Murray, Utah: Difference between revisions

Murray, Utah
Murray, Utah
City
	Murray City Hall
	Seal
Country	United States
State	Utah
County	Salt Lake
Settled	1848
Named for	Eli Houston Murray
Government
• Mayor	Dan Snarr
Area
• Total	9.6 sq mi (24.9 km2)
• Land	9.6 sq mi (24.9 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	4,301 ft (1,311 m)
Population (2000)
• Total	34,024
Time zone	UTC-7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
Area code(s)	385, 801
FIPS code	49-53230Template:GR
GNIS feature ID	1443742Template:GR
Website	www.murray.utah.gov

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit Next edit →

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Revision as of 18:39, 25 October 2009

Murray is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 34,024 at the 2000 census.

History

Settling the Frontier

The Mormon pioneers came to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. A pioneer group called the Mississippi Saints arrived one year later and began to develop a scattered settlement in the south end of the valley in the fall of 1848. The area was distinguished by various names such as the Mississippi Ward, Cottonwood, Big Cottonwood, and South Cottonwood. Written history states that at least 20 families were living in the South Cottonwood area in the 1860s.

When the first pioneer families settled in the South Cottonwood area in the fall of 1848, they selected the low or bottom lands along the streams of Little Cottonwood and Big Cottonwood creek where they found an abundance of grass for their cattle and horses. It was easy to take the water from the streams for irrigation of farm crops. The higher bench lands were covered with sagebrush and produced very little grass and because of the labor and the difficulty in getting water to them, they were left in most instances, for later settlement.^[1]

There was a strip of high bench land, completely surrounded by low land North of what is now Vine Street and 5600 South Street. Before and after the advent of the pioneers, this land was used by the Ute Indians as a camping ground, as water and grass could be obtained on either side of it and the enemies could not approach without being seen long before coming to the high ground.^[1] This area would become the present day Murray City Cemetery. The early settlers mutually agreed that no individual should fence or take title to it, but that it should be set aside and considered as belonging to South Cottonwood Ward.

In 1853, when teamsters commenced to haul granite rock from Little Cottonwood Canyon to the Salt Lake Temple, a dirt path was made along what is now Vine Street. The east side of the road (where the Still Water Apartments now stand) became a halfway camping ground for the teamsters.^[1]

The area remained agricultural until 1869 when a body of ore was found in Park City and additional ore was found in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Because of its central location and access to the railroad, the first smelter was built in Murray in 1870 and Murray became the home of some of the largest smelters in the region over the next 30 years.

The first official post office was established in 1870 as the South Cottonwood Post Office. The area changed over time as the railroad came in, smelting expanded, the territorial road (later known as State Street) was established, and trolley transportation was developed. A business district also began to develop along the transportation corridor.

The City received its present name from the post office which officially changed its name from South Cottonwood Post Office to Murray Post Office in 1883 after the civil war general, Eli Murray. Eli Murray was a territorial governor of Utah from 1880 to 1886.

After a riot and fire started by a rowdy group of smelter workers in a local saloon, the fight for incorporation was begun by the local newspaper editor. The final incorporation committee drafted a petition in 1901 and created an intense campaign on both sides of the incorporation battle. The election took place on November 18, 1902. Those in favor won and C.L. Miller was elected as Mayor by three votes. Salt Lake County recognized the election results as official on November 25, 1902 and the City was officially recognized as a Third Class City by the State of Utah on January 3, 1903.

Center of Industry

Murray’s central location in Salt Lake Valley made it a convenient location for industry. Construction of the Woodhill Brothers' smelter in 1869 initiated Murray's industrial history. Murray produced the first silver bars smelted in Utah in 1870. In 1899, American Smelting & Refining Company (ASARCO) was organized by combining the Germania and Hanauer smelters. The smelters continued to dominate the local economy until the close of the ASARCO lead smelter in 1949. Business and commercial enterprise prospered along with the smelter industry. Murray's industry would later include a water plant, lighting system, canning factory, flour mills, and brickyards.^[2]

Murray's industry was hard hit by the 1930’s depression. The smelters began to close in 1931, and major industry had all but vanished by 1940. Murray was quick to take advantage of various federal projects to compensate for this economic loss.^[3] In 2000, to avoid designation as a Superfund site, the landmark ASARCO Smelters were imploded, and Intermountain Healthcare purchased the site for its Intermountain Medical Center. As landmarks, the smelters are remembered in Murray City’s logos and trademarks.

