From Dugouts to a First-Class City: The Story of West Valley
updated Timeline of Key Events
in West Valley City (Granger, Hunter, Chesterfield & Redwood) 1847–2025
1847
LDS pioneers arrive in the Salt Lake Valley. Farming and settlement begin in the area that would later become Granger and Hunter.
1848
Joseph Harker and a handful of settlers cross the Jordan River near today’s 3300 South. They spend the winter in dugouts along the river bluffs before moving south to Taylorsville.
1849
Permanent settlements are established in the Granger area.
1850s–1860s
Irrigation ditches and canals are built, making agriculture the main industry. Adobe homes appear throughout the valley.
1860s
Joseph Fairbourne opens a blacksmith shop at what later becomes Fairbourne Corner (3200 W & 3500 S).
1884 (Feb 24)
The original Granger Ward is organized, separating from Taylorsville and Brighton Wards.
Late 1800s
William Morrow builds the area’s first store and carries mail to Granger by horse cart.
1917
Chris Anast opens Granger Market and service station at 2000 W 3500 S.
1918
3500 South becomes Granger’s first paved street.
1942
World War II sparks industrial growth, drawing new families into the Granger, Hunter, and Chesterfield areas.
1943 (Apr 25)
Granger Ward is divided; the Granger 2nd Ward is created.
1947 (Aug 5)
Groundbreaking for the new Granger 2nd Ward chapel.
1949 (Mar 27)
First meetings are held in the new Granger 2nd Ward building.
1949 (Apr 30)
The first stake-wide baptismal service takes place in the new chapel.
1955
The Granger-Hunter Improvement District is established to provide water and sewer services.
1961
The Granger-Hunter Community Council is formed.
1963–1964
Residential growth explodes, with more than 1,600 new utility connections in just two years.
1964
Valley West Hospital opens.
1970
Valley Fair Mall opens, becoming the west side’s major shopping center.
1975
Hunter surpasses West Jordan as the fastest-growing community in the Salt Lake Valley.
1980 (July 1)
Residents of Granger, Hunter, Chesterfield, and Redwood vote to incorporate as West Valley City, starting with a population of 72,509.
1983
Pioneer Valley Hospital opens.
1990
West Valley City Hall is dedicated. Population: 86,976.
1996
Governor Mike Leavitt declares West Valley City a “first-class city” as population tops 100,000. That same year, city leaders attract the Denver Grizzlies hockey team by committing to build a new arena.
1997
The 10,500-seat E Center (now Maverik Center) opens, hosting concerts, sporting events, and later serving as a major venue for the 2002 Winter Olympics.
1998
The Hale Centre Theatre at Harman Hall is dedicated, enriching the city’s cultural life.
1999
A 96,000-square-foot public fitness center opens, one of the largest in Utah.
2000
West Valley celebrates its 20th birthday with visitors from its sister city, Nantou, Taiwan.
2002
The E Center serves as the official Olympic hockey venue during the Salt Lake Winter Games, putting West Valley City on the global stage.
2003
The Utah Cultural Celebration Center opens, honoring diversity and community traditions.
2010s
Fairbourne Station redevelopment transforms the historic Fairbourne Corner into a new city center with offices, housing, TRAX light rail, and civic space.
2020s
West Valley City grows into Utah’s second-largest city, home to more than 135,000 residents, and continues to thrive as one of the state’s most diverse, dynamic communities.
From 1847 to 2025, generations of determined families—like the Parks—have shaped our community with unwavering work ethic, resilience, and a deep desire to build something better for those who would follow
