Millard County Communities

Abraham began as a church farm where grain was grown during the1870s by the LDS Church. In 1891 families arrived, building homes and establishing farms.

In 1942, through the efforts of several Millard Coun­ty landowners, government engineers and inspectors, a large area of land was purchased from several Abra­ham landowners to become part of the Topaz Inter­ment Camp. After selling their property, most families moved to nearby towns, leaving behind only 50 resi­dents.

After World War II, farmers were notified by the government that they could buy back their land. Many purchased their former land, and homes and farmland are scattered throughout the area. Abraham is located 5 miles northwest of the town of Hinckley.

We are pleased you have taken time to explore Delta, a prosperous rural city in western Millard County. You will discover the city and others in the county, coupled with the wide-open expanses of public-use land, make this central part of Utah an awesome vacation destination, whether you come to stay and play for a couple days, a week or a month.

With approximately 3,500 residents within the City limits, it is the largest incorporated city in the county. A relatively diverse mix of businesses and merchants are poised to meet nearly every need. Be prepared to be greeted with a smile and offered a hand-shake at every turn. We have most amenities without the hassle associated with major metropolitan areas.

Within Delta City you will find several financial institutions, full-service automobile dealerships, gas, diesel and propane stations, multiple grocery and convenience stores, motels, and restaurants. Also available are farm and home supplies, specialty products, churches of various denominations, auto parts, hardware, clothing and general retail stores. The City also boasts a rehabilitation and care center, a hospital, and caring physicians. A well-mani­cured RV park is in west Delta.

Among the many activities to enjoy are fishing, swimming, boating or water-skiing at nearby Gunnison Bend Reservoir, or playing golf on a challenging 18-hole course. You may want to take in a movie, bowl, or challenge your skills at the local skate park. Other fun adventures include participating in regional sporting activities, or relaxing in the city park while dangling your feet in the coolness of the waterfall. Be sure to visit the Great Basin Museum, which houses many historical artifacts, including those from the Topaz Internment Camp. Delta is also your gateway to the Great Basin National Park in Nevada, and is accessible traveling west along Highway 6 & 50.

Delta City website

Photo by Dean Swalberg – looking east from Deseret.

In 1859 cattlemen from Texas drove approximately 1,000 cows near the area where the town of Deseret now stands. The men built a dam along the Sevier Riv­er and began to settle land covered with greasewood, rabbit brush, sagebrush and marshlands.

Mormon settlers arrived in 1860 and made their homes in crude dugouts along the river. The dugouts consisted of a willow roof covered with dirt, which provided shelter. Jacob Croft, the leader of the colony, named the newly formed settlement Deseret, which means industry.

The area was a favorite rendezvous for the Pahvant Indians who camped along the river. The Black Hawk War started in 1865 after Chief Black Hawk made a raid on a Sanpete settlement. Some cattle were stolen from Deseret, and nearby settlers hastily build a defen­sive structure, called Fort Deseret.

Despite repeated attempts, the dam they built would not hold, and by 1868 most of the families had left except for a few stockmen who came to winter their cattle. In 1874, a company of non-Mormon men from the Tintic Mining District near Eureka arrived. The following year, a second group of Mormon settlers came to the area. The non-Mormons claimed the land around the old town site, while the new arrivals moved to the current site of Deseret. The farming community is located 5 miles west of Delta.

Deseret:
Lat: 39.286781
Long: -112.652764

Oasis:
Lat: 39.294156
Long: -112.627014

The Western part of Millard County is true high des­ert. Imagine having the 13,000-foot peak of Mt. Wheel­er just across the state line to the west at the Great Basin National Park and a little north, the 12,000-foot peak of Mt. Moriah. These mountains introduce Snake Valley, the final valley you enter before crossing over into Nevada.

This is the home of the EskDale Community, one of three small towns in the valley. EskDale is situated at the base of the Confusion Mountain Range five miles north of Highway 50 & 6. Louis L’Amour featured the area in several of his western novels. In the history of EskDale, outlaw sightings have been rare. However, the nationally acclaimed EskDale Dairy has many eyes focused on their top-notch breeding program and is now one of the most talked about herds in the United States.

