Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah Maps

Online Resources

• 1847 The Route Taken by the First Group of Emigrant Pioneer Wagons, 22 and 24 July 1847 at Yale University Library Digital Collection
• 1850 Salt Lake City Plot Map, 1850s, with Names. According to Orson Pratt Survey made in August 1847, showing names of all original (inheritance) owners, with historic data. 6th North (formerly 5th North) to 9th South. 6th West (formerly 5th West) to 3rd East. Has modern street names, except streets north of, and west of Temple Square are off by one.
• 1853-1854 City Wall Around Salt Lake City at Internet Archive - Shows location of city wall superimposed upon map of a portion of modern Salt Lake City.
• 1855 Salt Lake County Plot Map, Five-acre Plat "A" Portion of the Big Field Survey at Yale University Library - From 9th South to 21st South and 4th West to 13th East, showing names of original (inheritance) owners, with historical notes.
• 1855 Portion of Township 1 North, Range 1 West, Salt Lake County at Yale University Library - Showing location of Great Salt Lake City. Prepared from print of original for Nicholas G. Morgan, Sr. Surveyed 3rd quarter, 1855. Blue line print. Includes note of approval by David A. Burt, Surveyor General of Utah. Relief shown by hachures.
• 1858 Salt Lake City, Plat D at Yale University Library Digital Collection - Survey of 1858 by Jesse Fox, Territorial Surveyor, showing original owners and original names of streets—City Creek Canyon on the west and “N” Street on the east and from South Temple Street to 4th Avenue, with historic data. Also viewable from the .
• 1860 Salt Lake City Plot Map, 1860 at University of Utah Digital Library - Indicates which ward the lot was in.
• 1950 Salt Lake City Plot Map, 1850s, with Names and Index at Yale University Library Digital Collection - According to Orson Pratt Survey made in August 1847, showing names of all original (inheritance) owners, with historic data. 6th North (formerly 5th North) to 9th South. 6th West (formerly 5th West) to 3rd East. Includes index. Has modern street names, except streets north of, or west of Temple Square are off by one.
• FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Creation of Downtown Streets in Salt Lake City

Street Numbering

Out from the center of the city, now Temple Square, blocks were arranged on a grid pattern in 10-acre squares, divided into 8 lots, and separated by streets 8 rods (132 feet) wide, allowing for a team of oxen with a covered wagon enough space to make a turn around. Blocks were 40 by 40 rods (660 by 660 feet). Lots were 10 by 20 rods (165 by 330 feet).

Original Street Names, Residential Area

Originally, as shown in the 1887 map below, street names were relative to Temple Square and its four, bounding streets: North Temple St., East Temple St., South Temple St., and West Temple St. One block farther away from the square was 1st North St., 1st East St., 1st South St., and 1st West St., respectively. Using this system, street names north of Temple Square and west of Temple Square were different than today.

Street Names in the Big Field

The grid extended south to 9th South Street. South of that point was the "Big Field,"which was intended for farming. The northern part of the Big Field contained 100 acre blocks divided into 5 acre lots. As shown by the blue street names on the map below, the larger blocks meant 10th South, 11th South, and 12th South were spaced much farther apart than the streets downtown. South of 12th South lots were 10 acres and streets were spaced even farther apart.

In 1916 house numbers in the Big Field were changed to match distances north of 9th South. Street names were changed immediately afterwards. The new names are shown in red on the map, below.

West and North Street Names

In 1972, street names were made relative to the southeast corner of Temple Square, rather than the whole of Temple Square. Street names East of and south of Temple Square were unaffected. Streets north of Temple Square and streets west of Temple Square were renamed. The street named 1st North became 2nd North, and so on. The street named 1st West became 2nd West, and so on.

Additional Resources

• "Supplementary System of Street Numbering Urges as Aid to Citizens," Salt Lake Telegram, 21 June 1932, p. 9, cols. 2-3. Online at: Utah Digital Newspapers; Richard R. Lyman proposed dual street names to Salt Lake City
• "County Studies Simple Street Number Plan," Salt Lake Tribune, 19 March 1936, p. 24, col. 1. Online at: Utah Digital Newspapers. Richard R. Lyman proposed dual street names to Salt Lake County
• "County Adopts New Setup for Street Naming," Salt Lake Tribune, 12 June 1936, p. 26, col. 5, and photograph, cols. 6-7. Online at: Utah Digital Newspapers. Salt Lake County surveyor announced adoption of the Lyman style dual street signage
• "City Commission Votes to Experiment with County System of Street Numbers," Salt Lake Telegram, 15 August 1939, p. 22, cols. 5-7. Online at: Utah Digital Newspapers. Salt Lake City voted to experiment with the Lyman style street signage
• "Lyman Plan Is Approved. City Will Try Out New Street Numbering," Deseret News, 4 December 1940, p. 18, col. 6. Online at: Utah Digital Newspapers. Salt Lake City will try Lyman style street signage on a section of 9th East
• "S. L. Okehs Dual Plan Of Marking Streets," Salt Lake Tribune, 19 October 1945, p. 9, cols. 2-3. Online at: Utah Digital Newspapers. Salt Lake City approves dual system of marking streets with both names and numbers.
• "West Side in Number Mixup," Deseret News, 21 April 1947, p. 11, cols. 1-2. Online at: Utah Digital Newspapers. West of Temple Square and North of Temple Square the dual system produces confusion
• "Draper Renumbering Starts Off New Year," Salt Lake Telegram, 4 January 1949, p. 6, cols. 4-5. Online at: Utah Digital Newspapers. County renumbering scheduled for Draper
• "City Pushes New Type Street Designation," Salt Lake Telegram, 31 January 1952, p. 19, cols. 2-5. Online at: Utah Digital Newspapers. Salt Lake City to finish Lyman System street signage
• "Eve Riverton Request," Salt Lake Tribune, 1 April 1952, p. 17, col. 1. Online at: Utah Digital Newspapers. Riverton asked that the extension of the county street numbering be postponed
• "Avenue Signing Project Nearing Completion," Salt Lake Tribune, 31 August 1952, p. 13, cols. 1-2. Online at: Utah Digital Newspapers. Lyman style street signage in Avenues nears completion
• See UtahRails.net for more information on Salt Lake City and County Street Names and Numbers.

Original Ward Boundaries in Salt Lake City

• Additional information about Salt Lake City Wards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints