Utah Centennial County History Series - Rich County 1996

The heartaches, fears, and privations of World War 11 gave way to jubilation once the war ended. Life gradually resumed in much the same manner as before. As the war ended, residents in Rich County took time to renew family ties and take comfort in their freedom. But new challenges awaited as the county moved from the post-war years into the 1950s.

Throughout the war years and immediately after, the population of Rich County declined from a high of 2,028 in 1940 to 1,673 in 1950.84Employment opportunities in the war industries and military duty account for most of the out-migration. Following the close of World War 11, economic opportunity was greater in the more urbanized parts of the state and nation than it was in rural agricultural areas like Rich County. Only those with secure economic opportunities remained in or returned to Rich County following the war.

Providing economic opportunity for citizens of the county would be an ongoing concern for elected county officials throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Agriculture still formed the basis for the county's economy, but it remained limited by available land, climate, and irrigation water. Most available agricultural land had been taken up by the 1920s, and ranchers and farmers had no control over the rigorous climate of the region. Therefore, agriculture was a somewhat static industry. It could supply a livelihood for a small entrenched population, but it did not hold out the possibility of creating many new jobs. In fact, the increased reliance on farm machinery following World War I1 actually decreased the number of farm laborers needed.

As a result, the population of Rich County, like its agriculture, remained fairly static.

Until 1970 the population of Rich County remained at or below the 1950 level. Not until recreational development and natural gas and oil exploration began did the county's population increasefrom 1,615 in 1970 to a high of 2,300 in 1984.85Increasing population strained the county's utilities and brought to the forefront new and demanding problems. As discussed in chapters four and five, the county commission working in conjunction with the Bear Lake Regional Commission met the demands and worked through the problems confronting the county. In addition to population pressures, government regulations made the administration of the county