Murray, Utah
Encyclopedia
Murray (ˈmʌri; ˈmɜri) is a city situated on the Wasatch Front
in the core of Salt Lake Valley
in the U.S. state
of Utah
. Named for territorial governor Eli Murray, it is the state's fourteenth largest city
. According to the 2010 census, Murray has approximately 46,746 residents.
Murray is close to Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Sandy
and West Jordan, Utah
. Once teeming with heavy industry, Murray’s industrial sector now has little trace and has been replaced by major mercantile sectors. Known for its central location in Salt Lake County, Murray has been called the Hub of Salt Lake County. Murray is unlike most of its neighboring communities as it operates its own police, fire, power, water, library, and parks and recreation departments and has its own school district. While maintaining many of its own services, Murray has one of the lowest city tax rates in the state.
Thousands of people each year visit Murray City Park
for organized sports and its wooded areas. Murray is home to the Intermountain Medical Center
, a huge medical campus that is also Murray’s largest employer. Murray has been designated a Tree City USA
since 1977.
, Shoshone
, and Bannock
Native American tribes who camped along local creek banks and stream beds during their migrations. Artifacts of Native American encampments have been located along the Jordan River, including camps near Willow Pond Park.
At what was known as the “big bend” of the Jordan River
(near 4984 South 700 West Street), the Goshute
Indians from Skull Valley made their camp every spring on the way to their hunting ground at the headwaters of the Bear River
. On their return in the fall, they also stayed for a week and traded with white settlers. Early settlers recorded that they generally traded buffalo robes, deer skins, dried meat and tallow
.
pioneers came into the Salt Lake Valley
in 1847. A pioneer group called the Mississippi Saints arrived one year later and began to develop a scattered settlement in the south end of the valley that fall. The area was distinguished by various names, such as the Mississippi Ward, Cottonwood, Big Cottonwood and South Cottonwood. Written history states that at least 20 families were living in the South Cottonwood area in the 1860s.
When the first pioneer families settled in the South Cottonwood area in the fall of 1848, they selected the low or bottom lands along the streams of Little Cottonwood Creek
and Big Cottonwood Creek
where they found an abundance of grass for their cattle and horses. It was easy to take the water from the streams for irrigation of farm crops. The higher bench lands were covered with sagebrush and produced very little grass. Because of the labor and difficulty in getting water to them, they were left, in most instances, for later settlement.
There was a strip of high bench land, completely surrounded by low land north of what is now Vine Street and 5600 South Street. Before and after the advent of the pioneers, this land was used by the Ute Indians as a camping ground, as water and grass could be obtained on either side of it and enemies could not approach without being seen long before coming to the high ground. This area would become the present-day Murray City Cemetery. The early settlers mutually agreed that no individual should fence or take title to it, but that it should be set aside and considered as belonging to South Cottonwood Ward. In 1853, when teamsters commenced to haul granite rock from Little Cottonwood Canyon to the Salt Lake Temple
, a dirt path was made along what is now Vine Street. The east side of the road (at the northeast corner, where the Stillwater Apartments now stand) became a halfway camping ground for the teamsters. The first building in the Salt Lake Valley
outside of Salt Lake City erected for the purpose of religious and educational instruction was built on present day Gordon Lane, and is commemorated with a monument from the Sons of the Utah Pioneers.
In 1858, during the so-called Utah War
, Albert Sidney Johnston
’s army of the Utah Expedition passed through western Murray after camping on the "flats" above the North Jordan farms. Its large livestock herd reportedly ate everything to within an inch of the ground. General Johnston, who was crossing James Winchester’s property (now present day Murray Parkway Golf Course), advised Winchester to pursue a homestead patent
. In 1870 James Winchester entered the first homestead of the entire Intermountain West
.
The Pony Express
traveled through central Murray, along what is presently State Street. The Utah Pony Express Station Number 9 was located near present day 6200 State Street and was called "Travelers' Rest", but the accommodations were meager, consisting of a stable and one-room bunk house. The Overland Stagecoach
later made use of Travelers' Rest during its period of operation. The Sons of Utah Pioneers
erected a monument at 7200 State Street in Midvale
commemorating the station.
The area remained agricultural until 1869 when a body of ore
was found in Park City
and additional ore was found in Little Cottonwood Canyon
. Because of Murray's central location and access to the railroad, the first smelter
was built there in 1870 and Murray became the home of some of the largest smelters in the region over the next 30 years.
The first official post office was established in 1870 as the South Cottonwood Post Office. The area changed over time as the railroad came in, smelting expanded, the territorial road (later known as State Street) was established, and trolley transportation was developed. A business district also began to develop along the transportation corridor. (See also Murray Downtown Historic District
and Murray Downtown Residential Historic District
.)
The army established Camp Murray in 1885 to house several companies of the Ninth Infantry Regiment. The army camp was meant to help protect the railroad and provide training. The short-lived camp's most notable action was when General Alexander McDowell McCook
and six divisions of the camp were ordered to escort Chinese nationals out of Evanston, Wyoming
, due to the race riots
that were happening among miners in Rock Springs, Wyoming
. The camp eventually disbanded in the early 20th century.
The city received its present name from the post office, which had officially changed its name from South Cottonwood Post Office to Murray Post Office in 1883, after the Civil War general, Eli Murray
, territorial governor of Utah from 1880 to 1886.
After a riot and fire were started by a rowdy group of smelter workers in a local saloon, the fight for incorporation was begun by the local newspaper editor. The final incorporation committee drafted a petition in 1901 and created an intense campaign on both sides of the incorporation battle. The election took place on November 18, 1902. Those in favor won, and C.L. Miller was elected Mayor by three votes. Salt Lake County recognized the election results as official on November 25, 1902, and the city was officially recognized as a Third Class City by the State of Utah on January 3, 1903.
lead smelter in 1949. Business and commercial enterprise prospered along with the smelter industry. Murray's industry would later include a water plant, lighting system, canning factory, flour mills, and brickyards. Many of the men employed at the Franklyn and Germania smelters were immigrants from Scandinavia
n countries who had joined the LDS church in their homeland and moved to Utah; most spoke very little English. The Scandinavian population settled in the area west of State Street and was large enough to hold separate LDS services in the Swedish language
. (See Murray LDS Second Ward Meetinghouse
). The Scandinavians eventually dispersed, and with the exception of their meetinghouse, few ethnic reminders remain in this section of Murray.Joe Hill
, the I.W.W. labor activist came to Murray in 1914 to rally laborers working at the smelters and nearby mines. He was arrested for a double homicide in Salt Lake City while recovering from a gunshot wound at the Murray home of Edward and John Eselius, that was located on 4800 South (then known as 17th South St.) and Plum Street.
"Bergertown", a cluster of homes just south of 4800 South Street on Little Cottonwood Creek
, was settled by Swiss immigrant Christian Berger prior to the town's industrialization. Simple small two-room frame houses without paint and running water characterized this side of town. Bergertown quickly became an immigrant enclave, as the population were mainly employees of the smelters. A few original homes remain among modern retail establishments.
Murray's industry was hard hit by the 1930s depression. The smelters began to close in 1931, and major industry had all but vanished by 1940. Murray was quick to take advantage of various federal projects to compensate for this economic loss. In 2000, to avoid designation as a Superfund
site, the landmark ASARCO Smelters were imploded, and Intermountain Healthcare
purchased the site for its Intermountain Medical Center
. As landmarks, the smelters are remembered in Murray City’s logos and trademarks.
, purchased his first dealership May 1, 1979, as Larry H. Miller Toyota.
Fashion Place Mall was constructed in the 1970s. It is now a major mercantile center which saw major renovation and expansion in the first decade of the 21st century. The mall achieved some fame after serial killer Ted Bundy
's murder spree temporarily came to an end when he tried to lure Carol DaRonch into his car at the mall on November 8, 1974. DaRonch fought Bundy, escaped from his car, and survived to testify against him in court.
Cottonwood Hospital opened in the 1960s, receiving numerous recognitions. Replaced by Intermountain Medical Center (IMC) in 2008, it spawned The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital
(TOSH) in the 1990s.
As part of the construction of the Utah Transit Authority
’s (UTA) TRAX
light-rail line in the 1990s, three stations were built in Murray along the primary route. The Fireclay Housing Project received national recognition for its use of creating development around the Murray North station
as a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). Murray’s Fashion Place West station
is the junction for the Mid-Jordan Line
light-rail spur. The city is scheduled to have a high-speed rail (FrontRunner
) station in the 2010s, that will transform the Murray Central station
into an intermodal hub.
In the mid-2000s, people of the census-designated place
(CDP), Cottonwood West
, petitioned for annexation into Murray, increasing the population by 17,000, nearly one-third more than in the 2000 census. Murray’s eastern boundary, along 900 East, was extended as a result of the annexation to Van Winkle Expressway
and Highland Drive, along the city borders of Holladay and Cottonwood Heights.
Incorporated on January 3, 1903, Murray City initially created a Mayor-Council form of government. In 1911, a State law changed the form of government for cities of the First and Second Class in Utah from the old Council form to the Commission form of government. This form of government was again reversed in 1981. The City adopted the "Strong Mayor"-Council form of government, which included an elected Mayor and five City Council members. To ensure staggered terms of the Council, an election is held every two years for half the Council members for four-year terms. The city provides for most of its own services, including Police, Fire, Power, Water, Sewer, Library, Senior Center, and Parks and Recreation. George Huscher
was mayor of Murray from 1912–1915, and was the first (and to date only) Socialist elected to a major office in Utah. Murray's city wide elections are now non-partisan races.
Murray is located in Utah's 2nd congressional district
, which is represented by Jim Matheson
. Murray is represented in the senate by senators Orrin Hatch
and Mike Lee. In the Utah State Senate, Murray falls primarily in the 3rd Utah Senate District
, currently held by Gene Davis
and the 4th Utah Senate District
held by Patricia W. Jones
. In the Utah House of Representatives, Murray is primarily located in the 44th House District represented by Tim Cosgrove
and 35th House District represented by Mark Wheatley
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 9.6 square miles (24.9 km²), all of it land. Murray is located in the heart of the Salt Lake Valley. The city is nearly built out with a broad mix of commercial, residential and industrial uses. The topography is generally gentle, sloping westward from the nearby Wasatch Mountain Range
toward the Jordan River
, which is the terminal river feature in the Salt Lake Valley. Murray’s average altitude is approximately 1300 meters Above Sea Level, with the highest variation located near the border of Cottonwood Heights
and lowest variation along the Jordan River near 4500 South Street.
