Argyle, Utah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Argyle
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 Argyle
Location in Utah
Argyle
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| County | Rich |
| Established | c. 1875 |
| Abandoned | 1915 |
| Founded by | John Kennedy, Sr. |
| Named for | Argyll |
Argyle is a ghost town found in Rich County, Utah, United States. It's about 3 miles (4.8 km) southwest of Randolph, near Big Creek. People lived here from around 1875 to 1915.
Contents
History of Argyle
Early Settlement and Growth
Around 1875, a man named John Kennedy, Sr. moved to this area. He brought his three sons with him. They built homes and ranches along the different parts of Big Creek. One of his sons, John Kennedy, Jr., later became a politician in Utah.
After a few years, other families, many of them Mormon, also moved to the area. They started a local church group. At first, the town was called Kennedyville after the first family.
Renaming and School Life
In 1885, the people in the community decided to create a school system. Most of the residents were from Scotland or had Scottish roots. They voted to change the town's name to Argyle. This name honored Argyll, a place in Scotland.
The first school lessons were held in John Kennedy's home. Then, in 1895, a one-room brick schoolhouse was built. The weather in Argyle was very cold, which made farming hard. Because of this, the town grew slowly. In 1900, there were 111 people living there. By 1910, the population was just over 125, and a second room was added to the school.
Why Argyle Became a Ghost Town
Argyle started to decline as travel became easier. Farmers no longer needed to live so close to their fields. The school in Argyle was not as good as the one in nearby Randolph. Also, Argyle did not have any stores or other services.
In 1913, the local church group stopped meeting. Then, in 1915, the school closed down. Its students joined the school in Randolph. Most of the people living in Argyle moved to Randolph. However, they often kept their farms in the Argyle area.
Today, Argyle is deserted, but many old buildings and walls are still standing. The area is surrounded by fields and is closed to the public. However, you can easily see the ruins from the road.
