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Box Elder County


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Box Elder County Facts:

County Website: Box Elder County
Area: 5,746 square miles
Population: 62,684 (2023)
Founding Year: 1856
County Seat: Brigham City
Origin of County Name: named for the many box elder trees growing in the county
Cities/Towns: Bear River City, Brigham City, Corinne, Deweyville, Elwood, Fielding, Garland, Honeyville, Howell, Mantua, Perry, Plymouth, Portage, Snowville, Tremonton, Willard
Economy: agriculture, aerospace/defense
Points of Interest: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Brigham City Museum and Gallery, Box Elder LDS Tabernacle in Brigham City, Crystal Hot Springs, Golden Spike National Historic Site, Willard Bay, Willard Historic District
Geography: Great Salt Lake, Wasatch Range, vast desert plains, fertile farmland
Historical Significance: Completion of the first transcontinental railroad at Promontory Summit in 1869
Notable Residents: Early settlers, railroad workers, influential figures in Utah’s agricultural and transportation industries, Colonel Gail Halvorsen, and L. Jay Silvester (Olympic athlete)
Natural Resources: Minerals, fossil fuels, fertile soil for agriculture, diverse wildlife habitats

 

About Box Elder County:

Box Elder County has a long and varied history. Established in 1856, the area saw ongoing conflict between Shoshone Tribes and settlers until a treaty was negotiated by the Territorial Governor in 1863. The county is best known as the site of Promontory, where the where the Golden Spike was driven on May 10, 1869, marking the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. Archaeological evidence shows that humans lived in the area as far back as 12,000 years ago.

Today Box Elder County is home to ATK, founded in 1957, which manufactures NASA’s space shuttle booster rockets and Minuteman missiles. Agriculture also plays a key role in the local economy with crops like hay, grain, alfalfa and fruit. The county includes the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and much of the Great Salt Lake.

 

Resources:

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

 

Gallery:


An archway stands at the entrance, welcoming visitors to Brigham City.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
A scenic view showcases the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, located in Brigham City, Utah.
Image from Wikimedia Commons

The Box Elder County Courthouse is a historic building located in Brigham City, Utah.
Image from Wikimedia Commons.

The Golden Spike National Historic Site features recreated No. 119 and Jupiter locomotives, commemorating the driving of the Golden Spike on May 10, 1869, which completed the transcontinental railroad.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
The U.S. Navy Band, Country Current, entertains the crowd during a performance at the Box Elder County Fair in Tremonton, Utah.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
The Spiral Jetty, created by Robert Smithson, is visible from atop Rozel Point.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
The Sun Tunnels are deliberately and strategically placed on the ancient lakebed of Lake Bonneville.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
Willard Bay State Park is a recreational area located in northern Utah, known for boating, fishing and camping.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
The old schoolhouse in Howell, Utah, stands as a reminder of the town’s early educational history.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
The Portage Town Hall is a central civic building located in Portage, Utah.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
The Garland Carnegie Library is a historic building located in Garland, Utah.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
The Holmgren Farmstead is a historic home located in Tremonton, Utah.
Image from Wikimedia Commons