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Blue Creek, Utah facts for kids

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Blue Creek, Utah
Blue Creek, Utah is located in Utah
Blue Creek, Utah
Blue Creek, Utah
Location in Utah
Blue Creek, Utah is located in the United States
Blue Creek, Utah
Blue Creek, Utah
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Utah
County Box Elder
Founded 1869
Abandoned 1900s
Elevation
4,701 ft (1,433 m)
GNIS feature ID 1437505

Blue Creek is a ghost town in the Blue Creek Valley in northeastern Box Elder County, Utah, United States. A ghost town is a place that used to be a busy community but is now mostly empty. Blue Creek was once a lively settlement, but it was abandoned in the early 1900s.

What Was Blue Creek?

Blue Creek started as a camp for railroad workers. It was built by the Union Pacific Railroad company. This happened during the final steps of building the First transcontinental railroad. This huge railroad connected the eastern and western parts of the United States.

Where Was Blue Creek Located?

The town was located in a valley called the Blue Creek Valley. It was also on the eastern side of the North Promontory Mountains. You can find its old location about 15 miles (24 km) southeast of Snowville. It's also about 20 miles (32 km) west of Tremonton. Today, this area is near I-84.

The settlement got its name from the Blue Creek Spring. This spring is about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) to the south.

From Railroad Camp to Farming Town

At first, Blue Creek was just a temporary camp for railroad workers. But over time, it grew into a small community. People started to build homes there. It even became a farming community. The town also had its own post office.

A pioneer named Alexander Toponce wrote about Blue Creek in his book. He said that in April and May of 1869, Blue Creek was a very busy place. It was a big construction camp. People sometimes called it "Dead Fall" or "Hell’s Half Acre." This shows how active and full of life the camp was back then.

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