Blacks Fork, Utah

This article is about a ghost town in Utah. For the river of the same name, see Blacks Fork.

Blacks Fork
Ghost town
Blacks Fork is located in Utah
Blacks Fork
Blacks Fork
Location of Blacks Fork in Utah
Blacks Fork is located in the United States
Blacks Fork
Blacks Fork
Blacks Fork (the United States)
Coordinates: 40°58′17″N 110°35′14″W / 40.97139°N 110.58722°W / 40.97139; -110.58722
CountryUnited States
StateUtah
CountySummit
Founded1870
Abandoned1930
Named forBlacks Fork
Elevation
[1]
8,848 ft (2,697 m)
GNIS feature ID1444064[1]

Blacks Fork, also known as Blacks Fork Commissary, is a ghost town in Summit County, Utah, United States. Named for the Blacks Fork River, it was a logging town that operated from 1870 to 1930.[2][3]

History

Blacks Fork was established in 1870 as a logging camp that supplied lumber to the railroad and mining industries. A large barn was erected near the center of the town, and several businesses and homes were built around the barn.[2] Tradition says that the town also served as a military commissary during the early part of its history,[4] but Utah ghost towns researcher Stephen Carr concluded that "...this suggestion is very unlikely," citing the camp's remote location and harsh climate, as well as the fact that an army post called "Blacks Fork" already existed near Bryan, Wyoming. The population peaked at about 100,[2] but the town was soon abandoned.[4] Remaining are the barn, a post office, and a few homes.[2]

Climate

Climate data for Blacks Fork Jct, Utah, 2011–2020 normals: 8870ft (2704m)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 61
(16) 		58
(14) 		65
(18) 		67
(19) 		72
(22) 		80
(27) 		80
(27) 		84
(29) 		79
(26) 		71
(22) 		63
(17) 		54
(12) 		84
(29)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 52.3
(11.3) 		50.1
(10.1) 		55.8
(13.2) 		61.4
(16.3) 		67.5
(19.7) 		76.6
(24.8) 		78.5
(25.8) 		78.2
(25.7) 		74.0
(23.3) 		64.6
(18.1) 		57.2
(14.0) 		50.9
(10.5) 		77.6
(25.3)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 36.6
(2.6) 		35.7
(2.1) 		43.2
(6.2) 		46.6
(8.1) 		54.2
(12.3) 		66.4
(19.1) 		72.1
(22.3) 		70.9
(21.6) 		63.3
(17.4) 		51.4
(10.8) 		42.1
(5.6) 		34.3
(1.3) 		51.4
(10.8)
Daily mean °F (°C) 19.8
(−6.8) 		18.9
(−7.3) 		27.2
(−2.7) 		32.4
(0.2) 		41.1
(5.1) 		49.9
(9.9) 		55.9
(13.3) 		54.5
(12.5) 		47.7
(8.7) 		37.4
(3.0) 		27.3
(−2.6) 		18.4
(−7.6) 		35.9
(2.1)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 2.9
(−16.2) 		2.6
(−16.3) 		11.2
(−11.6) 		18.2
(−7.7) 		27.9
(−2.3) 		33.4
(0.8) 		39.7
(4.3) 		38.0
(3.3) 		32.2
(0.1) 		23.4
(−4.8) 		12.5
(−10.8) 		2.6
(−16.3) 		20.4
(−6.5)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −22.2
(−30.1) 		−24.3
(−31.3) 		−12.2
(−24.6) 		−3.2
(−19.6) 		12.6
(−10.8) 		24.5
(−4.2) 		31.0
(−0.6) 		30.6
(−0.8) 		20.9
(−6.2) 		2.9
(−16.2) 		−11.7
(−24.3) 		−23.1
(−30.6) 		−29.6
(−34.2)
Record low °F (°C) −36
(−38) 		−41
(−41) 		−24
(−31) 		−12
(−24) 		−4
(−20) 		19
(−7) 		27
(−3) 		28
(−2) 		16
(−9) 		−20
(−29) 		−21
(−29) 		−32
(−36) 		−41
(−41)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.91
(49) 		1.91
(49) 		2.23
(57) 		2.85
(72) 		2.67
(68) 		1.37
(35) 		1.41
(36) 		1.83
(46) 		1.85
(47) 		2.11
(54) 		2.10
(53) 		1.88
(48) 		24.12
(614)
Source 1: XMACIS2[5]
Source 2: NOAA (Precipitation)[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Old Blacks Fork Commissary
  2. ^ a b c d Carr, Stephen L. (1986) [1972]. The Historical Guide to Utah Ghost Towns. Salt Lake City, Utah: Western Epics. p. 60. ISBN 978-0-914740-30-8.
  3. ^ Huegel, Tony (2007). Utah Byways: 65 of Utah's Best Backcountry Drives. Berkeley, California: Wilderness Press. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-89997-424-8. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
  4. ^ a b Van Cott, John W. (1990). Utah Place Names. Salt Lake City, Utah: University of Utah Press. p. 38. ISBN 978-0-87480-345-7. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "xmACIS2". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  6. ^ "Blacks Fork Jct, Utah 1991-2020 Monthly Normals". Retrieved November 17, 2023.

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