EskDale started in 1955 in this high mountain desert of western Utah and today is an oasis in this harsh area. The modern landscaped community sits in sharp con­trast to the sagebrush and wildflowers. The contrasts of the high mountains with the valley floor and the irrigated farmland with the salt flats and alkaline soil make vis­its to the area unique among the Western States. Bird watchers, wild horse lovers, and small game hunters will all find this part of Millard County a grand adventure.

We are proud to be a part of this great county and invite you to take a virtual tour of all the diverse activities you can find in Millard County.

If you are looking for a small town atmosphere and friendly service with a smile, then Fillmore is the place for you. Take time to visit us and get acquainted with all we have to offer.

The city boasts a population of about 2,250 and is conveniently located between Salt Lake City and St. George along the I-15 corridor. Fillmore, the county seat, is the second largest incorporated city in Millard County and is nestled snugly at the foot of the majestic Pahvant Mountain Range.

We have a unique heritage which we are dedicated to preserving and excited to share. Fillmore was established as the first territorial capital of Utah and the original Statehouse still grandly stands. It is a magnificent architectural beauty that you will fall in love with and want to visit again and again. You may even discover one of your ancestors among the many portraits lining the hallways.

While in Fillmore go on the Historic Walking Trail and visit unique homes. Stop for a picnic at one of four beautifully maintained city parks; reserve one for a family gathering or business meeting. Take time to play a round of golf at the local course, which features 85 acres of gorgeous playable area. Pay respects to local heroes at the Veterans Memorial. You will find well-maintained RV parks and excellent motels, enjoy restaurant dining, or choose from an assortment of fast food outlets. We have gas stations, tire shops, repair shops, mechanical services and ATV dealers that sell and rent machines. You can buy groceries and delicious bakery goods or visit the local drug store to fill a prescription. We also have auto parts, hardware and variety stores.

The pristine mountains offer many stimulating and exciting outdoor experiences. Come and enjoy world famous ATV trails, do some mountain biking, or just spend the day hiking along the many trails with panoramic views where you will find unique rock formations and even petroglyphs. Take a deep breath of invigorating clean fresh air and soak up the ambience of the sights and sounds of nature. Plan ample time to relax with the rod and reel if you like trout fishing. Sit back and enjoy the peace and quiet of the campground facilities along the banks of the stream that flows through beautiful Chalk Creek Canyon. Whether you are a camera buff or an avid hunter you will thrill to the sights of deer, elk, cougar, and wild turkeys.

To the west of Fillmore, the Pahvant Valley is dotted with volcanic remains, sand hills, and miles and miles of great adventure.

Fillmore City website

In July of 1915, the first artesian well was drilled in the area west of Fillmore. It took several weeks of drilling, but the wells produced spec­tacular flows. During the next six months, many more wells were drilled and several families moved into the area. In 1919, a school was built, and in 1922 a post office was established. The area was originally named Crys­tal, but with the building of the post office the name was changed to Flowell, probably due to the many flowing wells in the area.

Gandy was first called Warm Springs and settled in 1887. When the post office was established the town was named Gandy after the oldest living person.

A colony of peaceful Indians lived nearby and made gloves from deer skin, which the settlers bought for 50 cents a pair. Saddles were also made by the Indians and consisted of animal bones covered with raw­hide. Gandy is located in the western part of Millard County near the Nevada border.

Garrison was established in the 1870’s by settlers who took up “squat­ter’s rights.” It is a cattle, sheep and crop raising settlement and is the largest winter grazing area in the state of Utah. Garrison was the center point for the first mail contract that ran from Frisco, Utah to Ely, Nevada. Emma Garrison was the first postmaster and the town was named after her. Today, Garrison has about 50 residents, a post office, a church, Utah State and Millard County road maintenance sheds and a volunteer fire department.

Known first as Lower Corn Creek and settled in 1854 by Peter Robison and others, the town was situ­ated where the old immigrant trail to California crossed the creek. Many travelers came through and the town grew. Peter Robison became the first postmaster and the town was called Petersburg. However, there were already too many Petersburgs, and when Richard Hat­ton took over as postmaster a few years later, the town became known as Hatton.

Most of the townspeople were farmers who sold hay and grain to the passing immigrants. An important station on the stage line from Salt Lake City to Pioche, Nevada was established in Hatton where drivers and horses were changed.

