Grand County's story begins long before the first white settlers entered the valley. The land holds ruins, artifacts, and remnants of many ancient peoples, including Ute, Navajo, Anasazi, and others. Spanish missionaries--who were seeking gold as much as souls--were followed by French fur traders into the mid-1800s, and the end of the Mexican-American War in 1848 brought the land to be known as Grand County into the Union. Soon, the valley was teeming with settlers. In 1880, the name "Moab" appeared in the US Postal Register; it was chosen by William Peirce, a businessman who became the town's first postmaster, and was a reference to the Biblical desert. In 1902, Moab, Utah, was officially incorporated. The coming railroads brought more settlers from around the world. Basque sheepherders, Chinese laborers, and African American cowboys joined followers of Brigham Young to become residents of the growing county. Towns like Thompson, Cisco, and Stateline sprang up along with fruitful orchards, and peaches from Moab were being served at restaurants in Paris.
Coal Camps of Eastern Utah
9780738556451
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Nestled between the Wasatch Plateau and the Book Cliff Mountains, hundreds of feet underground, vast coal deposits make up the heart of Utah's coal country. This high-grade bituminous coal attracted the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad to the area, and small, company-owned towns sprang up everywhere coal could be accessed. Life in these camps was difficult at best, as the mines were dangerous and the threat of disaster was never far away. In spite of these hardships though, the residents, many of whom were foreign-born, enjoyed recreational activities at the local baseball diamonds, amusement halls, and confectioneries. Their lives were shaped by coal, but the coal camps shaped their souls. Eastern Utah's coal mining legacy continues today, and while most of these camps have disappeared, many of the people who lived there still call them home.
Nine Mile Canyon
9781467131643
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North of Price, Utah, Nine Mile Canyon slashes through the West Tavaputs Plateau and erodes its way east to the Green River, Utah. In 1847, settlements began in Utah along the Wasatch Front. The rangeland was soon taken, and stockmen pushed up Spanish Fork Canyon to discover great grazing for their stock--and an amazing place where ancient people had lived, leaving homes and their stories on brown slate walls with inscriptions and paint. These stockmen were the first homesteaders in Nine Mile Canyon. Three families of early settlers were the Houskeepers, Algers, and Rich families, coming between 1885 and 1893.
The San Rafael Swell
9780738548371
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The San Rafael Swell is an anticline, or a geological uplift, that originally looked like an oval bowl turned upside down. Over time it has been carved into castle-like formations and deep canyons by erosive conditions. This landscape seemed so formidable to early cartographers that it was the last area in the continental United States to be mapped. The San Rafael Swell itself has no permanent human inhabitants, but small towns are scattered along its northern and eastern borders where first American Indians and later cowboys, ranchers, and miners made their homes. The hardy settlers of these towns familiarized themselves with what they called "the Desert" and gradually discovered its treasures and its secrets.
Cedar City
9780738595009
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Cedar City was first settled on November 11, 1851, with the arrival of a group of 35 men to establish an ironworks. Beginning with the demise of the ironworks in 1858, the town's economy became agrarian in nature, though iron mining continued strongly through World War II and into the 1980s. The coming of the railroad to Cedar City in 1923 exposed Utah's national parks to the world of tourism, and Cedar City was touted as the "Gateway to the Parks." The railroad also provided an outlet for the products of the iron mines. The Utah Shakespeare Festival, the Festival City USA designation, and the Utah Summer Games propelled Cedar City into a new era.
The Pony Express in Utah
9781467133234
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The Pony Express stands out in the history of the American West, memorable and captivating for the romance and adventure it evokes. The image of the intrepid young rider on a fast horse, crossing mountain and desert with his precious cargo of mail, is known and loved around the world as an icon of the Western frontier. Although its service was short, only about 19 months, its mystique seems to continue to grow after more than 150 years. Utah and the Pony Express were vital to each other. Salt Lake City was the major center of population between the Missouri River and the West Coast. Utah-bred men managed the line, rode the Express horses, and kept vigil at the lonely desert stations. This book tells the stories of those men and those stations, as well as advancements in communication and the celebrations that have kept the memory of the Pony Express in Utah alive.
