Cedar Hills, Utah     www.cedarhills.org/

Cedar Hills is the town in Utah County, Utah, United States. The population was 3,094, at the 2000 census and by 2005 was estimated at 7,790. The city began growing rapidly during the 1990s. In fact, Cedar Hills had the largest growth rate in Utah during the 1990s based on percentage. In 1990 it had a population of just 708. It is located east of Alpine and Highland on the slopes of Mount Timpanogos. Between 2000 and 2005, the town rose from the 82nd-largest incorporated place in Utah to the 54th-largest. Wal-Mart has threatened to build for several years to the joy of some, and to the chagrin of others. but so far the citizens have prevented it. There are still divisions in the town whether stores should open on Sunday, and if alcohol should be allowed to be sold.

Median income is $62,000. Population is about 10,000.

The word has certainly spread about what a great place Cedar Hills is to live! Our city has experienced phenomenal growth over the last decade. 

History

Cedar Hills is built upon an alluvial fan, or bench, created thousands of years ago when it was a shoreline of Lake Bonneville. Early settlers referred to the area as “the Bench.” Because of the growth of cedar trees (later becoming Manila’s source of Christmas trees), the area was later referred to as Cedar Hills. The bench provides a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains, Utah Lake, and Utah Valley. Cedar Hills was established as a community in 1977. The surrounding cities such as Pleasant Grove and Alpine were settled in 1849 and 1850.

Various forms of wildlife flourished in the area. Coyotes prowled along the bench. Wild cats, red foxes, bears, deer, skunks, and rabbits also lived in the area. Some deer, skunks, and rabbits can still be seen around Cedar Hills.

The dry bench upon which Cedar Hills is located provided little attraction to Native Americans. They preferred camping near streams, such as in American Fork Canyon. Several Native American artifacts were found upon the bench, however, including an Indian bowl (found by Paul Adams and currently on display at a Brigham Young University museum) and numerous arrowheads. The arrowheads were probably dropped during skirmishes between the Utah Valley Indians and the Shoshones.

Between 1849 and 1850, early settlers began to make their homes in settlements around Cedar Hills. A large portion of Cedar Hills was used for dry farming, which proved to be unsuccessful. A few planted plots existed among the sage brush. Much of the area was used to pasture livestock. Other forms of livelihood among early settlers of Cedar Hills included trapping and turkey farming.

The bench became a turkey ranch. The David Evans Company Advertising Agency, advertiser for the National Turkey Federation, would take pictures of the Adams turkey ranch because of its impressive background. In 1939, the National Poultry Congress in Cleveland, Ohio, displayed photographs of turkeys raised on the beautiful bench upon which Cedar Hills is now located. And, as NBC ran a news story about turkey farming on the bench, the photographer was taken back by the beauty of the bench and continued to say, “beautiful, beautiful.” In 1962, the Saturday Evening Post also ran stories about turkeys living upon the bench.

2006 - Present

• Standard & Poors gives the City an “A” credit rating prior to golf course refinancing.
• Joel Wright and Gary Maxwell are appointed to fill vacancies on City Council.
• Curbside recycling program implemented.
• Two new snow plows are purchased to eliminate the need to contract for plowing services.
• Two new pressurized irrigation wells go on-line in April 2006.
• $15 million 2006-2007 fiscal year budget adopted.
• Full-time community services director is hired and implements City-sponsored events: Jr. Jazz, Flag Football, Easter Egg Hunt, Extreme Scarecrow Makeover, and Ski Bus.
• Construction and bonding for a public works facility.
• 10th annual Family Festival held in 2006, capped by the best fireworks ever!
• Recreation task force created to review needs for multi-city recreational facility.
• Wal-Mart proposal announced.
• 2006 year-end population estimated at 9,257.

2002 - 2005

• Pressurized irrigation contract awarded to Xcavate in the amount of $222,652.96.
• Bid awarded to Sterling Codifiers.
• Preliminary study funds appropriated for participation in UTOPIA.
• Lease of golf course reviewed.
• Sunset Park bid awarded to Premier Excavation.
• Water conservation ordinance adopted.
• Grant approved for matching funds to construct a portion of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.
• Cedar Hills awarded the Distinguished Budget Award from the GFOA.
• Harvey Boulevard West bid granted to Premier Excavation in the amount of $56,647.
• Final approval granted to the Lexington Heights Office Park/Assisted Living Center, the City's first commercial buildings.
• Citizen initiative petitions placed on the ballot.
• Traffic calming improvements along 4600 West approved in the amount of $60,631.
• Contract awarded to Jay Diggs to construct the pressurized irrigation project in the amount of $1,260,254.
• Public hearing set for Wal-Mart proposal.
• Youth City Council formed.
• Cedar Hills appropriates funds to participate in the North Utah County Choir.
• Utility fee waiver for active military personnel approved.
• Allocation of funds and matching grant approved to construct portions of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.
• Funds allocated to participate in Alpine City Family Focus Days.
• Premises occupations approved.
• Purchase of five acres of park land in Canyon Heights.
• City continues participation as a non-pledging city in UTOPIA.
• Issuance authorized for $6 million water revenue bond.
• Proposal for secondary water feasibility study accepted from Gilson Engineering.
• Utah Power requests conditional use to install electrical substation.
• Initiative petition regarding bonding put on ballot for public vote.
• Initiatives regarding 2002 tax rate and certified tax rate put on the General Election Ballot. Later, 2002 Tax Rate Initiative removed from consideration.
• Golf course clubhouse site work started by Layton Construction.
• Design and construction of Forest Creek Trail begins.
• Jay Diggs Co. begins construction of Pressurized Irrigation Project 2003.
• Development of new City Web site funded.
• Harvey Boulevard East construciton approved.
• Site plan for LDS stake center at 4600 West/Cedar Hills Drive granted.
• City Recorder Kim Holindrake receives Certified Municipal Clerk designation.
• City Council drops community services. Sports and youth programs must be privately funded.

Directions

Located at the mouth of American Fork Canyon in Utah County, the rural community of Cedar Hills provides a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains, Utah Lake, and Utah Valley.

Driving directions to Cedar Hills City Hall from Salt Lake City:

1.    Driving south on I-15, take UT-92, exit number 284, toward CEDAR HILLS/HIGHLAND/ALPINE.

2.    Turn LEFT (east) onto 11000 N/UT-92. Continue to follow UT-92 for 7.4 miles.

3.    Turn RIGHT (south) onto UT-146/CANYON RD. Continue to follow UT-146 for 1.1 miles.

4.    Turn RIGHT onto W CEDAR HILLS DR.

5.    End at 3925 W CEDAR HILLS DR., CEDAR HILLS UTAH.

Driving directions to Cedar Hills City Hall from South Utah County:

1.    Driving north on I-15, take exit number 273 toward LINDON/PLEASANT GROVE.

2.    Turn LEFT (west) onto 1600 N for 0.4 miles.

3.    Turn RIGHT (north) onto GENEVA RD/UT-114. Continue on UT-114 for 2.2 miles.

4.    Turn RIGHT onto STATE RD/US-89 for 0.1 mile.

5.    Turn LEFT (north at the Purple Turtle) onto 100 E/UT-146. Continue on UT-146 for 4.1 miles.

6.    Turn LEFT onto W CEDAR HILLS DR.

7.    End at 3925 W CEDAR HILLS DR., CEDAR HILLS UTAH.