Hatton, Utah facts for kids

Hatton, once known as Petersburg, is a small, quiet place in Millard County, Utah. It's what people call an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Today, it's almost a ghost town, meaning most people have moved away, and not much is left of its busy past. It sits at an elevation of about 4,826 feet (1,471 meters) above sea level.

A New Settlement

In 1859, a group of settlers arrived in the area. They included Peter Robison and Peter Boyce, who came from nearby Fillmore. They chose to settle where an important travel route, known as the Mormon Road, crossed Corn Creek. This spot was about three miles northwest of a Pahvant village, which was home to Native Americans.

The new settlement was sometimes called Lower Corn Creek. But it was soon named Petersburg, in honor of Peter Robison. He later became the first postmaster for the community. Peter Boyce also played an important role. He became an "Indian agent," which meant he worked with the local Native American tribes. He was appointed to this job by Brigham Young, a well-known leader.

A Busy Stagecoach Stop

For a few years, Petersburg became a very important stop. From 1864 to 1871, it was one of the larger rest stops along the Gilmer and Salisbury Stage Company line. A stagecoach line was like an old-fashioned bus route, using horse-drawn carriages to carry people and mail. This particular line connected the Utah Southern Railroad in Juab County to Pioche, Nevada. Pioche was a "mining boom town," a place that grew very quickly because of mining.

From Petersburg to Hatton

Between 1867 and 1869, many people started to leave Petersburg. Most of them moved upstream along Corn Creek to build a new town called Kanosh. This new town was built at the site of the original Pahvant village. In 1869, even the schoolhouse from Petersburg was moved and rebuilt in Kanosh.

After most people left, Petersburg became a much smaller place. It was mainly an agricultural settlement, meaning people farmed there. From 1877 to 1940, the community was renamed Hatton. During this time, it also had its own post office under the new name.

Hatton Today

Today, Hatton is almost a ghost town. There isn't much left to see of its past. You'll find irrigated fields along Hatton Lane, but very few signs of the old settlement. However, there are still a few homes where people live at the original town site.