Salt Lake City:
9780738570747
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Between 1890 and 1930, Salt Lake City experienced some of the most rapid and profound changes of any city in U.S. history. In its pioneer period, from the beginning of white settlement in 1847 to about 1890, the city struggled against outside pressures to maintain its identity as a self-sufficient Mormon utopian community, with its theocratic government, agricultural economy, and polygamous society. But by the turn of the 20th century, Mormonism had largely abandoned those features, and Salt Lake City was becoming like most other American cities as it embraced capitalism, the evolution of transportation and industry, ethnic and cultural diversity, women's rights, and modern entertainment.
Provo
9780738584676
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Provo is one of Utah's oldest historic sites. Still a medium-sized town, it has kept its pristine antique quality, its quaint buildings, and its relaxed atmosphere, which won it the title "Most Stressless City of the Nation" according to the 2004 Sperling list. Building on faith, dedication, and hard work, early citizens faced settlement challenges to form a sensible government, establish Brigham Young University, and generate devoted intellectuals who made great strides in their fields. It is Provo people who began WordPerfect, helped invent television, and established Novell, NuSkin, and other national companies. Boasting a picturesque collection of buildings, Provo still maintains high standards, a strong work ethic, and a profound commitment toward industrial progress and technology.
Uintah
9780738579009
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Nestled at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains is a small community with a grand history. The area's first inhabitants were Native Americans until eight Mormon families arrived in 1850. With the coming of the railroad in 1869, Uintah quickly became a wild and woolly boomtown with more than 100 businesses and a population of about 5,000. But when the Utah Central Railroad moved to Ogden, many people moved out of Uintah. Still, this spirited town has survived, and every year, U-Day celebrates the history of the town with various events and the lighting of the historic "U." Originally built by Uintah residents and located on the northern side of Weber Canyon, the "U" is a meaningful symbol of Uintah's past and present. To this day, Uintah retains its small-town character, and residents honor the history of their town.
Ashley Valley
9780738585079
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Situated within northeastern Utah's mountainous Uinta Basin, the Ashley Valley takes its name from William Ashley, a trapper who passed through the area in 1825. Both beautiful and rugged, the Ashley Valley's landscape required a lot of grit from its first settlers. An early expedition party sent out by territorial governor Brigham Young called the area unfit for settlement. This delayed permanent American settlement until 1876, when a few hardy families formed communities in the area, including Ashley, Vernal, Maeser, Dry Fork, Glines, Naples, Davis, and Jensen. The valley was rich in minerals and oil and saw its share of boom-and-bust cycles, as miners and oil-workers struck out to find fortune and left facing government regulations. The Ashley Valley pioneers were a stalwart, hardworking mix of settlers, farmers, miners, and other hardy folk who left a rich legacy. Today, as visitors come over the valley hill, they will encounter a community with a developing oil and gas industry, modern growth, and traditional small-town appeal.
Ghosts of Ogden, Brigham City and Logan
9781467137850
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From Ogden up to Logan, northern Utah claims more than its fair share of restless spirits. The Ben Lomond Hotel was rumored to be the site of a honeymooning bride who tragically drowned in her bathtub, only to have her distraught son consequently commit suicide in the adjoining room. The iconic Union Station still houses passengers in the form of apparitions and disembodied voices. The owner of the Shooting Star Saloon purportedly continues to monkey around with the jukebox and a phantom piano, while Crystal Hot Springs hosts a bevy of spirits, including a crying child, a stabbing victim and multiple pool-related fatalities. Author Jennifer Jones unearths the stories behind the ghosts that continue to preside over their final destinations.
