History of Moab, Utah

• Moab, Utah is located to the east of the Colorado River. The name was adopted from the Bible as it was a mail route between Salina, Utah, and Ouray, Colorado. It was not until 1878 that the first permanent settlers began arriving to set up farms and ranches. Prior to this, Native Americans had occupied the valley.
• In 1881, a Mormon ward and a community school were built. Additionally, the railroad constructed within 35 miles of Moab increased its accessibility: The Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad between Denver and Salt Lake City.
• In 1885, a ferry across the Colorado River was in operation, and in 1912, a three-span steel bridge was completed. By this time, the agricultural industry was booming and Moab was known as the finest fruit-growing place in Utah. In January 1903, Moab became a town and in 1936, it was labeled a third-class city. 
• In the 1950s, Moab's economy was bombarded by the demand for uranium. This uranium boom attracted new motels, stores, cafes, and businesses. The increase in the number of jobs at the mining sites increased the population of the city. More than 200 jobs new jobs were created: prospectors, miners, workers, and speculators. As a result, the population increased from 1,275 in 1950 to 4,682 in 1960.

The Tourism Industry History

• In the last quarter of the 20th century, Moab primarily benefited economically from the tourist industry. The Grand Valley Times promoted Moab as a possible tourist destination in an article published in 1906. In 1909, the Moab Commercial Club organized to advertise the Moab region's scenic attractions.
• This industry had a great boost when the Arches National Monument was designated to this city in 1929. This momentum was significantly slowed down by the Great Depression and World War II. Between 1950 and 1970, the industry began rising again. In 1964, the Canyonlands National Park was established with Moab as the northern gateway. This was a critical milepost to Moab's rise as a tourist destination. In the 1980s, the Slickrock trails became a global attraction for mountain biking.

The Current State of the Tourism Industry

• Since Moab was discovered, Grand County has been investing a lot in advertising. Tourists primarily go to Moab to "hike, camp, stargaze, four-wheel drive, climb, ride, jump, float, and slackline." The city constantly has cars lined up to get into various sites with parties popping up sporadically at campsites.
• In the past 10 years, Moab has had approximately three million visitors every year. For every permanent resident in Grand County, there were 2.4 visitors. 

Summary of our Early Findings

• Our initial one-hour research was able to provide a brief history into Moab, Utah, and some information on the tourism industry. Following our findings, we believe that the research paths below will provide a more comprehensive report.