Hildale, Utah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hildale, Utah
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Approaching Hildale in the evening from the northwest on Utah State Route 59
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Location in Washington County and the U.S. state of Utah
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| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| County | Washington |
| Founded | 1913 |
| Incorporated (town) | December 9, 1963 |
| Incorporated (city) | March 20, 1990 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.053 sq mi (23.447 km2) |
| • Land | 9.053 sq mi (23.447 km2) |
| • Water | 0.000 sq mi (0.000 km2) |
| Elevation | 5,128 ft (1,563 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,127 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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1,184 |
| • Density | 211.3/sq mi (81.57/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC–7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC–6 (MDT) |
| ZIP Code |
84784
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| Area code(s) | 435 |
| FIPS code | 49-35300 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410763 |
| Sales tax | 6.45% |
Hildale is a city located in Washington County, Utah, United States. It sits right on the border between Utah and Arizona. In 2020, about 1,127 people lived there.
Contents
History of Hildale
Hildale was first settled in 1913. It was known as Short Creek Community back then. The first settlers were members of a group called the Council of Friends. This group had separated from the main Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Salt Lake City. Hildale and its neighboring city, Colorado City, Arizona, share a close history. They are often called "Short Creek" together.
Early Years and Community Life
In 1914, a small school was built in Hildale. Soon after, a post office opened. For much of its history, Hildale has been connected to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). This church also separated from the main LDS Church.
The community faced challenges and government attention over the years. In the 1950s, both Arizona and Utah governments took action in the area. These events are known as The Short Creek raids.
The FLDS church had a special trust called the United Effort Plan. Many church members donated their property to this trust. They believed it would be used for the good of everyone. This meant that the trust owned most of the land in Hildale. It had a lot of power over how the land was used. Most homes were large to fit big families. There was also a lot of farmland.
Hildale officially became a town in 1963. It became a city in 1990.
Flash Flood Disaster
On September 14, 2015, a terrible flash flood hit Hildale. At least 12 people from two families died. They were in a low water crossing when the flood happened. One person was still missing years later. The flood was caused by heavy rain from Hurricane Linda.
Working Towards Fairness
In 2016, a court case involved Hildale and Colorado City. The court found that the cities had not treated everyone fairly. This included people who were not part of the FLDS church. The cities were found to have made it hard for some people to find housing. They also treated people differently based on their religious beliefs. This was against laws that protect equal housing opportunities.
New Leadership and Changes
After 2005, the government took control of the UEP land trust. Later, a new board managed it. Land was offered back to people who could prove they had lived there. Many people who had left the FLDS church started to return to Hildale. This led to a big change in the city's population.
In 2017, Donia Jessop was elected mayor of Hildale. She had left the FLDS church and returned to the city just a year before. This was a historic moment. She was the first woman and the first non-FLDS member to be elected mayor. At first, some city officials refused to work with her. Many employees and city council members resigned. This led to new elections to fill the empty spots.
Since this change in leadership, Hildale has worked to be more open. The city now welcomes people who leave the FLDS faith. It also invites former residents to return. Hildale is working with Colorado City to make both communities more welcoming. This includes new services like a college branch and the first local businesses that were not previously allowed.
Geography and Climate
Hildale covers about 9.053 square miles (23.447 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Hildale's Climate
Hildale has a semi-arid climate. This means it is generally dry with hot summers and mild winters. It gets some rain, but not a lot.
Population Changes
The population of Hildale has changed quite a bit over the years.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 480 | — | |
| 1980 | 1,009 | 110.2% | |
| 1990 | 1,325 | 31.3% | |
| 2000 | 1,895 | 43.0% | |
| 2010 | 2,726 | 43.9% | |
| 2020 | 1,127 | −58.7% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 1,184 | −56.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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Education in Hildale
Hildale is part of the Washington County School District.
Early Schools
The first school for Hildale students was built in 1914. It was actually across the border in Arizona. Over time, different schools were used. By 1998, younger students went to Phelps School in Hildale. Older students often went to school in Arizona. In the early 2000s, many families began to homeschool their children. This led to public schools closing down. Utah then arranged for remaining public school students to attend schools in Arizona.
Water Canyon Schools
In 2014, the Washington County School District bought the old Phelps Elementary building. They quickly fixed it up and reopened it as Water Canyon School. This school originally taught students from kindergarten all the way to 12th grade.
Two years later, a new building was finished next to Phelps. This became Water Canyon High School. With the high school open, Water Canyon School became a K-8 school (kindergarten to 8th grade). By 2020, more students were enrolling. The school added new buildings for career and technical education. It also built new sports facilities. In 2021, Utah Tech University opened a small campus inside the high school.
See also
In Spanish: Hildale (Utah) para niños
