According to the 2015 US Census estimate, Grand County is home to 9,516 people. The County is spread over 3,694 square miles. The two major communities in the County are Moab and Castle Valley.
The primary sector of the County’s economy is tourism and recreation which accounts for 90% of the jobs (non-agricultural employment) within the County. A primary component of this sector is the National Parks within the County, which make up 76,602 acres of the County. In 2015 1,399,247 guests visited Arches National Park, located in the southern part of the County. Similarly, in 2014 1,399,247 guests visited nearby Canyonlands National Park. In 2013, the County received $5,976,088 in tax revenue from tourism.
Only 4% of the land in the county is privately held. On the private land, 94 farms produce alfalfa, grass pasture, melons, grapes, asparagus, pistachios, and organic vegetables over 52,729 acres. 60% of the farms are smaller than 50 acres. Two factors limit the growth of the agricultural industry, a lack of irrigated lands and the limits to grazing on public lands. There are 1,885 acres of prime farmland. An additional 4,639 acres of land could be classified as prime farmland if it had access to irrigation.
Related Documents
Grand County Resource Needs Assessment (2012)
NRCS Natural Resource Inventory Website
Utah Countied in Review, 2013