Adapted from “City History.” Cedar Hills, accessed April 14, 2020; “Ten Fun Facts you May not Know About Cedar Hills.” Daily Herald, accessed April 14, 2020.
Cedar Hills is one of Utah’s relatively young cities, having been incorporated in 1977. The area had only been recently developed as a residential area. Early settlers called the area Cedar Hills, due to the cedars that grew on the bench. There were some attempts at farming in the area, but it had been largely unsuccessful. It was a turkey farm that put the Cedar Hills area on the map.
During the great depression, Azra Adams and his wife, Effie Warnick Adams, developed a turkey ranch, and the Adams’s turkey production was so successful that in 1956 he served as president of the National Turkey federation, even presenting Thanksgiving turkeys to President Dwight Eisenhower, Vice President Richard Nixon, and Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson.
The 1960s spelled the end of the Adams turkey farm, as the surrounding communities had grown in population, and irritated residents complained about noise and dust from the turkey operation. At the same time, costs increased and profits dropped. The ranch was sold and Cedar Hills was built on the land.
The town faced problems that many small towns face, as at the time of incorporation, there were only thirty-one households. Residents and city officials weighed the pros and cons of various costs, and initially voted down resolutions on a town hall and fire houses. They did create an animal control system, but then immediately terminated it. Citizens and leaders also grappled over issues such as burning laws and sledding locations.
Cedar Hills is quite a different town today as it grew rapidly starting in the 1990s. The population increased 174% from 1990 to 1997 (up to 1,340), and by 2006, the town had over 9,000 residents. Growth has slowed since then, and Cedar Hills is one of the slower growing towns in Utah county, but it is one of the most densely populated. The town provides various public services and events, including city breakfasts, gold days, city celebrations, and Christmas programs.