Murray
9781467133227
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A community of scattered homesteads had its first encounter with industry in the 1870s when smelters were established near the railroad. Later, with a burgeoning business district and hundreds of immigrant workers arriving each year, the citizens of Murray pushed for incorporation, which was granted in 1903. In the first half of the 20th century, the industrial town was one of the most ethnically diverse cities in Utah. Murray City was hailed as an example of an independent municipality with its own power plant, waterworks, school district, and so on. The commercial core was surrounded by dairies, poultry ranches, and truck farms. Murray was one of the first cities in Salt Lake County to experience a postwar suburban boom in the 1950s and continues to thrive today as more than just a bedroom community.
Richmond
9780738584782
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In the fall of 1859, Agrippa Cooper made camp with five other families at Brower Springs in the Cache Valley. The following autumn brought 20 more families to the area--including John Bair, William H. Lewis, Francis Stewart, and Robert D. Petty, and thus the town of Richmond began to grow. It is a common belief that Richmond was named in honor of Charles C. Rich, an LDS Church apostle. Throughout the early 1900s, Richmond thrived as a hub of commerce and industry, with the population reaching almost 5,000. Today, Richmond takes pride in its agricultural roots and celebrates the longest-running Holstein dairy show west of the Mississippi River with the Black and White Days.
Green River and the Gunnison Valley
9780738558776
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Early Utah pioneers passed through the area that is now Green River and decided that the land would not support a farming community. The Farrer family did not agree with this assessment, however, and they opened one of the first stores in Green River around 1883. Always a diverse town, Green River has a long-standing tradition of religious tolerance and the coexistence of different faiths. John Wesley Powell passed through during his exploration of the Colorado and Green Rivers, and the local museum was named after him. The region's economy has seen booms and busts, having survived on uranium mining and the missile base as well as on agriculture. Friday night football and the old opera house have come and gone, and now tourism has become Green River's main industry as travelers from all over the country discover the incredible beauty of the eastern Utah landscape.
Salt Lake City
9780738594811
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Within the memory of the present generation the map of North America represented the region now covered by the Territories of Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, the State of Nevada and the western part of Colorado, as the Great American Desert. In fact, until the explorations of Bonneville and Fremont, little if anything was known of its character. As early as 1833, Captain Bonneville had trappers on Green River--a tributary of the Colorado--and in July of that year he sent a party from that point westward, to explore this vast region. Passing down what is now called Ogden River, they discovered the Great Salt Lake. Colonel Fremont came afterwards, in 1842, and remained exploring in and around the Great Desert until 1846, but save for these travelers, the country was visited only by trappers and hunters. The advent of civilization into the Great American Desert was on the arrival of the Mormon Pioneers, after their exodus from Nanvoo, in Illinois.
The Avenues
9780738585352
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East of Utah's domed state capitol and near downtown Salt Lake City, a residential district sharply climbs the foothills of the Wasatch Range. The neighborhood is known as "The Avenues." Settlement of the oldest portion of the area took place from the 1860s until the late 1930s. The proximity of the neighborhood to the central business district and transportation hub made it a convenient living location for middle- and upper-class citizens involved in many trades. The streets were originally named mostly after trees. Then in 1885, the north-south streets became A through V Streets, and the east-west streets became First through Fourth Avenues. This change in street names gave the area its popular title. After a long period of decline, The Avenues was declared a historic district in 1980. Today, residents strive to restore the celebrated treasures of their neighborhood.
Hidden History of Utah
9781626193475
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In the 1840s, land west of the Missouri River was a new frontier for courage, adventure, freedom and true grit. During this era and the decades that followed, Utah became the focal point for many brave settlers yearning for a new way of life. While Utah's proud Mormon legacy is well documented, there are lesser-known stories that contribute to the state's fascinating history. Join public historian, author and history columnist Eileen Hallet Stone for a look into the state's forgotten past as she presents a revelatory collection of tales culled from her popular Salt Lake Tribune Living History column. From newly freed slaves, early suffragists, desert farmers and union men to railroad kings, cattle barons, influential statesmen and more, this is Hidden History of Utah.
