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Morgan County


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Morgan County Facts:

County Website: Morgan County
Area: 611 square miles
Population: 13,000 (in 2023)
Founding Year: 1862
County Seat: Morgan City
Origin of County Name: after LDS leader Jedediah Morgan Grant
Cities/Towns: Morgan City, Mountain Green
Economy: livestock, manufacturing
Points of Interest: Devil’s Slide, East Canyon State Park, Francis Peak, Lost Creek Reservoir, Mountain Green trappers' confrontation site
Geography: Northern Utah, divided by Weber Canyon, bordered by Davis County (west), Weber County (northwest) and Summit County (east)
Historical Significance: Early settlers arrived in 1855; county named after Jedediah Morgan Grant, an LDS leader; played a role in the construction of the transcontinental railroad
Notable Residents: Charles W. Kingston (religious leader), Jesse C. Little (pioneer and missionary)
Natural Resources: Rich in timber, fish and game, agriculture and livestock

 

About Morgan County:

The city of Morgan was settled in 1855, and Morgan County was established in 1862. During the Utah War (1857–58), settlers in Milton provided feed for the horses of Mormon troops stationed in nearby canyon passes as they watched for the approach of Johnston’s Army. Lot Smith, a resident of Stoddard, took more direct action by blocking Echo Canyon, destroying U.S. Army supply trains, and stampeding government horses and cattle.

Despite these events, the conflict was ultimately resolved without violence.

Nestled in a high valley of the Wasatch Mountains, Morgan County is divided by the Weber River. Numerous streams feeding into the Weber made the valley appealing to fur trappers in the 1820s, as well as to prehistoric Plains Indians and historic Shoshone and Ute tribes. In 1825, near present-day Mountain Green, British trappers from the Hudson’s Bay Company led by Peter Skene Ogden came dangerously close to an armed conflict with competing American trappers. However, Ogden’s leadership helped defuse the tension, avoiding what could have become a major international incident.

 

Resources:

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

 

Gallery:

The Devil's Slide is a unique rock formation located in Weber Canyon near the community of Croydon.
Image from Wikimedia Commons

The Daniel Heiner House is a historic home located in Morgan, Utah, and is noted for its architectural significance and connection to early local leadership.
Image from Wikimedia Commons

The Morgan Union Pacific Depot is a historic railroad station that once served as a key transportation hub for the community of Morgan, Utah.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
The Morgan High School Mechanical Arts Building, located next to the present-day Morgan Middle School, is a historic structure that once supported vocational education.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
The South Round Valley School, a historic one-room schoolhouse, is now located on the grounds of Round Valley Golf Course.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
Porterville Church, originally built in 1898, was destroyed by fire in 2000.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
Looking east-northeast from near Francis Peak offers expansive views of the surrounding mountain ranges and valleys.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
The western end of the Mormon Flat Breastworks features a line of fortifications built in 1857 to defend against Johnston’s Army during the Utah War.
Image from Wikimedia Commons

East Canyon Dam is a large reservoir and recreational area located in Morgan County, Utah, providing water storage and opportunities for fishing, boating, and camping.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
Curtis Robinson proudly displays the huge cutthroat trout he caught and released at East Canyon Reservoir.
Image from Wikimedia Commons