Utah History
The State of Utah has a long and interesting history including the Native Americans who lived here for several thousand years, preceded by Paleolithic people who inhabited the great basin’s swamps and marshes from 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. These early inhabitants of Utah were able to use the environment for food, which included many types of fish, birds and small game animals. Big game, such as bison, sloths and mammoths were also in the area.
Some of the Native Americans who moved into the area around 1000 years ago included the Shoshones, Utes, Southern Paiutes as well as Goshutes and Navajos.
It was many years later before white men moved into the area. In 1776 a group of Spanish explorers traveled throughout Utah, led by Franciscan friars Dominguez and Escalante. They were trying to spread Christianity to the Indians, and made many notes of the natural beauty of Utah’s landscape.
About fifty years after the Spanish and the Friars came to explore Utah, another group of whites arrived. These were mountain men and they were here to find beaver. They explored the area, trapped beaver and exchanged goods with the Indians in the area, and they also named many places that they discovered. The names were intended to match the geography and the many beautiful formations and features here. Two areas were named for some of the early explorers – Provo was named for Etienne Provost, an explorer and fur trapper, and Ogden was named after a brigade leader of the Hudson Bay Company, Peter Skene Ogden, also a trapper.
In 1847, many Mormons began to come to Utah in search for a safe place to practice their religion. When the large numbers of Mormons arrived and settled in Utah, they created organized communities which included building homes and churches, farms and irrigation systems.
There were issues and fights with the native people, and with subsequent peace. Territorial status was achieved in 1850 and at that time the Mormon communities were generally prosperous. The Mormon settlers have influenced Utah as we know it today, perhaps more than any others in Utah history.
Not long after the first Mormons arrived in the Salt Lake Valley; the city of Bountiful was established, followed by Ogden, Toole and Provo. Soon after that, Ute Chief Wakara invited settlers to move into the Sanpete Valley in central Utah, establishing the community of Manti, followed by Fillmore, which was established in 1851 and slated to be the capitol of Utah. In addition there were settlements in
Iron County near present day Cedar City, as well as St. George, which is further south. More exploration led to Mormon settlements in Idaho, Las Vegas, San Bernardino and areas of southern Arizona.
Eventually precious metals were discovered in Utah in the 1860’s, and this attracted non-Mormons, which created a more diverse society. Statehood was proposed in 1850, requesting use of the name Deseret. This would have been an extremely large state which would include all of present-day Utah, plus parts of what would become Idaho, Wyoming, Arizona, Oregon, New Mexico and California. Brigham Young had proposed the name Deseret as a symbol of industry and a reference to a name in the Book of Mormon. Congress rejected the request to become a state and Utah had to wait until 1896, when the population was approximately a quarter of a million people and growing. Fillmore was designated capital and eventually replaced by Salt Lake City.
Railroads, coal mines and other businesses and industries began to develop, drawing other ethnic groups including Greeks, Italians, Slavs, Chinese, Japanese and Mexicans, making Utah more diverse. The entire country was touched by the Depression of the 1930’s and Utah was no exception. However, Utah bounced back during and after World War II as mining, steel, defense and petroleum-refining led the upsurge in the economy. In addition, tourism – especially skiing and other outdoor activities – have also become staples in Utah history and economy. In the 1900’s Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park were established, and Utah became known for its stunning natural beauty. In 1939 the Alta Ski Area was established and became well known throughout the world. In fact, skiing in Utah has become considered some of the best skiing in the world, and as a result, Salt Lake City was the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics. This has boosted tourism and the economy. In addition, light manufacturing, service industries and other incoming business have been growing strong as foundations of Utah’s economy.
Today, there is great growth in Utah. Several areas including Northern Davis, southern and western Salt Lake, eastern Tooele, Utah, Wasatch and Washington counties are growing exponentially. With Utah’s population since 1996 at over 2 million, and new families moving into Utah daily, plus the larger-than-average family size, Utah looks strong and prosperous well into the future.
Utah History
Some of the Native Americans who moved into the area around 1000 years ago included the Shoshones, Utes, Southern Paiutes as well as Goshutes and Navajos.
It was many years later before white men moved into the area. In 1776 a group of Spanish explorers traveled throughout Utah, led by Franciscan friars Dominguez and Escalante. They were trying to spread Christianity to the Indians, and made many notes of the natural beauty of Utah’s landscape.
About fifty years after the Spanish and the Friars came to explore Utah, another group of whites arrived. These were mountain men and they were here to find beaver. They explored the area, trapped beaver and exchanged goods with the Indians in the area, and they also named many places that they discovered. The names were intended to match the geography and the many beautiful formations and features here. Two areas were named for some of the early explorers – Provo was named for Etienne Provost, an explorer and fur trapper, and Ogden was named after a brigade leader of the Hudson Bay Company, Peter Skene Ogden, also a trapper.
In 1847, many Mormons began to come to Utah in search for a safe place to practice their religion. When the large numbers of Mormons arrived and settled in Utah, they created organized communities which included building homes and churches, farms and irrigation systems.
There were issues and fights with the native people, and with subsequent peace. Territorial status was achieved in 1850 and at that time the Mormon communities were generally prosperous. The Mormon settlers have influenced Utah as we know it today, perhaps more than any others in Utah history. Not long after the first Mormons arrived in the Salt Lake Valley; the city of Bountiful was established, followed by Ogden, Toole and Provo. Soon after that, Ute Chief Wakara invited settlers to move into the Sanpete Valley in central Utah, establishing the community of Manti, followed by Fillmore, which was established in 1851 and slated to be the capitol of Utah. In addition there were settlements in
Iron County near present day Cedar City, as well as St. George, which is further south. More exploration led to Mormon settlements in Idaho, Las Vegas, San Bernardino and areas of southern Arizona.
Eventually precious metals were discovered in Utah in the 1860’s, and this attracted non-Mormons, which created a more diverse society. Statehood was proposed in 1850, requesting use of the name Deseret. This would have been an extremely large state which would include all of present-day Utah, plus parts of what would become Idaho, Wyoming, Arizona, Oregon, New Mexico and California. Brigham Young had proposed the name Deseret as a symbol of industry and a reference to a name in the Book of Mormon. Congress rejected the request to become a state and Utah had to wait until 1896, when the population was approximately a quarter of a million people and growing. Fillmore was designated capital and eventually replaced by Salt Lake City.
Railroads, coal mines and other businesses and industries began to develop, drawing other ethnic groups including Greeks, Italians, Slavs, Chinese, Japanese and Mexicans, making Utah more diverse. The entire country was touched by the Depression of the 1930’s and Utah was no exception. However, Utah bounced back during and after World War II as mining, steel, defense and petroleum-refining led the upsurge in the economy. In addition, tourism – especially skiing and other outdoor activities – have also become staples in Utah history and economy. In the 1900’s Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park were established, and Utah became known for its stunning natural beauty. In 1939 the Alta Ski Area was established and became well known throughout the world. In fact, skiing in Utah has become considered some of the best skiing in the world, and as a result, Salt Lake City was the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics. This has boosted tourism and the economy. In addition, light manufacturing, service industries and other incoming business have been growing strong as foundations of Utah’s economy.
Today, there is great growth in Utah. Several areas including Northern Davis, southern and western Salt Lake, eastern Tooele, Utah, Wasatch and Washington counties are growing exponentially. With Utah’s population since 1996 at over 2 million, and new families moving into Utah daily, plus the larger-than-average family size, Utah looks strong and prosperous well into the future.
Utah History
