Mexican Hat, Utah
Encyclopedia
Mexican Hat is a census-designated place
(CDP) on the San Juan River in south-central San Juan County
, Utah
, United States
. Each year, on March 8 the town members meet to celebrate their CDP status. Town members wear hats, as the celebration takes place at the Mexican Hat Rock. It is on U.S. Route 163 just three miles (5 km) south of the junction with State Route 261, and is just outside the northern boundary of both the Navajo Nation
and Monument Valley
. With a total population of 88 at the 2000 census, the community saw a significant decrease from the 1990
figure of 259.
The name "Mexican Hat" comes from a curiously sombrero
-shaped, 60 feet (18.3 m) wide by 12 feet (3.7 m) thick (18.3 x 3.7 m), rock outcropping on the northeast edge of town. The "Hat" has two rock climbing
routes ascending it.
Goosenecks State Park
is located just nine miles (14 km) west-northwest, Alhambra Rock is six miles (10 km) west-southwest, and the Valley of the Gods
is to the north on U.S. 163.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 8.6 square miles (22.4 km²), of which, 8.2 square miles (21.2 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 km²) of it (5.32%) is water.
of 2000, there were 88 people, 29 households, and 22 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 10.7 people per square mile (4.1/km²). There were 32 housing units at an average density of 3.9/sq mi (1.5/km²). The racial make-up of the CDP was 37.50% White, 57.95% Native American, 4.55% from other races
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.82% of the population.
There were 29 households out of which 48.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples
living together, 27.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.7% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.43.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 31.8% under the age of 18, 19.3% from 18 to 24, 19.3% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 4.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 66.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.5 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $57,656, and the median income for a family was $58,750. Males had a median income of $41,250 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $14,973. There were no families and 6.5% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) on the San Juan River in south-central San Juan County
San Juan County, Utah
As of the current census of 2010, there were 14,746 people and 4,505 households. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 50.4% Native American, 45.8% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% African American and 2.3% reporting two or more races...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Each year, on March 8 the town members meet to celebrate their CDP status. Town members wear hats, as the celebration takes place at the Mexican Hat Rock. It is on U.S. Route 163 just three miles (5 km) south of the junction with State Route 261, and is just outside the northern boundary of both the Navajo Nation
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
and Monument Valley
Monument Valley
Monument Valley is a region of the Colorado Plateau characterized by a cluster of vast sandstone buttes, the largest reaching above the valley floor. It is located on the northern border of Arizona with southern Utah , near the Four Corners area...
. With a total population of 88 at the 2000 census, the community saw a significant decrease from the 1990
United States Census, 1990
The Twenty-first United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 248,709,873, an increase of 9.8 percent over the 226,545,805 persons enumerated during the 1980 Census....
figure of 259.
The name "Mexican Hat" comes from a curiously sombrero
Sombrero
Sombrero in English refers to a type of wide-brimmed hat originating in Mexico. In Spanish, however, it is the generic word for "hat", which originates from "sombra", meaning "shade"....
-shaped, 60 feet (18.3 m) wide by 12 feet (3.7 m) thick (18.3 x 3.7 m), rock outcropping on the northeast edge of town. The "Hat" has two rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
routes ascending it.
Goosenecks State Park
Goosenecks State Park
Goosenecks State Park is a state park of Utah, USA, overlooking a deep meander of the San Juan River. The park is located near the southern border of the state a short distance from Mexican Hat, Utah. Millions of years ago, the Monument Upwarp forced the river to carve incised meanders over deep...
is located just nine miles (14 km) west-northwest, Alhambra Rock is six miles (10 km) west-southwest, and the Valley of the Gods
Valley of the Gods
Valley of the Gods is a scenic sandstone valley near Mexican Hat in San Juan County, southeastern Utah. It is north of Monument Valley across the San Juan River , and has similar rock formations...
is to the north on U.S. 163.
Geography
Mexican Hat is 4400 feet (1,341.1 m) above sea level and located at 37°9′54"N 109°51′56"W (37.165131, -109.865446).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 8.6 square miles (22.4 km²), of which, 8.2 square miles (21.2 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 km²) of it (5.32%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 88 people, 29 households, and 22 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 10.7 people per square mile (4.1/km²). There were 32 housing units at an average density of 3.9/sq mi (1.5/km²). The racial make-up of the CDP was 37.50% White, 57.95% Native American, 4.55% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.82% of the population.
There were 29 households out of which 48.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 27.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.7% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.43.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 31.8% under the age of 18, 19.3% from 18 to 24, 19.3% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 4.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 66.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.5 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $57,656, and the median income for a family was $58,750. Males had a median income of $41,250 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $14,973. There were no families and 6.5% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.