Lying at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, and located approximately three miles to the east of Murray, in neighboring Holladay
, is the Wasatch Fault
. Liquefaction is a particular danger to Murray because of the close proximity of the Wasatch fault. Soil liquefaction
potential, according to the Utah Geological Survey, estimates that the majority of Murray City is in either High or Moderate Liquefaction zones. City policies are in place to minimize the potential impacts on structures.
is the largest water feature within Murray. It traverses the western edge of Murray, where it eventually reaches the Great Salt Lake
. Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood Creeks join the Jordan River within Murray City boundaries, following routes between properties, along streets, and through parks and open spaces. Significant wetlands adjoin the river and these two creeks.
Murray contains only small lakes. Willow Pond and Turner Pond are the largest natural lakes within the city limits. Willow Pond is the only lake that permits public access, and is stocked with fish. Several man-made lakes have been created in the Lynn Pett
Murray Parkway and Mick Riley Golf Courses. Other lakes are small and are contained within Murray’s wetland areas.
is a 5-A school in Utah's 5 Division high school sports leagues
(1A being the smallest, and 5A being the largest). It was used in the High School Musical
movie series for the Walt Disney Company.
When residents on the eastern boundary of Murray annexed themselves into the city in 2004, three Granite School District
schools were included: Cottonwood High School, Twin Peaks Elementary, and Woodstock Elementary School
. No school district boundaries were changed due to this annexation.
Murray has one major private school, Mount Vernon Academy, founded in 1975. It is fully accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. Mt. Vernon offers a complete educational program for grades Pre-K through 12.
and Utah State University
. Several private colleges have campuses in Murray: University of Phoenix
, Stevens-Henager College
, Webster University
and Eagle Gate College
.
and buildings and to purchase an additional twelve acres of fairgrounds. By 1939, Murray was the site of the annual Salt Lake County Fair. The county fair relocated from Murray Park, and the Fair buildings were replaced by a community recreation facility called the Park Center, with indoor swimming pools, indoor track, exercise facilities and gymnasium. Murray Park’s Ken Price Ball Park hosted the 2009 Babe Ruth League World Series and will host the 2012 Babe Ruth League World Series. Murray Park is adjacent to the Salt Lake County Ice Center that was utilized as a practice venue during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.
In addition to many other neighborhood parks, there is the substantial Murray Jordan River Parkway; a park system of natural trails along the Jordan River that includes pedestrian and equestrian trails, picnic areas, and canoe launches. The trails connect several significant city parks of Winchester, Walden Park, Germania Park, and Arrowhead. The parkway also has the The Kennecott Nature Center
, an environmental education center that is utilized by school districts.
Wheeler Historic Farm
is also located in Murray. Operated by Salt Lake County, the farm is a restoration of Henry J. Wheeler’s turn-of-the-20th-century dairy farm. The farm presents to the public the history of Utah family agriculture and rural lifestyle from 1890–1920, and gives historic demonstrations and exhibits.
in Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake County Ice Center was a practice venue, primarily for women's hockey, and hosted a preliminary game between Germany and Kazakhstan. The U.S. Figure Skating sanctions the facility and its figure skating lessons.
USA Hockey
hosts an adult league that utilizes the facility. Youth and beginner hockey lessons are also offered.
’s national high school championships. Most notably, the Highland Rugby
club, one of the most nationally successful high school rugby programs, uses it as its home. Utah Rugby Football Union, an affiliate of the Pacific Coast Rugby Football Union, sanctions most semi-professional, adult, collegiate, and high school clubs that use the field.
, a former Cincinnati Reds
and Washington Senators player. Notable players include Ike Caveney who was called up to play in the Cincinnati Reds and Mickey Shader that later managed a team in the Reds baseball farm system. The team folded in 1914 with the collapse of the league.
In August 2009, Murray City hosted its first 13-Year-Old Babe Ruth League World Series. All World Series games were played at the 3000 seat Ken Price Ball Park, home field to Murray High School baseball team and Murray Babe Ruth next to Murray City Park
. Adult, high school and youth leagues use the facility that is sanctioned by the Murray City Parks and Recreation department. Murray is selected to host the 14-Year-Old Babe Ruth League World Series in 2012.
first located to Utah in 1979, the Sports Mall fitness center was reserved as a practice facility for visiting teams including notable players Larry Bird
and Magic Johnson
. The Jazz later constructed its own practice center.
Utah Jazz players hold basketball clinics and camps for youth at the Murray Park Center. In addition Murray’s adult and youth basketball leagues are sanctioned by the Murray City Parks and Recreation department.
soccer team. The stadium was controversially awarded to Sandy, Utah. Sanctioned by the Murray Parks and Recreation department, adult and youth leagues play on the numerous soccer fields. The department also has a small soccer stadium located in Willow Pond Park. The Youth Soccer Association
sanctions games that are played there.
's only defeat, due to a knockout
, at the Murray Fire Hall (4735 South State Street). Dempsey was knocked out by Fireman Jim Flynn
, February 13, 1917, and many speculated that Dempsey may have thrown the fight as he was knocked out in the first round, but witnesses stated he was on the mat for at least 20 seconds. One year earlier, Dempsey defeated the boxer, Young Hector who retired from the fight at the same location.
In 1913, Murray hosted the welterweight
tournament for the western United States. Ernest "Cyclone" Wright won the Welterweight championship of the western states. He was also a member of Murray's first volunteer fire department.
and came into existence on January 6, 1911. Murray would create an additional small library along with this one.
In 1992, Murray consolidated its two libraries into a new center that would permit it to have more books, include a small amphitheater for children, study spaces, and conference rooms. The historic Carnegie building on Vine Street would be preserved as a building for Mount Vernon Academy and be part of the Murray Downtown Historic District
. The new library was further renovated in 2008, adding significant electronic media resources and Wi-Fi
access throughout the building. It offers several reading clubs and children activities. In 2008 it created its "Deseret Voices" author series that brings local and regional authors to discuss their books.
which is noted for its community-based plays and melodramas. The historic Murray Theatre hosts a variety of performing acts, primarily musical, throughout the year, and has sometimes hosted screenings for the Slamdance Film Festival
. The city sponsored Murray Park Amphitheatre
produces plays in the outdoor setting of Murray Park during the summer.
The Murray Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is a community based orchestra of both professional and amateur musicians. The MSO is volunteer-based and receives funding from Murray City and Salt Lake County. MSO also features jazz and string combos.
The Ballet Centre in Murray features ballet performances, with training for children and adults. The Murray Arts Centre features ballroom dancing in addition to modern styles of dance on a daily basis, and has live big band and jazz combo accompaniment.
In 1992, the Murray City Cultural Arts program was created under the Parks and Recreation Department. Together, the Arts Advisory Board and the Cultural Programs Office have created year-round cultural activities including arts-in-education projects, workshops and camps, musicals, visual art exhibits and competitions involving over 5000 youth and adults annually. A summer and winter season, created together with local performing arts organizations, have been successfully operating since 1990. Murray Arts in the Park entertains over 13,000 patrons each summer.
's National Historic Register:
, there were 34,024 people, 12,673 households and 8,719 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,542.3 per square mile (1,367.0/km²). There were 13,327 housing units at an average density of 1,387.5 per square mile (535.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.56% White, 0.99% African American, 0.63% Native American, 1.83% Asian, 0.33% Pacific Islander, 2.77% from other races
, and 1.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.49% of the population.
There were 12,673 households of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples
living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.24.
27.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 13.3% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.
The median household income
was $45,569, and the median family income was $51,482. Males had a median income of $35,636 versus $25,713 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $21,094. About 5.5% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.
, a ten-lane north/south freeway that divides Murray centrally, and Interstate 215
, an auxiliary eight-lane freeway that roughly follows the southern boundary of the city. Interstate 15 provides two interchanges inside city limits at 4500 South (SR-266) and 5300 South (SR-173. Interstate 215 provides two interchanges at State Street (US-89) and Union Park Boulevard. State Street runs through central Murray through the Murray Downtown Historic District
and passes by the main retail centers at 5300 South and the Fashion Place Mall. Van Winkle Expressway (SR-152) is a four-lane road that forms the eastern boundary of Murray, while 4500 South traverses the northern part of Murray and extends the entire length of Salt Lake Valley
. 5400 South enters western Murray and then shifts northward one block to become 5300 South, which bears the honorary designation of Spartan Boulevard from Woodrow Street to State Street.
. The Rio Grande Western (RGW) railway
came in the fall of 1881 and purchased the Alta lines
which had been built earlier. RGW merged to form the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
which later created a depot in Murray. The Utah Northern Railway developed a key terminus in the late 19th century that connected mining operations from Park City
and Bingham, and Murray’s industrial complex developed along that rail line. Utah Northern Railway and Oregon Short Line Railroad
merged and were later acquired by Union Pacific Railroad
.
Downtown Murray was accessible by trolley car by the Utah Light and Railway at the beginning of the 20th century. The trolley ran along State Street from downtown Salt Lake City to Murray. E.H. Harriman, president of Union Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroads, purchased Utah Light and Railway and continued its operation until the 1920s.
(UTA) bus system. UTA's TRAX
Murray/Midvale/University Line light rail
line connects Murray with downtown Salt Lake City, the University of Utah
and Sandy
. Murray’s section of TRAX has three stations: Murray North
located on Fireclay Ave (4400 South), Murray Central
at 5200 South, and Fashion Place West
. The Fashion Place West station will be the terminus of the Mid-Jordan Line
which will connect to the TRAX line and run to West Jordan and end at approximately 10600 South.
UTA's FrontRunner
commuter rail system is set to be completed in 2012. There will be a station by the Murray Central Trax station, effectively creating a second (the first is in Salt Lake) intermodal transit hub. When completed, Frontrunner will extend north to Ogden
and south to Provo
.
generated in its landfill
. Methane electricity generation currently fulfills 3 percent of Murray’s needs but it is estimated that it can cover up to 13 percent.
Murray Public Services provides management of its water, sewer, and garbage and recycling program. Some areas of the city are serviced by the Salt Lake Valley Water Conservancy District and Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District
.
Wasatch Front
The Wasatch Front is a metropolitan region in the north-central part of the U.S. state of Utah. It consists of a chain of cities and towns stretched along the Wasatch Range from approximately Santaquin in the south to Brigham City in the north...
in the core of Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably West Valley City, Murray, Sandy, and West Jordan; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. Named for territorial governor Eli Murray, it is the state's fourteenth largest city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
. According to the 2010 census, Murray has approximately 46,746 residents.
