Area: 754 square miles; population: 1,277 (in 1990); county seat: Junction; origin of county name: after Paiute Indians; principal cities/towns: Circleville (417), Marysvale (364), Junction (132); economy: agriculture (primarily beef and dairy cattle), education; points of interest: Big Rock Candy Mountain, Tushar Mountains, Otter Creek, and Piute Reservoir, Piute County Courthouse.

Piute County was split off from Beaver County in 1865. Its western boundary approximates the crest of the Tushar Mountains. Delano Peak (12,173 feet) is the high point of the High Plateaus section of the Colorado Plateau. Most of the county's population is concentrated in the Sevier River Valley. Grass Valley (Otter Creek) lies between the Sevier Plateau in the center of the county and the Parker Range on its eastern border.

Evidence of prehistoric inhabitants has been found in the caves of Kingston Canyon (now an attractive local recreation area), but in general little is known of the Paiute Indians' predecessors. The Paiutes were mainly peaceful gatherers and hunters of food who produced beautiful baskets for many uses and rabbitskin clothing for winter protection.