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Iron County


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Iron County Facts:

County Website: Iron County
Area: 3,301 square miles
Population: 64,211 (2023)
Founding Year: 1851
County Seat: Parowan
Origin of County Name: from iron deposits in the area
Cities/Towns: Brian Head, Cedar City, Enoch, Kanarraville, Paragonah, Parowan
Economy: government (including education), wholesale and retail trade, services, light manufacturing, and construction
Points of Interest: Cedar Breaks National Monument, Frontier Homestead State Park, Old Iron Town, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Brian Head Resort, Old Rock Church, Jesse N. Smith House
Geography: 3,301 square miles, high desert valleys, mountain ranges, red rock formations, Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Cedar City elevation 5,800 feet, Brian Head elevation 9,800 feet
Historical Significance: 1850s iron mining, Parowan first settlement, Old Iron Town, Cedar City supplied Hoover Dam, Old Rock Church, Jesse N. Smith House
Notable Residents: John M. Browning (firearms designer), Tony Finau (golfer), Fred Adams (Utah Shakespeare Festival founder), Levi Savage Jr. (Willie Handcart Company rescuer), Terry Tempest Williams (author, conservationist)
Natural Resources: Iron ore, coal, gypsum, timber (Dixie National Forest), Virgin River, Coal Creek, Ash Creek, agriculture (alfalfa, cattle, fruit orchards)

 

About Iron County:

Iron County was named for the rich deposits of iron ore found in the region. The earliest pioneer settlement was established in Parowan in 1851. However, archaeological evidence—such as pithouses—shows that the area was inhabited much earlier by prehistoric Anasazi and Sevier peoples, dating back to around 750 A.D. The Dominguez-Escalante expedition also passed through the area in 1776 while searching for a route to California.

Today, Iron County is known nationwide for the Utah Shakespeare Festival, which has earned several national theater awards, including a Tony Award in 2000. Nature enthusiasts can explore the stunning landscapes of Cedar Breaks National Monument, while history lovers can delve into the region’s past at the  Frontier Homestead State Park Museum. The area is also home to Southern Utah University, which began as a small teacher’s college and has grown into a prominent regional university with over 5,000 students.

Resources:

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

Gallery:


The Jesse N. Smith House, located in Parowan, Utah, is a historic residence that preserves the legacy of one of the early pioneers of the region.
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The Old Rock Church, built by Mormon settlers between 1863 and 1867 in Parowan, Utah, stands as a lasting symbol of the community's early faith and craftsmanship.
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The ruins at Old Iron Town State Park in Iron County, Utah, are remnants of a 19th-century iron mining settlement established in 1868 by Mormon pioneers.
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The Charcoal Kiln No. 60 in Old Iron Town, Iron County, Utah, is a well-preserved beehive-shaped structure built in the 1860s to produce charcoal for the area's iron smelter.
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The Adams Memorial Theater, a replica of the Globe Theatre, is used for performances during the Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City, Utah.
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Adams Memorial Theater in Cedar City, Utah, is an open-air venue modeled after Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and serves as a stage for the Utah Shakespeare Festival until 2015.
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Southern Utah University's Braithwaite Liberal Arts Center, built in 1904, and Old Main, built in 1898, are two of the oldest and most iconic buildings on campus.
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The Caretaker's Cabin at Cedar Breaks National Monument in Iron County, Utah, is a historic log structure built in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the National Park Service Rustic style and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Cedar Breaks National Monument glows with vibrant colors in the morning light, showcasing its stunning natural amphitheater and dramatic rock formations.
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Cedar Breaks National Monument offers breathtaking views from its 10,460-foot rim, revealing colorful cliffs, deep canyons and sweeping alpine scenery.
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An ancient Bristlecone Pine stands resiliently at Cedar Breaks National Monument, representing one of the oldest living trees in the world.
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An aerial view of Cedar Breaks National Monument showcases the breathtaking beauty of this natural landscape feature.
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The view from the summit of Brian Head Peak in Dixie National Forest, Utah, offers panoramic vistas of rugged mountains, dense forests, and expansive valleys.
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A deer grazes near Brian Head in Dixie National Forest, Utah, surrounded by the natural landscape.
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The summit of Brian Head Peak in Dixie National Forest, Utah, stands as the highest point in the area, offering views of the surrounding mountains and forests.
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The drive up to Brian Head features red slopes on one side of the road and slender trees lining the other, creating a striking contrast along the route.
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Kanarraville Falls, Utah, is a popular hiking destination known for its waterfalls and narrow slot canyons.
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Kanarra Canyon in Iron County, Utah, is a scenic slot canyon famous for its hiking trail that leads to beautiful waterfalls and natural pools.
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