Spanish Fork, Utah
Population: 20,246
Located in Utah County
Spanish Fork is situated in central Utah, and lies in the south central portion of Utah County. The land slopes gently upward from Utah Lake to the northwest to the southerly end of the Wasatch Mountains in the southeast. The elevations ranges from about 4500 feet in the northwest to 5200 feet in the far southeast foothills. A slightly steeper rise interrupts this topography in the southeast portion of the grid patterned streets of the City. The rise then flattens out forming a more gentle sloping bench area stretching to the foothills in the east. From the plateau of the east bench the topography drops rather steeply down approximately 60 feet to the Spanish Fork River floodplain below at the southerly edge of the community. The climate of Spanish Fork is characterized by four distinct seasons. Summer is warm to hot with little moisture. Fall brings pleasant temperatures and increasing cloudiness and precipitation from Pacific storms. Winters are fairly cold and snowy, with occasional foggy periods caused by high pressure inversions. Spring brings warmer temperatures, and is usually the wettest season. It is the season when flooding is most likely to occur, especially if the winter snowpack in the mountains is heavy and warm and/or wet conditions occur. Canyon breezes blow from the southeast on many nights and mornings throughout the year, helping to keep the air clear and pollution free. The population of Spanish Fork has historically increased at a fairly modest rate and has tended to lag beyond the growth rate for Utah County as a whole. Prior to the current building boom, the 1970's represented Spanish Fork's largest growth period, with an increase in population from 7,284 in 1970 to 9,825 in 1980, an increase of 35%. If current trends continue, Spanish Fork will grow at a far greater rate than that for the 1990's, and may reach 20,000 by the turn of the century. Spanish Fork, like most communities in Utah, has a relatively young population because of the large average family size. Average family size in 1990 was 3.89 persons, and average household size was 3.45. The United States as a whole averages about 3.2 persons per family and 2.7 per household. The median age in Spanish Fork in 1990 was about 24, while the United States averaged about 32. While the younger age groups represent a high proportionate share of the total population, the State Office of Planning and Budget has projected that the fastest growing segments of Utah's and Utah County's population will be in the 40-59 age group, with a fairly large growth rate in the over 70 age group as well. The 0-19 age groups are actually forecast to decline in population. If these projections hold true, the 2000 census should show that Spanish Fork's average household size has decreased, and its median age has increased. The 100-year floodplain of Spanish Fork River is considered a major floodplain in Utah County. The 100-year floodplain is that area which would be inundated by water in the event of a combination of climatological factors that is likely to occur once every 100 years (one percent likelihood of occurrence in any given year). The floodplain is shown on the General Plan Map. The Wasatch fault is an active fault that extends almost the entire length of the state. The center of Spanish Fork City is located approximately 3½ miles west of the fault line which traverses the Utah Valley along the base of the Wasatch Mountains. A severe earthquake could cripple Spanish Fork because major power and water lines cross this fault line.
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