A History of Washington County - From Isolation to Destination

Cover has some light edge and corner; Utah’s Washington County has the state’s lowest altitude (2,500 feet) and the region’s aridity, warm winters, and semitropical crops have made it an appealing location since it was first settled by the Anasazi Indians. This book traces the history of the county from ancient times to the coming of the Mormon settlers in the 1850s. Highlights include the founding of St. George in 1861, the determination of the early settlers as they fought the heat and drought, the subsequent century-long isolation of the area, and the more recent boom times in which Utah’s "Dixie" has been radically transformed as a destination recreation spot and residence for ever-increasing numbers of retirees and others. The book also explores the challenges this unparalleled development has brought, particularly that of managing unprecedented growth while preserving the beauty of the surprising fragile land. Distributed for Zion Natural History Association. Douglas D. Alder was president of Dixie College from 1986 to 1993. He is currently a professor of history at the college, and was also a professor of history at Utah State University from 1963 to 1986. ; Utah Centennial County History Series; 1.4 x 8.9 x 6 Inches; 450 pages. …