Historic Tales of Utah
9781467135559
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From the rugged beauty and refined splendor of this vast state emerges a remarkable volume of personal recollections, narrative histories and astonishing stories. Explore the fortitude and cultural diversity behind the development of Utah through Big Bill Haywood, vilified by the New York Times as the most feared figure in America. Experience compelling accounts of women bruised on the front lines of suffrage battles, enthralling stories of Chinese paper sons and daughters and heroic endeavors of Northern Ute firefighters. Celebrate downtown's Wall Street of the West, the off-road cyclist known as the Bedouin of the Desert and Utah's love affair with sweets. Culled from her popular Salt Lake Tribune Living History column, award-winning author Eileen Hallet Stone uncovers captivating tales of ordinary people and their extraordinary contributions that shaped Utah history.
Utah Reflections
9781626193406
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Perhaps no other area of Utah reflects the state's expansive diversity as clearly as the Wasatch Front. Utah Reflections: Stories from the Wasatch Front captures the heritage and identity of this self-defining part of the state. These personal stories are grounded in the mountains, waters, deserts and cities of a distinctive geography, from Cache Valley to Salt Lake City to Provo. Contributors include Lance Larson, Katharine Coles, Phyllis Barber, Sylvia Torti, Chadd VanZanten, Pam Houston and Terry Tempest Williams, as well as other exciting established and new voices. Each piece was thoughtfully selected as part of a sweeping panorama of cultural history and the traditions of a people bound to the region to show what makes the Wasatch Front unique, prosperous and beloved.
Ogden
9780738558790
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In 1845, Miles Goodyear founded a settlement at Fort Buenaventura, located near the confluence of the Weber and Ogden Rivers. The area was renamed Ogden in 1851 by Mormon Church president Brigham Young after Peter Skene Ogden, a Hudson's Bay Company fur trapper. Ogden prospered as an agricultural town and then thrived with the arrival of the railroads, when the growing community, often referred to as "Junction City," became a major railroad hub. Union Station became a well-known landmark surrounded by rowdy gambling houses and brothels as well as ethnically diverse residential neighborhoods. Since 1889, Ogden has also been an important center of higher education, and it is now home to Weber State University. World War II brought Ogden into the modern era as a transportation and military center with the establishment of Hill Air Field, Defense Depot Ogden, and the Naval Supply Depot.
Early San Juan County
9780738556499
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San Juan County was established in 1880 following the famous winter trek and steep descent through the Hole-in-the-Rock Trail to Bluff, Utah. Behind the settlement of this community by the San Juan River is a story of tenacity, determination, and hardship. The Hole-in-the-Rock was a sandstone crevice discovered fortuitously by pioneers when a wild ram escaped its pursuers and descended to the river by that route. After blasting, building up the grade, and lowering by ropes, the wagon train finally emerged through the crevice to the river below and finished the last difficult miles into Bluff. Miner and photographer Charles Goodman documented the early days of San Juan County, from the production of bricks and molasses to the establishment of Bluff Oil Company, and many of his unique images, dating from 1892 to 1913, are included in this volume.
South Davis County
9781467131636
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South Davis County is bounded by the majestic Wasatch Mountain Range to the east and the Great Salt Lake to the west. Bountiful, Centerville, Farmington, and Kaysville are the major population centers--all originating as early Mormon settlements. Concerned that their livestock might harm new crops and gardens being planted in Salt Lake City, their leader, Brigham Young, sent herds of cattle, mules, and horses north to graze along the lakeshore in 1847. Small farming communities established the following spring supplied goods and produce to the growing populations of Salt Lake City to Ogden. Organized as Davis County in 1850, Farmington was the center of government. Railroad service, established in 1870, allowed the farmers and ranchers to reach markets within hours of harvesting. And in 1956, a six-foot pipeline was completed, delivering water from the Weber River to the communities along the front. Rapid expansion has resulted, but the pioneer spirit still prevails.
