Murray, Utah
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Murray is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. The population was 34,024 at the 2000 census. Its estimated population in 2005 was 44,555. Nearly all of the growth is due to an annexation of a portion of the Cottonwood West CDP.
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[edit] History
The Mormon pioneers came to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. A pioneer group called the Mississippi Saints arrived one year later and began to develop a scattered settlement in the south end of the valley in the fall of 1848. The area was distinguished by various names such as the Mississippi Ward, Cottonwood, Big Cottonwood, and South Cottonwood. Written history states that at least 20 families were living in the South Cottonwood area in the 1860s. The area remained agricultural until 1869 when a body of ore was found in Park City and additional ore was found in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Because of its central location and access to the railroad, the first smelter was built in Murray in 1870 and Murray became the home of some of the largest smelters in the region over the next 30 years.
The first official post office was established in 1870 as the South Cottonwood Post Office. The area changed over time as the railroad came in, smelting expanded, the territorial road (later known as State Street) was established, and trolley transportation was developed. A business district also began to develop along the transportation corridor.
The City received its present name from the post office which officially changed its name from South Cottonwood Post Office to Murray Post Office in 1883 after the civil war general, Eli Murray. Eli Murray was a territorial governor of Utah from 1880 to 1886.
[edit] City Incorporation
After a riot and fire started by a rowdy group of smelter workers in a local saloon, the fight for incorporation was begun by the local newspaper editor. The final incorporation committee drafted a petition in 1901 and created an intense campaign on both sides of the incorporation battle. The election took place on November 18, 1902. Those in favor won and C.L. Miller was elected as Mayor by three votes. Salt Lake County recognized the election results as official on November 25, 1902 and the City was officially recognized as a Third Class City by the State of Utah on January 3, 1903.
[edit] Cultural Makeup
The early Mormon settlers were largely from Western European and Scandinavian countries. When the smelter operations began in 1870, the ethnic makeup of Murray dramatically changed with large numbers of workers coming from Eastern European and Asian countries. Over half of the smelter workers came from Greece. Many came from Armenia, Yugoslavia, Italy, and Japan. These groups brought new religious customs to Murray as well. Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, and Catholic church congregations developed. The ethnic diversity of early Murray is very visible in the Murray City cemetery.
[edit] Form of Government
Murray City initially created a Mayor-Council form of government. In 1911 a state law changed the form of government for cities of the first and second class in Utah from the old Council form to the Commission form of government. This form of government was again reversed in 1981. The city adopted the Mayor-Council form of government which included an elected Mayor and five City Council members. To insure staggered terms of the Council, an election is held every two years for half of the council members for four year terms.
[edit] Geography
Murray is located at (40.652397, -111.893229)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.9 km² (9.6 mi²), all land.
[edit] School district
The Murray City School District was created on January 1, 1906. It has eleven schools: seven elementaries, two junior highs, (Riverview and Hillcrest), and one high school (Murray). An alternative high school, (Creekside) was closed in 2006. Murray High is a 4-A school in Utah's 5 Division high school sports leagues (1A being the smallest, and 5A being the largest).
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 34,024 people, 12,673 households, and 8,719 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,367.0/km² (3,542.3/mi²). There were 13,327 housing units at an average density of 535.4/km² (1,387.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.56% White, 0.99% African American, 0.63% Native American, 1.83% Asian, 0.33% Pacific Islander, 2.77% from other races, and 1.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.49% of the population.
There were 12,673 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 13.3% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,569, and the median income for a family was $51,482. Males had a median income of $35,636 versus $25,713 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,094. About 5.5% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.
Due to a large annexation, Murray is now home (2007) to over 46,000 residents.
[edit] Trivia
The city was home to Ken Jennings, who holds many Jeopardy! television show records[citation needed].
Murray was the home of former heavy weight champion fighter, Jack Dempsey who's family owned the property that is now the Three Fountains condominium complex.
In 2009 Murray will host the national playoffs for Babe Ruth League baseball for 12 and 13 year olds.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Murray official website
- Murray School District Official Site
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
