Filmed on Friday, February 2 2024, I drive around Beaver, UT to see what's going on.
In 1847-1848, Mormons from the United States developed a trade route through the Beaver River valley between their new settlements at Salt Lake City in the Utah Territory and Los Angeles, which at the time was still part of Mexico.
This route became known during the California Gold Rush as the Southern Route of the California Trail. It was later called the Mormon Road or California Road.
Beaver was settled in 1856 by Mormon pioneers traveling this road; it was one of a string of Mormon settlements along the road through Utah. By design, these settlements were located a day's ride on horseback apart, which explains the regularity of their spacing.
Beaver was the first town in Utah to be electrified. A hydroelectric generation plant was constructed on the Beaver River early in the 20th century. The plant continues to provide a large part of Beaver's power requirements today.
In 2006, Beaver won a contest for best tasting rural water in the United States. In 2010, Beaver took top honors in the world for best tasting water. Its welcome billboards along I-15 highlight the water quality.
Notorious outlaw Butch Cassidy was born in Beaver.
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