The main road going through Uintah County is Highway 40
Early photo of Highway 40 through Vernal
A main railroad, Uintah Railway, cut its way through Uintah.
Railroad station in Dragon, Utah in 1904
In the early days, and now, the economy in Uintah rests in the hands of mining, the removal of gas and oil, ranching, and farming.
Mining
In about 1888, gilsonite was discovered in various parts of the county—including in the eastern part of the Uncompahgre and Uintah indian reservations. Men who wanted to mine the gilsonite quickly persuaded the federal government to take 7,000 acres from the Uintah Reservation. This area, called "The Strip," had no law and order for some time.
American Gilsonite Building
The American Gilsonite Co was founded for the mining and processing of Gilsonite-brand uintaite and other products for the world market. Uintaite, a coal-like hydrocarbon resin, is an exceptionally safe, lightweight, crushable material that has applications in four major growth industries: oil drilling, the manufacture of inks and paints, road paving and metal casting. American Gilsonite is the globally dominant supplier of this critical material.
Removal of Oil and Gas
Because of the ancient, and now long gone Uinta Lake, formed during the late Tertiary period, sediment was deposited in the lake bottom to form gilsonite, oil shale, tar sands, and oil. Oil rigs and drills harvest oil and gas from the earth.
Drilling Rig in Vernal in the 1960's
Today's drilling rig.
Ranching
In 1873 a group of people entered the Ashley valley to raise livestock an industry that has become very important to the area.
Ranches raise animals like Cattle, Calves, Beef Cows, Milk Cows, Sheep, and Lamb.
Ranches in Uintah also supply land for wildlife ranging from Mule Deer and Elk to Turkey, Waterfowl and Beaver.
Early Uintah Ranch in Deep Creek
Modern Ranch in Uintah County
Farming
Farming
Farming is the main source of income for Uintah County.
The most used crop rotation that producers practice is to leave alfalfa in for seven to ten years, plant oats for one to two years, then replant alfalfa. Producers typically get three to four cuttings of alfalfa each year. About 50% of all inputs (seed, fertilizer, pesticides, etc.) are purchased locally while the remaining 50% is bought in a neighboring county.
Uintah farmers usually plant and harvest grain, corn, hay, and alfalfa.
Early farmer from Vernal harvesting Alfalfa.
Gawain Snow, Alfalfa farmer in Utah
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