Murray is close to Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Sandy
Sandy, Utah
Sandy is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is a suburb of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,461 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth-largest city in Utah....
and West Jordan, Utah
West Jordan, Utah
West Jordan is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. West Jordan is a rapidly growing suburb of Salt Lake City and has a mixed economy. According to the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 103,712, placing it as the fourth most populated in the state. The city occupies the...
. Once teeming with heavy industry, Murray’s industrial sector now has little trace and has been replaced by major mercantile sectors. Known for its central location in Salt Lake County, Murray has been called the Hub of Salt Lake County. Murray is unlike most of its neighboring communities as it operates its own police, fire, power, water, library, and parks and recreation departments and has its own school district. While maintaining many of its own services, Murray has one of the lowest city tax rates in the state.
Thousands of people each year visit Murray City Park
Murray City Park
Murray City Park is a public urban park located in and operated by the city of Murray, Utah, USA.- Features :Murray City Park's most recognizable feature is a large wooden sculpture of Chief Washakie, standing at the main entrance of the park on State Street and 5100 South.There are numerous...
for organized sports and its wooded areas. Murray is home to the Intermountain Medical Center
Intermountain Medical Center
Intermountain Medical Center is the largest hospital in the Intermountain West and the new flagship of Intermountain Healthcare. Located in Murray, Utah on a site at the center of the Salt Lake Valley, Intermountain Medical Center serves as a major adult referral center for six surrounding states...
, a huge medical campus that is also Murray’s largest employer. Murray has been designated a Tree City USA
Tree City USA
Tree City USA is a tree planting and tree care program sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation for cities and towns in the United States.- Requirements :...
since 1977.
Pre-settlement
Before being permanently settled by Mormon pioneers in 1848, the area where Murray City is presently located was a natural area that served as the seasonal home of PaiutePaiute
Paiute refers to three closely related groups of Native Americans — the Northern Paiute of California, Idaho, Nevada and Oregon; the Owens Valley Paiute of California and Nevada; and the Southern Paiute of Arizona, southeastern California and Nevada, and Utah.-Origin of name:The origin of...
, Shoshone
Shoshone
The Shoshone or Shoshoni are a Native American tribe in the United States with three large divisions: the Northern, the Western and the Eastern....
, and Bannock
Bannock (tribe)
The Bannock tribe of the Northern Paiute are an indigenous people of the Great Basin. Their traditional lands include southeastern Oregon, southeastern Idaho, western Wyoming, and southwestern Montana...
Native American tribes who camped along local creek banks and stream beds during their migrations. Artifacts of Native American encampments have been located along the Jordan River, including camps near Willow Pond Park.
At what was known as the “big bend” of the Jordan River
Jordan River (Utah)
The Jordan River in the U.S. state of Utah is a river about long. Regulated by pumps at its headwaters at Utah Lake, it flows northward through the Salt Lake Valley and empties into the Great Salt Lake. Four of Utah's five largest cities—Salt Lake City, West Valley City, West Jordan and...
(near 4984 South 700 West Street), the Goshute
Goshute
The Goshutes are a band of Western Shoshone Native American. There are two federally recognized Goshute tribes today: the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation and Skull Valley Band of Goshute Indians of Utah of the Skull Valley Indian Reservation.-Name:The name Goshute derived either from...
Indians from Skull Valley made their camp every spring on the way to their hunting ground at the headwaters of the Bear River
Bear River (Utah)
The Bear River is a river, approximately long, in southwestern Wyoming, southeastern Idaho, and northern Utah, in the United States. The largest tributary of the Great Salt Lake, it drains a mountainous area and farming valleys northeast of the lake and southeast of the Snake River Plain...
. On their return in the fall, they also stayed for a week and traded with white settlers. Early settlers recorded that they generally traded buffalo robes, deer skins, dried meat and tallow
Tallow
Tallow is a rendered form of beef or mutton fat, processed from suet. It is solid at room temperature. Unlike suet, tallow can be stored for extended periods without the need for refrigeration to prevent decomposition, provided it is kept in an airtight container to prevent oxidation.In industry,...
.
A new settlement
The MormonMormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
pioneers came into the Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably West Valley City, Murray, Sandy, and West Jordan; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010...
in 1847. A pioneer group called the Mississippi Saints arrived one year later and began to develop a scattered settlement in the south end of the valley that fall. The area was distinguished by various names, such as the Mississippi Ward, Cottonwood, Big Cottonwood and South Cottonwood. Written history states that at least 20 families were living in the South Cottonwood area in the 1860s.
When the first pioneer families settled in the South Cottonwood area in the fall of 1848, they selected the low or bottom lands along the streams of Little Cottonwood Creek
Little Cottonwood Creek
Little Cottonwood Creek is one of the principal streams entering Salt Lake Valley from the east rises near the summit of the Wasatch Mountains a short distance south of the ski resort town of Alta and flows in a westerly direction through Little Cottonwood Canyon until it emerges into Salt Lake...
and Big Cottonwood Creek
Big Cottonwood Creek
Big Cottonwood Creek is one of the largest streams entering Salt Lake Valley from the east from the Wasatch Mountains. The creek flows through the Big Cottonwood Canyon in a westerly direction until it emerges into Salt Lake Valley about eighteen miles from its highest source...
where they found an abundance of grass for their cattle and horses. It was easy to take the water from the streams for irrigation of farm crops. The higher bench lands were covered with sagebrush and produced very little grass. Because of the labor and difficulty in getting water to them, they were left, in most instances, for later settlement.
There was a strip of high bench land, completely surrounded by low land north of what is now Vine Street and 5600 South Street. Before and after the advent of the pioneers, this land was used by the Ute Indians as a camping ground, as water and grass could be obtained on either side of it and enemies could not approach without being seen long before coming to the high ground. This area would become the present-day Murray City Cemetery. The early settlers mutually agreed that no individual should fence or take title to it, but that it should be set aside and considered as belonging to South Cottonwood Ward. In 1853, when teamsters commenced to haul granite rock from Little Cottonwood Canyon to the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
, a dirt path was made along what is now Vine Street. The east side of the road (at the northeast corner, where the Stillwater Apartments now stand) became a halfway camping ground for the teamsters. The first building in the Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably West Valley City, Murray, Sandy, and West Jordan; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010...
outside of Salt Lake City erected for the purpose of religious and educational instruction was built on present day Gordon Lane, and is commemorated with a monument from the Sons of the Utah Pioneers.
In 1858, during the so-called Utah War
Utah War
The Utah War, also known as the Utah Expedition, Buchanan's Blunder, the Mormon War, or the Mormon Rebellion was an armed confrontation between LDS settlers in the Utah Territory and the armed forces of the United States government. The confrontation lasted from May 1857 until July 1858...
, Albert Sidney Johnston
Albert Sidney Johnston
Albert Sidney Johnston served as a general in three different armies: the Texas Army, the United States Army, and the Confederate States Army...
’s army of the Utah Expedition passed through western Murray after camping on the "flats" above the North Jordan farms. Its large livestock herd reportedly ate everything to within an inch of the ground. General Johnston, who was crossing James Winchester’s property (now present day Murray Parkway Golf Course), advised Winchester to pursue a homestead patent
Homestead Act
A homestead act is one of three United States federal laws that gave an applicant freehold title to an area called a "homestead" – typically 160 acres of undeveloped federal land west of the Mississippi River....
. In 1870 James Winchester entered the first homestead of the entire Intermountain West
Intermountain West
The Intermountain West is a region of North America lying between the Rocky Mountains to the east and the Cascades and Sierra Nevada to the west. It is also called the Intermountain Region.- Topography :...
.
The Pony Express
Pony Express
The Pony Express was a fast mail service crossing the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and the High Sierra from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, from April 3, 1860 to October 1861...
traveled through central Murray, along what is presently State Street. The Utah Pony Express Station Number 9 was located near present day 6200 State Street and was called "Travelers' Rest", but the accommodations were meager, consisting of a stable and one-room bunk house. The Overland Stagecoach
Central Overland Route
The Central Overland Route was a transportation route from Salt Lake City, Utah south of the Great Salt Lake through the mountains of central Nevada and the Basin and Range Province to Carson City, Nevada...
later made use of Travelers' Rest during its period of operation. The Sons of Utah Pioneers
Sons of Utah Pioneers
The Sons of Utah Pioneers is an organization dedicated to preserving the memory of and studying the history of the Mormon Pioneers of Utah. The organizations is open to "All good men of every age and circumstance who have an interest in the early Utah Pioneers. It is not necessary to have...
erected a monument at 7200 State Street in Midvale
Midvale, Utah
Midvale is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 27,029 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Midvale is located at ....
commemorating the station.
The area remained agricultural until 1869 when a body of ore
Ore
An ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted through mining; these are then refined to extract the valuable element....
was found in Park City
Park City, Utah
Park City is a town in Summit and Wasatch counties in the U.S. state of Utah. It is considered to be part of the Wasatch Back. The city is southeast of downtown Salt Lake City and from Salt Lake City's east edge of Sugar House along Interstate 80. The population was 7,558 at the 2010 census...
and additional ore was found in Little Cottonwood Canyon
Little Cottonwood Canyon
Little Cottonwood Canyon lies within the Wasatch-Cache National Forest along the eastern side of the Salt Lake Valley, roughly 15 miles from Salt Lake City, Utah. The canyon is part of Granite, a CDP and “Community Council” designated by Salt Lake County. The canyon is a glacial trough , carved by...
. Because of Murray's central location and access to the railroad, the first smelter
Smelting
Smelting is a form of extractive metallurgy; its main use is to produce a metal from its ore. This includes iron extraction from iron ore, and copper extraction and other base metals from their ores...
was built there in 1870 and Murray became the home of some of the largest smelters in the region over the next 30 years.
The first official post office was established in 1870 as the South Cottonwood Post Office. The area changed over time as the railroad came in, smelting expanded, the territorial road (later known as State Street) was established, and trolley transportation was developed. A business district also began to develop along the transportation corridor. (See also Murray Downtown Historic District
Murray Downtown Historic District
The Murray Downtown Historic District is located in the historic city center of Murray, Salt Lake County, Utah. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006....
and Murray Downtown Residential Historic District
Murray Downtown Residential Historic District
The Murray Downtown Residential Historic District is the best representative area of the residential settlement and development of the city of Murray, Utah. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005...
.)
The army established Camp Murray in 1885 to house several companies of the Ninth Infantry Regiment. The army camp was meant to help protect the railroad and provide training. The short-lived camp's most notable action was when General Alexander McDowell McCook
Alexander McDowell McCook
Alexander McDowell McCook was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War.-Early life:...
and six divisions of the camp were ordered to escort Chinese nationals out of Evanston, Wyoming
Evanston, Wyoming
Evanston is a city in Uinta County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 12,359 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Uinta County.-Geography:Evanston is located at...
