Millcreek, Utah 2025

Millcreek, Utah, is a city situated in Salt Lake County, Utah, in the United States. The city can be found at 40.6745° N and 111.8291° W. It has a population of 62,139 as of the 2020 census and covers 14.3 miles.

Millcreek, incorporated in December 2016, was one of the few remaining metropolitan areas in Utah not incorporated as a city or town. Despite being one of the most prominent cities in the state, located in the heart of the Salt Lake Valley, it started life as a series of small communities that gradually merged into each other. The city is named after the mills and creeks that once formed the lifeblood of the valley'oryearick,in the

Near Mineral Fork Canyon, which descends the east face of the Oquirrh Mountains, the early settlers of the area built a lumber mill and several other Industrial facilities that would become the mills that would give the city its name.The area hosted several early mormon freezes and thrived in sheep and dairy production, and shipping lumber down the canyon was an essential part of this industry's growth. Early residents were primarily interested in mining and agriculture. The two creeks that flowed through the valley provided water for the farms.

Over time, the community's development necessitated the construction of a road connecting the southern end of the valley with the rest of the Salt Lake Valley. The result was a road that ventured down the canyon and emptied into the salt lake valley in the vicinity of 33rd South and 1300 East. Later, 3300 South was built, and with the beginning of the industrial base in Utah's economy, 1300 East was moved to the south end of the valley (where it is now), 3300 South' redundant section was removed.

Almost all of the residential areas were in the southern portion of the town, near the developed parts of the Salt Lake Valley. In the 1950s and 1960s, homes sprung up throughout the valley, and commercial development found its way to the main road, 3300 South, and in some areas, the side streets.

A drive-in theater was constructed, marking the beginning of development in the northern end of the valley. Along 3300 South, there were also built-in bowling alleys, a skating rink, and three movie theaters. Several restaurants and small strip malls appeared like wildflowers as residential housing moved north. The valley hosted the state's first auto row. Businesses that fix cars still occupy many locations. Riley's first wife, who helped him locate and develop the area, chose the name "Millcreek" because it flowed from their shared creek to reinforce the image of the area. Anything west of the Jordan River was the third district, while anything east was the first.

Several groups advocated for communities along 3300 South to be included in Salt Lake City. But when East Millcreek (which made up most of the valley's landmass) explored annexation into adjacent Cottonwood, Holladay, and Salt Lake Cities in the 1970s, residents actively rejected annexation as an option. While other valley towns and Salt Lake City proper jockeyed for incorporation status, the valley's residents voted against becoming part of any nearby city. The communities along 3300 South, including one on the eastern border of the valley and another near the valley's south end, were annexed by neighboring cities (Salt Lake City, Holladay, and Cottonwood), removing all direct municipal connections to the remaining unincorporated Millcreek communities. It lost direct access to its main business district along 3300 South. The rest of the valley became Salt Lake County's only township. Unlike "traditional" townships, it had no elected government. The county commission, all five of whom were elected from districts that covered not only townships but also the municipal areas, governed it. Traditional townships often had three commissioners elected only by the residents of their township. (Before a federal court case in the 1980s that mandated Salt Lake County's council elections be redrawn, it had at-large elected council members.)

In the ensuing 30 years, the cities along 3300 South developed separately of the rest of the valley. Although several shops and eateries also prospered along Highland Drive, the unincorporated portion developed its commercial district along 3300 South. Cottonwood Mall was completed just across the road from some of the valley's first homes, and 900 East was created, running into the valley (at first, a dirt road) from the southern edge of Holladay City. The entire eastern half of the valley north of 3300 South slowly transformed into suburbia as agriculture-friendly zones were remapped.