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WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY     (Washington County, Utah)

ST. GEORGE, UTAH

In October, 1861, Mormon Church President Brigham Young called 309 families to settle the St. George area. They had the express purpose of growing cotton, grapes, and silk for the territory and to export to the Civil War torn northern states. The area became known as "Dixie" because of the warm climate, southern location, and the products the area was able to produce. The area is still referred to as "Utah's Dixie". St. George was officially chartered as a city on January 17, 1862.

George A. Smith, a first cousin of Brigham Young, affectionately earned the name of "The Potato Saint" when he urged the early pioneers to eat raw, unpeeled potatoes to cure a troublesome bout with scurvy. Since potatoes contain a high amount of vitamin C beneath the skin, the early settlers were cured; thus, the name "St. George".


LOCATION

TBD


HISTORY

Commentary by Mary Phoenix:
St. George was settled on December 6, 1861, as a result of a direct call from Brigham Young. He had visited the area in the fall and had prophesied "There would be between the volcanic ridges, a city with spires, towers and steeples and with homes containing many inhabitants."
It was one of the most difficult colonizing attempts the world has ever known. Because of the faith the early Mormon pioneers had in Brigham Young they made his vision a reality.
How St. George received its name has remained somewhat of a mystery. The Smith family have often insisted that it was named for their ancestor George Albert Smith. Smith along with Erastus Snow was appointed as an apostle in charge of colonizing southern Utah. Many say Brigham Young would not allow the term "Saint" to be used by any mortal man. Another opinion holds that it was named for Phillip St. George Cooke, the army officer who had been so kind to the members of the Mormon Battalion on the famous march across the country and who at that time was in charge of Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City and was present at the meeting when Brigham Young made the call to Dixie. A third opinion is that it was named for St. George, the national hero of England. Brigham Young was a direct descendant of English yeomen and had been on a church mission to England.
Strangers to St. George always wonder where the term Dixie, used everywhere, came from. Brigham Young's early scouts told him that in the warm region of the southern part of the territory cotton could be grown. Because Brigham Young was determined to make his people self-sufficient and because of the increasing Civil War, he issued a call for the Cotton Mission. Many people from the southern states with their knowledge of the cotton culture were called here - thus the name of Dixie!


HISTORIC SITES

St. George Historic District
St. George Historic Sculpture Garden
St. George Homes


PHOTOS

Panorama of St. George
WCHS-00900     Panorama View of St. George in the 1940s or 1950s

Other WCHS photos:
WCHS-00512     Composite aerial photo of the center of St. George in the late 1970s or early 1980s
WCHS-00892     Postcard photo of assorted scenes around St. George
WCHS-00893     Postcard photo of assorted scenes around St. George
WCHS-00894     Postcard photo of St. George looking northeast
WCHS-00895     Postcard photo of St. George looking southwest
WCHS-00896     Postcard photo of St. George looking northeast from the Black Hill
WCHS-00897     Postcard photo of St. George looking south from the Red Hill
WCHS-00898     Postcard photo of St. George
WCHS-00899     Postcard photo of St. George looking north from the south end of the Black Hill
WCHS-00901     Postcard photo of St. George looking east along 100 North (now St. George Blvd.)
WCHS-00902     Postcard photo of St. George looking east along St. George Blvd.
WCHS-00903     Postcard photo of 100 North (now St. George Blvd.) looking east from about 100 West
WCHS-00904     Postcard photo of 100 North (now St. George Blvd.) looking west from about 100 East
WCHS-00905     Postcard photo of St. George Blvd. looking west from about 200 East
WCHS-00906     Postcard photo of St. George Blvd. looking west from about 200 East
WCHS-00907     Postcard photo of St. George Blvd. looking west from about 300 East
WCHS-00908     Postcard photo of St. George Blvd. looking west from about Main Street
WCHS-00909     Postcard photo of St. George Blvd. looking west from about Main Street
WCHS-00965     Photo of St. George looking south along 200 East from the Red Hill
WCHS-00966     Photo of St. George looking south along 200 East from the Red Hill
WCHS-01371     Photo of old Highway 91 on the west side of St. George in 1961
WCHS-01699     Aerial photo of St. George in 1985
WCHS-04061     Photo of St. George in March of 1914 looking southeast
WCHS-05486     Photo of St. George looking southsoutheast from from the Red Hill about 1940-1950
WCHS-05487     Photo of St. George looking south along 200 East from the Red Hill
WCHS-05488     Photo of St. George looking southeast from the Red Hill in March of 1914
WCHS-05489     Photo of St. George looking southeast from the Red Hill in March of 1914 (cropped)
WCHS-05490     Photo of St. George looking southeast from the West Black Hill
WCHS-05491     Photo of Northwest corner of St. George with the Dixie 'D' in the background
WCHS-05492     Photo of St. George in the distance with the Dixie 'D' and St. George Temple
WCHS-05493     Photo of a street scene in 1930's St. George with the St. George Temple in the background

