Rockport, Utah
Encyclopedia
Rockport is a ghost town
in a narrow part of Weber Valley at the mouth of Three Mile Canyon in Summit County
, Utah
, United States
. Located 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Wanship
, it was inhabited for nearly a century before the creation of Rockport Reservoir
, which covered almost the whole townsite.
settlers came to the area in 1860. They named their settlement Crandall, renaming it Enoch City the next year. Freezing winter temperatures and deep snow made life difficult, but the pioneers stayed, building their own gristmill
in 1863. In 1866, however, when the outbreak of the Black Hawk War
caused widespread fear of Indian
attacks, the colony was completely evacuated to Wanship. The next year they moved back, but built a rock wall around the entire settlement for defense. This wall, 2 foot (0.6096 m) thick and 8 feet (2.4 m) high, changed Enoch City's name again, to Rock Fort. Once the Indian troubles had passed, the wall was torn down and used to construct other buildings. No longer a fort, the town received its permanent name, Rockport.
In 1872 a concrete building, made with Portland cement
produced in nearby Hoytsville
, was erected to house the first store in town, a general store
which doubled as the post office
. A rock quarry
was developed, producing stone for many area buildings. A good source of fuller's earth
was found in Rockport, and there was also a sawmill
.
For many years the population of Rockport stayed over 100, but it finally declined in the 1940s. The post office and school were closed, but there were still twenty-seven families living here in the 1950s when the government decided to construct the Wanship Dam. Despite the protests of these families and the majority of Summit County voters in a 1952 special election, the government purchased the entire valley in preparation for the construction of the dam. The lake it created, Rockport Reservoir
, flooded the town. When the water level is low, old foundations and streets can sometimes be seen, but the only remnant of Rockport above the water is its little cemetery, sitting on a ridge above the lake.
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
in a narrow part of Weber Valley at the mouth of Three Mile Canyon in Summit County
Summit County, Utah
Summit County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah, occupying a rugged and mountainous area. In 2010 its population was 36,324. It is part of the Salt Lake City Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Salt Lake City–Ogden–Clearfield Combined Statistical Area. The county is...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Located 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Wanship
Wanship, Utah
Wanship is a census-designated place in Summit County, Utah, United States. The population was 400 at the 2010 census.Wanship is located at the intersection of Interstate 80 and Utah State Route 32, at the junction of Silver Creek and the Weber River. It is from Salt Lake City, and from Coalville...
, it was inhabited for nearly a century before the creation of Rockport Reservoir
Rockport Reservoir
Rockport Reservoir, also called Wanship Reservoir, is a reservoir in Summit County, Utah, United States.-Reservoir:Rockport Reservoir is located just south of the town of Wanship on Utah State Route 32...
, which covered almost the whole townsite.
History
The first European AmericanEuropean American
A European American is a citizen or resident of the United States who has origins in any of the original peoples of Europe...
settlers came to the area in 1860. They named their settlement Crandall, renaming it Enoch City the next year. Freezing winter temperatures and deep snow made life difficult, but the pioneers stayed, building their own gristmill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
in 1863. In 1866, however, when the outbreak of the Black Hawk War
Black Hawk War (Utah)
The Black Hawk War, or Black Hawk's War, from 1865 to 1872, is the name of the estimated 150 military engagement between Mormon settlers in the Four Corners region and members of the Ute, Paiute, Apache and Navajo tribes, led by a local Ute chief, Antonga Black Hawk...
caused widespread fear of Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
attacks, the colony was completely evacuated to Wanship. The next year they moved back, but built a rock wall around the entire settlement for defense. This wall, 2 foot (0.6096 m) thick and 8 feet (2.4 m) high, changed Enoch City's name again, to Rock Fort. Once the Indian troubles had passed, the wall was torn down and used to construct other buildings. No longer a fort, the town received its permanent name, Rockport.
In 1872 a concrete building, made with Portland cement
Portland cement
Portland cement is the most common type of cement in general use around the world because it is a basic ingredient of concrete, mortar, stucco and most non-specialty grout...
produced in nearby Hoytsville
Hoytsville, Utah
Hoytsville is a census-designated place located in Summit County, Utah, United States. It is bordered by Coalville to the north, and by Wanship on the south. The population was 607 at the 2010 census. Interstate 80 runs through the area, as well as the Weber River...
, was erected to house the first store in town, a general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
which doubled as the post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
. A rock quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
was developed, producing stone for many area buildings. A good source of fuller's earth
Fuller's earth
Fuller's earth is any non-plastic clay or claylike earthy material used to decolorize, filter, and purify animal, mineral, and vegetable oils and greases.-Occurrence and composition:...
was found in Rockport, and there was also a sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
.
For many years the population of Rockport stayed over 100, but it finally declined in the 1940s. The post office and school were closed, but there were still twenty-seven families living here in the 1950s when the government decided to construct the Wanship Dam. Despite the protests of these families and the majority of Summit County voters in a 1952 special election, the government purchased the entire valley in preparation for the construction of the dam. The lake it created, Rockport Reservoir
Rockport Reservoir
Rockport Reservoir, also called Wanship Reservoir, is a reservoir in Summit County, Utah, United States.-Reservoir:Rockport Reservoir is located just south of the town of Wanship on Utah State Route 32...
, flooded the town. When the water level is low, old foundations and streets can sometimes be seen, but the only remnant of Rockport above the water is its little cemetery, sitting on a ridge above the lake.