A sampling of the evolution of early Utah place names and town monikers

                  Angels Landing and the Walter Wiggles part of the trail.

THERE were many original Utah place names that didn’t stick and were replaced by today’s modern titles. Here are some of them:

-Angels Landing: El Gobernador was its first title, in honor of William Spry, Utah Governor. But the name was superseded by a comment made during a Zion Park visit by Ogden Reverend Frederick Vining Fisher, who said that only angels would land there, as they paid respect to the throne of Deity, the Great White Throne, located across the Zion Canyon.

-Antelope Island: It had three early names, Antelope, Buffalo and Church. Osborne Russell, a trapper in the area in 1841 made a diary reference to the presence of antelope and buffalo on the Isle; Church Island was because the LDS Church owned it at one time.

                           Two dead trees on Antelope Island.

-Bountiful: Probably no City in Utah had more early names. It was settled in 1847 and Calls Settlement was the city's first name, for Anson Call, a visitor to the area. Sessions Settlement was its next title, followed by Mill Creek Canyon Ward and North Canyon Ward. By 1854, the first post office was titled North Canyon Settlement. The name Stoker, in honor of John Stoker, the first Mormon bishop there, also reigned for a time. Finally, in 1855, Stoker himself proposed Bountiful, the title of an ancient city in the Book of Mormon and that became official on Feb. 27, 1855.

-Centerville: This city was first known as Deuel Creek for Osmyn M. Deuel, who settled on a creek there. Next, it was Cherry Settlement for pioneer Benjamin Cherry. The Centerville name was a geographical reference to its center location between Bountiful and Farmington — the two oldest settlements in Davis County.

-Delicate Arch: Was known to early cowboys in the area by such names as "Cowboy Chaps" “Schoolmarm’s Bloomers” and "Mary's Bloomers." Delicate Arch superseded those range titles.

                               A group poses at Delicate Arch.           Photograph by Liz Arave Hafen

-Farmington: Farmington — Hector Haight was the first settler and Haights Bench, North Cottonwood Creek and Miller's Settlement were earlier names of the community. On Feb. 18, 1852, the Farmington name was officially applied, as a reminder to the fertile soil that made it a good farming area.

-Farr West: Was known as West Harrisville at first. Then, Farr West came along because it was both west of Farr’s Fort (named for Lorin Farr, first LDS Stake President in the area) and also because of early settler Chauncey W. West.

 -Fremont Island: Its first title was Disappointment Island, during John C. Fremont’s 19843 government survey. Then, Castle Island, for the distinctive shape on its northern end. Some dubbed it Miller’s Island, for the sheep herder owner. Then, it was even Wenner Island when that family lived there for four years. Finally, the Fremont name became universal.

-Hooper: It was Muskrat Springs at first, for a spring with the animals nearby. Next came Hooperville and then shortened to Hooper, in honor of Captain William H. Hooper, an early Utah delegate to Congress, who had cattle there.

                                Hooper historical sign.

-Morgan: It was oddly named “Monday Town Hollow” at first. The name came from the fact that many settlers moved in on a Monday. But, residents later called it after the middle name of LDS Church leader Jedediah Morgan Grant.

-Magna: "Ragtown" was its original name and then "Pleasant Green". However, some felt there were too many “Pleasant” titled towns in Utah already, so Magna, either the name of a local mine or a Masonic phrase, became the title.

-Morgan: It was strangely named “Monday Town Hollow” at first. The name came from the fact that most settlers moved in on a Monday. But, residents later titled it after the middle name of LDS Church leader Jedediah Morgan Grant.

-Mountain Green: Named as such in 1859 by settler George Higley for the its beautiful meadows, hills and valleys. Yet, “Deserter Point” was its original moniker, as in May of 1825, a disagreement over territory and pay meant that 23 trappers from Peter Skene Ogden’s group deserted and went over to the rival Johnson Gardner trapping party.

-Ogden: Was originally named Fort Buenaventura, before the Pioneers arrived. It was then known as Brownsville, in honor of Captain James Brown of the Mormon Battalion, until 1850 when it became Ogden, honoring Peter Skene Ogden, early trapper.

-Peterson: It was first settled in 1855 as Weber City, being along the Weber River. The name was later changed to Peterson, in honor of early settler Charles S. Peterson.

-Riverdale: Was known as Stringtown at first, because its early homes were strung along a single road leading to Ogden. Then, it was Jack Thompson settlement, named for an early settler. Finally, its proximity to the Weber River inspired its title.

-Stoddard: The town received its title after Judson L. Stoddard settled there in 1860. However, “Rumpus Town” was later a temporary nickname after many disputes over water rights and usage. Farmers were said to need three essentials during their water turns in that rugged era: hip boots, shovel and sidearm.