Where Water Brought Faith: The Beginnings of Hunter, Utah

Growth of Church Buildings in the Hunter, Utah Area (1847–1958)
1847–1875: Early Settlement and Struggles

  • 1847–1848: The first pioneers, led by Brigham Young, began settling the Great Salt Lake Valley. Hunter, on the west side of the Jordan River, was initially valued for grazing but remained sparsely developed due to water scarcity.

  • 1848–1849: Early settlers in the Granger/Taylorsville/Hunter area lived in dugouts and primitive shelters. Efforts focused on cattle grazing and limited farming, constrained by the lack of irrigation.

1876–1881: Water and Community Development

  • 1876: The arrival of irrigation water marked a turning point, enabling permanent farming and encouraging settlers to establish homes in Hunter.

  • 1878: Joseph N. Morris dug the first irrigation ditch, facilitating sustainable agriculture and community growth.

  • 1880: The creation of the Hunter voting precinct brought formal recognition to the area. Named after Edward Hunter, the Presiding Bishop of the LDS Church, this reflected the increasing role of the Church in local development.

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