Utah County Facts
Utah County History
Although home to Native Americans for many centuries, the first
white men to set foot in what is now known as Utah County were most
likely Father Escalante and Father Dominguez and their party of
explorers on September 23, 1776.
From approximately 1825 to 1847, various trappers and mountain men
spent time in the valley, but the first permanent settlers were Mormon
pioneers sent south from the Salt Lake Valley by their leader, Brigham
Young, in 1849.
Provo was apparently the first settlement, getting its name from the
Provo River, which in turn took its
Historic Downtown Provo
name from the mountain man, Etienne Provost. Many of the other
communities were officially founded the following year,1850, including
Alpine, American Fork, Lehi, Pleasant Grove, Payson and Springville.
Early civic leadership was provided by Mormon church leaders for the
area until the General Assembly of the State of Deseret - as the
territory was known at the time - decreed on January 28, 1850 that "Utah
Valley shall be called Utah County," and established Provo as the
county seat.
That same date, a road eight rods wide was set aside,
running from Ogden on the north, past the "Temple Block" in Salt Lake
City and culminating in Provo. It was to be called State Road and it
became a major thoroughfare for commerce and migration of early settlers
from the Salt Lake City gathering point to outlying areas, especially
to Utah County. Much of the old road exists today as State Street which
runs through several communities.
For the next two years, either local government, record keeping, or
both, were in disarray because there is little record of office holders
or government actions. That changed on February 7, 1852 when the
territorial legislature appointed a Mr. Preston Thomas as probate judge.
On April 19, 1852, "selectmen" (a clerk, recorder, assessor, treasurer,
sheriff and prosecuting attorney) were chosen. At the same time, nine
road districts and 15 school districts were formed within the County and
the first county tax was levied.
Camp Floyd / Stagecoach Inn State Park and Museum
From 1857 to 1858, a large contingent of federal troops moved into
the Salt Lake City area. It was a move detested by the predominantly
Mormon population and some 30,000 locals streamed south to Utah County
to get away from the influence of the troops. Alas, troops also moved
into Utah County and founded Camp Floyd in the area now known as Cedar
Fort. There were some unpleasantries between the troops and residents
but the last of the troops finally left in 1861.
When the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869, it only took
four more years until a line was extended to Provo and then later south
and east to give rail connections throughout the Intermountain West.
Irrigation has always been the key to prospering on the fertile farm
land in the valley and the first irrigation districts were formed as
early as 1865. In 1905, the Strawberry Valley Water Users Association
incorporated with $2 million in stock. The association later contracted
with the U.S. Reclamation Service to construct a reservoir in Wasatch
County. A 3-mile-long tunnel through the Wasatch Mountains was started
in 1906 and finished in 1913 to bring water from the 175-square-mile
reservoir which was completed in 1915. Most of the water from the
project went to irrigate Utah County farms.
Another vital water project was Deer Creek Dam and Reservoir.
Construction of the 155-foot-high dam was started in 1938. The resulting
7-mile-long reservoir today provides irrigation, culinary water and
water-related recreation.
The City of Orem was named after W.C. Orem, builder of the railroad
which ran through the town. Payson
Historic Provo City Library at Academy Square
was named after an early settler, James Pace. The community was
previously known as Fort Peteetneet after a Ute Indian chief. Of course,
the County and the State are named after the Ute (or Utah) Indians.
Springville was once known as Hobble Creek because a member of a Mormon
exploring party lost his horse's hobbles in or near the creek. Pleasant
Grove, named after a cottonwood grove near the original town site, was
once known as Battle Creek since it was the site of the first conflict
between Indians and settlers. Elberta was named for its Elberta peach
orchards and Salem was named after New Salem, Massachusetts, but was
first called Pond Town after the large pond that today is known as Salem
Pond.
The first library in Provo was opened in 1854 and there has been an
official U..S. Post Office in the city since at least 1894. Provo
General Hospital opened in 1903 and gave way to Utah Valley Hospital in
1939. The Utah State (Mental) Hospital dates back to 1880 but was
formerly known by less politically correct names. Electric service first
came to the valley in 1890.
Brigham Young University
The Provo area is known worldwide as the home of Brigham Young
University. Brigham Young issued a deed of trust to establish Brigham
Young Academy on October 16,1875. The fledgling institution went through
some rough years and nearly folded on occasion before officially
becoming Brigham Young University on October 23, 1903. From humble
beginnings with sometimes only a handful of students, it is now a major
university with some 30,000 students.
The County population grew slowly and steadily through the years of
World War I, the Great Depression and World War II. The official census
counted 23,768 citizens in 1890 and that number grew to only 49,021 in
1940. Today, the county has over 530,000 residents.
For many years, Geneva Steel was one of the few major employers outside
of agriculture, government and schools. Geneva was built during World
War II to provide steel for the war effort. But starting in the 1980s
and throughout the 1990s, the valley became one of the entrepreneurial
hot spots of the nation and, in particular, has become a Mecca for
high-tech, computer-related companies.
Now, Utah County boasts a young, healthy, well-educated population, a
low crime rate, and a solid economy.
Utah County Online, www.utahcountyonline.org