Historical Markers in
Washington County, Utah

1990 Mountain Meadows Monument A Tale of Three Towns Adair Spring American Legion Hiatt-Hunt Post 80 And the Desert Shall Blossom Birth of a Park Birth of Hurricane Bloomington Bradshaw House/Hotel Brigham Young Home Brigham Young Winter Home Cables from the Rim Civilian Conservation Corps, Leeds, Utah Collapsing Scenery Convict Camp and Wagon Road Covington Mansion Discovery of Zion Canyon Dixie Academy Dixie Academy Early Day Wood Beam Walking Hand Plow Eliza Jane Pulsipher Terry Erastus Fairbanks Snow Erastus Snow's Big House Fort Harmony Frederick and Anna Reber Home From Schoolhouse to Town Hall Gardeners Club Gardeners’ Club Hall Hannah Louise Leavitt Terry Harrisburg Harrisburg/ Harrisburg Residents Heritage Home & Pioneer Corner Historic Kolob Mountain Historic Pine Valley Mountain Hug-Gubler Home Hurricane Canal Hurricane Canal Hurricane City Hurricane Pioneers Hurricane/LaVerkin Bridge In Honor of Chief Toquer Jacob Hamblin Home John George and Susette Bosshard Hafen Home Kolob Canyons La Verkin La Verkin Canal Leeds CCC Camp Leeds Historic CCC Camp Look-out Point Many Came by Handcart Mary Ann Pulsipher Terry Mile-long Main Street Military Training Camp Site Mountain Meadows Massacre Mountain Meadows Massacre Grave Site Memorial New Harmony Original Inhabitants / Living Traditions Orson Pratt – Richard Bentley Pioneer Bowery Pioneer Courthouse Pioneer Gratitude Pioneer Museum Pioneer Trails Pioneer – Washington County - Courthouse Preston and Vella Ruth Hafen Home Prominent Pioneer Men and Women Who Helped Settle Washington City Promised Land Relief Society Hall Robert D. Covington House Rockville Bridge Santa Clara Merc Santa Clara Relief Society House Santa Clara Tithing Granary Smith Mesa Snowfield Monument Southern Exploring Company - 1849 Southern Exploring Company – 1849 St. George Opera House St. George Social Hall “Opera House” St. George Stake Tabernacle St. George Tabernacle St. George Temple St. John's Church / Bishop Lawrence J. Scanlan Stephen Tyng Mather Survival in Utah’s Dixie Swiss Colony Tabernacle Telegraph Street / Millcreek Mills Temple Quarry Trailhead The Bentley House and Judd Store The Burgess House The Burial Sites The Dixie Pioneers The Granary The Hardy House The Historic Dixie-Long Valley, Utah Pioneer Trail The Historic Hurricane Canal The Historic Hurricane Canal The Jail House The Jones Adobe Home The Judd House The Mountain Meadows Massacre The Old Spanish Trail and The California Road The Roads to Utah’s Dixie The Sandstone Building The Settling of Santa Clara / First Public Buildings / Missionaries and Settlers The Stone Quarries The Temple & Honeymoon Trails The Town Named After a Buggy Incident The Woodward School The Woodward School Thomas Sirls Terry Thomas W. Smith's Corn Cracker & Grist Millstone Toquer Toquerville Utah Is Rich in Aviation History Utah-Idaho Sugar Company Utah’s Dixie Birthplace, Washington City Washington City 1857 Washington Cotton Factory Wells Fargo and Company Express Building Westward Expansion Winter Home of Brigham Young ZCMI Co-op Building ZCMI Co-op Building 1875–1921 Zion Mt. Carmel Tunnel and Highway, Utah "They Were Poor, Hungry, and They Built to Last" “Utah’s Dixie” Washington City
The state's official tree is the quaking aspen, a deciduous tree that is known for its beautiful fall foliage.
Utah random facts
Washington County, Utah has a rich and diverse history that stretches back thousands of years. The area was originally home to the Southern Paiute Native American tribe, who thrived here for centuries before the arrival of European settlers. Spanish explorers were the first Europeans to venture into the region in the 1770s, although they did not establish a permanent presence.

The mid-1800s saw the arrival of Mormon pioneers, led by Brigham Young, who settled in what is now known as St. George, the county seat and largest city of Washington County. These settlers sought refuge from persecution and established farming communities, taking advantage of the fertile soil and mild climate. They built irrigation systems known as "reclamation projects" to bring water to the arid desert, making agriculture possible in the region.

Washington County became a hub for agricultural production in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with orchards, vineyards, and dairy farms dotting the landscape. The construction of the St. George Temple, one of the oldest continuously operating LDS (Latter-Day Saint) temples, added to the area's significance as a religious and cultural center.

In recent years, Washington County has experienced significant population growth thanks to its natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and thriving economy. The region has become a popular retirement destination and a hub for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and off-roading. Today, Washington County is a vibrant and dynamic community that embraces its history while continuing to evolve and adapt to the changing times.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Washington County, Utah.

  • 1776-1777: It is believed that Spanish explorers, Francisco Garcés and Silvestre Vélez de Escalante, were the first non-Native Americans to enter what is now Washington County.
  • 1847: Mormon pioneers led by Brigham Young arrived in the Salt Lake Valley and began exploring areas for settlement.
  • 1852: The first Mormon settlers arrived in what is now Washington County and established the community of Santa Clara.
  • 1854: St. George was settled and became the county seat.
  • 1861: Washington County was officially created by the Utah Territorial Legislature.
  • 1871: The St. George Temple, the first temple completed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah, was dedicated.
  • 1882: The area's rich iron deposits led to the establishment of the Silver Reef mining district, which attracted miners and entrepreneurs.
  • 1897: The United Order communal system was abolished in Washington County, leading to a shift towards individual land ownership and economic development.
  • 1923: Zion National Park was established, showcasing the region's stunning natural beauty.
  • 1935: The completion of the Hoover Dam brought economic opportunities to the county.
  • 2005: The Washington County School District became the largest district in Utah, highlighting the county's population growth and development.