Harper Ward, Utah

Harper Ward is an unincorporated community in Box Elder County, Utah, United States. It is located along Utah State Route 38 for 8 miles (13 km) between Brigham City and Honeyville. Previously known as Call's Fort (1855–1906), it was renamed Harper Ward in 1906 in honor of Thomas Harper, who served as LDS branch president (1866–1877) and later as the first LDS bishop (1877–1899) in the area.

Harper Ward
Unincorporated community
Harper Ward
Location within the state of Utah
Coordinates: 41°36′40″N 112°03′29″W
CountryUnited States
StateUtah
CountyBox Elder
Settled1852
Elevation4,324 ft (1,318 m)
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP codes
84302
Area code(s)435
GNIS feature ID1441508[1]

History
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1880350—
18903777.7%
190048829.4%
191060323.6%
192074323.2%
1930238−68.0%
1940237−0.4%
195028419.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau[2]

In 1852, John Gibbs and George Foster moved from Brigham City and began to homestead the land, creating the first permanent settlements in the area. They were joined by a few other families in 1853. In 1855, following a visit from President Brigham Young, Anson Call constructed a fort in the area, which would give the community its name for the next fifty years. Thomas Harper was hired to manage Call's farm in the spring of 1856. John Gibbs became the first branch leader (1853–1856, 1858–1860), and was succeeded by Joseph Tomlinson (1856–1858), Chester Loveland (1860–1865), James May (1865–1866), and Thomas Harper (1866–1877). Harper continued to preside over the area as bishop in 1877 when the Box Elder Stake was formed and the area was organized as the North Ward. Following Bishop Harper's death in 1899, the name of the ward was changed to Harper Ward in his honor on June 6, 1906. Harper Ward has also become the name of the associated geographical region, although its boundaries have not always been coterminous with those of the ecclesiastical unit.

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Harper Ward Cemetery, Utah. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
  2. "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 8, 2006. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  • Huchel, Frederick M. (1999). A History of Box Elder County: Utah Centennial County History Series. Box Elder County Commission. pp. 347–351. ISBN 0-913738-09-3.
  • Munns, Arlene (December 1997). The History of Harper Ward.
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