IRON COUNTY

Iron County’s economy is burgeoning, with population growth and economic diversity as two major contributing factors. Job growth is also strong, with the county experiencing a 4.5% job growth rate from June 2021 to June 2022 (compared with an overall Utah state rate of 3.7 percent).

“The economy is going really well and our wages are increasing,” said Danny Stewart, economic development director for Cedar City and Iron County. “All economic indicators are really positive.”

Between July 1, 2021, and July 1, 2022, Iron County’s population grew 4.3 % — faster than any other county in the state. It was the second year in a row the county topped all other Utah counties in growth rate.

Most of this growth came through people moving to the area. Iron County housing costs are generally lower than those in the St. George area, making it an appealing location for people who love what Southern Utah has to offer.

All these move-ins have fueled the local construction industry. In 2011, Cedar City issued 233 residential building permits. In 2021, the number was 945, and in 2022 it surpassed 1,000. Other areas in the county are seeing building increase as well.

Like construction, other sectors of the Iron County economy such as mining, manufacturing and transportation are experiencing growth.

“I think one of the things that’s a big positive for us is the diversity of our economy,” Stewart said.

Stewart referred to the Hachman Index, which measures an area’s industry diversity on a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 indicating the highest diversity. “Iron County has a Hachman score of 85, which is really diverse,” he said, adding that diverse econo- mies generally have greater resilience during economic downturns.

Iron County has had success in recent years recruiting manufacturers to the area that run high-tech, automated facilities.

Several plastic manufacturers are located in Iron County, producing everything from PVC pip to food containers and buckets. One local company occupies half a million square feet and produces roofing supplies. Another company that manufactures firearms opened last summer and is already looking to expand its operation.

With Interstate 15 and a railroad line running through Cedar City, the area is attractive for companies with shipping needs. BZI Steel and Savage Services have both announced they will make this process even easier by building specialized transloading facilities on the railroad. BZI Steel’s Rail Sync will streamline the transportation of raw materials and finished goods, allowing companies through- out Utah’s entire southwest area to more easily access railroad transportation. Savage Services announced late last year they will build a 75-acre Savage Railport – Southern Utah as well.

In January, 2023, Iron County Commissioners approved a resolution to create a Utah Inland Port Project Area in the county to help with the development and the success of these projects. “We’ve built a strong relationship with the Utah Inland Port over the past several years and we are excited to partner with them in the creation of this project area,” Stewart said.

Iron County also has companies representing the aviation, chemical, aerospace, tourism and financial sectors.

“There’s just growth everywhere. Our health care industry continues to grow, new retail continues to pop up, so we just feel really fortunate that we’re experiencing a good economy and a really promising future,” Stewart said.