, due to the race riots
Rock Springs Massacre
The Rock Springs massacre, also known as the Rock Springs Riot, occurred on September 2, 1885, in the present-day United States city of Rock Springs, Wyoming, in Sweetwater County...
that were happening among miners in Rock Springs, Wyoming
Rock Springs, Wyoming
Rock Springs is a city in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 18,708 at the 2000 census. Rock Springs is the principal city of the Rock Springs micropolitan statistical area, which has a population of 37,975....
. The camp eventually disbanded in the early 20th century.
The city received its present name from the post office, which had officially changed its name from South Cottonwood Post Office to Murray Post Office in 1883, after the Civil War general, Eli Murray
Eli Houston Murray
Eli Houston Murray was Governor of Utah Territory between 1880 and 1886.He had been brevetted to the rank of brigadier general in the American Civil War, and was appointed Governor in 1880....
, territorial governor of Utah from 1880 to 1886.
After a riot and fire were started by a rowdy group of smelter workers in a local saloon, the fight for incorporation was begun by the local newspaper editor. The final incorporation committee drafted a petition in 1901 and created an intense campaign on both sides of the incorporation battle. The election took place on November 18, 1902. Those in favor won, and C.L. Miller was elected Mayor by three votes. Salt Lake County recognized the election results as official on November 25, 1902, and the city was officially recognized as a Third Class City by the State of Utah on January 3, 1903.
Center of industry
Murray’s central location in Salt Lake Valley made it a convenient location for industry. Construction of the Woodhill Brothers' smelter in 1869 initiated Murray's industrial history. In 1870, Murray produced the first silver bars smelted in Utah. In 1899, American Smelting & Refining Company (ASARCO) was organized by combining the Germania and Hanauer smelters. The smelters continued to dominate the local economy until the close of the ASARCOASARCO
ASARCO LLC is a mining, smelting, and refining company based in Tucson, Arizona that mines and processes primarily copper. The company, a subsidiary of Grupo México, is currently in Chapter 11 bankruptcy...
lead smelter in 1949. Business and commercial enterprise prospered along with the smelter industry. Murray's industry would later include a water plant, lighting system, canning factory, flour mills, and brickyards. Many of the men employed at the Franklyn and Germania smelters were immigrants from Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n countries who had joined the LDS church in their homeland and moved to Utah; most spoke very little English. The Scandinavian population settled in the area west of State Street and was large enough to hold separate LDS services in the Swedish language
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
. (See Murray LDS Second Ward Meetinghouse
Murray LDS Second Ward Meetinghouse
Built in 1909, the Murray LDS Second Ward Meetinghouse is a historic building in Murray, Utah, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. The building is significant for its association with the history and development of Murray between 1909 and 1950...
). The Scandinavians eventually dispersed, and with the exception of their meetinghouse, few ethnic reminders remain in this section of Murray.Joe Hill
Joe Hill
Joe Hill, born Joel Emmanuel Hägglund in Gävle , and also known as Joseph Hillström was a Swedish-American labor activist, songwriter, and member of the Industrial Workers of the World...
, the I.W.W. labor activist came to Murray in 1914 to rally laborers working at the smelters and nearby mines. He was arrested for a double homicide in Salt Lake City while recovering from a gunshot wound at the Murray home of Edward and John Eselius, that was located on 4800 South (then known as 17th South St.) and Plum Street.
"Bergertown", a cluster of homes just south of 4800 South Street on Little Cottonwood Creek
Little Cottonwood Creek
Little Cottonwood Creek is one of the principal streams entering Salt Lake Valley from the east rises near the summit of the Wasatch Mountains a short distance south of the ski resort town of Alta and flows in a westerly direction through Little Cottonwood Canyon until it emerges into Salt Lake...
, was settled by Swiss immigrant Christian Berger prior to the town's industrialization. Simple small two-room frame houses without paint and running water characterized this side of town. Bergertown quickly became an immigrant enclave, as the population were mainly employees of the smelters. A few original homes remain among modern retail establishments.
Murray's industry was hard hit by the 1930s depression. The smelters began to close in 1931, and major industry had all but vanished by 1940. Murray was quick to take advantage of various federal projects to compensate for this economic loss. In 2000, to avoid designation as a Superfund
Superfund
Superfund is the common name for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 , a United States federal law designed to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances...
site, the landmark ASARCO Smelters were imploded, and Intermountain Healthcare
Intermountain Healthcare
Intermountain Health Care, Inc., DBA as Intermountain Healthcare, and formerly known as Intermountain Health Care , is a non-profit healthcare system and is the largest healthcare provider in the Intermountain West. Intermountain Healthcare provides hospital and other medical services in Utah and...
purchased the site for its Intermountain Medical Center
Intermountain Medical Center
Intermountain Medical Center is the largest hospital in the Intermountain West and the new flagship of Intermountain Healthcare. Located in Murray, Utah on a site at the center of the Salt Lake Valley, Intermountain Medical Center serves as a major adult referral center for six surrounding states...
. As landmarks, the smelters are remembered in Murray City’s logos and trademarks.
Post-World War II to present
With the demise of heavy industry prior to World War II, and the advent of the Interstate Freeway System in the 1950s, Murray became a major retail hub due to its central location. State Street is dominated by automobile dealerships, where auto magnate, Larry H. MillerLarry H. Miller
Lawrence Horne "Larry H." Miller was a Utah businessman and philanthropist who was well known as the owner of the NBA's Utah Jazz and the of Triple-A baseball team, the Salt Lake Bees, 41 automotive dealerships throughout the Western United States , and a variety of other business ventures...
, purchased his first dealership May 1, 1979, as Larry H. Miller Toyota.
Fashion Place Mall was constructed in the 1970s. It is now a major mercantile center which saw major renovation and expansion in the first decade of the 21st century. The mall achieved some fame after serial killer Ted Bundy
Ted Bundy
Theodore Robert "Ted" Bundy was an American serial killer, rapist, kidnapper, and necrophile who assaulted and murdered numerous young women during the 1970s, and possibly earlier...
's murder spree temporarily came to an end when he tried to lure Carol DaRonch into his car at the mall on November 8, 1974. DaRonch fought Bundy, escaped from his car, and survived to testify against him in court.
Cottonwood Hospital opened in the 1960s, receiving numerous recognitions. Replaced by Intermountain Medical Center (IMC) in 2008, it spawned The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital
The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital
The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital was founded in 1991 and is a facility located in Murray, Utah at the former Intermountain Healthcare Cottonwood Hospital location...
(TOSH) in the 1990s.
As part of the construction of the Utah Transit Authority
Utah Transit Authority
The Utah Transit Authority operates a public transportation system throughout the Wasatch Front of Utah, United States. It operates fixed route buses, express buses, ski buses, three light rail lines , and a commuter rail line from Salt Lake City to Pleasant View, north of Ogden. UTA is based in...
’s (UTA) TRAX
UTA TRAX
TRAX is a three-line light rail system in Utah's Salt Lake Valley, serving Salt Lake City and several of its suburbs throughout Salt Lake County. The system is operated by the Utah Transit Authority ....
light-rail line in the 1990s, three stations were built in Murray along the primary route. The Fireclay Housing Project received national recognition for its use of creating development around the Murray North station
Murray North (UTA station)
Murray North is a light rail station in Murray, Utah serviced by the Blue Line and the Red Line of the Trax system. Its address is given as 4400 South even though it is only accessible from Fireclay Avenue, which corresponds to 4300 South on the Salt Lake City street grid...
as a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). Murray’s Fashion Place West station
Fashion Place West (UTA station)
Fashion Place West is a light rail station in Murray, Utah serviced by the Blue Line and the Red Line of the Trax system. The station has two island platforms to accommodate three tracks: the easternmost track serves all northbound trains, the middle track serves southbound Blue Line trains, and...
is the junction for the Mid-Jordan Line
Mid-Jordan Line
The Red Line is a light rail line in the Trax system in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah. It originally opened in December 2001 as the Sandy/University Line, running from the University of Utah to the city of Sandy, and was later rerouted to South Jordan and renamed the Red Line in August 2011...
light-rail spur. The city is scheduled to have a high-speed rail (FrontRunner
FrontRunner
FrontRunner is a commuter rail system operated by the Utah Transit Authority , serving the northern portion of the Wasatch Front from Salt Lake Central Station to Ogden Union Station. The system opened 26 April 2008...
) station in the 2010s, that will transform the Murray Central station
Murray Central (UTA station)
Murray Central is a light rail station in Murray, Utah serviced by the Blue Line and the Red Line of the Trax system. It will also serve the FrontRunner commuter rail line when the southward extension of that line is complete. To the east of the station is the Intermountain Medical Center and its...
into an intermodal hub.
In the mid-2000s, people of the census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP), Cottonwood West
Cottonwood West, Utah
Cottonwood West was a census-designated place in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. The CDP was situated between the cities of Holladay and Murray, which by the mid-2000s had annexed virtually all of the area between them....
, petitioned for annexation into Murray, increasing the population by 17,000, nearly one-third more than in the 2000 census. Murray’s eastern boundary, along 900 East, was extended as a result of the annexation to Van Winkle Expressway
Utah State Route 152
State Route 152 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Utah connecting SR-71 in Murray to I-215 in Cottonwood Heights, both suburbs of Salt Lake City...
and Highland Drive, along the city borders of Holladay and Cottonwood Heights.
Government
| Elected officials of Murray, Utah as of 2010 | |||
| Official | Position | Elected | Term ends |
| Dan Snarr Dan Snarr Daniel C. "Dan" Snarr is a four-time elected mayor of Murray, Utah. Snarr was first elected in 1997 and was re-elected for a fourth consecutive term that began in January 2010. As a full-time mayor in a Mayor / Council form of government, Murray City employs 396 full- and part-time employees and... |
Mayor | 1999 | 2014 |
| City Council Members | |||
| Jeff Dredge | District 1 | 2008 | 2012 |
| Darren Stam | District 2 | 2010 | 2014 |
| Jim Brass | District 3 | 2004 | 2012 |
| Jared Shaver | District 4 | 2010 | 2014 |
| Krista Dunn | District 5 | 2004 | 2012 |
Incorporated on January 3, 1903, Murray City initially created a Mayor-Council form of government. In 1911, a State law changed the form of government for cities of the First and Second Class in Utah from the old Council form to the Commission form of government. This form of government was again reversed in 1981. The City adopted the "Strong Mayor"-Council form of government, which included an elected Mayor and five City Council members. To ensure staggered terms of the Council, an election is held every two years for half the Council members for four-year terms. The city provides for most of its own services, including Police, Fire, Power, Water, Sewer, Library, Senior Center, and Parks and Recreation. George Huscher
George Huscher
George A. Huscher was elected mayor of Murray, Utah from 1912 and re-elected in 1914. He ran for the statewide office of Secretary of State in 1916 but was defeated. He remains to date the Socialist party’s highest elected official in Utah...
was mayor of Murray from 1912–1915, and was the first (and to date only) Socialist elected to a major office in Utah. Murray's city wide elections are now non-partisan races.
