Legacies of Iron County

Iron County took shape as local people developed the resources needed to survive in a desert climate, and three enduring legacies of early settlers and their descendants defined the community: agriculture, mining, and railroads. Agriculture, symbolized by the hay derrick, became the foundation of local life, and when early mining operations ceased, residents turned to sheep and cattle to provide needed trade goods; the region still maintains a vibrant and expanding agricultural lifestyle today. Mining, represented by the ore shovel, was the industry that began it all and the initial motive for settlement, and in 1923 the mines began producing ore by the tons, making Iron County one of the richest counties in Utah for nearly 50 years; with the mines recently reopened, that tradition continues. Railroads, signified by the caboose, proved pivotal by allowing freight trains to haul more raw materials than ever before, increasing mining profits, while rail traffic also brought thousands of tourists each year to see the area's scenic wonders and carried Hollywood into Cedar City, helping bring the wider world into the community.

Cedar City, Utah · United States