Surviving Hard Times: 1930–1945
The Great Depression and World War II: 1930–1945
The 1930s were a time of hardship across Utah, and the west-central Salt Lake Valley was no exception. By 1932, the state had the fourth-highest unemployment rate in the nation at 36 percent. Locally, the collapse in copper demand hit area mines hard, culminating in the closure of the locally owned Utah Copper Company in 1936. Its remaining assets were sold to Kennecott Copper, which attempted to maintain employment, but many families still struggled to make ends meet.
Despite the hardships of the Great Depression, many local farmers took solace in their ability to grow their own food. While cash income was scarce and bank accounts had been lost, families could still rely on homegrown vegetables, fruits, and livestock to feed themselves. This self-sufficiency not only helped sustain households through lean times but also fostered a sense of pride and resilience. Even in Chesterfield, where homes were little more than dirt-floor dugouts or lean-tos, families cultivated gardens and raised small flocks of chickens, making the most of what they had to survive.
Compounding economic troubles, Utah suffered a severe drought during the decade. Precipitation dropped to just 35 percent of normal levels, and Utah Lake—the source for the Jordan River and local irrigation canals—shrunk to one-third its usual volume. Without sufficient water, farmers lost vital crops and became increasingly dependent on government aid, loans, or community support. Bank closures further destabilized families as frozen accounts and lost assets added to the financial strain.
Some relief arrived through federal programs such as the Works Progress Administration, which provided jobs while improving local roads, drainage, and infrastructure. Yet even with these projects, the area experienced extreme economic stress.
The nearby town of Chesterfield provides a vivid example of Depression-era hardship. Initially developed in 1914 near the Salt Lake and Utah Railroad, the town saw moderate sales by 1920 but was abandoned in 1926 due to a lack of water and early economic recessions. During the Great Depression, the Salt Lake County Welfare Department repurposed Chesterfield to provide affordable housing. Lots sold for just $10, and the county supplied basic building materials. Many families constructed rudimentary homes, often dirt-floor dugouts, lean-tos, or even abandoned chicken coops. By 1940, roughly 110 families had resettled in Chesterfield, creating a community sometimes referred to as “tee-pee town.” Though life was difficult, the area endured, and its eclectic housing styles remain visible along the Chesterfield/Redwood corridor today.
Economic relief finally arrived with the United States’ entry into World War II. Wartime production revived copper mining and milling, while the military established a small arms plant near Granger and Hunter, and the Kearns Army Air Base opened just a few miles southwest. The influx of jobs and military spending boosted local incomes and stimulated population growth, although some of this expansion proved temporary—as in Chesterfield, which experienced decline after the small arms plant closed in 1944. Despite complaints from military personnel about limited entertainment and restrictive Sunday laws, the wartime economy injected much-needed life into the community.
The period from 1930 to 1945 transformed Granger and Hunter from struggling agricultural towns to areas increasingly shaped by industry, transportation, and federal programs. The resilience of residents during the Depression, and their adaptation to the demands of World War II, laid the foundation for the suburban and industrial growth that would follow in the decades ahead.
