Union Square (Salt Lake City)
Union Square, also previously known as Public Square or University Square, is a historic block in Salt Lake City, Utah. Originally designated a public square during the initial 1847 survey of Salt Lake City, it was commonly used in the 1850s as a camping spot for recently arrived Mormon pioneers. As the city developed, the square became home to several educational institutions, including the University of Utah and has been home to West High School since 1901.
Description
Union Square includes the entire city block that is bounded on the north by 300 North, on the west by 400 West and on the east by 300 West. Formerly, 200 North marked the southern boundary before this section of street was closed and incorporated into the high school campus in 1961.History
On August 2, 1847, just days after the first Mormon settlers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, Henry Sherwood and Orson Pratt began to survey and layout Salt Lake City, beginning at the newly established Salt Lake meridian. In the early surveys, four blocks were designated public squares, including Union Square. The other public squares became Pioneer Park, Washington Square, and Tenth Ward Square.Upon the dissolution of the provisional government of Deseret in March 1851, due to the creation of the Utah Territory, Union Square was selected as the site for the territory's government buildings. Although no action was ever taken to construct buildings, and soon after, Fillmore, Utah was designated as capital city. For nearly a decade, camps of newly arrived Mormon pioneers made use of Union Square, including during the handcart period. Later arriving emigrants would camp at Washington Square in another part of the city. In 1880, Salt Lake City gave the square to the University of Deseret, beginning the square's long history with education in the area.