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...The
first major evolution of Orem began in the early 1940s
when the Geneva Steel Works was constructed by the federal
government as an inland producer of steel. Built along
the eastern shore of Utah Lake, Geneva has provided employment
to many local residents, either directly or indirectly.
In recent times, Geneva has spawned controversy because
of increasing concerns over environmental damage caused
by the plant and related concerns about lost employment
which would be caused by the shutdown of the plant. USX
Corporation, the former owner of Geneva, ceased active
production of steel at the plant for a brief period in
the mid-1980s and then sold the plant to a small group
of investors who revived operations.
The
second major change to the landscape of Orem came as many
of its farms were converted to shopping centers and malls
along State Street and the University Parkway, the intersection
of which now probably stands as the focal point of the
metropolitan Orem/Provo area. First the University Mall
and later other malls attracted business away from downtown
Provo, historically the central shopping area of Utah
Valley. Little successful central planning has taken place
in Orem, and it is as much without a central core now
as it was when it was known as the Provo bench. Pockets
of commercial and residential development dot the expansive
area that is Orem.
The
third major evolution of Orem has been caused by the city's
recent development as a center of computer technology
and development. Giant WordPerfect Corporation, founded
by a former Brigham Young University professor and one
of his graduate students and headquartered in Orem, has
provided the impetus for the creation of other computer
software companies in the city. A fledgling entertainment
industry, begun with the construction of Osmond Studios
in northeast Orem, has also helped change the face of
Orem.
Many
of the past developments in Orem can be seen in the city's
present form. Orem's proximity to the Wasatch Mountains
and Utah Lake make it an all-season center of recreation.
Geneva remains a large employer and a center of controversy.
Often unchecked commercial development of the city continues.
New high tech firms such as WordPerfect now compete with
Geneva as the largest private employers in the city. Orem
has come a long way from its days as the sleepy unincorporated
Provo bench and even from its early days as an incorporated
town comprised of scattered farms and orchards. It is
now a vital city that must confront the issues that urbanization
brings.
Kenneth
L. Cannon II
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