Editing Parowan, Utah

{{short description|City in Utah, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Parowan, Utah
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = "Mother Town of Southern Utah"<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://parowan.org| title=Historic Parowan: Mother Town of Southern Utah| publisher=City of Parowan| access-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref>
|image_skyline            = Parowan Utah Church.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Parowan's Mormon Pioneer-era [[Parowan Meetinghouse|Rock Church]]
|image_map                = Iron County Utah incorporated and unincorporated areas Parowan highlighted.svg
|map_caption              = Location in [[Iron County, Utah|Iron County]] and the state of [[Utah]]
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Utah]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Utah|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Iron County, Utah|Iron]]
<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = 
|established_title        = [[Incorporated town|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = February 6, 1851
|named_for                =
<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_49.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 17.85
|area_land_km2            = 17.85
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 6.89
|area_land_sq_mi          = 6.89
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2010 United States Census|2010]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 2790
|pop_est_as_of            = 2019
|population_est           = 3165
|population_density_km2   = 177.29
|population_density_sq_mi = 459.16
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain (MST)]]
|utc_offset               = -7
|timezone_DST             = MDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -6
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 6155
|coordinates              = {{coord|37|50|01|N|112|51|42|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 84761
|area_code                = [[Area code 435|435]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 49-58510<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2411378<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411378}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|parowan.org}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Parowan''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|ær|ə|w|ɑː|n}} {{respell|PARR|ə|wahn}}) is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Iron County, Utah|Iron County]], [[Utah]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The population was 2,790 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]],<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4958510| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Parowan city, Utah| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| access-date=April 12, 2018| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213113814/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4958510| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> and in 2018 the estimated population was 3,100.<ref name="USCensusEst2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2018.html|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|access-date=December 2, 2019}}</ref>

Parowan became the first incorporated city in Iron County in 1851. A fort that had been constructed on the east side of [[Parowan Creek|Center Creek]] the previous year was an initial hub in the development of ironworks in the region. Parowan served as the agricultural support base for the local iron industry, whose [[blast furnace]] was located in nearby [[Cedar City, Utah|Cedar City]].<ref name="Utah_History_Encyclopedia">{{Citation | last = Shirts | first = Morris A. | title = Utah History Encyclopedia | publisher = University of Utah Press | year = 1994 | chapter = The Iron Mission | chapter-url = https://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/i/IRON_MISSION.shtml | url = https://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240321170200/https://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/i/IRON_MISSION.shtml | archive-date = March 21, 2024 | isbn =9780874804256 | access-date = May 15, 2024}}</ref> Eventually, the ironworks were decommissioned.<ref name="Utah_History_Encyclopedia"/>

Despite occasional successes, the mission failed to produce a consistent and sustained supply of [[pig iron]]. By 1858, most of the area's mining operations had ceased due to disappointing yields. Today, the area's chief industries are recreation and tourism.

==History==
[[Fremont culture]] and [[ancestral Puebloans|Anasazi]] people were the first known inhabitants of the area where Parowan now exists. [[Petroglyph]]s, [[pithouse]]s, [[arrowhead]]s, [[pottery]], and [[mano (stone)|manos]] dating from A.D. 750 to 1250 found in the area are evidence that it was on a major thoroughfare of early [[indigenous peoples of the Americas|indigenous peoples]]. At Parowan Gap,<ref name="glad">{{cite web |last1=Davis |first1=Jim |title=Glad You Asked: Why Does A River Run Through It? – Utah Geological Survey |url=https://geology.utah.gov/map-pub/survey-notes/glad-you-asked/why-does-a-river-run-through-it/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209043301/https://geology.utah.gov/map-pub/survey-notes/glad-you-asked/why-does-a-river-run-through-it/ |archive-date=2019-02-09}}</ref> a mountain pass {{convert|10|mi|0}} northwest of Parowan, ancient people inscribed petroglyphs on smooth-surfaced boulders that feature snakes, lizards, mouse-men, bear claws, and mountain sheep. Located near the Parowan Gap there are dinosaur tracks. East of the Gap and petroglyphs hikers can discover Hadrosaurs<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.climb-utah.com/Zion/parowangap.htm|title=Parowan Gap - Petroglyph Site and Dinosaur Tracks|website=www.climb-utah.com|access-date=2020-02-29}}</ref> tracks that were originally formed in non-resistant mudstone. The tracks have three toes and can be found on the side of 12800 N.  Later, the [[Old Spanish Trail (trade route)|Old Spanish Trail]] passed through the area.

Parowan was founded on January 13, 1851, twelve months after Parley P. Pratt and members of his exploring party discovered the [[Little Salt Lake Valley]] and nearby deposits of [[iron ore]] in the [[Iron Mountain District]]. On January 8, 1850, Pratt had raised a [[liberty pole]] at Heap's Spring and dedicated the site as "The City of Little Salt Lake". Based on Pratt's exploration report, [[Brigham Young]] called for the establishment of settlements in the area to produce much-needed iron implements for the pioneer state.

[[Apostle (Latter Day Saints)|Mormon apostle]] George A. Smith was appointed to head the establishment of this "Iron Mission" in 1850. The first company of 120 men, 31 women, and 18 children braved winter weather traveling south from [[Provo, Utah|Provo]] during December. They sometimes built roads and bridges as they traveled, and they finally reached Center Creek on January 13, 1851. After enduring two bitterly cold nights, they moved across the creek and [[wagon fort|circled their wagons]] by Heap's Spring and Pratt's liberty pole, seeking the protection of the hills. Within days, the settlement organization was completed: companies of men were dispatched to build a road up the canyon, a town site was surveyed and laid into lots, and a fort and a log [[council house]] were begun. The council house was used as church, schoolhouse, theater, and community recreation center for many years.

In 1861 construction was begun on a large church building to stand in the center of the public square. The pioneers envisioned a building of three stories, built from the abundant yellow [[sandstone]] and massive timbers in nearby canyons. Known as the "Old Rock Church", the building was completed in 1867 and served as a place of worship, town council hall, school building, social hall, and tourist camp. In 1939 it was restored through the efforts of the [[Daughters of Utah Pioneers]] and a Parowan-sponsored [[Works Progress Administration|WPA]] project. It is now a museum of Parowan's early history.

Parowan has been called the "Mother Town of the Southwest"<ref>{{cite book |title=History of the Iron County Mission and Parowan the Mother Town |last=Dalton |first=Luella Adams |date=1978 |pages=11–71}}</ref> because of the many pioneers who left from there to start other communities in southern Utah, [[Nevada]], [[Arizona]], [[Colorado]], and even [[Oregon]] and [[Wyoming]]. In its first year, colonists were asked to settle Johnson Fort, now [[Enoch, Utah|Enoch]], where a stockade was built, and were also sent to settle along Coal Creek, site of the settlement to manufacture iron which became [[Cedar City, Utah|Cedar City]].

Parowan's first settlers were instructed to plant crops so that following immigrants could open up the coal and iron ore deposits, but local industries were also developed. Self-sufficiency was envisioned, and local industries included a [[Tanning (leather)|tannery]], [[sawmill]], [[cotton mill]], and factories for making saddles and harnesses, furniture and cabinets, shoes, and guns; there also were [[carpentry]] and [[blacksmith]] shops. In the early 1900s sheep and dairy industries were well established. Local farms were noted for their quality [[Rambouillet sheep]], and the Southern Utah Dairy Company, a cooperative venture begun in 1900, produced dairy products and was known for its "Pardale Cheese".

The first attempts at iron manufacturing were unsuccessful, but mining in the twentieth century brought prosperity to Iron County. When the closure of the mines and the completion of [[Interstate 15 in Utah|Interstate 15]] threatened [[economic depression]] in the early 1980s, Parowan citizens developed an economic plan to keep the community viable. Businesses now support [[Brian Head Ski Resort|Brian Head]], a year-round resort {{convert|12|mi}} south of town featuring downhill and cross-country skiing in the winter and numerous summer mountain activities.

Significant growth has occurred in the 1990s in Parowan; it has been attributed to affordable utility fees and a positive economic climate.{{Citation needed|date=April 2018}} Parowan is the site of the annual Iron County Fair on Labor Day weekend; it also is a host community for the [[Utah Summer Games]] and sponsor of the annual "Christmas in the Country" celebration each November.

In 1993 the city began development of Heritage Park. This site includes a park, a [[grotto]] and pond, and statues commemorating the founders of Parowan. Other local historic sites include the original town square with the Old Rock Church, the War Memorial and Rose Garden, the Third/Fourth Ward LDS chapel built in 1915, and the [[Jesse N. Smith]] Home Museum. Parowan City supports the Parowan Community Theatre, which produces theatrical productions throughout the year.

==Geography==
[[File:Parowan (aerial view).jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Parowan]]
Parowan sits on the southeastern edge of [[Parowan Valley]], at the mouth of [[Parowan Canyon]]. A distinct red-top mountain known as Valentine Peak ({{convert|8050|ft|disp=or|abbr=on}}) overlooks the valley and is used as a common landmark for the city.

[[Interstate 15 in Utah|Interstate 15]] runs along the northwestern edge of the city, with access from Exits 75 and 78. I-15 leads north {{convert|58|mi}} to [[Cove Fort, Utah|Cove Fort]] and [[Interstate 70 in Utah|Interstate 70]], and southwest {{convert|19|mi}} to [[Cedar City, Utah|Cedar City]]. [[Utah State Route 143]] leads south up Parowan Canyon {{convert|16|mi}} to [[Cedar Breaks National Monument]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|17.2|sqkm|order=flip}}, all land.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

=== Climate ===
Parowan has a cold [[semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BSk''). The data below are from the Western Regional Climate Center for the period from 1893 to 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ut6686|title=PAROWAN PWR PLT, UTAH - Climate Summary|website=wrcc.dri.edu|access-date=2018-01-03}}</ref>
{{Weather box||collapsed   = yes|
Apr record high F=88|Apr high F=61.7|Apr low F=32.0|Apr record low F=2|Apr precipitation inch=1.17|Apr snow inch=4.6|Aug record high F=100|Aug high F=85.5|Aug low F=53.7|Aug record low F=33|Aug precipitation inch=1.37|Aug snow inch=0|Dec record high F=70|Dec high F=43.5|Dec low F=17.3|Dec record low F=-22|Dec precipitation inch=0.88|Dec snow inch=10.2|Feb record high F=74|Feb high F=45.9|Feb low F=19.7|Feb record low F=-23|Feb precipitation inch=1.10|Feb snow inch=11.0|Jan record high F=68|Jan high F=42.0|Jan low F=15.6|Jan record low F=-27|Jan precipitation inch=0.87|Jan snow inch=11.1|Jul record high F=102|Jul high F=87.5|Jul low F=55.0|Jul record low F=29|Jul precipitation inch=1.11|Jul snow inch=0|Jun record high F=99|Jun high F=81.7|Jun low F=47.7|Jun record low F=22|Jun precipitation inch=0.53|Jun snow inch=0|Mar record high F=77|Mar high F=52.9|Mar low F=25.4|Mar record low F=-2|Mar precipitation inch=1.38|Mar snow inch=10.7|May record high F=92|May high F=70.9|May low F=39.7|May record low F=17|May precipitation inch=0.88|May snow inch=1.0|Nov record high F=79|Nov high F=53.3|Nov low F=24.2|Nov record low F=-9|Nov precipitation inch=0.99|Nov snow inch=7.3|Oct record high F=89|Oct high F=66.6|Oct low F=34.2|Oct record low F=-2|Oct precipitation inch=1.06|Oct snow inch=1.5|Sep record high F=95|Sep high F=78.3|Sep low F=45.0|Sep record low F=19|Sep precipitation inch=0.83|Sep snow inch=0|single line=Y|precipitation colour=green|location=Parowan Power Plant, UT|source 1=https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ut6686}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 526
|1870= 861
|1880= 957
|1890= 937
|1900= 1039
|1910= 1156
|1920= 1641
|1930= 1474
|1940= 1525
|1950= 1455
|1960= 1486
|1970= 1423
|1980= 1836
|1990= 1873
|2000= 2565
|2010= 2790
|estyear=2019
|estimate=3165
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2019CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|date=May 24, 2020|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,565 people, 893 households, and 682 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 439.2 people per square mile (169.6/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 1,230 housing units at an average density of 210.6 per square mile (81.3/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 96.41% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.39% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.12% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.16% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.79% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.13% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.16% of the population.

There were 893 households, out of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.33.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 31.2% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,426, and the median income for a family was $36,548. Males had a median income of $30,170 versus $17,036 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,859. About 7.8% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Notable people==
*[[Rose Bascom|Texas Rose Bascom]] (1922-1993), rodeo trick rider and Hollywood actress, hall of fame inductee<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cedarcityutah.com/news/archive/2021/07/24/prc-national-day-of-the-cowboy-southern-utah-cowgirl-cowboy-honored/#.YP4cU-hKiUk|title=National Day of the Cowboy: Southern Utah cowgirl, cowboy honored}}</ref>
*[[Scott M. Matheson]] - [[List of Governors of Utah|Governor of Utah]] from 1977 to 1985.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://historytogo.utah.gov/people/scottmmatheson.html|title=Scott M. Matheson|website=historytogo.utah.gov|access-date=2019-01-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/1990/10/8/18885031/cancer-claims-life-of-former-governor-scott-matheson-br/|title=CANCER CLAIMS LIFE OF FORMER GOVERNOR SCOTT MATHESON|date=1990-10-08|website=DeseretNews.com|language=en|access-date=2019-01-17}}</ref>
* [[Alma Richards]] - Utah's first Olympic gold medalist.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/829663/Like-Alma-Parowan-is-proving-tenacious.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121135/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/829663/Like-Alma-Parowan-is-proving-tenacious.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 19, 2019|title=Like Alma, Parowan is proving tenacious|date=2001-03-07|website=DeseretNews.com|language=en|access-date=2019-01-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uofupress.lib.utah.edu/alma-richards/|title=Alma Richards – U of U Press|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-17}}</ref>
*[[Jesse N. Smith]] - [[Mormon pioneer]] who helped settle Parowan, mayor of Parowan from 1859 to 1860.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://parowan.org/ City of Parowan official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060923120216/http://historyresearch.utah.gov/agencyhistories/759.html Parowan history]
* [http://www.whipple.org/edson/diary.html Diary of Edson Whipple]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Parowan
|North     = [[Minersville, Utah|Minersville]]
|Northeast = [[Paragonah, Utah|Paragonah]]
|East      = [[Panguitch, Utah|Panguitch]]
|Southeast = ''[[Dixie National Forest]]''<br/>[[Hatch, Utah|Hatch]]
|South     = [[Brian Head, Utah|Brian Head]]
|Southwest = [[Cedar City, Utah|Cedar City]]
|West      = [[Enoch, Utah|Enoch]]
|Northwest = {{flagicon|Nevada}} ''[[Great Basin National Park]]''
}}

{{Iron County, Utah}}
{{Utah county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Parowan, Utah| ]]
[[Category:1851 establishments in Utah Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1851]]
[[Category:Cities in Iron County, Utah]]
[[Category:Cities in Utah]]
[[Category:County seats in Utah]]