Plat of Zion

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The original plat of the City of Zion (Independence, Missouri). The plat of Zion, or a modified version called the "grid system," has subsequently been the basis for the plans of most Western U.S. communities.

The plat of Zion is a plat (a standard city plan) used in the construction of hundreds of Mormon and Western United States communities. Designed around Latter Day Saint principles of agrarianism and community, the plan called for 24 temples at the city's center, reflecting the central role played by the church in the community. The temples were to be used for education, worship and cultural events, similar to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Conference Center.

The original plan calls for a city of around 20,000 people living in a one square mile grid of streets. The streets are laid out on the cardinal directions of the compass (East, South, West, North).

The original plan did not account for larger communities; once a city had reached the 20,000 limit it was envisaged that a new, separate city would be founded. Subsequently larger cities have been built, while still following the principles of the original design - Salt Lake City, Utah and surrounding communities are one of largest example of the plan.