Park Valley, UT

    Park Valley, UT

    • Settled: 1869 by William Colton Thomas, who moved from Brigham City and developed a cattle ranch near Dove Creek; most of the early non-native settlers were Mormons, but some were railroad workers
    • Original Name: Mountain Springs
    • Origin of Name: It is said that the area reminded Colton Thomas of his native Wales, with its park-like surroundings, so he named it Park Valley; another theory holds that the name came from an early settler named Parks; one account states, “In the spring of 1854, there were five families located at the springs they named Mountain Springs”
    • Known for: Mining was a significant industry in Park Valley, beginning in the 1890s; its largest mines were the Century, the West Century, the Susannah, the Golconda, the Buffalo, the Deer Trail Mine, the Buffalo Mine, and others; at the present time, most residents are involved in ranching, grazing cattle and sheep
    • Notable Features:  Located on the Overland Trail, explorers passed through the area- Jedediah Smith in 1826, the Bartelson-Bidwell party in 1841; what is now known as Park Valley includes the locations of Rosette, Dove Creek, Muddy, Clear Creek, Rosebud, and Kelton, as well as the long-forgotten sites of Ten-Mile, Rosen Valley, Terrace, Golden, and others; collectively, the area is known as Park Valley; despite its remote location, Park Valley is one of the most beautiful places in Box Elder County; has LDS church, motel, volunteer fire department
    • Location: Located one hundred miles west of Brigham City, on I-84 W, then southwest on Hwy 30; bordered on the north by the Raft River mountains, on the south by the Hogup and Dove Creek Hills, and on the west by the Cove Creek Mountains.
    • Population 2020 Census: 112

    Last Mortified: