Ever wonder how a city gets its name? Woods Cross. This city owes its existence to fertile land and a man named Daniel Wood. Let’s step back in time and uncover the story of Woods Cross.
Woods Cross is located in Davis County. It sits just eight miles north of Salt Lake City near the Wasatch Mountain Range. The mountains provide water to the city. Snow and mountain springs run off the mountains. These waters feed the land. This makes the area ideal for farming.
In 1847, Mormon settlers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. Peregrine Sessions went north to find pastureland. He chose a spot near Cudahy Lane. He spent the winter there with his family. They watched over their herds. The next year, more settlers came. They built cellars and dugouts near the Jordan River.
Water shaped the development of Woods Cross. The settlers chose the area for its rich bottom lands. Mill Creek’s overflowing channels deposited fertile silt. This created some of the best farmland in Utah. Rain and melting snow from the mountains saturated the land. Some water was trapped underground. This preserved fresh water along the Great Salt Lake’s eastern edge.
Daniel Wood was an early settler. Woods Cross is named after him. By 1855, he was the wealthiest man in Woods Cross. He owned land, houses, and possessions worth almost $14,000. In 1854, Wood built a school. A church followed in 1863. In 1869, he donated land for a railroad depot. It was first called Woods Crossing. Then it was shortened to Woods Cross.
Ira S. Hatch was another prominent settler. The Hatch family established and ran brickyards in Woods Cross. Hatch’s descendants were shareholders in the Deseret Livestock Company. It was formed in 1891 by local sheepmen. The company remained in Woods Cross until 1933. Then, much of the stock was sold. The company’s offices moved to Salt Lake City. Its mercantile store in Woods Cross closed.
As Bountiful’s watersheds were cleared and sloughs were drained, runoff increased. Woods Cross struggled to manage the water. They built wooden troughs and ditches. These channeled water where they wanted it to go. Drains carried excess water to the lake. They also built holding ponds and underground cisterns. These saved runoff for later use. A federally funded project in the 1980s helped solve the problem. Concrete walls, basins, and lined ditches carried overflow to the Great Salt Lake.
The Lower Ditch of the Mill Creek water system was replaced by the Lower Bonneville Canal. The canal provided a consistent water supply. However, it also impoverished the city. The Bonneville project cost over $1,000,000. Local farmers could hardly afford it. Almost every piece of land in Woods Cross was mortgaged. The land was in danger of reverting to the state for tax debts. County Commissioner Calvin Rampton sought federal aid. Low-interest aid was granted and the bonds were cleared.
By 1970, Woods Cross was the third-fastest-growing city in Utah. Its population reached 3,124. This was up from 1,098 in 1960. The population continued to grow. It reached 5,384 residents in 1990.
The city preserved its water resources. Woods Cross allowed nearby towns to annex shopping centers and industrial parks. Those towns supplied them with water. Residents prefer the rural lifestyle of Woods Cross. They value the less complicated life. High-density housing and industrial complexes have been defeated. Recent grants have helped Woods Cross mark its boundaries. Evergreens and flowers welcome newcomers. Woods Cross is a city with a rich history. It is named after a prominent settler. Water shaped its development. Today, Woods Cross maintains its rural charm.