Prehistoric Communities & Pioneer Settlement
Archaeological evidence shows that as many as 3,000 years ago, tribal communities lived in what is now West Valley City. At around 7200 West and 3500 South, materials indicate a temporary camp from the Archaic Period. Near SR-201 and 5400 West, discoveries of stone tool remnants suggest another Archaic campsite.
"Over Jordan" & the Evolution of a Community
Although West Valley City is Utah’s second-largest city, it is relatively young. It was incorporated only in 1980, so it lacks the long civic traditions of older Utah cities like Ogden, Salt Lake City, or Provo. But the area had active, committed residents long before formal city government.
Joseph and Susanna Harker were the first pioneers to settle “over Jordan” in 1848. Other families followed in 1849. Some of these early settlers moved south, to what became Taylorsville. However, beginning in 1866, new settlers arrived in the area called Granger, and they established agricultural communities that gradually evolved into suburbs.
Many pioneer families still have descendants in the city today, with names like Rasmussen, Hemenway, Warr, Parks, Holmberg, Bess, Turpin, Todd, Wallace, Barton, Nebeker, Hill, Bawden, and Bangerter.
By the 1870s and 1880s, canals were built across the valley’s west side, bringing water from the Jordan River. This new irrigation made farming possible farther west, and the area known as Hunter was settled by families such as the Rushtons, Hansens, and Days.
The Turn of the Century
By 1900, the farming communities of Hunter and Granger had built schools, mills, and churches. The census recorded 354 residents in Hunter and 617 in Granger.
The new century brought paved roads—the first being 3500 South in 1918—automobiles, and an interurban rail line that connected Magna (to the west) with Salt Lake City (to the east). Community life was still centered on the local Mormon meetinghouse, and the rhythm of farming shaped daily life for many families.
Post World War II
After World War II, residents formed the Granger-Hunter Improvement District to provide running water and modern sewer service. Established in 1950, this organization enabled new subdivisions to develop, and a residential boom followed. Farms gradually disappeared or shrank as suburban development moved in. Businesses sprang up along major corridors like 3500 South and Redwood Road to serve the growing population.
Growth was uneven, and county-level officials often placed many multi-family housing units in the area without much regard for aesthetics, infrastructure, or parks. In response, local residents organized civic groups such as the Lions Club, Rotary Club, Valley West Chamber of Commerce, and Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. In 1964, these groups helped form the Granger-Hunter Community Council.
After a failed attempt to incorporate in 1978, a successful incorporation was achieved in 1980. On July 1, 1980, West Valley City officially came into being.
Those first years were challenging. In fact, a disincorporation vote was on the ballot just one week after the new city officials were sworn in. With no bank willing to finance a city that might vanish, the first mayor (Hank Price) and the first commissioners (Renee Mackay and Jerry Wagstaff) personally paid for gas for the police cars.
Disincorporation was rejected, and the city endured. Although the early 1980s recession hit hard, careful fiscal management helped the city stay afloat. By 1990, the city had even paid cash for a new City Hall.
Since then, the city has added parks, built new fire stations, and converted the boyhood home of Pete Harman — the first Kentucky Fried Chicken franchisee — into the Harman Senior Recreation Center. It also built a Family Fitness Center, the Hale Centre Theatre, and the E-Center (now known as the Maverik Center), which became the primary ice hockey venue during the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Because housing was relatively affordable, West Valley City became a popular home for new immigrants: refugees from Southeast Asia after the Vietnam War, LDS Pacific Islanders, and Hispanic immigrants working locally. Even as housing quality improved, the city’s diversity continued to attract new residents.
By 2010, West Valley City was Utah’s most ethnically diverse city, with minorities making up 45% of the population. The Utah Cultural Celebration Center opened in 2003 to celebrate the city’s cultural diversity.
Today, residents of West Valley City take pride in their city’s unique character. They appreciate its convenient location, amenities, neighborly spirit, and improving safety. Major developments like the rebuilding of the shopping mall and the oldest high school, expansion of light rail, and job creation at rates above the national average reflect a bright future.
West Valley City is now more than a farming area or a bedroom suburb of Salt Lake City. It has forged its own identity — a success story rooted in a rich, evolving history.
Written Histories
The West Valley City Historical Society actively collects family, business, and event histories related to the area. If you have written materials you’d like to share, you can email Michael Christensen to contribute them to the database.