Millcreek, Utah facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Millcreek, Utah
City
Western Governors University in Millcreek
Location in Salt Lake County and the state of Utah.
Country	United States
State	Utah
County	Salt Lake
Incorporated	December 28, 2016
Named for	Mill Creek
Area
• Total	12.77 sq mi (33.07 km2)
• Land	12.77 sq mi (33.07 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	4,285 ft (1,306 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	63,380
• Density	4,963.19/sq mi (1,916.54/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
ZIP codes	84106, 84107, 84109, 84117, 84124
Area code(s)	385, 801
FIPS code	49-50150
GNIS feature ID	1867579

Millcreek is a city located in Salt Lake County, Utah, in the United States. It's part of the larger Salt Lake City metropolitan area. In 2020, about 63,380 people lived there. Before it officially became a city on December 28, 2016, Millcreek was known as a census-designated place (CDP) and a township. This means it was a defined area for counting people, but it didn't have its own city government.

Exploring Millcreek's Past

The first settlers arrived in the Millcreek area in 1848. Among them were Mary Fielding Smith and her children, including Joseph F. Smith. For many years, the area was mostly farmland and open spaces.

How Millcreek Grew Over Time

After World War II, more and more people moved to the suburbs outside of Salt Lake City. Millcreek grew a lot during this time. It was not officially added to Salt Lake City, so it remained an unincorporated area. This means it was governed by the county, not a city.

By the 1980s, most of the Millcreek area was developed. It was known by different names like East Mill Creek, Canyon Rim, and Mount Olympus. In the year 2000, the area was split into four different CDPs. These were later combined into one larger Millcreek CDP by 2010. This made the population of the Millcreek CDP much larger.

Becoming a City: The Journey to Incorporation

In 2002, Salt Lake County created Millcreek Township. This was done to give local residents more say in how their area was planned. It also helped prevent nearby cities from taking over parts of Millcreek.

Millcreek was the largest area in Salt Lake County that wasn't officially a city. Residents thought about different options for their future. One idea was to become an independent city. Another idea was to join with South Salt Lake. This would have created a very large city.

The idea of Millcreek becoming a city was put to a vote in 2012. However, it did not pass. Millcreek remained under the control of the Salt Lake County government.

Three years later, in 2015, the question was put to a vote again. This time, Millcreek residents voted to become a city! In 2016, they elected their first mayor and city council members. Millcreek officially became a city on December 28, 2016.

Building a Downtown for Millcreek

Since becoming a city, Millcreek has been working on a big project. They want to create a "downtown" or city center. This would give the city a main gathering place and a stronger identity. They chose an area around Highland Drive and 3300 South for this purpose.

There was a small problem because a shopping center called Brickyard Plaza was nearby. Salt Lake City had taken over this area many years ago. Millcreek wanted to include Brickyard Plaza in its new downtown. This caused some disagreements between the two cities. Eventually, they reached an agreement. Salt Lake City gave some land to Millcreek, and Millcreek agreed not to claim Brickyard Plaza. This helped Millcreek create its new city center.

Millcreek's Location and Climate

Millcreek is a suburban area. It is located between Salt Lake City and South Salt Lake to the north. To the south, it borders Murray and Holladay.

How People Identify Millcreek

Many people in Millcreek often say they live in Salt Lake City for their mailing address. However, "Millcreek" is also a recognized name for addresses in certain ZIP codes. The city is divided into four community councils. These are Canyon Rim, East Mill Creek, Millcreek, and Mount Olympus. These areas roughly match the old CDPs.

Understanding Millcreek's Weather

Millcreek has a climate with big changes in temperature throughout the year. Summers are warm to hot, and winters can be very cold. This type of weather is called a humid continental climate.

Millcreek's Population Facts

In 2015, about 60,119 people lived in Millcreek. Most of the people were White. There were also smaller groups of Black, Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander residents. About 7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Famous People from Millcreek

• Nathaniel Baldwin, who invented headphones.
• Gordon B. Hinckley, a former leader of the LDS Church.
• Sam Watson, a professional rock climber and Olympic medalist.

See also

In Spanish: Millcreek (Utah) para niños