The main conclusion to Glen Leonard's new book, "A History of Davis County," is that "residents have come far from their agricultural roots."
The book, published last month as part of the Utah Centennial County History Series, is a 436-page look at the county's 150-year heritage.What makes Davis County unique among the state's other 28 counties with strong agricultural roots is the county's area. Davis, the smallest of Utah's 29 counties, is less than half the areas of Weber and Morgan counties, the next two smallest. That makes the continuing loss of farmland to houses extra significant in an area with less than 300 square miles, some of which takes in the Great Salt Lake and Antelope Island.
Leonard, a lifelong resident of Davis County, lives in Farmington and is director of the LDS Church Museum of History and Art.
He also refers to Davis County as "the land in between," because it existed between Weber and Salt Lake counties -- both more prominent areas in pioneer days.
Davis' first phenomenal growth period came following World War II, when the population more than doubled, going from 30,867 in 1950 to 64,750 in 1960, mainly due to the presence of Hill Air Force Base.
Here are some other interesting facts illustrated in the book, the first-ever comprehensive history compiled on Davis County:
During the winter of 1847-48, the Mormon pioneers first used Davis County as an area to graze cattle. The first settlers came there starting in 1848.
Davis County had Utah's first courthouse, built of adobe in 1853 at Farmington. That building was demolished in 1890.
The state's only casualty during the "Utah War" was 31-year-old William A. Simmons of Farmington, accidentally shot by another soldier who was cleaning his gun. The Davis militia helped fortify Echo Canyon during that war.
A severe drought in 1855 meant Davis County residents had to eat weeds and roots to survive the following year.
The first recorded strong east winds struck in the fall of 1848 and damaged many roofs and homes.
The worst infestation of grasshoppers in Davis County occurred in 1868 and resulted in insects 2 feet deep and 3 to 4 feet wide along the shores of the Great Salt Lake.
A countywide road tax established in 1859 meant all males age 18 and older had to work one to two days a year on the public roads.
The first train was in service between Salt Lake and Ogden by late 1869 and the trip took two hours. The first fares were $2 a person one way but soon dropped to just $1.
Well-known furniture retailer R.C. Willey of Syracuse went door-to-door selling electric appliances in 1932 and opened his first store in Syracuse in 1954.
The I-15 route for north Davis County was proposed as either the Bamberger corridor on the west or the U.S. 89 route on the east. The former won out because of its less expensive building cost and its closer proximity to military installations.
"A History of Davis County" costs $21.21, including tax, and is available from the the Davis County Courthouse, tourism office, Room 221 at 28 E. State, Farmington. Call 451-3286 for more information.