Altamont is a rural community of about 250 people in the northeastern corner of Utah. We are located in Duchesne County. We are at the foot of the Uinta Mountains, the only major mountain range in the USA that runs east and west. Altamont has an elevation of about 6400 feet above sea level. We have cold winters and pleasant summers. Altamont is the center of a farming and ranching area that has a population of about 2000. There are also many oil deposits nereby, and the oil industry is a major employer in the area.
If you were to come to Altamont, you could visit the High Uintas WIlderness Area where Kings Peak, elevation 13,528, is the highest point in Utah. People from all over come here in the summer and fall to relax by hunting in the local mountains and fishing in the beautiful streams. We also have world class fly-fishing in still waters that interests many people. Tom Selleck and Don Johnson are among those who have tried their hands at it here.
Many of our community members work about 20 miles away from us in the city of Roosevelt. The county hospital and many businesses are found there.
We are only a little over an hour away from Dinosaur National Monument near Vernal, Utah. You can see actual dinosaur bones there embedded in the rock mountainside just as they were found. It really is fascinating to see. We enjoy going there on field trips from our school. While going through Vernal, you also need to stop at the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park and Dinosaur Gardens.
Flaming Gorge is also a beautiful sight to see. Be sure to check it out, too!
Not far away, as well, you can find perfectly preserved pictographs left by the ancient Anasazi and Fremont cultures that existed from 1 A.D. to the l300's. Nine Mile Canyon is my personal favorite. Here you might see hundreds of rock art figures. You may even find yourself in the exact area where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid holed up.
Altamont Elementary School has an enrollment of about 300 students in grades Kindergarten through 6th. There are presently two classes of each grade level. Our school pulls students from throughout the surrounding communities including Altamont, Altonah, Boneta, Bluebell, Mt. Emmons, Mountain Home, Talmage, and Upalco. At one time our school was an open school, but several years ago the rooms were enclosed. Because of this, most of our rooms have an odd shape, but that makes it interesting!
We have worked hard, and with the help of community members, we were able to set up a computer lab in our school a few years ago. We are very proud of our lab and are excited about all the new things that we get to learn by using our lab. We use Macintosh computers at our school. Our newest addition to the lab is the ability to be connected to the internet. Now we can have the world at our very fingertips!!! We are new at this, so if you have hints for us or suggestions for us to try as a school or class, feel free to contact us and let us know.
Our playground has a paved area where we play basketball, tetherball, hopscotch, etc. We have a grassy field where we play soccer and other sports. We also have a softball diamond behind the school in the field. After school, just like most children everywhere we find lots to do. We play with our friends, ride bikes, watch tv, play Nintendo or Sega, go to scouting activities or dancing and piano lessons, and do chores and homework (only if we really have to!).
We enjoy riding bikes and horses and going hiking and camping and have great fun here.
Come see us!!
Click here to see pictures of Altamont!!
Click here to see pictures of Altamont Elementary School!!
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