Dover, Utah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dover
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 Dover
Location in Utah
Dover
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| County | Sanpete |
| Founded | 1877 |
| Abandoned | 1930s |
| Founded by | William Robinson |
| Named for | Dover |
Dover is a ghost town located in Sanpete County, Utah, United States. A ghost town is a place where people used to live, but now it is mostly empty. Dover is found west of Fayette, right across the Sevier River.
The people who settled here named their new community after Dover, a well-known city in England.
Contents
History of Dover: A Utah Ghost Town
How Dover Began (1877-1879)
Dover was first settled in 1877 and 1878. About 45 families moved here, led by a man named William Robinson. They discovered the soil was good for farming. However, they did not have a lot of water.
By 1879, the community had built a schoolhouse. This building was also used for church meetings and other town events. A post office opened, helping people send and receive mail. It stayed open until 1895. Dover also had two general stores. People often traded things like eggs for goods at these stores. This way of trading is called "in kind."
A Tragic Celebration (1896)
On January 4, 1896, Utah Territory officially became a state. The people of Dover wanted to celebrate this big event. They did not have a cannon to fire for the celebration. Instead, they decided to use some powerful material with a special hammer.
Sadly, the celebration went wrong. The hammer, which had been used many times before, broke apart. Several people were hurt in the accident.
Why Dover Became a Ghost Town (1910s-1930s)
Between 1910 and 1916, companies in Millard County built dams on the Sevier River. These dams were some distance to the north. The water collected behind the dams formed a large reservoir. This reservoir is now known as Yuba Reservoir.
The new reservoir covered some of Dover's farmland. This forced some families to leave their homes. Then, in the 1930s, a very bad drought hit the area. A drought is a long period with very little rain. This severe drought was the final reason why people left Dover.
A few houses were moved to other places. Most of the other buildings were later taken down. Today, almost nothing remains of Dover. You can still see some old foundations and a few fallen buildings. There is also a memorial cemetery where some of the early settlers are buried.
