Iron County

Iron County was named for the mining of iron ore. The earliest pioneers to establish a city (Parowan) came in 1851. Yet, there are evidences, such as pithouses, of prehistoric Anasazi and Sevier people dating back to 750 A.D. The Dominguez-Escalante expedition also passed through in 1776, while looking for a route to California.

Today, the county is known nation wide for the Utah Shakespearean Festival which has won several national theater awards including a Tony award in the year 2000. For those who love nature’s wonders don’t miss Cedar Breaks National Monument and those interested in history can learn more at the Frontier Homestead State Park Museum. During the winter months, skiers will enjoy a visit to Brian Head Resort. Also in the area is Southern Utah University (SUU) which began as a small teacher’s college but has grown into a large regional university with over 5,000 students.


The charcoal kiln is a major feature of the ruins at Iron City, now called Old Iron Town. The iron works at this site were established in 1868.Old Iron Town is owned by the Cedar City Chapter of the Sons of the Utah Pioneers. The group encourages respectful visitors.	The Sherratt Library is the center of activity on the campus of Southern Utah University. The structure, which opened in 1996 during the school's 100th anniversary year, was named in honor of Gerald R. Sherratt who served as president of the university from 1982 to 1997.	Cedar Breaks National Monument sits on the western edge of the Markagunt Plateau. A proclamation of President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the monument in 1933. This picture was taken at Point Supreme (elevation 10,400 feet). Brian Head Peak, which is not part of the monument, is the blue mountain in the center of the picture. It is the highest point in Iron County.

More information for Iron County can be found at the following sites: