[4][5] In recent years, the city's proximity to the ghost town of Silver Reef, the Pine Valley Mountains, and Zion National Park have changed the local economic base from agriculture to tourism.

On June 17, 2009, Utah police and forest rangers destroyed about 8,750 marijuana plants growing in Washington County.

Law enforcement reported Mexican cartels have moved their growing operations to Utah to avoid the U.S.-Mexico border and police pressure in California.

Doug Roe, a special agent with the United States Forest Service, said the plants were young and not ready for harvesting.

[6][7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2), all land.