Page Contents for Spanish Fork, Utah

Statistics & Facts

Weather & Climate

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Government

Historical Events

Chamber of Commerce.

Organizations, Churches, and Sports.

Libraries.

Schools.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The Utah state capital is Salt Lake City.
The population of Spanish Fork is approximately 20,246 (2000), 34691 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 3,363 (1990), 9069 (2010).
The amount of land area in Spanish Fork is 19.667 sq. kilometers.
The amount of surface water is 0 sq kilometers.
The distance from Spanish Fork to Washington DC is 1902 miles.
The distance to the Utah state capital is 52 miles. (as the crow flies)
Spanish Fork is positioned 40.11 degrees north of the equator and 111.63 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Spanish Fork average annual rainfall is 16 inches per year
Spanish Fork average temperature is (January) 21 (July) 83 degrees F.

Climate

Moderate. There are approximately 10 to 20 inches of snow each year with much more in the mountain areas.
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History & History Related Items

The Icelandic Monument honors the first permanent Icelandic settlement in the United States. Spanish Fork is situated at the base of the Wasatch Range and has become the livestock center of Utah. Rodeos and livestock shows are held at the fairgrounds during the year.
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Attractions

Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum located at 400 N. and Main St. in Spanish Fork. Pioneer artifacts and displays. Tours are available. Call (801) 798-2310 for more information.

Utah Mountain Llamas at 8628 S. Main St. Call (801) 798-3559 for more information. There are more than 35 llamas and pot-bellied pigs on this farm. Llama rides are available to children weighing less than 70 pounds.

Utah County Fair at Spanish Fork Fairgrounds. 4-H, floral/horse shows, food, livestock, talent contest. Call (801) 798-5041 or 379-2400 for more information.

See photos of Spanish Fork and the area.
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Spanish Fork City Government

Spanish Fork City Hall
40 S Main St
Spanish Fork, UT 84660-2031
Phone: 801-798-5000

Spanish Fork Historical Events

1854
The Icelanders of Utah by LaNora Allred
In 1854 the first LDS converts left Iceland for Utah. They were Samuel Bjarnason and his wife, Margaret, and their friend, Helga Jonsdottir. The three sailed from Liverpool, England, .on January 7, 1855, on the ship, James Nesmith, and arrived in New Orleans on February 23. From New Orleans they sailed up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, Missouri, and then proceeded to Mormon Grove. On June 13, 1855, they left by wagon train for Utah and arrived in Salt Lake City on September 7.

In Salt Lake City the three inquired of church authorities as to where they should settle and were directed to Spanish Fork in Utah County. There was quite a large number of Danish immigrants living in Spanish Fork, and it was thought the three Icelanders would feel more at home among those who had a somewhat common culture, although the language was not the same. Thus it was that by a strange chance of fate all of the Icelanders who came to Utah before 1900 came to Spanish Fork initially. The only one who did not come to Spanish Fork was Gudmundur Gudmundsson, who settled in Salt Lake City before moving on to other localities. He came with Thordur Didriksson in 1856.

In 1857 eleven more members had been added to the church in Vestmannaeyjar, and they were encouraged to emigrate. The following is taken from LDS Church records:

"There are now eleven Mormons on the island and all secured passage on the schooner Adolfina and sailed for England June 7th 1857. After a voyage of three weeks they arrived in Liverpool, England, where they remained another three weeks, but on the l8th of July, 1857, they sailed from Liverpool, by the freight ship, Wyoming, and after spending seven weeks on the Atlantic Ocean, arrived in Philadelphia, U.S.A., whence the traveled by railroad to St. Louis, Mo. After spending three days in that city, they boarded a river steamer and sailed up the Mississippi River to Burlington, Iowa, whence they traveled fifty miles inland to the little town of Fairfield, where some of them lived one and a half years, during which time preparations were made to journey to Utah. They left Fairfield May l6th, 1859, and arrived in Salt Lake City Aug. 29, 1859. They spent about three months in the city after which they moved to Spanish Fork, Utah, where they became permanent settlers."

The eleven immigrants were: Magnus Bjarnasson and his wife, Thuridur; Vigdis Bjornsdottir; Thordur Magnusson; Jon Jonsson and his wife, Anna Gudlaugsdottir, whom he married on board ship; Gudny Haflidasson; Loftur Jonsson and his wife, Gudrun Hallsdorsdottir, and his stepdaughter, Gudrun Jonsdottir. The eleventh person was probably Kristine Magnusdottir.

Spanish Fork Chamber

Spanish Fork Chamber
40 South Main, PO Box 567
Spanish Fork, Utah 84660-0567
Phone: (801) 798-8352
Fax (801) 798-5005

Spanish Fork Organizations

Spanish Fork Chamber
40 South Main, PO Box 567
Spanish Fork, Utah 84660-0567
Phone: (801) 798-8352
Fax (801) 798-5005

Spanish Fork Libraries

City Library
49 S Main St
Spanish Fork, UT 84660-2030
Phone: 801-798-5010

Spanish Fork Schools

Nebo School District
350 S. Main Street
Spanish Fork, Utah 84660
Phone: (801) 798-4000
Fax: 801-798-4010 Spanish Fork

Miscellany

The population of Spanish Fork was:
1970 - 7,284
1980 - 9,825
1990 - 11,272
1991 - 11,417
1992 - 11,632
1993 - 11,959
1994 - 12,902
1995 - 13,727
1996 - 14,854
1998 - 17,500
2000 - 20,246