Hamblin, Utah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hamblin
|
|
|---|---|
 Hamblin
Location in Utah
Hamblin
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| County | Washington |
| Founded | 1856 |
| Founded by | Jacob Hamblin |
| Named for | Jacob Hamblin |
| Elevation | 5,832 ft (1,778 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
84725
|
| Area code(s) | 435 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1451257 |
Hamblin is a ghost town in Washington County, Utah, in the United States. It was once a busy pioneer settlement along the Mormon Road. People lived there from 1856 until about 1905. It was named after Jacob Hamblin, an important early settler. The town was located high up in Mountain Meadow, at an elevation of 5,832 feet.
Contents
History of Hamblin
How Hamblin Started
In 1856, a man named Jacob Hamblin built a ranch and a home for his family. It was in a beautiful spot overlooking Mountain Meadow. This happened soon after a new wagon road, called the Leach Cutoff, was built nearby in 1855. This new road was part of the Mormon Road. It made travel easier, saving 15 miles from the older route.
Other settlers soon came to the area. They started their own ranches and farms. A small community began to grow. Homes were built along a street, and a church and school were at one end. The settlement was first called Fort Hamblin, but later its name was shortened to Hamblin.
Life in Early Hamblin
The town got its drinking water from Hamblin Spring. This was a clear spring located very close to the village at 37°32′34″N 113°36′20″W / 37.54278°N 113.60556°W. Farms in the meadow were watered by other springs. The settlers grew food and raised animals. They sold their goods to travelers passing through. These travelers included people moving herds of animals, immigrants, and teamsters driving wagons.
In 1857, a sad event known as the Mountain Meadows Massacre happened nearby. Seventeen children survived this event. They were brought to Hamblin and cared for by the townspeople. Later, they were returned to their families in Arkansas. In 1869, Jacob Hamblin received a request from Brigham Young, a leader of the Mormon church. He was asked to start a mission for Native Americans at Fort Kanab. Jacob Hamblin and his family then left Hamblin.
Why Hamblin Became a Ghost Town
After 1869, railroads began to spread across Utah. This meant the Mormon Road was no longer the main way to travel. Hamblin became a quiet, less important place. Over many years, the beautiful, spring-fed meadow where the town was located changed. Large herds of animals and wagons passing through had overgrazed the land.
This overgrazing caused more floods and soil erosion. The water underground also dropped, and the springs that watered the meadow started to dry up. Because of these problems, the people of Hamblin began to move away. Many of them went to a new town called Enterprise. By 1890, most of Hamblin was deserted, and it became a ghost town.
What's Left Today
Today, not much remains of the old town of Hamblin. You can still find the Hamblin Cemetery at 37°32′11″N 113°36′28″W / 37.53639°N 113.60778°W. There are also a few old foundations of homes. These ruins are part of what is now called the Hamblin Historical Site.
To visit the site, you can take Pinto Road. This is a dirt road that turns east off State Highway 18, near Mile Marker 34. There are signs that will guide you to the Hamblin Cemetery. The main town site is about a mile northeast of the cemetery.