Murray is located in Utah's 2nd congressional district
Utah's 2nd congressional district
Utah's 2nd congressional district currently serves the largely rural southern and eastern portions of Utah, including Saint George and Moab in the south and Vernal in the east, as well as the east side of urban Salt Lake County, the northern portion of Utah County, and Wasatch County. The current...
, which is represented by Jim Matheson
Jim Matheson
James David "Jim" Matheson is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes eastern Salt Lake City....
. Murray is represented in the senate by senators Orrin Hatch
Orrin Hatch
Orrin Grant Hatch is the senior United States Senator for Utah and is a member of the Republican Party. Hatch served as the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1993 to 2005...
and Mike Lee. In the Utah State Senate, Murray falls primarily in the 3rd Utah Senate District
3rd Utah Senate District
The 3rd Utah Senate District is located in Salt Lake County and includes Utah House Districts 31, 33, 35, 37, 40, 43, 44 and 47. The current State Senator representing the 3rd district is Gene Davis...
, currently held by Gene Davis
Gene Davis (politician)
Gene Davis is a Democratic member of the Utah Senate, representing the 3rd District since 1999. He currently serves as the Minority Whip. Previously he was a member of the Utah House of Representatives from 1987 to 1998....
and the 4th Utah Senate District
4th Utah Senate District
The 4th Utah Senate District is located in Salt Lake County and includes Utah House Districts 36, 37, 40, 44, 45, and 46. The current State Senator representing the 4th district is Pat Jones. Jones serves as the Minority Caucus Manager...
held by Patricia W. Jones
Patricia W. Jones
Patricia W. "Pat" Jones is an American politician from Utah. A Democrat, she is a member of the Utah State Senate. She has represented the state's 4th senate district in Salt Lake County since 2006. She previously served in the Utah House of Representatives from 2002 to 2006, representing District...
. In the Utah House of Representatives, Murray is primarily located in the 44th House District represented by Tim Cosgrove
Tim Cosgrove
Timothy Michael Cosgrove is a Democratic member of the Utah State House of Representatives, representing the 44th District since 2005. Tim Cosgrove is a graduate of Weber State University with a Bachelors of Science degree in political science. Tim went on to earn his Masters of Arts in Political...
and 35th House District represented by Mark Wheatley
Mark Wheatley
Mark A. Wheatley is a Democratic member of the Utah State House of Representatives, representing the 35th District since 2004.Wheatley has a bachelors degree from Westminster College.-External links:* official UT House profile* profile...
.
| Murray City Hall |
|---|
| Address: 5025 S. State Street, Murray, UT 84157-0520 |
| Telephone: (801) 264-2603 |
| Fax: (801) 284-4204 |
| Website: www.murray.utah.gov |
Topography
Murray is located at 40°39′9"N 111°53′36"W (40.652397, -111.893229).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 9.6 square miles (24.9 km²), all of it land. Murray is located in the heart of the Salt Lake Valley. The city is nearly built out with a broad mix of commercial, residential and industrial uses. The topography is generally gentle, sloping westward from the nearby Wasatch Mountain Range
Wasatch Range
The Wasatch Range is a mountain range that stretches approximately from the Utah-Idaho border, south through central Utah in the western United States. It is generally considered the western edge of the greater Rocky Mountains, and the eastern edge of the Great Basin region...
toward the Jordan River
Jordan River (Utah)
The Jordan River in the U.S. state of Utah is a river about long. Regulated by pumps at its headwaters at Utah Lake, it flows northward through the Salt Lake Valley and empties into the Great Salt Lake. Four of Utah's five largest cities—Salt Lake City, West Valley City, West Jordan and...
, which is the terminal river feature in the Salt Lake Valley. Murray’s average altitude is approximately 1300 meters Above Sea Level, with the highest variation located near the border of Cottonwood Heights
Cottonwood Heights, Utah
Cottonwood Heights is a city located in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States, along the east bench of the Salt Lake Valley. It lies south of the cities of Holladay and Murray, east of Midvale, and north of Sandy within the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. Following a successful...
and lowest variation along the Jordan River near 4500 South Street.
Lying at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, and located approximately three miles to the east of Murray, in neighboring Holladay
Holladay, Utah
Holladay is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 26,472 at the 2010 census, a significant increase from 14,561 in 2000. The city was incorporated on November 29, 1999 as Holladay-Cottonwood, and the...
, is the Wasatch Fault
Wasatch Fault
The Wasatch Fault is an earthquake fault located primarily on the western edge of the Wasatch Mountains in the U.S. state of Utah. The fault is 240 miles long, stretching from southern Idaho, through northern Utah, before terminating in central Utah near the town of Fayette...
. Liquefaction is a particular danger to Murray because of the close proximity of the Wasatch fault. Soil liquefaction
Soil liquefaction
Soil liquefaction describes a phenomenon whereby a saturated soil substantially loses strength and stiffness in response to an applied stress, usually earthquake shaking or other sudden change in stress condition, causing it to behave like a liquid....
potential, according to the Utah Geological Survey, estimates that the majority of Murray City is in either High or Moderate Liquefaction zones. City policies are in place to minimize the potential impacts on structures.
Hydrology
The Jordan RiverJordan River (Utah)
The Jordan River in the U.S. state of Utah is a river about long. Regulated by pumps at its headwaters at Utah Lake, it flows northward through the Salt Lake Valley and empties into the Great Salt Lake. Four of Utah's five largest cities—Salt Lake City, West Valley City, West Jordan and...
is the largest water feature within Murray. It traverses the western edge of Murray, where it eventually reaches the Great Salt Lake
Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake, located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Utah, is the largest salt water lake in the western hemisphere, the fourth-largest terminal lake in the world. In an average year the lake covers an area of around , but the lake's size fluctuates substantially due to its...
. Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood Creeks join the Jordan River within Murray City boundaries, following routes between properties, along streets, and through parks and open spaces. Significant wetlands adjoin the river and these two creeks.
Murray contains only small lakes. Willow Pond and Turner Pond are the largest natural lakes within the city limits. Willow Pond is the only lake that permits public access, and is stocked with fish. Several man-made lakes have been created in the Lynn Pett
Lynn Pett
Lynn F. Pett was mayor of Murray, Utah from 1990-1998. Prior to serving as Mayor, Pett worked in government service for six years as executive assistant to the mayor of Murray. Pett began his career in 1958 and has worked under five Murray mayors and two commissioners...
Murray Parkway and Mick Riley Golf Courses. Other lakes are small and are contained within Murray’s wetland areas.
Climate
Primary and secondary schools
The Murray City School District was created on January 1, 1906. It has ten schools: seven elementaries, two middle schools, (Riverview and Hillcrest), and one senior high school (Murray). An alternative high school, (Creekside) was closed in 2006. Murray High SchoolMurray High School (Utah)
Murray High School is the only high school in the Murray City School District in Murray, Utah. Murray High School is one of the smallest high schools in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area with 1,585 students enrolled in the 2008-2009 school year, the school enrolls students in grades 10-12...
is a 5-A school in Utah's 5 Division high school sports leagues
High School Musical
High School Musical is a 2006 American television film, first in the High School Musical film franchise. Upon its release on January 20, 2006, it became the most successful film that Disney Channel Original Movie ever produced, with a television sequel High School Musical 2 released in 2007 and...
movie series for the Walt Disney Company.
When residents on the eastern boundary of Murray annexed themselves into the city in 2004, three Granite School District
Granite School District
The Granite School District spreads across central Salt Lake County, Utah, serving West Valley City, Taylorsville, South Salt Lake, and Holladay; Kearns, Magna and Millcreek Township; and parts of West Jordan, Murray and Cottonwood Heights. About 70,000 students are enrolled in its programs ranging...
schools were included: Cottonwood High School, Twin Peaks Elementary, and Woodstock Elementary School
Woodstock Elementary School (Utah)
Woodstock Elementary School is a public primary school in Murray, Utah, USA, serving students in grades PS-6. The school is part of the Granite School District, with 75% of admission based on the locations of students' homes and 25% based on School Choice. Founded in 1906 as 26 District School , it...
. No school district boundaries were changed due to this annexation.
Murray has one major private school, Mount Vernon Academy, founded in 1975. It is fully accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. Mt. Vernon offers a complete educational program for grades Pre-K through 12.
Higher education
Murray also has satellite campuses of the University of UtahUniversity of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
and Utah State University
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
. Several private colleges have campuses in Murray: University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix
The University of Phoenix is a for-profit institution of higher learning. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apollo Group Inc. which is publicly traded , an S&P 500 corporation based in Phoenix, Arizona...
, Stevens-Henager College
Stevens-Henager College
Stevens–Henager College, headquartered in Ogden, Utah, United States, North America, is a private, for-profit, coeducational college, owned by CollegeAmerica. Established in 1891, the college has five campuses in Idaho and Utah. It offers online and on-campus programs in varied educational spectra...
, Webster University
Webster University Utah
Webster University Utah is a branch of Webster University, an independent, accredited, non-profit, private university in St. Louis, Missouri. Its campus locations are in Murray and at Hill Air Force Base, comprising two of Webster's 103 campuses around the world.Webster opened its first Utah campus...
and Eagle Gate College
Eagle Gate College
Eagle Gate College is a private college that specializes in career education. The College is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools . Eagle Gate College offers Bachelor degrees, Associate degrees, Certificates, and Diplomas in fields such as healthcare,...
.
Parks and recreation
Murray was quick to take advantage of various federal projects during the Great Depression to develop its Park System. The city actively sought federal money to refurbish its twenty-two-acre Murray City ParkMurray City Park
Murray City Park is a public urban park located in and operated by the city of Murray, Utah, USA.- Features :Murray City Park's most recognizable feature is a large wooden sculpture of Chief Washakie, standing at the main entrance of the park on State Street and 5100 South.There are numerous...
and buildings and to purchase an additional twelve acres of fairgrounds. By 1939, Murray was the site of the annual Salt Lake County Fair. The county fair relocated from Murray Park, and the Fair buildings were replaced by a community recreation facility called the Park Center, with indoor swimming pools, indoor track, exercise facilities and gymnasium. Murray Park’s Ken Price Ball Park hosted the 2009 Babe Ruth League World Series and will host the 2012 Babe Ruth League World Series. Murray Park is adjacent to the Salt Lake County Ice Center that was utilized as a practice venue during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.