Brigham Young paid a visit to evaluate the settle­ment in late 1867. He observed the creek water could be better used if the settlement was moved upstream a few miles where the soil had proved to be more fertile and fall frost came later than in the present site. With this word of advice, people began moving closer to the mountains and settled Kanosh. By 1870, only a tiny handful of families remained in Hatton. Hatton is lo­cated 2.5 miles north of Kanosh. I-15 is built almost on top of the old immigrant trail and practically through the backyard of Hatton.

Settled in1 876 by Mormon pioneers, the town was first called Deseret #3, as part of the Deseret LDS Ward, then Bloomington, and finally Hinckley. The name was given in honor of Ira Hinckley, who was then the Millard Stake President.

During the settlement of Hinckley, rattlesnakes were a major problem. Through the hard work of the towns­people, it soon became a thriving community with rich farmland. Hinckley is the last town in Millard County before embarking on Highway 6&50 going west, which was named “America’s Loneliest Highway.”

Fort Cedar Springs was built in 1855 by Mormon pioneers near the spring-fed hills. Mormon Church President Brigham Young gave permission for two families to start a settlement and that fall they were joined by eight other families.

The colony began building an adobe walled fort to serve as a home for the families and for protection from Paiute Indians. The site was also a haven for weary travelers. The area became known as Buttermilk Fort because of its dairy industry and the drink served.

The name was changed to Holden in 1858 when a post office was established. The town was named in honor of Elijah Holden who was frozen to death during a freak snowstorm on September 8 the prior year. The storm forced him to abandon his wagon and horses. Mr. Holden attempted to walk to safety carrying his young son who had become exhausted. After carry­ing his son as far as he could, he wrapped him in his over­shirt and left him by the roadside. Mr. Holden made it only a few miles further. Father and son both were later found frozen.

An early pioneer of Holden, Albert Stevens, is said to have brought the first alfalfa seed from southern Utah. The first dandelion seed was planted by Mary Ann Tan­ner to be used for greens.

Between 1885-90 when polygamist raids were the most severe, a number of plural wives lived in seclu­sion in Holden. Holden is a charming little town locat­ed 6 miles north of Fillmore just off I-15.

Kanosh is a small farm­ing town on Highway 133, 5 miles south of Meadow. Kanosh was named in honor of the Paiute Indian Chief Kanosh. It was first known as Up­per Corn Creek and settled in 1867. Chief Kanosh and his band of Pahvants, also known as Paiutes or Utes, lived nearby.

There are many interesting stories regarding Chief Kanosh, who was a lifelong friend of the Mormon pioneers. One tells of his first wife Julia who had lost her mind and the tribe thought she was possessed of evil spirits and put her to death. Betsikin, his second wife, lured Mary, a newer and younger wife, into hunting squirrels with her. She slit Mary’s throat and when the crime was discovered Betsikin was given the choice by the people how to die. She chose death by starvation. Isolated in a wigwam one mile north of Kanosh on the west side of the highway, she stayed there until death ended her loneliness.

Near Meadow and Kanosh is the Kanosh Indian Reservation. A number of Pahvants continue to reside at least now and then on the reservation. In 1954, a congressional bill terminated the tribal status of Utah’s Paiute bands. Sponsors of the bill believed termination would speed the integration of Paiutes into non-Indian society. Results were so unsatisfactory that tribal sta­tus was restored in 1980. Remaining tribal land, which had declined in 1954 from 43,000 acres to 27,000 acres was placed in trust.

Sutherland was founded in 1909, but didn’t expe­rience much growth until a few years later. Many of those arriving to the area left behind their homes to move to the new farming com­munity. They lived in tents, shacks and even granaries until they could build something more suitable. Those early homes were small lumber shacks, and when one was built it was an event. All of the neighbors would come in their hay wagons and have a picnic and dance.

By the summer of 1912, there were several fami­lies with school-aged children living west of the Sevier River. Due to the number of children, a school was desperately needed. However, there was an insufficient tax base to construct the building. George A. Snow met with county commis­sioners and school district officials to take care of the educational needs of these children. Because of the time required, sev­eral prominent citizens obtained construction notes and a 30 ft.X 60 ft. brick school building was completed the next year. All eight grades were held in the large room.

After the construction of the school, area residents were able to obtain their own voting precinct and school district, both of which were named Sutherland, after Utah Senator George Sutherland. Wynn R. Walker was the first postmaster, and he also established a small general store. The store and post office are long gone, and Sutherland was never an incorporated town. However, it remains a voting district, and many people enjoy the rural life style it offers in the area west of Delta.