Dates

• Existence: approximately 1849-

administrative histor

Utah County was established in southwest United States in approximately 1849.

Utah County was historically home to Native Americans. The first permanent white settlers in Utah Valley were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sent south from their original settlement in Salt Lake City by their leader Brigham Young in approximately 1849. On January 28, 1850, the territorial legislature, called General Assembly of the State of Deseret, declared that Utah Valley would be Utah County and they named Provo as its county seat. For the next two years, county record-keeping was inconsistent as there were no permanent officials instated. However, on February 7, 1852, Preston Thomas was appointed as probate judge and instituted order amongst the government's record keeping. Certain "selectmen" including a probate judge, clerk, recorder, sheriff, and treasurer, were also appointed.

From 1857 to 1861 the Salt Lake City area was used as a base for military troops, which upset many of the Latter-day Saint settlers there and caused a movement of the population south into Utah County. Utah County has been the site of various development projects such as the Deer Creek Dam and Reservoir, which provides irrigation and water to nearby communities. In the early twentieth century the county was the main provider of steel for WWII, with Geneva Steel being one of the few main employers in the area. Major cities in Utah County include Orem, Provo, Draper, Payson, American Fork, Lehi, Pleasant Grove, Saratoga Springs, and Spanish Fork.

Citation:

History of Utah County, via WWW, April 7, 2014 (Utah County historically home to Native Americans. First permanent white settlers in Utah Valley were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sent south from their original settlement in Salt Lake City by their leader Brigham Young in approximately 1849. January 28, 1850, the territorial legislature, called General Assembly of the State of Deseret, declared that Utah Valley would be Utah County and they named Provo as its county seat. For the next two years, county record-keeping was inconsistent as there were no permanent officials instated. On February 7, 1852, Preston Thomas was appointed as probate judge and instituted order amongst the government's record keeping. Certain "selectmen" including a probate judge, clerk, recorder, sheriff, and treasurer, were also appointed. From 1857 to 1861 the Salt Lake City area used as a base for military troops, which upset many of the Latter-day Saint settlers there and caused a movement of the population south. Utah County has been the site of various development projects such as the Deer Creek Dam and Reservoir, which provides irrigation and water to nearby communities. Main provider of steel for WWII, with Geneva Steel being one of the few main employers in the area. Major cities in Utah County include Orem, Provo, Draper, Payson, American Fork, Lehi, Pleasant Grove, Saratoga Springs, and Spanish Fork) https://www.utahcounty.gov/CountyInfo/CountyHistory.html

Utah. State Planning Board. Utah County ... 1940.

GeoNames, algorithmically matched, 2009(adm2; 40°07ʹ28ʺN 111°37ʹ35ʺW)

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