In addition to many other neighborhood parks, there is the substantial Murray Jordan River Parkway; a park system of natural trails along the Jordan River that includes pedestrian and equestrian trails, picnic areas, and canoe launches. The trails connect several significant city parks of Winchester, Walden Park, Germania Park, and Arrowhead. The parkway also has the The Kennecott Nature Center
The Kennecott Nature Center
Through a generous initial donation from Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation, the efforts of the Murray Education Foundation , and the assistance of many community donors, the Kennecott Nature Center provides opportunities for thousands of children from Murray City School District and selected...
, an environmental education center that is utilized by school districts.
Wheeler Historic Farm
Henry J. Wheeler Farm
The Henry J. Wheeler Farm is one of the few remaining late 19th century farmsteads in the Salt Lake Valley that have not been lost to expanding housing developments of metropolitan Salt Lake City. Listed on the National Register of Historical Places since 1976, it is situated on in Murray, Utah...
is also located in Murray. Operated by Salt Lake County, the farm is a restoration of Henry J. Wheeler’s turn-of-the-20th-century dairy farm. The farm presents to the public the history of Utah family agriculture and rural lifestyle from 1890–1920, and gives historic demonstrations and exhibits.
Salt Lake County managed facilities
- Mick Riley Golf Course- Two courses include an Executive and Par 3 course.
- Salt Lake County Ice Center- Ice Skating and Hockey
- Jordan River ParkwayJordan River ParkwayThe Jordan River Parkway is an approximately urban park that runs along the Jordan River within the US state of Utah. The parkway follows along the river from Utah Lake in Utah County, through Salt Lake County and onto the Great Salt Lake in Davis County. The majority of a mixed-use trail has...
- Natural trail and equestrian paths
- Woodstock Meadows Park- Natural area, pavilion, and playground
- Wheeler Historic FarmHenry J. Wheeler FarmThe Henry J. Wheeler Farm is one of the few remaining late 19th century farmsteads in the Salt Lake Valley that have not been lost to expanding housing developments of metropolitan Salt Lake City. Listed on the National Register of Historical Places since 1976, it is situated on in Murray, Utah...
- Historical park and natural area - Riverview Park- Tennis, shuffleboard, horseshoe pits, baseball complex.
Murray City managed facilities
- Park Center- Indoor Pool, Basketball Courts, Weight Room, Spin Room, Track
- Murray Aquatics Center- outdoor pool
- L. Clark Cushing Heritage Center- Recreation center for adults over age 55
- Lynn PettLynn PettLynn F. Pett was mayor of Murray, Utah from 1990-1998. Prior to serving as Mayor, Pett worked in government service for six years as executive assistant to the mayor of Murray. Pett began his career in 1958 and has worked under five Murray mayors and two commissioners...
Murray Parkway Golf Course- 18 Hole executive course - Murray City ParkMurray City ParkMurray City Park is a public urban park located in and operated by the city of Murray, Utah, USA.- Features :Murray City Park's most recognizable feature is a large wooden sculpture of Chief Washakie, standing at the main entrance of the park on State Street and 5100 South.There are numerous...
- Baseball stadium, softball stadium, soccer, rugby, arboretumArboretumAn arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
, amphitheatre, playgrounds - Arrowhead Park- Picnic area and trailhead
- Germania Park- Outdoor basketball, soccer, playground
- Grant Park- Baseball complex, playgrounds
- Hidden Village Park- Tennis, soccer, and playground
- Southwood Park- Tennis, playground
- Walden Park- Canoe launch, playground
- Willow Pond Park- Fishing, baseball, soccer, playgrounds
- Winchester Park- Canoe Launch, natural area, playground
Sport
Ice skating and hockey
For the 2002 XIX Winter Olympiad2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
in Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake County Ice Center was a practice venue, primarily for women's hockey, and hosted a preliminary game between Germany and Kazakhstan. The U.S. Figure Skating sanctions the facility and its figure skating lessons.
USA Hockey
USA Hockey
USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has...
hosts an adult league that utilizes the facility. Youth and beginner hockey lessons are also offered.
Rugby
The Murray Park Rugby Stadium has hosted USA RugbyUSA Rugby
USA Rugby is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in the United States. It is divided into seven territorial Unions: Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, Pacific Coast, Southern California, South, and West...
’s national high school championships. Most notably, the Highland Rugby
Larry Gelwix
Larry Gelwix has been the coach of the Highland Rugby team since its founding in Salt Lake City in 1973. The movie Forever Strong was inspired by him and his team's history...
club, one of the most nationally successful high school rugby programs, uses it as its home. Utah Rugby Football Union, an affiliate of the Pacific Coast Rugby Football Union, sanctions most semi-professional, adult, collegiate, and high school clubs that use the field.
Baseball
In 1914, Murray had its own professional baseball team called the Murray Infants which was part of the Union Association league. The team was managed by Cliff BlankenshipCliff Blankenship
Clifford Douglas "Cliff" Blankenship was a professional baseball player. He played his first game on April 17, 1905. He played his 95th and final game on August 18, 1909. His batting average was .225.-External links:...
, a former Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
and Washington Senators player. Notable players include Ike Caveney who was called up to play in the Cincinnati Reds and Mickey Shader that later managed a team in the Reds baseball farm system. The team folded in 1914 with the collapse of the league.
In August 2009, Murray City hosted its first 13-Year-Old Babe Ruth League World Series. All World Series games were played at the 3000 seat Ken Price Ball Park, home field to Murray High School baseball team and Murray Babe Ruth next to Murray City Park
Murray City Park
Murray City Park is a public urban park located in and operated by the city of Murray, Utah, USA.- Features :Murray City Park's most recognizable feature is a large wooden sculpture of Chief Washakie, standing at the main entrance of the park on State Street and 5100 South.There are numerous...
. Adult, high school and youth leagues use the facility that is sanctioned by the Murray City Parks and Recreation department. Murray is selected to host the 14-Year-Old Babe Ruth League World Series in 2012.
Basketball
When the Utah JazzUtah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
first located to Utah in 1979, the Sports Mall fitness center was reserved as a practice facility for visiting teams including notable players Larry Bird
Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
and Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers...
. The Jazz later constructed its own practice center.
Utah Jazz players hold basketball clinics and camps for youth at the Murray Park Center. In addition Murray’s adult and youth basketball leagues are sanctioned by the Murray City Parks and Recreation department.
Soccer
Murray was one of three final candidates to be the home of the Real Salt LakeReal Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
soccer team. The stadium was controversially awarded to Sandy, Utah. Sanctioned by the Murray Parks and Recreation department, adult and youth leagues play on the numerous soccer fields. The department also has a small soccer stadium located in Willow Pond Park. The Youth Soccer Association
United States Youth Soccer Association
The United States Youth Soccer Association is the youth affiliate and largest member of U.S. Soccer, the governing body for soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer includes 55 state youth soccer associations, one per state except for California, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas, which...
sanctions games that are played there.
Golf
The Murray Parkway Golf Course has been rated among the top 25 golf courses in Utah. It has hosted events for the Utah State Amateur Championship of the Utah Golf Association. Mick Riley Golf Course also has hosted Utah State Amateur events.Boxing
While Murray no longer has any boxing venue, it did host a number of championship fights in the early part of the 20th century. Most notably was boxing legend Jack DempseyJack Dempsey
William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey was an American boxer who held the world heavyweight title from 1919 to 1926. Dempsey's aggressive style and exceptional punching power made him one of the most popular boxers in history. Many of his fights set financial and attendance records, including the first...
's only defeat, due to a knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
, at the Murray Fire Hall (4735 South State Street). Dempsey was knocked out by Fireman Jim Flynn
Fireman Jim Flynn
Andrew Chiariglione, usually known as Fireman Jim Flynn, was an American boxer of the early twentieth century.-Biography:...
, February 13, 1917, and many speculated that Dempsey may have thrown the fight as he was knocked out in the first round, but witnesses stated he was on the mat for at least 20 seconds. One year earlier, Dempsey defeated the boxer, Young Hector who retired from the fight at the same location.
In 1913, Murray hosted the welterweight
Welterweight
Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system...
tournament for the western United States. Ernest "Cyclone" Wright won the Welterweight championship of the western states. He was also a member of Murray's first volunteer fire department.
Library
The City of Murray is one of the few municipalities in Utah that has its own library. Murray's library exists outside the Salt Lake County library system, with which it has a lending agreement with the county along with the Salt Lake City library system. The Library started as one of the Carnegie librariesCarnegie library
A Carnegie library is a library built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929, including some belonging to public and university library systems...
and came into existence on January 6, 1911. Murray would create an additional small library along with this one.
In 1992, Murray consolidated its two libraries into a new center that would permit it to have more books, include a small amphitheater for children, study spaces, and conference rooms. The historic Carnegie building on Vine Street would be preserved as a building for Mount Vernon Academy and be part of the Murray Downtown Historic District
Murray Downtown Historic District
The Murray Downtown Historic District is located in the historic city center of Murray, Salt Lake County, Utah. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006....
. The new library was further renovated in 2008, adding significant electronic media resources and Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
access throughout the building. It offers several reading clubs and children activities. In 2008 it created its "Deseret Voices" author series that brings local and regional authors to discuss their books.
Arts and culture
Murray is home to several professional and amateur performing-arts groups, notably, the Desert Star Playhouse, located in the historic Iris TheatreDesert Star Theater
Desert Star Theater is a dinner theater establishment in Murray, Utah. It started out as a small theater called the Gem, which showed silent movies with a piano for music. It was later closed down and demolished, but rebuilt and expanded into the Iris Theater by owner Tony Duvall...
which is noted for its community-based plays and melodramas. The historic Murray Theatre hosts a variety of performing acts, primarily musical, throughout the year, and has sometimes hosted screenings for the Slamdance Film Festival
Slamdance Film Festival
As a year-round organization, Slamdance serves as a showcase for the discovery of new and emerging talent in the film industry; it is also the only major film festival fully programmed by filmmakers. Slamdance counts among its alumni many notable writers and directors who first gained notice at the...
. The city sponsored Murray Park Amphitheatre
Murray City Park
Murray City Park is a public urban park located in and operated by the city of Murray, Utah, USA.- Features :Murray City Park's most recognizable feature is a large wooden sculpture of Chief Washakie, standing at the main entrance of the park on State Street and 5100 South.There are numerous...
produces plays in the outdoor setting of Murray Park during the summer.
