Duchesne

History

18 September 1776 The Dominguez–Escalante Expedition came from the east where they crossed Blue Bench and descended into the valley north of the present-day town of Duchesne. "We ascended a not very high mesa [Blue Bench] which was level and very stony, traveled about three-quarters of a league including ascent and descent, crossed another small river [Duchesne River] which near here enters the San Cosme (Strawberry River), named it Santa Caterina de Sena, and camped on its banks." "Along these three rivers we have crossed today, there is plenty of good land for crops to support three good settlements, with opportunities for irrigation, beautiful cottonwood groves, good pastures, timber, and firewood nearby." 1822–1840 French Canadian trappers Étienne Provost, François le Clerc, and Antoine Robidoux entered the Uintah Basin by way of the Old Spanish Trail and made their fortunes by trapping the many beaver and trading with the Uintah tribe. From these French Canadian trappers, the Duchesne River and ultimately Duchesne City received its name. 1900–1905 Leases were arranged with the Ute tribe through the Indian agent "Major" H.P. Myton to provide pasture for sheep in and around where Duchesne city is located now. A story passed down from Mrs. William J. Bond about her Father Joseph W. Thomas discusses the area. "During the winter of 1901 - 02, he (Thomas) hauled supplies from Heber to the now Duchesne area, to the sheep herd camp of John E. Austin, a brother-in-law. Together with three herders, Mr. Thomas tended sheep on the West bench (D-hill) near the (Theodore) cemetery site. They moved the herds to the East desert for the winter months. The Indians had quite a village where Duchesne is now. It was a winter camp, and in spring, they scattered. A fence…

Geography

Duchesne is located just west of the junction of the Strawberry and Duchesne rivers in the Uintah Basin of northeastern Utah. The Duchesne River drains the southwest slope of the Uinta Mountains, and the Strawberry river drains the eastern slopes of the Wasatch Range and is connected to Strawberry Reservoir. The two rivers combine at Duchesne, and the Duchesne River continues east to join the Green River at Ouray, Utah. Native stands of cottonwood trees and willows grow along the river banks, while sagebrush and rabbitbrush fill the unirrigated bench tops. Alfalfa is the main cultivated crop of farmers in the area. Via highway, Salt Lake City is to the west, Vernal is to the east, and Price is to the south. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. |source 2 = National Weather Service }}

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  162
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  139
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  126
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  124
• Common Raven

  Corvus corax Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  113
• Black-billed Magpie

  Pica hudsonia (Sabine, 1823) · Aves
  110
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  109
• American Coot

  Fulica americana Gmelin, 1789 · Aves
  88

Most recent

• M 2.69 — 2026-09-27
  15 km E of Kenilworth, Utah
• M 3.1 — 2026-07-29
  24 km NNE of Maeser, Utah
• M 3.1 — 2026-06-01
  18 km NNE of Maeser, Utah
• M 3.3 — 2026-05-20
  16 km NNE of Maeser, Utah
• M 3 — 2026-04-09
  21 km NNE of Maeser, Utah
• M 3.1 — 2026-03-19
  20 km NNE of Maeser, Utah