Other photos on the web:
2003 photo of the area around the Temple in St. George
1/2004 photo of St. George seem from the south end of the Black Hill
1/2004 photo of downtown St. George looking north
9/11/1909 photo of the St. George Temple as seen from the Virgin River (with only brush in between)
9/16/1909 photo of St. George looking south from the Red Hill
9/15/1905 photo of Rufus Johnson on horseback overlooking St. George from the Black Hill
10/1/2006 photo of downtown St. George
10/1/2006 photo of downtown St. George
10/1/2006 photo of downtown St. George
Photo of a mileage sign in St. George
Photo of a Conoco gas station and mileage sign on the southeast corner of Old Highway 91 & Main Street in St. George
Photo of a Mobil gas station in St. George
Photo of Old Highway 91 (aka 100 North and now St. George Blvd.) in St. George
Photo of Old Highway 91 (aka 100 North and now St. George Blvd.) in St. George
Pre-1956 photo of a dirt street and tractor in St. George
Pre-1956 photo of a dirt street in St. George
1930s-1950s photo of a snow covered street in St. George
Photo of a band on a parade ground with the St. George Temple in the background
Photo of some type of a horse show in St. George with the Temple in the background
Photo of the Pickett Building (Pickett Lumber Company) in St George
September 1940 photo of a crowd of men listening to the World Series game at Dixie Radio Service in St. George
September 1940 photo of a pipeline for a water facilities project on outskirts of Saint George
September 1940 photo of a scissors and lawnmower sharpener in Saint George
September 1940 photo of a scissors and lawnmower sharpener in Saint George
October 1940 photo of a pipeline of an FSA (Farm Security Administration) cooperative irrigation project near Saint George
September 1940 photo of members of the FSA (Farm Security Administration) cooperative pipe line used for irrigation purposes near Saint George
10/3/1921 photo of the Dixie Stockgrowers Bank in St. George
Photo of Southern Utah Power Co. building in St. George
Photo of a farmer's market in St. George
1918 photo of a float for the Dixie Fruit Festival in St. George
1918 photo of a float for the Dixie Fruit Festival in St. George
Photo of a Craft Fair in St. George
Pre-1956 photo of an unidentified dairy in St. George
Pre-1956 photo of a milking machine at a dairy in St. George
Pre-1956 photo of milk cans at a dairy in St. George
Pre-1956 photo of machinery at a dairy in St. George
September 1909 photo of Johnson's old library and printing office in St. George
September 1909 photo of Johnson's old library and printing office in St. George
Picture postcard of the St. George Municipal Power Plant
Pre-1956 photo of the Washington County Fruit Growers Co-Op building in St. George
Pre-1956 photo of the Washington County Fruit Growers Co-Op building in St. George
Pre-1956 photo of an oil rig in the St. George area
Pre-1956 photo of an oil rig in the St. George area
Pre-1956 photo of an oil rig in the St. George area
Pre-1956 photo of an oil rig in the St. George area
1950 photo of two unidentified women on a decorated truck in a parade in St. George
May 1992 photo of the Washington County Hall of Justice on 200 North and 200 East in St. George
May 1992 photo of the Washington County Hall of Justice on 200 North and 200 East in St. George
Pre-1956 photo of an unidentified group of men and horses on the stairs of the Sun Bowl in St. George
Pre-1956 photo of an unidentified group of men and horses on the stairs of the Sun Bowl in St. George
Pre-1956 photo of an unidentified group of men and horses on the stairs of the Sun Bowl in St. George
Pre-1956 photo of an unidentified group of men and horses on the stairs of the Sun Bowl in St. George
Pre-1956 photo of an unidentified group of men and horses on the stairs of the Sun Bowl in St. George
1948 postcard advertising the 14th Annual Dixie Round-up with a photo of the Sun Bowl in St. George
Postcard photo of the Sun Bowl
Postcard aerial photo of the Sun Bowl and surrounding area in St. Geoge
Pre-1956 photo of an unidentified girl in a swimming pool in St. George
St George Flower Show...
1947 photo of a decorated table at the St. George Flower Show
1947 photo of people and flower displays at the St. George Flower Show
1947 photo of people with flower plants in front of the St. George Flower Show building
1947 photo of people with flower plants in front of the St. George Flower Show building
1947 photo of people with flower plants in front of the St. George Flower Show building
1947 photo of people associated with the St. George Flower Show working in a field
1947 photo of people associated wiht the St. George Flower Show
1947 photo of people associated with the St. George Flower Show working in a field
1947 photo of people and flower displays at the St. George Flower Show
1947 photo of people associated with the St. George Flower Show working in a field
1947 photo of a little girl with a flower bed in St. George
1947 photo of a little girl with a flower bed in St. George
1947 photo of a field (cotton?) near St. George
1947 photo of people and flower displays at the St. George Flower Show
1947 photo of people and flower displays at the St. George Flower Show
1947 photo of people and flower displays at the St. George Flower Show