The Murray Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is a community based orchestra of both professional and amateur musicians. The MSO is volunteer-based and receives funding from Murray City and Salt Lake County. MSO also features jazz and string combos.
The Ballet Centre in Murray features ballet performances, with training for children and adults. The Murray Arts Centre features ballroom dancing in addition to modern styles of dance on a daily basis, and has live big band and jazz combo accompaniment.
In 1992, the Murray City Cultural Arts program was created under the Parks and Recreation Department. Together, the Arts Advisory Board and the Cultural Programs Office have created year-round cultural activities including arts-in-education projects, workshops and camps, musicals, visual art exhibits and competitions involving over 5000 youth and adults annually. A summer and winter season, created together with local performing arts organizations, have been successfully operating since 1990. Murray Arts in the Park entertains over 13,000 patrons each summer.
Historic architecture
Murray has several buildings and districts listed on the National Park ServiceNational Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
's National Historic Register:
- Murray Downtown Historic DistrictMurray Downtown Historic DistrictThe Murray Downtown Historic District is located in the historic city center of Murray, Salt Lake County, Utah. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006....
- Murray Downtown Residential Historic DistrictMurray Downtown Residential Historic DistrictThe Murray Downtown Residential Historic District is the best representative area of the residential settlement and development of the city of Murray, Utah. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005...
- Wheeler Farm
- Murray Theater
- Desert Star TheaterDesert Star TheaterDesert Star Theater is a dinner theater establishment in Murray, Utah. It started out as a small theater called the Gem, which showed silent movies with a piano for music. It was later closed down and demolished, but rebuilt and expanded into the Iris Theater by owner Tony Duvall...
- John P. Cahoon HouseJohn P. Cahoon HouseThe John P. Cahoon House is a historic home in Murray, Utah, United States. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a significant example of residential Victorian Eclecticism in Murray and as the home for over twenty years of John P...
(Murray Mansion) - Murray LDS Second Ward MeetinghouseMurray LDS Second Ward MeetinghouseBuilt in 1909, the Murray LDS Second Ward Meetinghouse is a historic building in Murray, Utah, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. The building is significant for its association with the history and development of Murray between 1909 and 1950...
- Warenski-Duvall Commercial Building and ApartmentsWarenski-Duvall Commercial Building and ApartmentsThe Warenski-Duvall Commercial Building and Apartments, built in 1915, is a two-story brick, two part commercial block that is listed in National Register of Historic Places. The building is significant for its role in the early urbanization of Murray, Utah...
Demographics
A the 2000 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, there were 34,024 people, 12,673 households and 8,719 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,542.3 per square mile (1,367.0/km²). There were 13,327 housing units at an average density of 1,387.5 per square mile (535.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.56% White, 0.99% African American, 0.63% Native American, 1.83% Asian, 0.33% Pacific Islander, 2.77% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.49% of the population.
There were 12,673 households of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.24.
27.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 13.3% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.
The median household income
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
was $45,569, and the median family income was $51,482. Males had a median income of $35,636 versus $25,713 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $21,094. About 5.5% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.
Roads
Southern Murray contains the major interchange between Interstate 15Interstate 15 in Utah
In the U.S. state of Utah, Interstate 15 runs north–south through the southwestern and central portions of the state, passing through many of the population centers of that state, including St. George, Provo, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, the latter three being part of the urban area known as...
, a ten-lane north/south freeway that divides Murray centrally, and Interstate 215
Interstate 215 (Utah)
Interstate 215 , also known locally as the belt route or two-fifteen, is an auxiliary interstate in the U.S. state of Utah that forms a 270-degree loop around Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs...
, an auxiliary eight-lane freeway that roughly follows the southern boundary of the city. Interstate 15 provides two interchanges inside city limits at 4500 South (SR-266) and 5300 South (SR-173. Interstate 215 provides two interchanges at State Street (US-89) and Union Park Boulevard. State Street runs through central Murray through the Murray Downtown Historic District
Murray Downtown Historic District
The Murray Downtown Historic District is located in the historic city center of Murray, Salt Lake County, Utah. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006....
and passes by the main retail centers at 5300 South and the Fashion Place Mall. Van Winkle Expressway (SR-152) is a four-lane road that forms the eastern boundary of Murray, while 4500 South traverses the northern part of Murray and extends the entire length of Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably West Valley City, Murray, Sandy, and West Jordan; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010...
. 5400 South enters western Murray and then shifts northward one block to become 5300 South, which bears the honorary designation of Spartan Boulevard from Woodrow Street to State Street.
Rail
Historically, the railroad was vital to the development of Murray. In 1870, the railroad line was extended southward through Murray and was called the Utah SouthernLynndyl Subdivision
The Lynndyl Subdivision is a rail line owned and operated by the Union Pacific Railroad in the U.S. state of Utah, running from Salt Lake City southwest to Milford, where the Caliente Subdivision continues towards Los Angeles...
. The Rio Grande Western (RGW) railway
Utah Division (D&RGW)
The Utah Division of the former Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad is a rail line that connects Grand Junction, Colorado and Salt Lake City, Utah in the Western United States. It is now incorporated into the Union Pacific Railroad system as its Green River and Provo Subdivisions, forming a...
came in the fall of 1881 and purchased the Alta lines
Alta, Utah
Alta is a town in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 370 at the 2000 census, a slight decrease from the 1990 figure of 397....
which had been built earlier. RGW merged to form the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad , often shortened to Rio Grande or D&RGW, formerly the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, is a defunct U.S. railroad company. The railroad started as a narrow gauge line running south from Denver, Colorado in 1870; however, served mainly as a transcontinental...
which later created a depot in Murray. The Utah Northern Railway developed a key terminus in the late 19th century that connected mining operations from Park City
Park City, Utah
Park City is a town in Summit and Wasatch counties in the U.S. state of Utah. It is considered to be part of the Wasatch Back. The city is southeast of downtown Salt Lake City and from Salt Lake City's east edge of Sugar House along Interstate 80. The population was 7,558 at the 2010 census...
and Bingham, and Murray’s industrial complex developed along that rail line. Utah Northern Railway and Oregon Short Line Railroad
Oregon Short Line Railroad
The Oregon Short Line Railroad was a railroad in the U.S. states of Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Montana and Oregon. The line was as organized the Oregon Short Line Railway in 1881 as a subsidiary of Union Pacific Railway. Union Pacific intended the line to be the shortest route from Wyoming to Oregon...
merged and were later acquired by Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
.
Downtown Murray was accessible by trolley car by the Utah Light and Railway at the beginning of the 20th century. The trolley ran along State Street from downtown Salt Lake City to Murray. E.H. Harriman, president of Union Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroads, purchased Utah Light and Railway and continued its operation until the 1920s.
Public transit
Murray is served by the Utah Transit AuthorityUtah Transit Authority
The Utah Transit Authority operates a public transportation system throughout the Wasatch Front of Utah, United States. It operates fixed route buses, express buses, ski buses, three light rail lines , and a commuter rail line from Salt Lake City to Pleasant View, north of Ogden. UTA is based in...
(UTA) bus system. UTA's TRAX
UTA TRAX
TRAX is a three-line light rail system in Utah's Salt Lake Valley, serving Salt Lake City and several of its suburbs throughout Salt Lake County. The system is operated by the Utah Transit Authority ....
Murray/Midvale/University Line light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
line connects Murray with downtown Salt Lake City, the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
and Sandy
Sandy, Utah
Sandy is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is a suburb of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,461 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth-largest city in Utah....
. Murray’s section of TRAX has three stations: Murray North
Murray North (UTA station)
Murray North is a light rail station in Murray, Utah serviced by the Blue Line and the Red Line of the Trax system. Its address is given as 4400 South even though it is only accessible from Fireclay Avenue, which corresponds to 4300 South on the Salt Lake City street grid...
located on Fireclay Ave (4400 South), Murray Central
Murray Central (UTA station)
Murray Central is a light rail station in Murray, Utah serviced by the Blue Line and the Red Line of the Trax system. It will also serve the FrontRunner commuter rail line when the southward extension of that line is complete. To the east of the station is the Intermountain Medical Center and its...
at 5200 South, and Fashion Place West
Fashion Place West (UTA station)
Fashion Place West is a light rail station in Murray, Utah serviced by the Blue Line and the Red Line of the Trax system. The station has two island platforms to accommodate three tracks: the easternmost track serves all northbound trains, the middle track serves southbound Blue Line trains, and...
. The Fashion Place West station will be the terminus of the Mid-Jordan Line
Mid-Jordan Line
The Red Line is a light rail line in the Trax system in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah. It originally opened in December 2001 as the Sandy/University Line, running from the University of Utah to the city of Sandy, and was later rerouted to South Jordan and renamed the Red Line in August 2011...
which will connect to the TRAX line and run to West Jordan and end at approximately 10600 South.
UTA's FrontRunner
FrontRunner
FrontRunner is a commuter rail system operated by the Utah Transit Authority , serving the northern portion of the Wasatch Front from Salt Lake Central Station to Ogden Union Station. The system opened 26 April 2008...
commuter rail system is set to be completed in 2012. There will be a station by the Murray Central Trax station, effectively creating a second (the first is in Salt Lake) intermodal transit hub. When completed, Frontrunner will extend north to Ogden
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
and south to Provo
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
.
Infrastructure
In 1905, electric power first found its way into Murray City, with the Progress Electric Company; they strung enough wire to light over a hundred street lights in the City, and a few buildings. Not too long after that, the City was clamoring for more electricity, which Progress Electric didn’t have the capacity to deliver. The City commissioners decided to acquire the system and improve upon delivering power to more people. On July 9, 1912, the city commission approved a resolution to create a municipally owned power company. That same resolution, also created a municipally owned water and sewage system. Murray generates much of its electricity from natural gas, coal, and water turbines. Murray was recognized as one of the first communities in Utah to receive power from methaneMethane
Methane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest alkane, the principal component of natural gas, and probably the most abundant organic compound on earth. The relative abundance of methane makes it an attractive fuel...
generated in its landfill
Landfill
A landfill site , is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment...
. Methane electricity generation currently fulfills 3 percent of Murray’s needs but it is estimated that it can cover up to 13 percent.
Murray Public Services provides management of its water, sewer, and garbage and recycling program. Some areas of the city are serviced by the Salt Lake Valley Water Conservancy District and Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District
Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District
Primarily a wholesaler of water to cities and improvement districts within Salt Lake County, is a political subdivision of the State of Utah and one of the largest water districts in the state. It was created in 1951 under the Water Conservancy District Act and was called Salt Lake County Water...
