Moving to East Carbon, Utah

East Carbon, Utah is a small town located in the southeastern corner of the state. It is situated in Carbon County and has a population of approximately 1,500 people. The town is situated on a high plateau with views of the Wasatch Mountains to the west and the Book Cliffs to the east.

The town was established in 1883 when miners began searching for coal in the area. The coal industry has been an important part of East Carbon’s history ever since and many of its residents still work in that industry today. In addition to coal mining, East Carbon also has some farming, ranching, and tourism activities going on as well.

The climate in East Carbon is semi-arid with hot summers and cold winters. Temperatures can reach up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit during summer months and snowfall is common during winter months. Despite this, there are plenty of outdoor activities available for those looking to get out into nature such as camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, biking and more.

The nearby towns of Price and Helper both offer shopping opportunities as well as restaurants for visitors looking for something different than what East Carbon has to offer. There are also several churches located within town which serve both Catholic and Protestant denominations.

Being located near other towns such as Price makes it easy for those living in East Carbon to access larger cities such as Salt Lake City or Provo which are only about an hour away by car. Additionally, there are several national parks located within reach including Arches National Park which is less than two hours away from East Carbon by car making it perfect for day trips or weekend getaways from town life.

East Carbon provides a unique atmosphere that combines small-town charm with modern amenities making it perfect for those looking for a quiet place to settle down or just escape from everyday life for a while. Whether you’re looking to relax or explore all that Utah has to offer then East Carbon might just be the perfect place for you.

Population: 1,393. Estimated population in July 2024: 1,281 (-8.0% change)
Males: 668 (48.0%), Females: 725 (52.0%)

Carbon County

Zip code: 84520

Demographics

Median resident age: 40.9 years
Median household income: $25,313
Median house value: $53,300

Population by Race

Races in East Carbon:

  • White Non-Hispanic (76.4%)
  • Hispanic (20.8%)
  • Other race (15.6%)
  • Two or more races (2.3%)
  • American Indian (1.4%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: English (21.3%), German (10.6%), Irish (8.9%), Italian (8.4%), Danish (5.0%), United States (4.9%).

Elevation: 6300 feet

Land area: 8.9 square miles

Map of East Carbon, UT

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in East Carbon

  • High school or higher: 69.4%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 6.3%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 2.4%
  • Unemployed: 11.7%
  • Mean travel time to work: 30.9 minutes

For population 15 years and over in East Carbon city

  • Never married: 21.4%
  • Now married: 49.6%
  • Separated: 1.8%
  • Widowed: 12.9%
  • Divorced: 14.3%

0.9% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: +141 (+11.3%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near East Carbon:

  • CASTLEVIEW HOSPITAL (about 26 miles; PRICE, UT)
  • UINTAH BASIN MEDICAL CENTER (about 61 miles; ROOSEVELT, UT)
  • SANPETE VALLEY HOSPITAL (about 71 miles; MOUNT PLEASANT, UT)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to East Carbon:

  • PROVO MUNI (about 102 miles; PROVO, UT; Abbreviation: PVU)
  • WALKER FIELD (about 135 miles; GRAND JUNCTION, CO; Abbreviation: GJT)
  • SALT LAKE CITY INTL (about 137 miles; SALT LAKE CITY, UT; Abbreviation: SLC)

Other public-use airports nearest to East Carbon:

  • CARBON COUNTY (about 24 miles; PRICE, UT; Abbreviation: PUC)
  • HUNTINGTON MUNI (about 37 miles; HUNTINGTON, UT; Abbreviation: 69V)
  • GREEN RIVER MUNI (about 44 miles; GREEN RIVER, UT; Abbreviation: U34)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to East Carbon:

  • SNOW COLLEGE (about 82 miles; EPHRAIM, UT; Full-time enrollment: 2,632)
  • UTAH VALLEY STATE COLLEGE (about 103 miles; OREM, UT; Full-time enrollment: 14,182)
  • BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY (about 107 miles; PROVO, UT; Full-time enrollment: 29,977)
  • SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 129 miles; SALT LAKE CITY, UT; Full-time enrollment: 11,896)
  • UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX-UTAH CAMPUS (about 130 miles; SALT LAKE CITY, UT; Full-time enrollment: 2,021)
  • UNIVERSITY OF UTAH (about 130 miles; SALT LAKE CITY, UT; Full-time enrollment: 19,866)
  • MESA STATE COLLEGE (about 134 miles; GRAND JUNCTION, CO; Full-time enrollment: 4,415)