North Ogden
9780738584607
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North Ogden is a quiet community nestled in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains. The majestic Ben Lomond Peak silently towers over the city to the north with Lewis Peak standing guard to the east. Beautiful panoramic scenery is enjoyed in all directions. During the early 19th century, the city and surrounding areas were inhabited by the Spanish and Native Americans and explored by trappers. North Ogden City was established in 1851, and the challenges facing the pioneer families were numerous. Settlers encountered hostile Native Americans, hungry wild animals, devastating grasshopper invasions, and extreme weather conditions, and the food supplies were often depleted. Regardless, the city's population thrived, and farms, orchards, and businesses prospered. The perseverance of those early settlers is linked to the rich heritage treasured by the citizens of today.
West Valley City
9780738595412
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In the fall of 1848, Joseph and Susanna Harker became the first pioneers "Over Jordan" as they crossed to the west side seeking a new home in the valley. Other families soon followed, and by the 1880s, canals brought irrigation water, allowing farming settlements to spread out toward the Oquirrh Mountains. The agrarian communities of Hunter, Granger, Redwood, and Chesterfield began to take shape. The decades after World War II saw enormous growth, new neighborhoods, and the Valley Fair Mall. When the area finally incorporated as West Valley City in 1980, it was immediately one of Utah's largest cities. The city has seen remarkable progress in its first three decades, including being a venue city for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and emerging as Utah's most ethnically diverse city.
Lost Ogden
9781467133395
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From a fur-trapping fort to a thriving metropolitan community, change has always been a part of Ogden's history. Settled in 1850 by Mormon pioneers, Ogden was forever transformed by the arrival of the transcontinental railroad in 1869. As horse-drawn carriages gave way to motor cars, a busy downtown district grew up around Ogden's Union Station and notorious Twenty-fifth Street. Landmark businesses, such as J.G. Read & Brothers Company and the Broom Hotel, became a part of the city's unique identity. Also unique to the city were its celebrations and special events, like parades, musicals, and sporting competitions. While change has always come to Ogden, the memories remain.
South Ogden
9780738585307
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The area now known as South Ogden, Utah, was previously called Burch Creek. The first settlers were primarily immigrants, originally from the eastern United States or Europe, who came to settle Utah with the Mormon migration. These first residents included the Burchs from Kentucky, the Stephens from North Carolina, the Garners from Germany, and the Beus and Combes from Italy. On July 6, 1936, the 800 residents voted to incorporate the area into a city. The city now has more than 16,000 residents, and areas that once were farms, dirt roads, open fields, cattails, and springs are now homes, businesses, schools, parks, and churches. South Ogden has earned its reputation as a great place to grow up, a fine place to raise a family, and a safe and peaceful place to live out retirement years.
Mapleton
9781467132695
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Located south of Provo and artistic Springville, Mapleton was named in 1901 for its abundance of colorful maple trees. For centuries, American Indian tribes had regarded the bench overlooking Hobble Creek and the valley below as sacred ground and gathered there annually. Catholic explorers hiking down Spanish Fork Canyon, nestled beneath a majestic mountain, first mapped the area in 1776. These Spaniards named the peak Sierra Bonita, though nearly everyone today calls it Maple Mountain. By 1850, Mormon pioneers had settled in Springville, using the rich earth between the creek and the river as farmland. Little by little, they built homes and stayed. The continued perseverance of this community to maintain its country charm is evident throughout the city. Conservation of the foothills and open spaces is an ongoing concern to residents.
Orem
9780738578828
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In 1861, a group of hardy pioneers ascended the "Provo Bench" that overlooks Utah Lake. With dreams of fruit orchards and vegetable fields, they uprooted the sagebrush, dug irrigation canals, and planted crops. These farms were successful, and they helped transform Orem into a dynamic community by the time the railroad arrived. The produce was boxed and shipped across Utah on the Orem Line, and the Provo/Orem area earned the nickname "Garden City of Utah." Incorporated in 1919, Orem was transformed again during World War II when the U.S. government constructed Geneva Steel Mill on the shores of Utah Lake. Blue collar workers joined farmers and ranchers in building a city. Orem supports higher education and is home to Utah Valley University. Although malls and subdivisions have replaced many of the orchards and the steel mill has closed, Orem remains rooted in its past while growing towards its future.
