Tooele County, Utah

Tooele County, located approximately twenty-five miles west of Salt Lake City, and extending to the Nevada border, formed one of the earliest units of government in Utah. Settlement in the area reportedly occurred in 1849, with agricultural and milling activity dominant. Within this early period, Mormon ecclesiastical authority also served political purposes; but in 1851 Tooele County was organized and the "first" civil political government in the county was formed in 1852. Although Tooele City, incorporated on January 3, 1853 — the fifth incorporated settlement in Utah was the predominant settlement, the Territorial legislature placed the county seat at Richville. However, in 1861 that act was repealed and citizens voted to make Tooele City the seat of county government. County court continued to be held alternately in Tooele, Richville, and Grantsville until 1867 when the new building was constructed in Tooele to house county facilities. [1]

1. Philip F. Notarianni, Historian, Utah State Historical Society, Tooele County Courthouse and City Hall, nomination document, 1983, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places, Washington, D.C.