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In 1861, a group of hardy pioneers ascended the "Provo Bench" that overlooks Utah Lake. With dreams of fruit orchards and vegetable fields, they uprooted the sagebrush, dug irrigation canals, and planted crops. These farms were successful, and they helped transform Orem into a dynamic community by the time the railroad arrived. The produce was boxed and shipped across Utah on the Orem Line, and the Provo/Orem area earned the nickname "Garden City of Utah." Incorporated in 1919, Orem was transformed again during World War II when the U.S. government constructed Geneva Steel Mill on the shores of Utah Lake. Blue collar workers joined farmers and ranchers in building a city. Orem supports higher education and is home to Utah Valley University. Although malls and subdivisions have replaced many of the orchards and the steel mill has closed, Orem remains rooted in its past while growing towards its future.
About the author
Authors Jay H. Buckley and Chase Arnold have selected more than 200 photographs from the collections at Brigham Young University, Denver Public Library, LDS Church History Library, Orem Heritage Museum (SCERA Center for the Arts), Orem Public Library, Utah Historical Society, and private citizens. Buckley is an associate professor of history at Brigham Young University and the former chairman of the Orem Historic Preservation Commission, and Arnold is a freelance writer.
