Woods Cross, a great place to be
Woods Cross, a great place to be BY MELINDA WILLIAMS Clipper Staff Writer WOODS CROSS — Woods Cross is a growing city,“A Great Place to Be!”,as its current slogan states, but for most of its existence it has been a sleepy, farming community. Woods Cross was one of the first pioneer settlements settled by Peregrine Sessions in 1847. It’s said he chose the site because of the fertile farm land. According to the Utah History Encyclopedia, pioneers picked the area’s rich bottom lands to establish their farms, because the mountain watersheds to the east retained rain and melting snow until saturation sent runoff waters west. There, the water was absorbed into underground aquifers preserving fresh water along the Great Salt Lake. Among the first settlers was Daniel Wood, for whom the city is named. By the mid 1800s, he was the wealthiest man in Woods Cross. He built a school and church, and by 1869 gave the lower portion of his
Davis County Clipper
land for a railroad depot and crossing, called Woods Crossing, which was later shortened to Woods Cross. Ira Hatch, another early settler was among 95 original shareholders of the Deseret Livestock Company, organized in 1891, the same year the Davis County Clipper was first published. The company remained in the city until 1933, when it was sold and the office transferred to These colorful buildings add a bit of spice to Woods Cross, a city that Salt Lake City. It some see as primarily industrial. was that year the company’s mercity, with two new subdivisions on tap ing the image of having little to offer cantile store was closed. on the city’s west side, which will add but industry. In 1991, officials began The city was incorporated on approximately 400 homes and sub- changing many of the city’s zoning September 4, 1930. By 1970, it was the stantially increase the city’s popula- ordinances, to better reflect the growthird fastest growing city in the state, tion. ing residential area. with a population of 3,124, up from Woods Cross has managed to creUresk said city officials are now 1,098 in 1960. The population as of ate a substantial commercial base, working to make the area on 500 2000 was 7,400. and some in the county and state still South, where the Legacy Parkway There’s not many farms left now. identify Woods Cross with business will intersect, “the western gateway Woods Cross today is a fast growing and industry. into the city.” Uresk said they’re City manager Gary working to make it a destination Uresk said many travel- place. “We have a tremendous opportuing on I-15 see Woods Cross as just another nity to make the whole 500 South industrial area, “But we corridor a vibrant place.” While Woods Cross is a modern have a very viable resicity, residents have retained a closedential community” The city’s been fight- knit community, with neighbors still helping neighbors and residents joining to make the annual Memorial Farmer’s State Day celebration a success. Bank, right, City officials are proud of the fact had moved to that people from throughout the city bigger quarare willing to serve on a host of comters before mittees and organizations, to make this photo of the city a better place. 500 South was In 2002, residents joined together to host the Korean Olympic team taken in 1934. during the Winter Olympics. In background Folks from throughout the city, is Wasatch Oil worked to create a Korean dinner Co., now Holly and entertainment held at Woods Oil. Cross High.
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Davis County Clipper
land for a railroad depot and crossing, called Woods Crossing, which was later shortened to Woods Cross. Ira Hatch, another early settler was among 95 original shareholders of the Deseret Livestock Company, organized in 1891, the same year the Davis County Clipper was first published. The company remained in the city until 1933, when it was sold and the office transferred to These colorful buildings add a bit of spice to Woods Cross, a city that Salt Lake City. It some see as primarily industrial. was that year the company’s mercity, with two new subdivisions on tap ing the image of having little to offer cantile store was closed. on the city’s west side, which will add but industry. In 1991, officials began The city was incorporated on approximately 400 homes and sub- changing many of the city’s zoning September 4, 1930. By 1970, it was the stantially increase the city’s popula- ordinances, to better reflect the growthird fastest growing city in the state, tion. ing residential area. with a population of 3,124, up from Woods Cross has managed to creUresk said city officials are now 1,098 in 1960. The population as of ate a substantial commercial base, working to make the area on 500 2000 was 7,400. and some in the county and state still South, where the Legacy Parkway There’s not many farms left now. identify Woods Cross with business will intersect, “the western gateway Woods Cross today is a fast growing and industry. into the city.” Uresk said they’re City manager Gary working to make it a destination Uresk said many travel- place. “We have a tremendous opportuing on I-15 see Woods Cross as just another nity to make the whole 500 South industrial area, “But we corridor a vibrant place.” While Woods Cross is a modern have a very viable resicity, residents have retained a closedential community” The city’s been fight- knit community, with neighbors still helping neighbors and residents joining to make the annual Memorial Farmer’s State Day celebration a success. Bank, right, City officials are proud of the fact had moved to that people from throughout the city bigger quarare willing to serve on a host of comters before mittees and organizations, to make this photo of the city a better place. 500 South was In 2002, residents joined together to host the Korean Olympic team taken in 1934. during the Winter Olympics. In background Folks from throughout the city, is Wasatch Oil worked to create a Korean dinner Co., now Holly and entertainment held at Woods Oil. Cross High.
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