Hiawatha, Carbon County, Utah Genealogy

Guide to Hiawatha, Carbon County ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Quick History
Hiawatha is a class 6 coal mining ghost town, in Carbon County. The coal mine opened in 1907 and the town was surveyed and building in1911, and the railroad, which allowed the coal mined to be shipped wherever needed, came about 1914. The town was built in stages and ethnic groups lived together in separate parts of town. A good portion of the miners came from parts of the world where they had once been miners. Many miners came from the Isle of Crete. In 1915 the postoffice was closed and the city offices were moved to nearby Blackhawk. The towns then merged together to be called Hiawatha. The early stage had about a population of about 500. After world war ll the demand for coal grew and a government housing project was built to house the returning vets. During the 40s and 50s the population grew to 1500. With the decline for coal production during the 1960's the coal the mine eventually shut down.

Location

 * Coordinates: 39°29′3.61″N 111°00′47.05″W

Maps

 * 1895 Map of Carbon County

Neighboring Communities
Mohrland | Wattis | Wattis Junction

Time Line

 * 1907: Town begun
 * 1911: Population grows to 500
 * 1914: Railway built from Helper facilitates coal shipments
 * 1940-50: Population hits peek at 1500

Biographies

 * Memorial to those who lost their lives in coal mines in Utah in the 19th & 20th centuries Lists name, date of accident, and mine.

Cemeteries
Check cemeteries in neighboring communities.
 * Carbon County Gravestone Photo Project
 * Carbon County Cemeteries Findagrave.com

Census

 * 1910 U.S. Census index of Hiawatha, Utah at UTGenWeb - free.


 * 1920 U.S. Census index of Hiawatha, Utah at UTGenWeb - free.


 * 1930 U.S. Census index of Hiawatha, Utah at UTGenWeb - free.

Church Records

 * The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints


 * Record of members, 1920-1944; annual genealogical report, Form E, 1920-1948
 * Form E 1920-1948

Historical Newspapers

 * Carbon County News 1908 - 1915
 * Eastern Utah Advocate 1891 - 1916
 * News Advocate 1915 - 1932
 * Carbon County Newspaper Articles
 * 1960s-2000 - Hiawatha Obituaries at UTGenWeb - free.

Societies, Museums and Libraries
294 South Main Helper, Utah 84526 Phone: (435) 472-3009
 * The Western Mining and Railroad Museum

Marriages

 * Marriage information may be located at the Western States Marriage Database searchable by bride or groom.

Death

 * Utah Department of Archives 1903 to 50 years ago Choices of search types - name, date of death (year, month, day, or any combination) and county. Images of actual death certificates.
 * Utah Death Certificates 1904 - 1956 -A free internet access to the 1904-1956 death certificates can be viewed on the Family Search Historical Records. Utah requires a death certificate before a burial is completed.  A death certificate may contain information as to the name of the deceased, date of death, and place of death, as well as the age, birthdate, parents, gender, marital status, spouse and place of residence.  For information on death prior to 1904 you can search the Utah State Burial Index.

Suggested Reading

 * ''Connecting the West : historic railroad stops and stage stations of Elko County, Nevada
 * Hiawatha Memories Compiled Stories and memories of some who lived there.
 * The Historical Guide to Utah Ghost Towns.
 * Some Dreams Die: Utah's Ghost Towns and Lost Treasures
 * Pioneers of Carbon County

Websites

 * Scroll down to Hiawatha, UTGenWeb
 * Carbon County, UTGenWeb
 * Hiawatha Photos
 * List of Mines in Carbon County
 * Silver Mining in the Beehive State
 * Utah Ghost Towns
 * Utah Mining