Utah Gazetteers

A gazetteer is a list and description of places, such as villages, towns and cities. Gazetteers may also mention neighborhoods, cemeteries, population size, and geographical features such as rivers and mountains. It can be used to locate the places where a family lived. They usually include only the names of places that existed at the time the gazetteer was published. The place names are generally listed in alphabetical order. Maps and atlases can also help locate places. See also Utah Maps. Several guides to places in Utah are available, including:

Carr, Stephen L. The Historical Guide to Utah Ghost Towns. Salt Lake City, Utah: Western Epics, 1972. (Family History Library book 979.2 H2cr.) This book has a history of the towns no longer in existence in Utah. It gives the approximate dates each town was settled and deserted.

Gallagher, John S. The Post Offices of Utah. Burtonsville, Maryland: The Depot, 1977. (Family History Library book 979.2 E8g.) This source is a list of past and current post offices in Utah. It provides the dates of establishment for each post office. If a post office was discontinued, this source gives the date and the new post office designated to receive the mail. Several photographs are included.

Leigh, Rufus Wood. Five Hundred Utah Place Names. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret News Press, 1961. (Family History Library book 979.2 E2L.) This book provides the history and origin of the name of each place, including names of places and landmarks that no longer exist. It also includes American Indians' residences.

Origins of Utah Place Names. Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah State Department of Public Instruction, 1941. (Family History Library book 979.2 E2o; fiche 6046696.) This source documents when places were settled, former names, altitude and population in 1941. There is information on the creation of each county and boundary changes, including square miles. It also includes a list of extinct counties.

Utah State Gazetteer and Business Directory. 12 Volumes. Salt Lake City, Utah: R.L. Polk, 1900–1931. (Family History Library book 979.2 U34p; On six films beginning with 1697782 item 3.) This book contains an exhaustive listing of towns and cities from all parts of the state.

Van Cott, John W. Utah Place Names: a Compilation: a Comprehensive Guide to the Origins of Utah Place Names. Salt Lake City, Utah: University of Utah Press, 1990. (Family History Library book 979.2 E2v.) This is the best guide to Utah place names.

Writers' Program (Utah), Utah: A Guide to the State. New York, New York: Hastings House, 1941. (Family History Library book 979.2 E6w; film 1033881 item 3.) This gives a history of many areas and includes an index and maps of some cities. The book is arranged geographically and gives directions and mileage between areas. There is also information on altitude, population size, and roads.

Additional listings may be found in Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

UTAH - GAZETTEERS

UTAH - NAMES, GEOGRAPHICAL

Web Sites
http://www.maps.utah.gov/