The Making of Granger/Hunter: A Legacy of Struggle and Strength
Granger/Hunter: History Carved by Hardship and Grit
Granger, one of Salt Lake County’s fastest-growing areas, holds a powerful pioneer legacy—a story shaped by hostile frontiers, natural hardship, and the endurance of early settlers. While modern residents drive paved roads and enjoy suburban comforts, few realize this land is steeped in nearly a century and a half of history.
Early Settlement: 1848–1850
Granger’s roots trace back to just a few years after Brigham Young’s arrival in the Salt Lake Valley. From 1848 to 1850, pioneer families began farming west of the Jordan River, up to 12 miles from Temple Square.
Some of the earliest settlers included:
James Taylor
Thomas Mackay
Charles Barker
John Gerber
Abram Hayden
Abram Todd
Families like the Fields, Shurtliffs, Deckers, and Butterfields
Many of these surnames remain in the area today.
Crossing the Jordan River
Travel to the west side of the valley was not easy. The Jordan River posed a real challenge:
Only two bridges existed—and were often inconvenient
Settlers frequently forded the river or crossed on ice during winter
Fortunately, the Jordan’s water was clean and safe for drinking at the time
Springs near the river provided water for many families living in the "bottom lands"
Facing Hostile Conditions
The land was fertile—but not without risk. Settlers faced two major challenges:
Hostile Indian threats
Extreme weather and isolation
To protect themselves, settlers built White Fort, located where the Taylorsville Cemetery now stands. Though it provided some safety, it lacked access to water and was eventually abandoned.
Mrs. James Taylor recalled:
“Many’s the time I have stayed up all night when Indians were all around the house, expecting them to force entrance at any time.”
Jordan: A Community Divided by Growth
At first, the entire region west of the Jordan River was simply referred to as “Jordan.” Over time, it was divided into:
North Jordan
West Jordan
South Jordan
These names live on today in LDS stake boundaries and municipal names.
Humble Homes and Hard Times
Early homes were small, crude, and practical, often built from:
Slabs
Adobe
Roofs were not dirt-covered like many Salt Lake homes, a point of pride for Jordan residents
Neighbors helped one another often, especially when food was scarce.
One story passed down by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers (Granger Camp) tells of a young mother, Mrs. Joseph Harker, who had just given birth and was starving. She survived by boiling rawhide into soup—until Mrs. Thomas Mackay walked miles to bring her a handful of white flour, a small act of kindness that likely saved her life.
Life from the Land
Despite the difficulties, the settlers found ways to survive:
Sego lily bulbs were often harvested and eaten
Families grew grain, hay, and vegetables in the lowlands
Livestock and orchards were slowly added as the community grew
Though alkali in the soil has limited farming today, remnants of the past remain—old fences, collapsing homes, and irrigation ditches still whisper of the lives once lived here.