History

History

West Point enjoys a strong agricultural and pioneer heritage. Founded on the shores of the Great Salt Lake, this jewel of Northern Utah has found a way to embrace the 21st Century while not losing sight of those values and qualities woven into the fabric of its past.

The first permanent settler in West Point was James Hale. In 1863, Mr. Hale formed a network of dugouts on the shore of the Great Salt Lake and actually made a living by gathering salt. The first family to strike the ground with a plow was Levi Hammon's in 1866. The new agricultural hamlet attracted other settlers to what was then known as "South Hooper."

In 1877, Hooper was divided. That city continued to bridge Weber and Davis Counties, while South Hooper was placed entirely in Davis County. The area continued to attract ranchers and farmers as portions of nearby Kaysville and South Weber were annexed into South Hooper in the late 19th Century.

Several names have been chosen for this area, including Muskrat Springs (because of the large muskrat population which continues in the area), Sandridge (because of the ridge of sandy backwash the ancient Lake Bonneville had thrown onto the shore), and Fruitia (because of the many beautiful fruit orchards in the area).

On May 29, 1910, Erastus Fisher suggested changing the name of South Hooper to West Point because it was located at the western-most point of Davis County. Although the name was adopted, it wasn't until September 3, 1935 that the City of West Point was incorporated. At that time, a mere 87 families lived within the new city's boundaries.

Through the years since its founding, as the Salt Lake Area continues to draw more people, West Point also continues to flourish. With a population of more than 9,000, West Point is expected to grow by nearly 40% over the next few years. New homes now dot the landscape; built by families seeking a high quality of life, safe environment, and a lingering rural feel that is uniquely West Point.

West Point City Corporation
Department of Community and Economic Development
3200 West 300 North
West Point, Utah 84015
(801) 776-0970