Kiz, Utah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kiz
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 Kiz
Location in Utah
Kiz
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| County | Carbon |
| Established | 1906 |
| Abandoned | 1940 |
| Named for | Kiziah Dimick |
Kiz is a ghost town located in a dry area called Clark Valley. It is in the eastern part of Carbon County, Utah, United States. This was a farming community that existed from about 1906 to 1940. Today, the closest town where people still live is East Carbon.
Contents
History of Kiz
Early Settlers and Challenges
The Clark Valley area was first settled in the 1890s. Two ranchers tried to live there, and the first one, named Clark, gave the valley its name. Both ranchers soon left their homes. They probably moved because of drought, which means a long period with very little rain.
In 1906, the first permanent settlers arrived. These were Orson Dimick and John Higginson. Later, Nephi Perkins and Dimick's parents, Ephraim and Kiziah, joined them. Most of the people who claimed land, called homesteaders, came between 1910 and 1916. One of these was Gratien Etchebarne, a successful Basque sheepherder. He officially claimed land in 1916. By then, about two dozen families lived in what became Kiz.
Farming in a Dry Climate
The settlers knew that the valley had a very dry, desert climate. They worked hard to practice dry farming. This is a way of growing crops in dry areas without much irrigation. To save every drop of water, residents dug many wells. Even though there was no river nearby, they built a large reservoir to store water for their crops. This water was used for irrigation.
Growth and Naming of Kiz
In 1921, a group called the American Legion promoted Clark Valley. They wanted to help World War I veterans find homes there. They claimed there was plenty of water for irrigation, but this water never actually arrived. We don't know how many people moved there because of this advertisement.
By 1924, there were enough children in Kiz to start a school. Gratien Etchebarne provided a building for the school. The town's population was largest in 1925. In 1926, a post office was opened in George Mead's general store. Mead suggested the name Kiz for the town. He chose this name to honor the first woman settler in the valley, his sister Kiziah "Aunt Kiz" Dimick.
Decline and Abandonment
Kiz did have good harvests in some years. However, water was always in short supply. In 1930, there was another very bad drought. Because of this, most of the residents moved away. The school building burned down in 1932. After that, the students had to go to school in Sunnyside. By 1940, Kiz had become a ghost town. Today, you can still see the town's cemetery and some empty building foundations.
