Spotlight: Cottonwood Heights

by MAGEN OLSEN

Cottonwood Heights residents are “hardworking,” says Dan Metcalf, the Public Relations Specialist for the city. “[They] care about their quality of life.”

It doesn’t take much to find supporting evidence for this claim. The community blankets the foothills of the Wasatch Front, just southeast of the I-215 belt route in Salt Lake County. The quiet neighborhoods are dotted with mature trees, while locals are treated to shopping favorites, such Trader Joe’s and Target, at their fingertips.

Cottonwood Heights also has its fair share of parks and local eats. Mountainview Park on Fort Union Boulevard features a splash pad for kids in the summer, playgrounds, athletic fields, and walking trails. For night life and good food, the Hog Wallow has a small cabin atmosphere with pub fare and live music on most nights of the week.

Many locals are also involved with volunteer work, according to Metcalf. The city’s website invites residents to offer services and talents to teach classes, clean up parks, and host large events. Among the largest of the community’s events is Butlerville Days, a festival that coincides with Pioneer Day celebrations across the state. The festival features a parade, car show, fireworks display, and plenty of competitions, arts, and food.

If you’re wondering why the biggest community festival in Cottonwood Heights is named for another place, it’s because Cottonwood Heights wasn’t incorporated as an independent city until 2005. Before that, the area was comprised of several smaller communities, one of which was Butlerville. This community was named for one of the first families to settle in the area in the 1870s.

At that time, the town’s economy revolved around the Cottonwood Paper Mill. This mill was responsible for providing paper for the Deseret News and operated for ten years until a fire broke out and left the building gutted. Decades later it was converted into a dance club, which eventually closed as well, leaving a stone ruin. Now a registered landmark, the “Old Mill,” as it’s called, is a local treasure.

Cottonwood Heights is well known as the gateway to the great outdoors. “Many outdoor enthusiasts live here,” says Metcalf, “due to the expansive opportunities to explore and play in the great outdoors.” It’s not uncommon to find tourists around town in the winter months looking to catch fresh powder at Solitude or Brighton. During the summer, you’ll find locals and visitors alike taking advantage of hiking trails in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon.