Bluff () is a town in San Juan County, Utah, United States. The population was 240 at the 2020 census, down from 320 at the 2000 census, of which, at the time, it was a census-designated place. Bluff was incorporated in 2018. Josh Ewing is currently the mayor.

History

Under the direction of John Taylor, Silas S. Smith and Danish settler Jens Nielson led about 230 Mormons on an expedition to start a farming community in southeastern Utah. After forging about 200 miles (320 kilometers) of their own trail over difficult terrain, the settlers arrived on the site of Bluff in April 1880. (The trail followed went over and down the "Hole in the Rock", which now opens into one of the tributaries of Lake Powell.) The town was named for the bluffs near the town site. The town's population had declined to seventy by 1930 but rebounded during a uranium prospecting boom in the 1950s.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 22.6&nbsp;square miles (58.7&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), of which 22.1&nbsp;square miles (57.2&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) is land and 0.6&nbsp;square mile (1.4&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) (2.43%) is water.

Climate

Bluff has a cold desert climate (Köppen BWk) typical of southern Utah, though it borders on a cold semi-arid climate (BSk). Winters are cool and dry with occasional snow. Despite averaging just over of snow per year, only three seasons have gone without snow (1928–1929, 1963–1964, and 1995–1996). The snowiest season was 1978–1979, with . Nights are chilly, falling below freezing on 141 days per year, while only seven days fail to rise above freezing. Bluff is located in hardiness zone 7A, with an average yearly low of . Spring comes quickly in February and is the driest time of the year. Temperatures are usually warm, although snow has fallen as late as April (although very rarely). The average last freeze is April 25. Summer is long and hot with occasional thunderstorms. Days reach , an average of 86 days per year, and attain highs of or greater on 16. Despite the hot days, nights cool to . While September is still hot, temperatures cool rapidly in October and November. Snow has fallen in October but usually holds off until late November. The first freeze typically comes on October 7.

Demographics

As of the census

  • Bluff Arts Festival, October and Utah Navajo Fair, September

Notable people

  • Charles Lang, Academy Award-winning cinematographer
  • Albert R. Lyman, writer
  • Jane McKechnie Walton, pioneer
  • Ellen Meloy, writer
  • Charles Redd, rancher and member of the Utah House of Representatives

See also

  • List of census-designated places in Utah
  • Design Build Bluff

References