the hub 1870 Threshold of Change

In 1870, the railroad came through Salt Lake Citys west side. This both established it as the citys gateway to the nation and sowed the seeds for its future segregation from the towns geographic, cultural, and economic mainstream.
Continuity amidst Change Despite the Churchs best efforts, by 1870 commerce had entered the picture as a major part of Salt Lakes economy. Yet, as you can see In this picture, the Hub district is still untouched by the commercial district that has taken over Main Street. Hints of Marginalization This distance from the citys commercial center had begun to have effects on the area by 1870. It was left out of the wealth being created by the new businesses, none of which, according to the 1869 city directroy, were located within it. The Turning Point Yet drastic change is on the horizon. Months after this picture was drawn, the railroad would extend southward. This split off and isolated the area from the rest of Salt Lake City, bringing commerce, industry, immigrants, and nonMormon Gentiles in its wake.

Utah Central Rail Depot connecte d Salt Lake City with the transconti nental railroad at Ogden

Predominant Wealth Groups, 1870: Wards 6 and 15, which contain the Hub District, were becoming distinct from the center of town. Above, you can see that they were predominantly lower or lower-middle class. Below, notice that Ward 15 was declining in population compared to the rest of town. The railroad would both disrupt and accelerate this process.

Images of Salt Lake Citys Early Years

The ward was both an ecclesiastical unit in the LDS Church and a civic unit, used when compiling the census or for voting purposes, Although not published until this 1887 map, their boundaries, important community markers, were well known long before hand.

Steel engraving showing Salt Lake City in 1853

Although Salt Lake started systematically planting shade trees in the 1850s, and some orchards certainly existed, the many neatly ordered rows of trees in this drawing may have been figments of the artists imagination, reflecting a view of what the city wanted to be. View of Salt Lake City looking southeast from the head of Main Street in the mid-1860s North Temple, with City Creek in the middle and rows of shade trees on the sides.

An 1867 drawing of Salt Lake City

The first Denver and Rio Grande passenger and freight depots will be located on this block soon after this was drawn, on the current site of the Intermodal Hub. T I M E L I N E 1863 Discovery of silver and lead in Bingham Canyon. The same year dry farming, as a type of commercial agriculture, begins in Utah. These two industries would grow to define the states economy.

1849 The Mormon Church initiated the Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company (PEF), assisting some 26,000 Mormon converts immigrate to Utah between 1852 and 1887, most from Great Britain 1852 On August 29 the revelation on celestial 1850 11,380 settlers called the newly marriage (polygamy) was first made public created Utah Territory their home 1853 The LDS Church begins the 1851 Shade trees are planted on the construction of the Salt Lake Temple. borders of Salt Lake City's sidewalks.

1857 On September 7 the Mountain Meadow massacre took place. Arkansas immigrant on their way to California were killed in Iron County, Utah.

1861 First telegraph poles planted on Salt Lake's main street.

1870 In early 1869, prior to the completion of the transcontinental railroad, Mormon Church leaders began working on the organization of a connecting railroad between Ogden and Salt Lake City. In January 1870 that line was completed, connecting Salt Lake City to the national rail system

1847

1849 Gold discovered in California, attracting thousands of prospectors, many of whom stop in the new settlement in Utah for resupplies. The money and goods they pumped into the economy probably saved the town. 1850: Compromise of 1850 sets stage for Civil War. Utah is a slave territory. 1848 U.S. wins Mexican War and the Treaty of GuadalupeHidalgo is signed which cedes Utah to the United States.

1859
1860 Lincoln elected president. 1861-65 The Civil War

1868 Zions Mercantile Cooperative Institution formed as first United States department store. May 10, 1869 Joining of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railways at Promontory Point completes the transcontinental railroad.

1870