the Territorial Statehouse was initiated in 1852. The Territorial legislature met in Fillmore for the first (and only time) in 1855. The following year they voted to keep the capital in Great Salt Lake City.[6]
Millard County lies on the west side of Utah. Its west border abuts the east border of the state ofNevada. The county terrain consists of arid, rough undulating flatlands interrupted by numerous hills and mountain ridges.[7] The highest point in the county is Mine Camp Peak in the Central Utah Plateaus, at 10,222 feet (3,116 m) ASL.[8] The county has a total area of 6,828 square miles (17,680 km2), of which 6,572 square miles (17,020 km2) is land and 255 square miles (660 km2) (3.7%) is water.[9] It is the third-largest county in Utah by area.
TheSevier Desert covers much of Millard County, being the seafloor of ancientLake Bonneville.Sevier Lake, a mostly dry remnant of Lake Bonneville, is in central Millard County. ThePahvant Mountains form the county's eastern boundary.Fillmore and other farming communities lie at the base of the Pahvant Mountains.Delta sits several miles from the banks of theSevier River in the middle of the basin.
The Great Stone Face and a portrait of Joseph Smith Jr.
Pahvant Valley in Millard County has several ancient lava flows and extinct volcanoes, known as theBlack Rock Desert volcanic field, including the "Black Rock" lava flow. About 17 miles (27 km) southwest of Delta, near Black Rock's northwest perimeter is a feature named the "Great Stone Face", which protrudes about four stories above the general elevation.[10] Locals claim that this rock formation, when viewed at the correct angle, appears similar to a profile ofJoseph Smith.[11][12] At ground level, within view of the "Great Stone Face", is a large, smooth-faced rock covered in Native American petroglyphs.
There were 6,581 (50.72%) males and 6,394 (49.28%) females, and the population distribution by age was 4,040 (31.1%) under the age of 18, 6,659 (51.3%) from 18 to 64, and 2,276 (17.5%) who were at least 65 years old. The median age was 36.1 years.
There were 4,299 households in Millard County with an average size of 3.02 of which 3,316 (77.1%) were families and 983 (22.9%) were non-families. Among all families, 2,801 (65.2%) weremarried couples, 196 (4.6%) were male householders with no spouse, and 319 (7.4%) were female householders with no spouse. Among all non-families, 848 (19.7%) were a single person living alone and 135 (3.1%) were two or more people living together. 1,665 (38.7%) of all households had children under the age of 18. 3,385 (78.7%) of households wereowner-occupied while 914 (21.3%) wererenter-occupied.
The median income for a Millard County household was $63,221 and the median family income was $67,981, with aper-capita income of $25,479. The median income for males that werefull-time employees was $50,906 and for females $34,875. 12.3% of the population and 10.9% of families were below thepoverty line.
TheTopaz War Relocation Center was aWorld War II Japanese internment camp located in Millard County 15 miles (24 km) west of Delta. The location is open to the public, with a memorial at the northwest corner.
Millard County has traditionally voted Republican. In no national election since 1944 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).
(1994)"Millard County" article in theUtah History Encyclopedia. The article was written by Miriam B. Murphy and the Encyclopedia was published by the University of Utah Press. ISBN 9780874804256. Archived fromthe original on March 21, 2024, and retrieved on September 27, 2024.
