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Blacks Fork, Utah facts for kids

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Blacks Fork
Blacks Fork is located in Utah
Blacks Fork
Blacks Fork
Location in Utah
Blacks Fork is located in the United States
Blacks Fork
Blacks Fork
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Utah
County Summit
Founded 1870
Abandoned 1930
Named for Blacks Fork
Elevation
8,848 ft (2,697 m)
GNIS feature ID 1444064

Blacks Fork, also known as Blacks Fork Commissary, is a ghost town in Summit County, Utah, United States. A ghost town is a place where people used to live and work, but now almost no one does. This town was named after the Blacks Fork River nearby. It was a busy place for logging (cutting down trees for wood) from 1870 until 1930.

History of Blacks Fork

Blacks Fork started in 1870 as a camp where people cut down trees. They supplied wood to build railroads and for mining (digging for valuable minerals). A large barn was built in the middle of the town. Many businesses and homes grew around this barn.

Was it a Military Base?

Some stories say the town was also a military commissary. A commissary is like a store that provides food and supplies to soldiers. However, a researcher named Stephen Carr looked into this idea. He found it was very unlikely.

This was because the camp was in a very remote place. It also had a harsh climate, meaning the weather was often very cold or difficult. Plus, there was already an army post called "Blacks Fork" near Bryan, Wyoming. So, it seems the town was mostly just for logging.

Life in the Town

At its busiest, about 100 people lived in Blacks Fork. But the town was later abandoned when the logging work ended. Today, you can still see the old barn. There is also a post office building and a few homes left.

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