1947 photo of people and flower displays at the St. George Flower Show
1947 photo of people and flower displays at the St. George Flower Show
1947 photo of flower displays at the St. George Flower Show
1947 photo of a group of St. George Flower Festival participants
1950 photo of ladies at the St. George Flower Show
1950 photo of people associated with the St. George Flower Show
1950 photo of a lady tending flowers in a greenhouse
1950 photo of a lady with a flower and associated with the St. George Flower Show
1950 photo of a lady tending flowers in a greenhouse
1950 photo of a lady tending flowers
1950 photo of people and flower displays at the St. George Flower Show
1950 photo of people and flower displays at the St. George Flower Show
1950 photo of a lady with a flower and associated with the St. George Flower Show
1950 photo of a man with a flower and associated with the St. George Flower Show
1950 photo of a man with a flower and associated with the St. George Flower Show
1950 photo of people at the St. George Flower Show
1950 photo of people at the St. George Flower Show
1950 photo of a lady at the St. George Flower Show
1950 photo of people at the St. George Flower Show
1950 photo of people at the St. George Flower Festival
1950 photo of people and flowers at the St. George Flower Festival
St George People...
Photo of H. Bruce Stucki
Photo of an unidentified group of people, possibly from St. George
Pre-1956 photo of an unidentified group in front of the St. George Temple
Pre-1956 photo of a St. George man holding crops
Pre-1956 photo of three St. George men and a horse
Pre-1956 photo of a group of men in a field near St. George
Pre-1956 photo of an unidentified young girl on a horse in the arena of the Dixie Sun Bowl in St. George
Pre-1956 photo of five unidentified individuals with instruments in St. George
Pre-1956 photo of three unidentified individuals standing with a horse in the Sun Bowl Arena in St. George
Pre-1956 photo of Vae Monroe Fenley in handcuffs at St. George
Pre-1956 photo of two men, one is possibly Art Mitchell, sheriff of Washington County
Pre-1956 photo of an unidentified man with his dogs in St. George
Pre-1956 photo of a large group taken in a gym, possibly Dixie High School in St. George
Pre-1956 photo of an unidentified man on a horse in front of the Dixie Sun Bowl in St. George
Pre-1956 photo of Anthony W. Ivins, Edward H. Snow, and one unidentified individual sitting in an office in St. George
Pre-1956 photo of an unidentified woman sitting next to a loom, possibly in her home in St. George
1/2004 photo of the tombstone for John Daniel Thompson McAllister
Photo of Manomas Gibson Andrus (an original 1847 pioneer) in St. George
Photo of Manomas Gibson Andrus (an original 1847 pioneer) in St. George
Photo of Joseph Birch who originally settled in St. George, then later helped found the city of Price
Photo of Walter Cannon, a postmaster, realtor, and banker in St. George
Photo of Anthony W. Ivins at the time he was sheriff of Washington County
Photo of J. W. McAllister, director of the Dixie College Opera
Photo of Orson Pratt Jr. (born 1837), first postmaster of St. George
Photo of the St. George LDS Stake Presidency: Erastus Snow, David Cannon, and David McArthur
St George Farms...
http://contentdm.li.suu.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/adams&CISOPTR=171
http://contentdm.li.suu.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/adams&CISOPTR=172
http://contentdm.li.suu.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/adams&CISOPTR=179
http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/USU_Photos&CISOPTR=14
http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/USU_Photos&CISOPTR=56
St George Temple Housing...
http://contentdm.li.suu.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/palmer&CISOPTR=1388
http://contentdm.li.suu.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/palmer&CISOPTR=1391
http://contentdm.li.suu.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/palmer&CISOPTR=1393
http://contentdm.li.suu.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/palmer&CISOPTR=1394
http://contentdm.li.suu.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/palmer&CISOPTR=1395
http://contentdm.li.suu.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/palmer&CISOPTR=1396
http://contentdm.li.suu.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/palmer&CISOPTR=1397
http://contentdm.li.suu.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/palmer&CISOPTR=1399
http://contentdm.li.suu.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/palmer&CISOPTR=1400
http://contentdm.li.suu.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/palmer&CISOPTR=1401
http://contentdm.li.suu.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/palmer&CISOPTR=1402
http://contentdm.li.suu.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/palmer&CISOPTR=1403
http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/USHS_Class&CISOPTR=5584
http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/USHS_Class&CISOPTR=5585
http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/USHS_Class&CISOPTR=5586
http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/USHS_Class&CISOPTR=5587
http://protophoto.com/picture.html?pic=11301

