In 1869 and
Wesley Powell visited
parts of Daggett County. Starting at Green River, Wyoming,
Powell floated down the Green and Colorado rivers and on each
studied the geology
and geography, animal and plant life, and the Indians who lived
in the area.
same time it was rumored that the Uinta Mountains
full of diamonds. Important and wealthy people in America
and in Europe invested in the claims, hoping to make a lot of money.
out that the discovery of diamonds in the Uintas was a hoax.
was used for the summer grazing of sheep and cattle trailed
from parts of northern Utah and southwestern Wyoming. Until
the introduction of irrigation in the 1890s by Adolph Jessen,
Chambers, and others made it possible for farmers and their
families to live there. The first permanent settlers included
Warby and Franklin Twitchell families. In 1917 the state
Daggett County out of the northern part of Uintah County,
and Manila was named the county seat. Daggett was the last of
counties (29) to be organized.
economy is based primarily
the raising of livestock, hay, and alfalfa, but it is
also an important producer of electric power for Utah and surrounding
states. A new
Dutch John, was built near Flaming Gorge to provide a
place for people who work at the dam. Flaming Gorge Reservoir
is a popular
for boating and fishing.