Providence, Utah facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Providence, Utah
City
Location in Cache County and the state of Utah.
Country	United States
State	Utah
County	Cache
Founded	April 20, 1859
Area
• Total	3.88 sq mi (10.06 km2)
• Land	3.88 sq mi (10.06 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	4,695 ft (1,431 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	8,218
• Estimate  (2022)	8,995
• Density	2,118.04/sq mi (816.90/km2)
Time zone	UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code	84332
Area code(s)	435
FIPS code	49-62360
GNIS feature ID	2411498

Providence is a city located in Cache County, Utah, in the United States. In 2020, about 8,218 people lived there. It's part of the larger Logan, Utah-Idaho city region.

History of Providence

Providence is located south of Logan, near where Spring Creek meets the Logan River. It sits at the entrance of Providence Canyon, beneath a large mountain called Big Baldy. Early settlers chose this spot because it had good water, land for farming, and trees for building.

Early Settlements and Explorers

In 1855, a cattle ranch was set up near what is now Providence. Later, in 1857, families like the Campbells came from North Ogden looking for a new home. They found a good spot with a spring and a pond, and they tested the soil to see if it was good for farming.

Their plans to move were put on hold because the U.S. Army was coming to Utah Territory. Many settlers had to move south for safety. Some of these men later returned to settle in Providence.

Founding the Community

Settlers finally arrived at Spring Creek on April 20, 1859. Among the first were Ira Rice, a 65-year-old veteran, and Hopkin Mathews, a 35-year-old coal miner from Wales. Many English and German-speaking families joined them.

They cut Douglas fir logs from Spring Creek Canyon to build cabins. The houses were built close together to form a fort, which could be closed off with wagons. On April 25, 1859, Peter Maughan helped organize a religious group, choosing Samuel Campbell as its leader. The first meetings were held in a log schoolhouse. By August, 16 families lived in the fort.

On November 14, 1859, church leaders Orson Hyde and Ezra T. Benson officially named the settlement "Providence." They felt it was a special, "providential" place. Robert Williams became the first bishop. Two years later, he also became the postmaster when a U.S. post office opened.

Growth and Community Life

In 1860, John Theurer encouraged many Swiss families to move to Spring Creek because it reminded them of their homeland. These families brought traditions like community sauerkraut dinners, which are still celebrated today. Providence became a mix of people from different backgrounds, united by their shared faith.

Because Providence was on a Shoshoni trail, a strong rock wall was built around the log houses and a common area for protection. This wall was six feet high and two-and-a-half feet thick.

Conflict and Resolution

In 1862, a fight happened near Providence between 60 U.S. soldiers and about 30-40 Shoshone people led by Chief Bear Hunter. The soldiers wanted to get back stolen livestock and a ten-year-old boy named Reuben Van Orman, who had been held for two years. Three Shoshone people were killed, and five, including Chief Bear Hunter, were captured. They exchanged the captives for the boy.

Town Development

In 1864, the town was planned out with square blocks. The log houses and the meeting/school building were moved from the fort onto these new lots. In 1871, James Martineau completed an official survey of Providence City. The cemetery was also moved to a hill north of town. A rock meetinghouse was finished in 1871, and a rock schoolhouse in 1877. The schoolhouse was later replaced in 1904 with a new building that had a bell tower.

Farming and Industry

For over a hundred years, farming was the main activity in Providence. People dug Irrigation canals from Spring Creek and the Blacksmith Fork and Logan rivers to water their crops. They raised beef cattle, honey bees, horses, dairy cattle, poultry, and even foxes. Farmers grew grains, alfalfa, and fruits like apples, cherries, pears, and prunes. They also grew peas, beans, and sugar beets.

In 1886, Joseph Alastor Smith started a large nursery and dairy farm called Edgewood Hall. After the main house burned down in 1935, a financier named L. Boyd Hatch bought the estate and created a beautiful formal garden.

Providence also had stores, molasses mills, a sawmill, and blacksmith shops. A sugar factory began refining sugar beets in 1901 and operated for 25 years. Millions of tons of limestone for this factory came from Providence Canyon.

The Utah Idaho Central Railroad Company brought an electric train line to Providence in 1912. This railroad carried limestone, farm products, and passengers. It also brought electricity, telegraphs, and telephones to the town. The last train ran through Providence in 1947.

Modern Providence

As Utah became a state and Providence's population grew, it became a town corporation in the 1890s. In 1897, Hopkin Mathews became the town board president. Providence officially became a third-class city on July 19, 1929, with James Hansen as its first mayor.

Starting in 1962, Providence began to change from a farming community into a "bedroom" suburb of Logan. This means that many people who live in Providence commute to work in Logan. Fields were replaced by new neighborhoods with single-family houses. While some small businesses still exist, most large commercial activities have moved away. Many residents work at Utah State University or other companies and institutions in the Logan area.

Geography and Climate

Providence covers about 9.8 square kilometers (3.8 square miles) of land.

Weather in Providence

Providence has a climate with big differences in temperature between seasons. Summers are warm to hot, and sometimes humid. Winters are cold, and can be very cold. This type of weather is called a warm summer continental climate.

Population Information

In 2000, there were 4,377 people living in Providence. Most residents (about 96.7%) were White. About 2.1% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

There were 1,240 households in the city. In 50.2% of these homes, children under 18 lived there. About 79% of households were married couples. The average household had 3.51 people.

The population was spread out by age. About 36.6% were under 18, and 9.2% were 65 or older. The average age was 28 years old.

The median income for a household in the city was $56,129. This means half of the households earned more than this, and half earned less. About 3.2% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Notable People from Providence

• Nephi Miller: A pioneer in modern beekeeping, especially moving bees to different places.
• Debra Teare: A painter known for her realistic trompe-l'œil art.

See also

In Spanish: Providence (Utah) para niños