Photos not available on the web:
List of 1900-1940s St. George photos at the Utah State Historical Society


VIDEOS

A Nostalgic Walking Tour of Downtown St. George With Dale & Jeremy Larkin


REFERENCES

Official St. George city website
St. George Chamber of Commerce
Wikipedia article about St. George
A history of St. George
A history of St. George
A history of St. George
A history of St. George
A history of St. George
A history of St. George
Dixie Beltway
St. George Historic Preservation Commission

The Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company,   May 1941, Pages 22-28
The Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company,   Fall 1958, Pages 29-35
Mountain States Telephone,   October 1961, Pages 31-37
Mountain Bell,   September 1972, Pages 85-98

Where Did St. George Get Its Name?
By Bart Anderson

Washington County Chapter, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, " Under Dixie Sun".
1950 with 1978 Supplement.
Pages 291-343, Supplement Page 24-39.

"Immortal Pioneers: Founders of City of St. George, Utah"
Book by Albert E. Miller
1946

"St. George: Outpost of Civilization, A Sesquicentennial History"
Book by Richard Kohler
See the information page.

"St. George: Early Years of Tourism"
by Lisa Michele Church and Lynne Clark
Utah Historical Quarterly (UHQ),   Volume 80, Number 1 (Winter 2012)
Pages 44-53

"Growin' Up in Sandtown"
Book by Wesley Atkin; Sara Atkin
St. George: Privately printed by Carl Rich, 2004

"The Wrong Car Came: An Account of the Oil Well Explosion South of St. George Which Occurred on March 7, 1935"
Book by Ellen Raye Cottam Brown
St. George: Privately printed by Ellen Raye Brown, 2003
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/54770695&referer=brief_results

"The First Christmas in St. George - 1861"
By Mary Pheonix
In http://www.dixietoday.com/history.html

"Settlement of St. George, Utah"
In http://www.dixietoday.com/history.html

St. George and Santa Clara Centennial Celebration 1861-1961
Program - Souvenir Edition

St. George Tax Book 1968

History reveals intriguing origins of unique place names in Southern Utah
Article by Ammon Teare, St. George News, 6/12/2021