Cedar City was named by early settlers because of the abundance of cedar (juniper) trees in the area. It was originally called Little Muddy, then Coal Creek, from the creek where the town was first established.
      Pioneers arrived on Nov. 11, 1851 and soon set up the first iron refinery west of the Mississippi, using ore from the hills to the west and coal from nearby Cedar Canyon. From its mining and farming roots Cedar City has grown to one of Utah's most exciting cities. Home to the world-renowned Utah Shakespearean Festival, the Utah Summer Games and the American Folk Ballet, Cedar City is truly a "Festival City." These events and dozens more like them throughout the year offer a metropolitan lifestyle in this small town setting. Paired with Southern Utah University, the community provides guests and residents alike with a huge variety of cultural and recreational offerings, including top-notch theater, NCAA Division 1 Sports, concert and lecture series, and more.
      History and traditional also play a strong part in local culture with small town-style holiday celebrations on July 4th and 24th (Utah's Pioneer Day), and during the Christmas season, with parades and other activities. The Iron Mission State Park is the ideal place to learn of the area's rich history and to see Native American artifacts, pioneer antiques, and the largest horse-drawn wagon collection in the west. Other Cedar City landmarks include the "Old Main" building on the SUU campus, the beautiful Rock Church, and the Old Union Pacific Depot. Each of these buildings have a fascinating history that adds to the character of Cedar City. Old Main, for instance, was built in the bitter winter of 1898 amid hardship to ensure that the city would be home to a state school of higher education.
      Today, Cedar City is experiencing a growth spurt unequaled in the town's history. But as the population continues to increase, residents here still maintain the small town atmosphere that gives it such appeal.

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