13 Small Towns In Utah That Offer Nothing But Peace And Quiet
Don’t get us wrong…it’s not that these small towns have nothing to offer. They are just exactly what small towns are supposed to be – quiet, peaceful communities far from the hustle and bustle of Utah’s bigger towns and cities. They’re the kind of place where you know your neighbor, where your kids can play safely in the yard and the entire town shows up for the community breakfast or Fourth of July parade.
Some of Utah’s beautiful small towns draw in lots of visitors (we’re looking at you Moab, Vernal and Kanab). Others are home to one of Utah’s universities (Ephraim, Logan, Cedar City). So while they’re wonderful places to live, they’re not always quiet!
This list is by no means a comprehensive one, and it only includes towns with populations of less than 2,500.
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
The pretty little town of Annabella had just under 800 residents at the 2010 U.S. Census. It got its name from two of the first little girls born there - Ann S. Roberts and Isabella Dalton. The town hosts a fun Fourth of July celebration and has a strong sense of community,
With just about 300 residents, Bicknell is truly a tiny town. The story of how it got its name is charming, too. In 1914, Thomas W. Bicknell of Rhode Island offered to donate his library of 1,000 books to any Utah town that was willing to rename itself after him. Thurber (the town of Bicknell's previous name) agreed to make the change. Another Utah town - Grayson - wanted the books also. A compromise was made, and Grayson took the name of Blanding (Bicknell's wife's maiden name). The two towns shared the prize and both got 500 books for their libraries!
Coalville's approximately 1,400 residents enjoy a truly peaceful community. Local farmers raise cattle, sheep and mink or grow alfalfa and wheat. While it manages to maintain a quiet community, it's also just 15 minutes from Park City, so there's plenty of bigger-city amenities nearby.
Fairview has a population of around 1,250 people. Many folks here make their living raising sheep, so you'll find lots of pastoral scenes of fields and barns dotting the landscape.
Fillmore is the largest town on our list, with just under 2,500 residents. Once the territorial capital, now Fillmore is a much more quiet town. It offers plenty of ATV trails and some great trout fishing, in addition to the historic Statehouse building.
With around 2,200 residents, Helper is a vibrant little town, but it's also very peaceful. It enjoys its proximity to Price Canyon and Price River and was named the Top Western Town in 2016 by True West Magazine.
Little Loa is home to just 560 or so people, and is definitely a quiet, peaceful spot in the Beehive State. If you stop in for a visit, you'll find several historic buildings. Nearby, the under-rated Capitol Reef National Park offers even more recreation and beauty.
Marysvale has just about 400 residents and life here is definitely quiet and peaceful. The town has a rich history. It was part of the 1869 gold rush and also served as the last stop on the railroad. Popular author Zane Grey stayed at Moore's Old Pine Inn (pictured here) while writing his book, "Riders of the Purple Sage," and Butch Cassidy is rumored to have been a guest as well.
About 2,000 people call Monticello home. This rural little town offers the ultimate in rest and relaxation - The Hideout Golf Course, which was named as the second best in the entire state!
The approximately 460 residents of Randolph had their 15 minutes of fame in 2004 - the town had the highest percentage of votes going to George W. Bush (95.6%). The gorgeous, historic Mormon Tabernacle (pictured above) was completed in 1914 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The lucky residents of tiny Wallsburg (population around 250) live about 23 miles up Provo Canyon. The town is located just 13 miles from Heber and is a bucolic little farming community.
Like I mentioned in the introduction, this is by no means a complete list! So many of Utah’s small towns are wonderful – which ones did I miss that you think should be here?
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
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