TOWN HISTORY
1882 - 2001 |
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In 1859 when the pioneers came to Cache Valley, Utah, they were unable to cross the Logan River because the beavers had made so many dams across the island and the willows were so thick it was impossible to drive a wagon through. The first scouts went up over the River Heights (or Providence) bench to the Thomas Smart Ranch, crossed to the temple bench and then went down to a camp site where the corner of 1st South and Main St., Logan, is now located. Indians were camped by the river, below and to the west of the bench. Later, marching groups used the flat upper area for drilling. Other that those activities the dry bench was ignored except for cattlemen and a few farmers who raised hay on it. Looking down on beautiful Cache Valley, with Logan to the West, Providence to the South, and Temple Bench to the North, the bench lay at the foot of the mighty Wasatch range quietly awaiting its turn for development. The land was owned, for the most part, by Central Pacific Railroad (right of way land). In the 1880's Providence people began buying it up for cattle land. The surrounding towns were well established before anyone seriously considered building on the Heights. After the first settlers erected their little homes, the Thatcher Brothers of Logan began to look at the flat, dry though it was, as a possible site for development, and began buying up acreages, especially in the level center of the bench. Third from last in the line of settlements in the county, River Heights slowly emerged out of the sage and rocks, and began to grub for a living and a source of life-giving water. Slowly they came, those who needed land that was not expensive, those who could see beyond the arid conditions and could envision trees, homes with gardens, schools and churches, all at the base of the sheltering mountains, and overlooking the peaceful Logan River and the settlements in the valley below.
![]() Lars Larson's cabin on the left - one of the first settlers. Lehi Olson home is on the right. River Heights Ward was organized in this home. Like a flat belt between th eskirt of the valley and the bosom of the eastern mountains, the dry bench stretched out in the sunlight, decorated with bunchgrass and sagebrush, and threaded with interwoven trails. Trails ran from the lairs of the coyotes and nesting holes of the rabbits to the river below. The deer, grazing on their God-given land, made winter trails from the little foothill swales to the refreshing water. In the beginning of the 1880s cattle mingled their multi-hoofed patters among the trails as they munched the sparse offerings of nature and the more generous daily suppers of hay provided by their human keeper. James Bullock deepened the ruts of his hay wagon trail between his home in Providence and the empty acres on the North bench where he ran his herds, and raised his hay. In 1882 he decided to build a dwelling of some sort to provide shelter from the weather, and comfort for members of his family who might spend time with him as he attended the cattle. He carved a home in the hillside (behind what is now the home of Steven Thunnel, 523 East 400 South) and became the first resident of the area later known as River Heights. From 1882 on, the trails began to widen into roadways as the first settlers ventured onto the bench, by way of Providence, and constructed their small homes, some of logs with only a blanket over the doorway for protection. Most of the very first cabins had only one room with a dirt floor and a fireplace for heat. |
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River Heights City News |
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River Heights City Office Info:
Hours:
Monday - Friday
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Closed
Federal Holidays
752-2646
or
752-6172
752-2646 (fax)
riverheightscity
@ comcast.netCity Officials, Employees, Board Members
Contact InfoYou may now access the Cache County Library from the following link: www.CacheCounty.org
CVTD bus system Route 11 stops at the City Building each hour from 6:48 a.m. to 8:48 p.m. weekdays and 9:48 to 5:48 on Saturdays. Please don't park in the red zone near the Bus Stop.
City Council meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Planning Commission meets every 1st and 3rd Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. All meetings are open to the public. Agendas are posted on this site, in the Herald Journal, or in the glass case outside the City Office.
CITY OFFICIALS
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MAYOR |
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Bill Baker
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COUNCIL MEMBERS |
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Robert Gines Parks & Recreation 752-9724 (home) gines1@xmission.com |
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Blake
Wright Planning & Zoning 752-6158 (home) bwright6158@msn.com |
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Kathryn
Hadfield Corporate Representative 753-2745 (home) rkhadfield@yahoo.com |
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Francine
Davis Community Affairs 752-7079 (home) robertleedavis@msn.com |
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Doug Clausen |
| CITY EMPLOYEES | |
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Annette Smith Treasurer 752-4655 (home) |
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Sheila
Lind |
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James
Brackner Budget Officer 753-0113 (home) jbrackner@msn.com |
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Kent
Parker |
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Cache County Sheriff Animal Control Officer 716-9400 |
| City Office Building | 752-2646 | riverhts@cache.net |
| Cache County Building Inspector | Don Davis | 213-0206 |
| PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION | |
| Chris Milbank (Chairman) | 753-3249 |
| Sandra Blackner | 792-3015 |
| Drew Herseth | 752-6211 |
| Erika Jeppsen | 755-6963 |
| Matt Syme | 750-5090 |
| BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT | |
| Karl Shupe (Chairman) | 752-3973 |
| Mike Jablonski | 752-0536 |
| Jay Berry | 752-2127 |
| Ken Sorenson | 752-2081 |
| Carolyn Bentley | 752-8274 |
| INTERACTIVE MAP | ||||
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APPLE DAYS
Celebrate Apple Days! Saturday, September 8, 2007 |
LIGHTING ORDINANCE
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The General Plan is available as a PDF file. Click below to download:
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The General Plan is divided into the following sections: |
| year | 1950 | 1960 | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 1995 |
| population | 468 | 880 | 1088 | 1211 | 1274 | 1320 |
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Historical Population
While Cache County has experienced about 2% annual growth rate since 1950, River Heights has |
| year | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 |
| population | 1413 | 1596 | 1850 |
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| Single Family Dwelling | 153.95 | 41.96 |
| Duplex | 0.18 | 0.05 |
| Multi-Family Apartment | 1.03 | 0.28 |
| Mobile Home Court | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Commercial | 0.3 | 0.08 |
| Light Industry | 0.16 | 0.04 |
| Heavy Industry | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Public & Quasi-Public | 18.59 | 5.1 |
| Transportation | 49.14 | 13.39 |
| Utilities | 2.17 | 0.59 |
| Park& Recreation | 9.76 | 2.6 |
| Agriculture | 60.1 | 16.38 |
| Subdivided Vacant Lot Acres | 14.26 | 3.9 |
| Vacant Land Acreage | 57.33 | 15.63 |
| TOTAL ACREAGE | 366.97 | 100.0 |
| source of water supply | 3 wells |
| number of connections | 455 |
| reservoir capacity | 500,000 gallons |
| average daily use (1994 to 1996) | 845,000 gallons per day summer use 499,000 gallons per day yearly average |
| peak daily use (summer) | 1,200,000 gallons per day |
| peak operating capacity (with all three wells operating 24 hours/day) |
2,700,000 gallons per day |
| number of users at current peak capacity, with the present pumping system (peak daily summer use divided into peak operating capacity) | 1020 |
| estimated number of connections that can be served with water supply | 1700 (exclusive of water rights pumping capabilities, only the water available in the wells) |
| total number of projected connections as per land use recommendation | 1650 |
| present water rights | 5.797 cubic feet per second (2600 gallons per minute, 3,744,000 gallons per day) |
| estimated number of connections that can be served with present rights | 1090 |
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projected summer requirements: summer peak daily use |
1,582,400 gallons per day |
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Water Supply and Use
Water and Sewer Recommendations
Pursuant to existing subdivision regulations, developers are required to provide uniform and
Utah Power provides electric utility service to River Heights under a recent 30 year franchise
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