.
Sister cities
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Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following... |
Chiayi Chiayi -Administration:-City attractions:*Chiayi Park*Sun Shooting Tower *Lantan *Historic Archives Building of Chiayi City*University of Chiayi*Chiayi Museum... |
Chiayi County Chiayi County Chiayi County is a county in southwestern Taiwan surrounding but not including Chiayi City. Its historical name in Taiwanese Hokkien derives from Tsirosen in the Formosan languages... |
|---|
Notable residents
- Gary AndersenGary Andersen-External links:* *...
, head football coach, Utah State UniversityUtah State UniversityUtah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.... - Jack Anderson, Pulitzer PrizePulitzer PrizeThe Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winner, started writing for the Murray Eagle - Lou AndrusLou AndrusLouis John Andrus is a former professional American football linebacker American Football League. He played one season for the for the Denver Broncos . He played college football at Brigham Young University....
, former linebacker, 1967, for the Denver BroncosDenver BroncosThe Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - David ArchuletaDavid ArchuletaDavid Archuleta, is a former United States Air Force Airman of Okinawan stationary troops and is currently an American male kickboxer.-Biography:...
, American IdolAmerican Idol (season 7)The seventh season of American Idol, the annual reality show and singing competition, began on January 15, 2008 and concluded on May 21, 2008. Ryan Seacrest continued to host the show with Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson returning as judges...
season 7 runner-up - Ben B. BanksBen B. BanksBenjamin Berry Banks was a member of the Presidency of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1999 to 2002 and has been a general authority of the LDS Church since 1989...
, LDS Church General authorityGeneral authorityIn The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
, Presidency of the Seventy - Lauren CholewinskiLauren CholewinskiLauren Cholewinski is an American speed skater who has competed since 2007. She grew up in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where she learned to skate at a rink named "Roller Magic." She was named to the U.S. team for the 2010 Winter Olympics. In addition to her skating, Cholewinski also...
, 2010 Olympic speed skater, resides in Murray while training - Parley Parker Christensen, Utah and California politician, Esperantist. Teacher in Murray.
- Kevin CurtisKevin Curtis-St. Louis Rams:Curtis was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the 3rd round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Curtis was inactive for the first five games of 2003 after suffering a broken fibula in the final preseason game at Buffalo. In 2004, Curtis played in all but one game, totaling 32 catches for 421...
, National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
player - Bruce HardyBruce HardyBruce Alan Hardy , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 9th round of the 1978 NFL Draft. A 6'5", 232 lbs. tight end from Arizona State University, Hardy played his entire NFL career with the Dolphins from 1978-1989...
, former Miami DolphinsMiami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
football player, Arena Football Head Coach - Allan HoweAllan HoweAllan Turner Howe was a politician from the state of Utah.Howe was born near Murray, Utah, and he graduated from the University of Utah. Howe was elected to the House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1974...
, U.S. RepresentativeUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
1974-1976. - Ken JenningsKen JenningsKenneth Wayne "Ken" Jennings III is an American game show contestant and author. Jennings is noted for holding the record for the longest winning streak on the U.S. syndicated game show Jeopardy! and as being the all-time leading money winner on American game shows...
, 72 consecutive wins and $2.52 million in Jeopardy!Jeopardy!Griffin's first conception of the game used a board comprising ten categories with ten clues each, but after finding that this board could not be shown on camera easily, he reduced it to two rounds of thirty clues each, with five clues in each of six categories... - Britton JohnsenBritton JohnsenBritton Weaver Johnsen is an American professional basketball player. He graduated from Murray High School and the University of Utah. Born in Salt Lake City, his hometown is Murray, Utah...
, NBA basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player - Mark KoncarMark KoncarMark Koncar is a former American football offensive tackle. He is a graduate from Murray High School located in Murray, Utah. After graduating high school Koncar attended the University of Colorado. Koncar was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 1976 NFL Draft, playing for five seasons before...
, NFL player for the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
and Houston Oilers - Vicki F. MatsumoriVicki F. MatsumoriVicki Fujii Matsumori was the second counselor to Cheryl C. Lant in the general presidency of the Primary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2005 to 2010....
, LDS Church Primary Presidency - Leonidas Ralph MechamLeonidas Ralph MechamLeonidas Ralph Mecham is the former Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, having served in that position from 1985 to 2006. He was appointed to the position by United States Chief Justice Warren Burger in July 1985.-Biography:Ralph Mecham was born April 23, 1928, in...
, former Director of the Administrative Office of the United States CourtsAdministrative Office of the United States CourtsThe Administrative Office of the United States Courts is the administrative agency of the United States federal court system. It was established in 1939.The AO is the central support entity for the federal judicial branch... - LaVern W. ParmleyLaVern W. ParmleyLaVern Watts Parmley was the fifth general president of the Primary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Parmley was the first woman to be awarded the Silver Buffalo Award from the Boy Scouts of America.LaVern Watts was born in Murray, Utah. She married Thomas J...
, LDS Church Primary President - Kim PeekKim PeekLaurence Kim Peek was an American savant. Known as a "megasavant", he had a photographic or eidetic memory, but also social difficulties, possibly resulting from a developmental disability related to congenital brain abnormalities. He was the inspiration for the character of Raymond Babbitt,...
, inspiration for the character of Raymond Babbitt, played by Dustin HoffmanDustin HoffmanDustin Lee Hoffman is an American actor with a career in film, television, and theatre since 1960. He has been known for his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and vulnerable characters....
, in the movie Rain ManRain ManRain Man is a 1988 drama film written by Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass and directed by Barry Levinson. It tells the story of an abrasive and selfish yuppie, Charlie Babbitt, who discovers that his estranged father has died and bequeathed all of his multimillion-dollar estate to his other son,...
. - Dan SnarrDan SnarrDaniel C. "Dan" Snarr is a four-time elected mayor of Murray, Utah. Snarr was first elected in 1997 and was re-elected for a fourth consecutive term that began in January 2010. As a full-time mayor in a Mayor / Council form of government, Murray City employs 396 full- and part-time employees and...
, four-time mayor of Murray - Stan WattsStan WattsStanley H. Watts was a college men's basketball coach, well-known for coaching Brigham Young University to a 372-254 record between 1949 and 1972...
, longtime head coach of BYUBrigham Young UniversityBrigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
basketball team - Chris WilsonChris Wilson (drummer)Christopher Ryan Wilson is the drummer for the band The Summer Obsession. Chris is formerly of the band Good Charlotte. In July 2010, It was confirmed that Chris would be filling in for Yuri Ruley of MxPx, after he decided to retire from the band-Notes:...
, drummer formerly of Good CharlotteGood CharlotteGood Charlotte is an American rock band from Waldorf, Maryland that formed in 1996. Since 1998, the band's constant members have been lead vocalist Joel Madden, lead guitarist and back-up vocalist Benji Madden, bass guitarist Paul Thomas and rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Billy Martin...
and The Summer ObsessionThe Summer ObsessionThe Summer Obsession is a punk band from Jacksonville Beach, Florida, United States. The band originally started in 2004 by Luke Walker & Fin Leavell. They went through several members until they recruited drummer Chris Wilson...
.
Newspapers
- American Eagle, Murray Eagle and The Green SheetThe Green SheetThe American Eagle, later known also as Murray Eagle and The Green Sheet, was a newspaper that covered central Salt Lake Valley, especially the city of Murray, Utah. The beginnings of The American Eagle of Murray, Utah, are shrouded in mystery. The newspaper may have been published as early as 1891...
covered Murray from 1891 to the first decade of the 21st century. - The Murray Journal covering Murray since early first decade of the 21st century.
In the media
- American IdolAmerican Idol (season 7)The seventh season of American Idol, the annual reality show and singing competition, began on January 15, 2008 and concluded on May 21, 2008. Ryan Seacrest continued to host the show with Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson returning as judges...
featured Murray and Murray High SchoolMurray High School (Utah)Murray High School is the only high school in the Murray City School District in Murray, Utah. Murray High School is one of the smallest high schools in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area with 1,585 students enrolled in the 2008-2009 school year, the school enrolls students in grades 10-12...
for David ArchuletaDavid ArchuletaDavid Archuleta, is a former United States Air Force Airman of Okinawan stationary troops and is currently an American male kickboxer.-Biography:...
's homecoming during season 7's finale. Mayor Dan SnarrDan SnarrDaniel C. "Dan" Snarr is a four-time elected mayor of Murray, Utah. Snarr was first elected in 1997 and was re-elected for a fourth consecutive term that began in January 2010. As a full-time mayor in a Mayor / Council form of government, Murray City employs 396 full- and part-time employees and...
's distinctive handlebar mustache received notice from show host Ryan SeacrestRyan SeacrestRyan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
. - Tiffany (singer)Tiffany (singer)Tiffany Renee Darwish , known popularly as Tiffany, is an American singer and former teen icon. She is most notable for her 1987 cover version of "I Think We're Alone Now", originally recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells in 1967. Released as the second single from her eponymous album, Tiffany,...
filmed parts of her video "I Think We're Alone Now" at Fashion Place Mall, 49th Street Galleria and Murray Park. - Walt Disney Productions filmed four movies at Murray High School: A few of the scenes from the wrestling movie Take Down (1978). Read It and WeepRead It and WeepRead It and Weep is a 2006 Disney Channel Original Movie which premiered on July 21, 2006. It is based on the novel by Julia DeVillers. Sisters Kay and Danielle Panabaker star as Jamie Bartlett and her alter ego Isabella , respectively...
(2006), the auditorium scene of High School MusicalHigh School MusicalHigh School Musical is a 2006 American television film, first in the High School Musical film franchise. Upon its release on January 20, 2006, it became the most successful film that Disney Channel Original Movie ever produced, with a television sequel High School Musical 2 released in 2007 and...
(2006), and MinutemenMinutemen (film)Minutemen is a 2008 science-fiction Disney Channel Original Movie.The film was written by John Killoran and David Diamond and David Weissman and directed by Lev L. Spiro, who received a Director's Guild nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Children's Programs for it...
(2008) The summer of 2008 Disney used the High School for the reality TV show High School Musical: Get in the PictureHigh School Musical: Get in the PictureHigh School Musical: Get in the Picture was a reality-based TV series, which debuted July 20, 2008 on the television channel ABC. Stan Carrizosa was named the winner on September 8, 2008. Tierney Chamberlain was the runner-up....
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See also
- UtopiaUtah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure AgencyThe Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency is a consortium of 16 Utah cities engaged in deploying and operating a fiber to the premises network to every business and household within its footprint...
community FTTH program