Colton, Utah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Colton
|
|
|---|---|
Hilltop Country Store, one of the last remnants of Colton, April 2009
|
|
 Colton
Location in Utah
Colton
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| County | Utah |
| Established | 1883 |
| Abandoned | 1950s |
| Named for | William F. Colton |
| Elevation | 7,237 ft (2,206 m) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1437529 |
Colton is a ghost town in Utah County, Utah, United States. A ghost town is a place where most people have left, and few or no people live there anymore. Colton is about 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Soldier Summit. It used to be a busy spot where different railroad lines met. Today, it's a landmark along U.S. Route 6, a major road between Spanish Fork and Price.
Contents
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 427 | — | |
| 1900 | 107 | −74.9% | |
| 1910 | 194 | 81.3% | |
| 1920 | 49 | −74.7% | |
| 1930 | 53 | 8.2% | |
| 1940 | 26 | −50.9% | |
| 1950 | 50 | 92.3% | |
The Story of Colton: A Railroad Town
How Colton Began: Pleasant Valley Junction
Colton started in 1883. It was first called Pleasant Valley Junction. This name came from the Pleasant Valley Railroad. This railroad connected the mining town of Winter Quarters, about 20 miles (32 km) south, to the main Rio Grande railroad line.
Soon, the original Pleasant Valley line was no longer used. The Rio Grande railroad built a new branch line. This new line had an easier path between Pleasant Valley Junction and Scofield.
Growing into a Busy Spot
Pleasant Valley Junction quickly became a busy place. It had a store, a hotel, and five saloons. Saloons were places where people could drink and socialize. Besides the railroad, people also mined and processed a special wax called ozokerite. This was an important part of the town's economy.
Sometime before 1898, the town's name changed. It was renamed Colton to honor a railroad official named William F. Colton. In 1900, a terrible mining accident, the Scofield mine disaster, happened nearby. This event greatly affected the whole area. Even so, Colton managed to keep going.
Decline of a Railroad Town
In 1915, Colton almost had another big growth spurt. The railroad thought about making it a major hub. This would have meant more jobs and activity. However, they chose Soldier Summit instead.
Colton stayed a fairly busy railroad town for a while. In fact, the town burned down and was rebuilt three times! But things changed when diesel locomotives were invented. These new engines were much stronger. They didn't need extra "helper engines" to push trains over steep hills like Soldier Summit.
Because of this, Colton's importance quickly faded. By the 1950s, most of the railroad work stopped. Many of the buildings were taken away.
What's Left of Colton Today
The most visible reminder of Colton is the Hilltop Country Store. This building was moved up to the main highway in 1937. However, it is no longer open for business. You can still find a few old buildings and ruins in the original townsite.
