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About Monticello
At the feet of the Abajo Mountains, Monticello enjoys a remote location in the rugged terrain of southern Utah. With the majestic, forested mountains to the west, a plain stretches far to the east, into Colorado. At 7,000 feet in elevation, steep canyons cut into the plain to the north and the south, but the area next Monticello is flat and checkered with farms and ranches. Scrub oak covers the gentle lower slopes of the Abajo Mountains, with evergreens on the peaks.
Monticello is the closest city to the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. Formed by the Colorado River's passage through a deep gorge, Canyonlands is a rugged terrain of cliff-lined tributary canyons.
Founded in 1888, Monticello was the first successful attempt by the Mormon pioneers at settling this rugged country. They layed out a spacious city of broad straight streets and large lots appropriate for family farms. Ranching has been the main source of income, with the addition of tourism in more recent times. U.S. Highway 191 passes through Monticello, heading north to Moab on the north, and Blanding on the south. U.S. Highway 491 (formerly 666) begins at Monticello, heading eastward into Colorado. The population of Monticello, as of 2000, is 1,958.
In ancient times, the Anasazi Indians inhabited this area and have left ruins in significant numbers. In about 1250 AD, they disappeared on account of severe droughts.