Post World War II to Present

With the demise of heavy industry prior to World War II and advent of the Interstate Freeway System in the 1950’s, Murray became a major retail hub due to its central location.^[4] State Street in Murray was dominated with automobile dealerships. Auto Magnate Larry H. Miller purchased his first dealership on May 1st, 1979, as Larry H. Miller Toyota. The 1970’s saw the birth of Fashion Place Mall, which has become a major mercantile center, and had major renovation and expansion in the 2000’s. Interesting side note, notorious serial killer Ted Bundy's murder spree temporarily came to an end when he tried to lure Carol DaRonch into his car at Fashion Place Mall on November 8, 1974. DaRonch fought Bundy, escaped from his car, and survived to testify against him in court. Cottonwood Hospital opened in the 1960’s receiving numerous recognition, paving the way for its replacement, the Intermountain Medical Center in 2008, and spawning The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital (TOSH) in the 1990’s.^[5]

With the introduction of Utah Transit Authority’s (UTA TRAX) light rail in the 1990’s, Murray has three stations along the primary route. The Fireclay Housing Project received national recognition for its use of creating development around the 4500 South Station as a Transit Oriented Development (TOD).^[6] Murray’s Winchester Station will be the junction to the West Jordan light rail spur, and Murray is scheduled to have a high-speed rail (FrontRunner) station in the 2010’s

In the mid-2000’s, people of the census-designated place (CDP) Cottonwood West, Utah voted to annex themselves into Murray, increasing the population by 17,000 nearly a third of what it was during the 2000 census. The CDP was located between eastern Murray’s boundary on 900 East and extended after annexation to Van Winkle Expressway and Highland Drive along the Holladay and Cottonwood Heights border.

Geography and Climate

Murray is located at 40°39′9″N 111°53′36″W / 40.65250°N 111.89333°W / 40.65250; -111.89333 (40.652397, -111.893229)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.6 square miles (24.9 km²), all of it land.

Climate data for Murray, UT
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Source: ^[7]

Education

The Murray City School District was created on January 1, 1906. It has ten schools: seven elementaries, two middle schools, (Riverview and Hillcrest), and one senior high school (Murray). An alternative high school, (Creekside) was closed in 2006. Murray High is a 5-A school in Utah's 5 Division high school sports leagues (1A being the smallest, and 5A being the largest). It was used in the High School Musical movie series for the Walt Disney Company.

When citizens on the eastern boundary of Murray annexed themselves into the city in 2004, three Granite School District schools were included: Cottonwood High School, Twin Peaks and Woodstock Elementary. No school district boundaries were changed due to this annexation.

Murray also has satelite campuses of the University of Utah and Utah State Universitys. Several private colleges have campuses in Murray: University of Phoenix, Stevens-Henager College, and Eagle Gate College.

Parks and Recreation

Murray was quick to take advantage of various federal projects during the Great Depression to develop its Park System. The city actively sought federal money to refurbish its twenty-two-acre Murray City Park and buildings and to purchase an additional twelve acres of fairgrounds. By 1939, Murray was the site of the annual Salt Lake County Fair.^[8] The county fair relocated from Murray Park, and the Fair buildings were replaced by a community recreation facility called the Park Center, with indoor swimming pools, indoor track, exercise facilities and gymnasium. Murray Park’s Ken Price Ball Park hosted the 2009 Babe Ruth League World Series. Murray Park is adjacent to the Salt Lake County Ice Center that was utilized as a practice venue during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

In addition to many other neighborhood parks, there is the substantial Murray Jordan River Parkway; a park system of natural trails along the Jordan River that includes pedestrian and equestrian trails, picnic areas, and canoe launches. The trails connect several significant city parks of Winchester, Walden Park, Germania Park, and Arrowhead. The parkway also has the The Kennecott Nature Center, an environmental education center that is utilized by school districts.

Wheeler Historic Farm is also located in Murray. Operated by Salt Lake County, the farm is a restoration of Henry J. Wheeler’s turn-of-the-century dairy farm. The farm presents to the public the history of Utah family agriculture and rural lifestyle from 1890-1920, and gives historic demonstrations and exhibits.

Demographics

As of the census Template:GR of 2000, there were 34,024 people, 12,673 households, and 8,719 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,542.3 people per square mile (1,367.0/km²). There were 13,327 housing units at an average density of 1,387.5/sq mi (535.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.56% White, 0.99% African American, 0.63% Native American, 1.83% Asian, 0.33% Pacific Islander, 2.77% from other races, and 1.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.49% of the population.

There were 12,673 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 13.3% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,569, and the median income for a family was $51,482. Males had a median income of $35,636 versus $25,713 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,094. About 5.5% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Sister cities

Murray has one sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:

Chiayi, Taiwan

Notable Residents

Template:ORList

David Archuleta, American Idol Season 7 Runner-up
Kevin Curtis, National Football League player
Britton Johnsen, NBA basketball player
Dan John, American Record Holder in Masters Weight Pentathlon, weightlifting and discus champion
Ken Jennings, 72 consecutive wins and $2.52 million in Jeopardy
Mark Koncar, NFL player for the Green Bay Packers and Houston Oilers
Leonidas Ralph Mecham, former Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts
Gary Andersen, Head Football Coach, Utah State University
Mike Dmitrich, Utah State Senator of the 27th Senate District
Ben B. Banks, LDS Church General Authority
Lou Andrus, Former linebacker, 1967, for the Denver Broncos
Bruce Hardy, Former Miami Dolphins football player, Arena Football Head Coach
Vicki F. Matsumori, LDS Church Primary Presidency
LaVern W. Parmley, LDS Church Primary President
Stan Watts, Longtime Head Coach of BYU Basketball Team

In the Media