Southwest Region, UT Land for Sale

Southwest Utah encompasses the entire southwestern corner of the state and borders Nevada to the west and Arizona to the south. St. George is the largest city in the region and other larger cities are Cedar City, Richfield, Kanab and Manti. A national airline is headquartered in St. George, and two large discount retailers have distribution centers in the region, one in St. George as well. A large part of the economy comes from tourism, due to national and state parks in the region, and bordering Grand Canyon National Park. The region has many golf courses with year-round golfing, and various world-recognized events. Higher Education institutions in the region include Dixie State University, Southern Utah University, Stevens-Henager College, Snow College and Dixie Applied Technology College.

There are nearly 30 national and state parks, forests and other protected areas. One of the most popular in the region is Zion National Park, with 229 square miles of dramatic landscape of sculptured canyons and soaring cliffs. It is the fifth most visited national park in the country. Bryce Canyon National Park features beautiful Claron limestones, sandstones and mudstones shaped into thousands of spires, fins, pinnacles and mazes by erosion. Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Reserve features rippling arcs of rush-colored sand, juniper and pinion pines and steep red cliffs, a wonderful place for off-roading, camping, photography and playing in the sand. It is the only major sand dune field on the Colorado Plateau. Gunlock State Park offers scenic red rock, and year-round boating, water sports, fishing for bass and catfish on 240-acre Gunlock Reservoir. Kodachrome Basin State Park is known for its massive sandstone chimneys. Stone Canyon features red Navajo sandstone, capped by an overlay of black lava rock, with two recent volcanic cones near the head of the canyon. There are two national forests in the region, Dixie National Forest and Fishlake National Forest, the latter with mountains rising from the valleys in elevated plateaus holding hidden areas of beauty and solitude. Some other attractions in the region are Anasazi State Park Museum, believed to be one of the largest Ancestral Puebloan sites west of the Colorado River, Brigham Young Winter Home, Bryce Museum/Bryce Wildlife Adventure, Maynard Dixon Living History Museum, Rosenbruch Wildlife Museum, St. George Art Museum and St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm.

Washington County is located in the southwest corner of Utah, in the Southwest region, and borders Nevada to the west and Arizona to the south. It is the fifth most populated county in the state, and was named for President George Washington. St. George is the largest city and the county seat, other larger cities are Hurricane and Washington, and there are around 20 other cities, towns, census-designated places and unincorporated communities. Tourism is very important to the county's economy with Zion National Park, Snow Canyon, golf courses and other parks drawing visitors. The trade and service industries are also very important. The county is also a popular place for retirees, with many moving to communities such as Bloomington with many condominiums and trailer park houses for winter residents. Dixie State University a major employer in the county, with the main campus in St. George and a campus extension in Hurricane. Protected areas in the county are Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area, Dixie National Forest and Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. There are also 18 wilderness areas part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, such as the Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness. Some other attractions in the region include the Western Aviation Museum, the Silver Reef Museum, a mining boomtown in the late 1800s, Zion Human History Museum, showcasing the Native American culture, historic pioneer settlement and Zion's growth as a national park and the North American Wildlife Museum.

Iron County is also in the southwestern corner of Southwest Utah, just north of Washington County, bordering Nevada to the west. It is named for the iron mines in the western part of the county. Cedar City is the largest city and Parowan is the county seat. Enoch is the other city in the county, and there are around 10 other towns, census- designated places and unincorporated communities. The county's economy originally depended on mining, but now has a more broadly based economy than most of rural Utah. The Escalante Desert is now called the Escalante Valley, reflecting the irrigated hay, small grains and potatoes grown there. Its location has made it a regional trade center and supplier of services. There are several national park offices in the county, including the Bureau of Land Management, Dixie National Forest and Utah Wildlife Resources. Cedar City has a railroad spur, an airport and a nearby rocket motor fuel plant. Southern Utah University is also located in Cedar City. It is an attractive stop for some of the more than one million people who annually pass through to the nearby parks. Other industries include wholesale trade and retail trade, services, light manufacturing and construction. Part of Zion National Park is in the southern part of the county, part of the Dixie National Forest, part of Fishlake National Forest and Cedar Breaks National Monument is wholly in the county. There are also three recreation areas in the county. There are many opportunities for fishing, hunting, bike riding, rock climbing, camping, golfing, off-roading, skiing and snowmobiling. Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon, Kolob Canyons and Lake Powell offer more opportunities for outdoor recreation. There are also a number of historic sites, scenic byways and backways, art museums and galleries and Utah Shakespeare Festival.