Parowan's Mormon Pioneer-era Rock Church
Parowan is a city in Iron County, Utah, United States. The population was 2,565 at the 2000 census.
It is the county seat of Iron County6.
Parowan became the first incorporated city in Iron County in 1851. A fort that had been
constructed on the east side of Center Creek the previous year was an initial in the development of ironworks in the region.
Parowan served as the agricultural support base for the local iron industry, whose blast furnace was located in nearby Cedar
City. Eventually, the ironworks were decommissioned.
According to local historian Jean Hendrickson, the word Parowan means “Evil Water” in the Piute Indian language. The myth says
a young maiden was on the shore of the "Little Salt Lake" washing and a wave came and took her; hence the name Evil Water.
Despite occasional successes, the mission failed to produce a consistent and sustained supply of pig iron. By 1858, most of
the area's mining operations had ceased due to disappointing yields. Today, the area's chief industries are recreation and
tourism.
Geography
Parowan is located at 37°50′28″N, 112°49′52″W (37.841156,
-112.831068)1. It sits at 5,990 feet in
elevation on the eastern edge of Parowan Valley, and at the mouth of Parowan Canyon.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area
of 15.1 km² (5.8 mi²), all land.
History
Southern Utah's first settlement and county seat of Iron County, Parowan City
blends a rich historical past with present-day, small-town hospitality. Set in a beautiful natural location, it serves as a
year-round gateway to Brian Head Resort and Cedar Breaks National Monument. Its elevation is 5,970 feet; its population in 1990 was 1,873.
Fremont and Anasazi Indians were the
first known inhabitants of Parowan. Petroglyphs, pithouses,
arrowheads, pottery, and manos dating from A.D. 750 to 1250
found in the area are evidence that it was on a major thoroughfare of early Native Americans. At Parowan Gap, a natural mountain pass twelve miles northwest
of Parowan, ancient Indians inscribed petroglyphs on smooth-surfaced boulders that feature snakes, lizards, mouse-men, bear
claws, and mountain sheep. In addition, the Old Spanish Trail also passed through the
area.
An annual birthday celebration commemorates Parowan's founding on 13 January 1851, just twelve months after Parley P. Pratt
and members of his exploring party discovered the Little Salt Lake Valley and nearby deposits of
iron ore. On 8 January 1850 Pratt had raised a liberty
pole at Heap's Spring and dedicated the site as "The City of Little Salt Lake." Based on Pratt's exploration report,
Brigham Young called for the establishment of settlements in the area to produce
much-needed iron implements for the pioneer state.
Mormon apostle George A. Smith was appointed to head the establishment of
this "Iron Mission" in 1850. The first company of 120 men, 31 women, and 18 children braved winter weather traveling south from
Provo during December. They sometimes built roads and bridges as they traveled, and they finally reached Center Creek on 13
January 1851. After enduring two bitterly cold nights, they moved across the creek and circled their wagons by Heap's Spring and
Pratt's liberty pole, seeking the protection of the hills. Within days, the settlement organization was completed: companies of
men were dispatched to build a road up the canyon, a town site was surveyed and laid into lots, and a fort and a log
council house were begun. The council house was used as church, schoolhouse, theater, and
community recreation center for many years.
In 1861 construction was begun on a large church building to stand in the center of the public square. The pioneers envisioned
a building of three stories, built from the abundant yellow sandstone and massive timbers in
nearby canyons. Known as the "Old Rock Church," the building was completed in 1867 and served as a place of worship, town council
hall, school building, social hall, and tourist camp. In 1939 it was restored through the efforts of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers and a Parowan-sponsored WPA project. It is now a museum of Parowan's early history.
Parowan has been called the "Mother Town of the Southwest" because of the many pioneers who left from there to start other
communities in southern Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and even Oregon
and Wyoming. In its first year, colonists were asked to settle Johnson Fort, now Enoch, where a
stockade was built, and were also sent to settle along Coal Creek, site of the
settlement to manufacture iron which became Cedar City.
Parowan's first settlers were instructed to plant crops so that following immigrants could open up the coal and iron ore
deposits, but local industries were also developed. Self-sufficiency was envisioned, and local industries included a
tannery, sawmill, cotton
mill, factories for making saddles and harnesses, furniture and cabinets, shoes, and guns; there also were both
carpentry and blacksmith shops. In the early 1900s both
sheep and dairy industries were well established. Local farms were noted for their quality Rambouillet sheep, and the Southern Utah Dairy Company, a cooperative
venture begun in 1900, produced dairy products and was known for its "Pardale Cheese."
The first attempts at iron manufacturing were unsuccessful, but mining in the twentieth century brought prosperity to Iron
County. When the closure of the mines and the completion of Interstate 15 threatened
economic depression in the early 1980s, determined Parowan citizens pulled together to develop
an economic plan of action to keep the community viable. Businesses now support Brian Head, a year-round resort featuring great
powder snow for downhill and cross-country skiing in the winter and numerous summer mountain
activities.
Parowan's Economic Development Office actively recruits small manufacturing companies looking to relocate to a rural
community. In addition, the farmers and ranchers of Iron County are working together to increase the number of agribusinesses and
dairies. Significant growth has occurred in the 1990s in Parowan; it has been attributed to affordable utility fees and a
positive economic climate. City officials have maintained financial stability while encouraging community projects that preserve
the pioneer heritage and increase tourism during all seasons. Parowan is the site of the annual Iron County Fair on Labor Day
weekend; it also is a host community for the Utah Summer Games and sponsor of the annual
"Christmas in the Country" celebration each November.
In 1993 the city began development of Heap's Spring Memorial Park. Plans for this site include
a park and amphitheater, a grotto and pond, and a museum of southwestern Utah history. Other local historic sites include the
original town square with the Old Rock Church, the War Memorial and Rose Garden, the Third/Fourth Ward LDS chapel built in 1915,
and the Jesse N. Smith Home Museum. Parowan City supports the Parowan Community Theatre,
which produces outstanding theatrical productions throughout the year.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 2,565 people, 893 households, and 682 families residing in
the city. The population density was 169.6/km² (439.2/mi²). There were 1,230 housing
units at an average density of 81.3/km² (210.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.41% White, 0.39% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 1.79% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.16% of the population.
There were 893 households out of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.6% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were
non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or
older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from
45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,426, and the median income for a family was $36,548. Males had a median
income of $30,170 versus $17,036 for females. The per capita income for the city was
$14,859. About 7.8% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty
line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
External links
Coordinates:
37.841156° N 112.831068°
W
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