Panguitch,
county seat and largest community of Garfield County, is built on
the south side of the Panguitch Valley, on the north slope of the
nearby mountains, and between Panguitch Creek on the west and the
Sevier River on the east. The elevation most quoted by citizens is
6,666 feet. The settlement was first called Fairview, but the name
was changed to Panguitch, an Indian word meaning "Big Fish," for
nearby Panguitch Lake, a wonderful fishing lake for both Indians
and pioneers. The town's land is generally arid and rocky, with
sandy, fertile soil. The climate is severe, with sub-freezing
weather seven months of the year.
In March
1864 fifty-four pioneer families led by Jens Neilson arrived the
area from Parowan and other settlements. They came over much the
same route followed later by Highway 20. A fort was built on the
present school square. Cabins were built around the perimeter, pens
and corrals were included for cattle, horses, and sheep. Land was
soon cleared and irrigation ditches and canals were surveyed and
dug. However, crops planted the first year failed to mature; the
settlers gathered and ate frozen wheat.
During the
first winter, supplies ran out. Seven men were sent to Parowan for
grain. They drove teams as far as the base of the mountain, then
proceeded on foot. The snow was deep, and the men sank and could
not walk. One man accidentally dropped his quilt on the ground and
found that it supported him. All seven men formed a line, laying
their quilts on the snow and then walking across the quilts. This
procedure was repeated all the way across the mountain, and the
trek became known as the quilt walk. Parowan pioneers came to meet
the men, who were fed, sheltered, and given grain. The men and food
were taken as close to Panguitch as possible, but the grain still
had to be carried across the mountain to the waiting teams. A happy
welcome greeted the successful adventurers.
On 10
April 1865 three men were killed by Indians in Sanpete
County--hostilities which started the Black Hawk War. The Panguitch
community was advised to leave, and the town was abandoned in May
1866. Residents left their homes and crops and sought safety in
Parowan and other communities.
In 1870
Brigham Young made a trip through the valley and decided it was
time to resettle. He called George W. Sevy, a resident of Harmony,
to gather a company and resettle Panguitch. The following notice
appeared in the Deseret News in early 1871: "All those who wish to
go with me to resettle Panquitch Valley, will meet me at Red Creek
on the 4th day of March, 1871 and we will go over the mountain in
company to settle that country." The company arrived 18 or 19
March, found no snow on the ground, the dwellings and clearings
unmolested, and even the crops of earlier settlers still
standing.
The
settlers first moved into the fort. Progress later brought a
gristmill, sawmills, a shingle mill, post office, tannery, shoe
shop, lime and brick kilns, a hotel, and a co-op store. The
meetinghouse built in the fort continued to be used as a school and
for church services. An early organization of the United Order was
formed; however, it lasted only about two years and was
dissolved.
Panguitch
was believed to be in Iron County until 9 March 1882 when the
territorial legislature created Garfield County and set the current
boundaries. School districts were created and county officials
appointed. There were no railroads at the time in Garfield County,
which features extensive forest lands.
With a
population of 500, Panguitch was incorporated in 1899. Agriculture
along with cattle and sheep raising formed the basic economy. A dam
was built at Panguitch Lake to enable it to hold more water for
irrigation. The West Panguitch Irrigation Company controls the
water from Panguitch Lake, while Sevier River water is managed by
the Sevier River Water Users Association. Present ditches and
canals follow courses laid out by early surveyors.
Panguitch
architecture is characterized by beautiful, locally made, red
brick. Making brick was a community affair. The two-story brick
structures are generally the oldest; the second generation of red
brick homes were one-story dwellings.
Electricity arrived in 1910. The Social Hall, built about
1900 and destroyed by fire before 1920, was rebuilt and was the
center of drama, dance, social, scout, and youth activities,
including court games. It is still in use today.
In 1940
Panguitch reached its largest population--2,500. The population in
1990 was 1,444. During World War II, many people left town to work
in war industries. Three hundred forty-eight service men and seven
nurses and WACs from Panguitch served during this war, and the
period marked the beginning of an exodus of people from
Panguitch.
In
1954-55, Croft Sawmills began operations in Panguitch and brought
many new people into town while allowing many area people to
remain. In 1970 Kaibab Industries acquired the sawmill and became
the largest employer. Today the sawmill staff has been reduced to
thirteen employees because of timber harvesting restrictions.
Forest and range permits also limited the cattle and sheep
industry. At the present time, tourism seems to be the best,
economically feasible industry. Panguitch is near five national
parks as well as monuments and near teeming trout streams and
lakes. Campgrounds, recreation areas, a ski resort, and verdant
forests surround the town.
Homecoming, July 24th, is the biggest local celebration and
includes a parade, reunions (family and class), community
breakfast, pit barbeque dinner, races, games, rodeo, and dance. A
beautiful historic cemetery lies about two miles east of the town
on Highway 89. Tombstones date in the 1870s.
To
accommodate tourism Panguitch currently has fourteen motels, four
restaurants, three fast food stores, five gas stations, three gas
and convenience stores, a fabric store, two grocery stores, two
hardware stores, a hospital and clinic, real estate offices, two
Indian crafts stores, and a Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum. An
elementary school, a middle school, and a high school, three LDS
wards and a stake center, a Catholic church, a Baptist church, and
the county courthouse and jail are available to serve community
residents.