History of Salt Lake City Timeline

Brigham Young originally governed both the territory and church through a High Council which enacted the original municipal orders in 1848.

Image source: Brigham Young

Congress organized Utah Territory out of the proposed 'State of Deseret' in 1850, formalizing federal governance over the region settled by Mormon pioneers.

Image source: Utah Territory

On January 9, 1851, 'an ordinance having been passed by the General Assembly of the State of Deseret' formally incorporated the municipality as 'Great Salt Lake City.'

In 1855 Congress directed the President of the United States to appoint a surveyor general for Utah Territory, and to cause that the lands of that territory should be surveyed preparatory to bringing them on the market.

Originally, Fillmore, Utah was the territorial capital, but in 1856 it was moved to Salt Lake City, where it has stayed ever since.

Image source: Fillmore, Utah

Because of numerous conflicts between the surveyor and the territorial government, the first surveyor general abandoned his post in 1857.

Conflict between the federal and territorial governments kept the land survey issue on hold until 1868, and in the meantime large sections of the territory were transferred to neighboring territories and states.

Again in 1868, Congress directed the President to appoint a surveyor general in the Utah Territory, to establish a land office in Salt Lake City, and to extend the federal land laws over the same.

The land office opened on March 9, 1869, extending federal land laws over the Utah Territory and enabling settlement claims on surveyed lands.

In 1863 some of Colonel Connor's troops discovered rich veins of gold and silver in the Wasatch Mountains, sparking mining activity that would shape the region's economy.

Image source: Wasatch Range

In 1868 Brigham Young founded the Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution (ZCMI) as a way to ward off dependency on outside goods and arguably to hinder ex-LDS retailers.

Image source: ZCMI

The world started to come to Salt Lake City in 1869 with the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad in the United States at Promontory Summit, north of the city.

Image source: First transcontinental railroad

By 1870, Salt Lake had been linked to the First Transcontinental Railroad via the Utah Central Rail Road, connecting the city directly to national markets.

In 1907, Salt Lake City was home to Industrial Workers of the World Industrial Union No., reflecting the growth of labor organizing in the American West.

Image source: Industrial Workers of the World

The annual per capita income in 1932 was $276, half of what it was in 1929, $537 annually, illustrating the devastating economic impact of the Great Depression on Salt Lake City residents.

Image source: Great Depression in the United States

After 132 years in business, ZCMI was sold to the May Department Stores Company in 1999, ending one of America's oldest department store chains as an independent company.

Remaining ZCMI stores, including one in downtown Salt Lake City, were converted into Meier & Frank stores, although the historic facade still reads '1868 ZCMI 1999'.

Image source: Meier & Frank

City government was dominated by the People's Party, and a dramatic example occurred in 1874 when city police were arrested by US Marshals, who took control of the national election being held in Salt Lake City.

Consequentially, the non-LDS Liberal Party took control of city government in the 1890 election, ending the dominance of the LDS-backed People's Party.

Image source: Liberal Party (Utah)

The city became Utah's state capital on January 4, 1896, when Utah entered the union upon President Grover Cleveland's decree after the LDS Church agreed to ban polygamy in 1890.

Image source: Utah

The city adopted a non-partisan city council in 1911, reshaping how municipal politics operated in Salt Lake City.

Image source: Salt Lake City

Salt Lake tried again throughout the decades until 1995, when the International Olympic Committee announced Salt Lake City as the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Image source: 2002 Winter Olympics

In April 1999, the Salt Lake City council voted 5 to 2 along LDS membership lines to sell to the LDS Church the segment of Main Street that lay between Temple Square and the LDS Church office buildings for $8.1 million.

Image source: Main Street (Greater Salt Lake City)

After the Utah District Court ruled against the ACLU in its challenge to the Main Street sale, they were vindicated by the 10th Circuit Court in the fall of 2002.

Image source: American Civil Liberties Union

Much change occurred in the Wasatch Front due to the 2002 Winter Olympics, bringing infrastructure improvements and international attention to Salt Lake City.

The 2002 games opened with the 1980 US hockey team lighting the torch and President George W. Bush presiding over the ceremonies, marking a memorable start to the Winter Olympics.

Image source: Miracle on Ice

The 2002 games ended with a dazzling closing ceremony, including bands such as Bon Jovi and Kiss (who shared the stage with figure skater Katarina Witt).

Some suppose Mayor Rocky Anderson's compromise was an effort to strengthen his 2003 re-election campaign among Latter-day Saints and west side residents.

Image source: Rocky Anderson