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The connection to coal runs deep in Carbon County, Utah.
It is, after all, the name chosen because of the booming mining and railroad industries in the region in the 19th century. Even the local radio station is called KOAL. When speaking to people in the area, one often hears that someone comes from a long line of miners.
The presence of the industry can be felt everywhere in the area, but also its absence. The shift from coal to natural gas and more renewable energy sources has devastated the area economically since 1980. Several power plants have closed and many mines are idle, causing many residents to leave the area.
“It started with the power plant that lost coal production,” said Mike Dalpiaz, a senior executive with the United Mine Workers Association and former 16-year-old mayor of Helper, a town in Carbon County. “The coal mines were hit. The tire deals were hit. People moved out so the grocery stores were hit. We’re not a big place, so it’s very noticeable. “
While Utah’s urban centers like Salt Lake City and Provo boomed, adding jobs and population rapidly over the past few decades, many rural areas of the state like Carbon County stagnated and lost residents and jobs. The cause is a move away from the mining industry, an aging population and the automation of jobs. The same patterns can be seen in rural areas across the country. Although the revitalization of these areas is an uphill struggle, efforts to rededicate these cities and diversify their economies have shown some success.
(Shane Burke | The Salt Lake Tribune) As the state is booming, these counties in Utah are losing population, according to the US Census Bureau.
According to 2020 census data, seven Utah counties have shrunk in the past decade. They are all rural areas, many of which are faced with economic hardships of various stripes. The most populous of them is Carbon County, where one in 20 people has gone or died in the past decade.
“There is less economic diversity in many of Utah’s smaller, more rural communities,” said Mallory Bateman, demographer at the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. “If you look at the past decade, young people have left these places and gone to the urban centers of Utah.”
Coal mining is an extremely dangerous job. There’s always a risk of an accident – just 14 years ago, six miners were killed in a collapse that held them 1,800 feet underground in nearby Emery County. Three other rescue workers were killed trying to save them. Those who survive can experience long-term complications like black lung, a respiratory disease from prolonged inhalation of coal dust. Hard physical labor and economic desperation may have contributed to opioid addiction in Carbon County – it has the highest prescription rate per capita in the state.
Janice Hunt witnessed the decline of coal. Hunt started her career in her early twenties working underground in a mine. She was one of five women for every 100 men, as required by union regulations.
“It’s been hard work, but it’s a lot easier when you’re young,” said Hunt.
She worked there for a year and a half until it closed in 1982. After she left, she was given the opportunity to take college courses to improve her skills. She studied business administration, secured a job in the office of another mine, and eventually moved to a third local mine.
She worked there until this mine closed its doors 12 years ago, which led her colleagues to scramble for the disappearing mining jobs like a game of musical chairs. Some got these jobs, but many had to settle in less lucrative fields or leave the area altogether. Hunt eventually found a job helping the hearing impaired with subtitling. She hopes to retire soon.
Still, some positive outlook has emerged for Utah’s coal country, especially over the past year or two. Last year, homes in the region sold particularly quickly, with prices up 10% since last August alone, according to Zillow data.
The rise of teleworking has helped. Regardless of physical offices, more people can enjoy the region’s lower cost of living and natural amenities. Utah lawmakers are also working on programs to train people in rural areas for remote opportunities and to incentivize businesses to hire them to diversify these economies.
In line with the past of the area, new energy projects are also in the works. A large solar park is currently being built in Carbon County.
“The people who worked in the mines didn’t take it well,” said Hunt of the project. “They believe the mines will last forever, but our entire future is changing when it comes to energy, with electric cars, solar parks, windmills and so on. People are looking to the future and there isn’t really any coal in it. “
Helper, the second largest city in the region, has managed to completely direct its focus: on art and tourism. Several galleries, which are presented in a monthly “walk”, have revitalized the neglected city center of Helper. His rise provides inspiration for surrounding communities.
“We had a door open with the artistic thing in the 90s, and it blossomed,” said Dalpiaz of his tenure as mayor of the city. “Is it our salvation? At the moment it’s probably like that until we find a new one. “
And while there is a net loss of people in these cities, newcomers forge their own opportunities. Sherry Nehl, who moved from Oregon with her family two years ago, fulfilled her dream of opening a restaurant, the Juniper Pizza Cafe. It is located in a historic building in downtown Price, the county seat.
“I wanted a place where I could own a restaurant,” said Nehl. “The size is perfect for that. I’m not competing with multi-million dollar restaurant groups, but there are enough people to support a local business. “
Above all, Nehl appreciates the history and the closeness to nature. She let ghost hunters come through her pizzeria, a reminder of the town’s old western roots. Overall, she values her community and looks forward to raising her children in Price.
“I think our future is really positive,” said Nehl. “The award feels like the best kept secret in Utah.”
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