Utah's Coal Industry

Carbon County’s name reflects the importance of carbon products to the economy and history of this area. The first commercial development of coal in this vicinity began in the 1870s and soon outdistanced production in other parts of Utah. A major stimulus to the industry and to settlement came when the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad was extended from Colorado through this canyon to Salt Lake City in 1883. Especially during World War II, coal from Carbon County helped place Utah among America’s leading coke and coal producers, with vast reserves still to be developed. Oil shale and tar sands also offer rich potential as sources of petroleum, and coal is expected to play a major role in the production of electricity, as at the Utah Power and Light Company steam plant near this site.

Utah · United States