Helper is located in Carbon County in central Utah along US 6/191 near Price. Two hours southeast of Salt Lake City, it is named so because of the engines required to help the trains climb the steep grades to Soldier Summit. Butch Cassidy robbed the Pleasant Valley Coal Co. there in 1897.
The population estimate for July 1, 1998 was 2,094, a decrease of 54 since 1990.