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Salt Lake City History continued...
The area that is now Salt Lake City was once, harsh, uninhabited land, visited only by roaming bands of the Ute Indian tribe. Then, in 1847, the first permanent white settlers entered the area. A group of 147 men, women and children, led by Brigham Young arrived. This group of people was on the move in order to escape religious persecution. They belonged to the Church of Latter-day Saints. They were known as Mormons. The church's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., had recently passed away. Their new leader, Brigham Young, was leading the group in accordance with a vision that he had. Upon the group's arrival in what is now Salt Lake City, Brigham Young gazed out upon the land and said “This is the right place.”
Within a few days, plans were drawn up for Great Salt Lake City, named after the salty inland lake which dominated the desert to the northwest. The settlers drew up blocks that were arranged in a grid pattern. The blocks were ten acre squares, separated by 132 feet wide streets. The streets were wide enough for a team of four oxen and a covered wagon to turn around. Mormon immigrants began to flood the area and by 1848, about 1700 residents called the area their new home. The new settlers lived in a log and adobe fort located at what is now Pioneer Park. One year after the pioneers arrived, the valley became a territory of the United States. By 1849 and 1850, the town had become a supply stop for the California gold rush.
The California gold rush brought Salt Lake City its first taste of prosperity. Prospectors on their way to the west coast brought clothes, tools and manufactured goods from the east coast. In return, the residents of Salt Lake City supplied the gold-seekers with fresh livestock and crops. These prospectors pumped scarce money into the local economy. In 1850, the United States Congress organized the “State of Deseret” into the Utah Territory. On January 6, 1851, Salt Lake City was incorporated as the City of the Great Salt Lake. It was named the territorial capital in 1856.
In 1863, lead and silver was discovered in Brigham Canyon. This led to the development of mining in the Great Salt Lake City area. Hundreds of copper, silver, gold and lead mines were opened in the nearby canyons. Gigantic smelters were also built in order to refine the ores. Mine owners began to build large homes along South Temple, which was also known as Brigham Street. Around this time, the city's name was officially changed to Salt Lake City.
The next boost of the developing Salt Lake City economy came by way of the railroad. In 1869, tracks were laid for the country's first transcontinental railroad. The work was completed by driving the Golden Spike at nearby Promontory Summit. With this development, Utah was now connected to the east and the west. This rail service boosted the economy of Salt Lake Valley by opening new markets for its farm and mining products. With the expanding railroad system and the booming economy, many roads were built in the 1870's. These roads connected the city with the outer mining regions. In 1872, the Salt Lake City Street Railroad Company initiated a mule-drawn streetcar system.
With all of this success came the problems of urban development. The city's population was growing out of control. The cost of property in the city was doubling. Even though electric lights and telephones had arrived and the city had installed an electric railway, the swelling number of people was straining the city. By 1884, the city had constructed water mains and a settling tank. However, most people still got their water from open ditches or wells. Salt Lake City's streets were rated among the dirtiest in the west in 1890. During harsh weather, people were forced to slosh through mud and filth. Recurrent epidemics of typhoid fever were common. Also common were outbreaks of smallpox and tuberculosis. By 1890, contractors began to experiment with sewer pipes along a portion of the city's streets.
On January 4, 1896, President Grover Cleveland's proclamation marked Utah as the 45th state, with Salt Lake City as its capital.
In 1905, farmers in the area were granted an injunction against five smelting companies. The farmers were convinced that smoke from the plants was damaging their crops. This caused most of the smelting plants to close or relocate. In spite of this, Salt Lake Valley had become the largest smelter district in North America by 1919. In 1921, the city adopted an ordinance that helped to reduce the amount of polluted air. Businesses began overhauling their heating systems and the city began urging households to rebuild or replace their furnaces. This led to the continuing of clean air efforts throughout the rest of the 1920's.
Salt Lake City prospered in the early 1900's. During this time, the city began to take on its present form. Many of the city's landmarks were built during this time. The State Capitol and many other historic buildings were constructed. Electric trolleys replaced the earlier mule-drawn versions. Mining remained a prominent industry during the early 1900's. Also during this time, the city began to have trouble with the number of prostitutes operating in the downtown area. This led city government to experiment with a vice district. Instead of the prostitutes operating downtown and causing an embarrassment, they were moved to the vice district. This agreement was made between city officials and Dora B. Topham, who reigned over most of the city's prostitutes. Topham, who operated under the pseudonym “Belle London,” agreed to run her prostitution ring in the new vice district, instead of downtown.
Salt Lake City suffered through the Great Depression along with the rest of the United States. Unemployment soared and thousands of people lost their homes and farms. World War II helped the city's economy to bounce back. The need for metal brought work back to the area's mines. During the 1960's, as it was with the rest of the country, people began to leave the city for the suburban areas. During the 1970's, Salt Lake City's downtown area experienced a renovation. New malls and buildings were built and older buildings received a make-over. City beautification projects also brought new life to the city's downtown. Salt Lake City continued to experience growth and prosperity during the 1980's and 1990's.
Today, Salt Lake City has the feel of a modern city along with some of its traditional architecture. The Mormon religion is still the dominant social, political and economical force in the city. However, non-Mormons are no longer so greatly outnumbered.
The city is home to many fine cultural and educational institutions. Among the many museums located in the city are the Children's Museum of Utah, the Museum of Church History and Art and the Hansen Planetarium. Salt Lake City is also home to many fine colleges and universities. Among the institutions of higher learning in the capital city are the University of Utah, Salt Lake Community College and Westminster College.
Salt Lake City is home to many tourist attractions and places of interest. The city is home to many breweries, shopping malls and parks. The tallest building downtown is the Latter-day-Saints office building. Another popular attraction is the Hogle Zoo. The city's most visited attraction is Temple Square, the location of the Mormon Temple and Tabernacle. The city is also home to some of the finest ski resorts in the country. On top of all of this, the city also has the Utah Jazz of the NBA. The Jazz play their home games in the Delta Center, an arena that also serves as one of the city's busiest tourist attractions.
Despite its growth, and the fact that the city hosted the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, Salt Lake City retains the atmosphere of a small town. Its outdoor recreation, coupled with its charm and religious background, make Salt Lake City a city that has it all.
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