1885 Map of Salt Lake

About this map

Salt Lake City and the expansive Jordan River valley are the central focus of this late 19th-century reconnaissance survey. The map details a period of significant development along the Wasatch Front, where the Utah Central R.R. and the Denver and Rio Grande Western R.R. lines weave through the agricultural and mining corridor. High in the Wasatch Mountains, the silver and lead districts are represented by settlements like Alta and Silver City, as well as the nascent resort and mining hub of Park City. To the south, the settlement pattern around Utah Lake is firmly established, naming many of the early colonies such as Lehi, Payson, and American Fork. A notable inclusion is Fort Douglass overlooking the territorial capital, a key military outpost for the region. The map also delineates the high mountain valleys of Heber and Wallsburg situated along the upper reaches of the Provo River.