American Fork, Utah http://www.afcity.com/
American Fork is a city in Utah County, Utah, USA, at the foot of Mount Timpanogos in the Wasatch Range, north of Utah Lake. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 21,941 and was estimated at 22,387 in 2004. It has been rapidly growing since the 1970s. Median income for the area is about $51,000.
American Fork is home to the Mt. Timpanogos Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The area around Utah Lake was used as a seasonal hunting and fishing ground by the Ute Indians. American Fork was settled in 1850 by Mormon pioneers, and incorporated as Lake City in 1852. Settlers changed the name to American Fork, after the river that runs through it, in 1860. Most residents were farmers and merchants during its early history. In the 1870's, American Fork served as a rail access point for mining activities in American Fork Canyon. For several decades in the 1900's, raising chickens (and eggs) was an important industry in the city. During World War II the town population expanded when the Columbia Steel plant was built in a nearby community. An annual summer celebration in the city is still called "Steel Days" in honor of the importance of the plant, which no longer exists.
Current Development
The city has worked to maintain the downtown Main Street area. This includes construction of several new city buildings, including a library, district court and police complex, and a fire station. Recently, large-scale retailing has come to the west side of American Fork with the Meadows shopping area, and it has become a shopping attraction for North Utah County. The Interstate 15 freeway traverses the traditional southern and western borders of the city. As build-out approaches for the city north of the freeway, it looks to carefully manage expansion and development in the area south of town, between the freeway and Utah Lake.
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Fifteen miles northwest of Provo, American Fork stretches from the South Wasatch Range on the east to Utah Lake on the south. Interstate 15, US Highway 89, and State Highway 74 are all main thoroughfares through this community of nearly 22,000 (2003 Census). Named for the American Fork River, one of the main tributaries flowing west from Mount Timpanogos, American Fork is an accessible hybrid of suburban life and modern development.
Settled in 1850 by Mormon pioneers from nearby Salt Lake City, the American Fork River provided original settlers with cottonwood trees and lush meadows for their livestock. Matthew Caldwell, a Mormon Battalion veteran, was directed by Territorial Governor Brigham Young to American Fork upon his arrival from the East with European emigrants in the fall of 1850. He and his family built the first homes in American Fork and other homes soon followed in preparation for the hard winter of 1850.
American Fork was originally known as McArthursville, named for a local American Fork and Pleasant Grove farmer. In 1852, the community surveyed and laid out their city, renamed it Lake City, and incorporated it with the Territorial Legislature on June 4, 1853. Residents amended the city charter just seven years later, however, when it was decided that Lake City sounded too much like Salt Lake City, the territorial capitol.
Long an agricultural center of the Valley, American Fork has, over the past several decades, expanded to premier commercial development. It is home to the Utah Valley Business Park, where several prominent corporations such as Dentrix, Twinlabs, Tahitian Noni International, and Sento have operations.
Although there are over fifty Latter-day Saint congregations in American Fork and one of the Church's 120-plus temples is located in the community, American Fork is also religiously diverse, with Presbyterian, Catholic, and Jehovah's Witness congregations in the city.
American Fork is governed by a mayor and five city council members. The city also maintains a municipal high-speed Internet service, which several ISPs use for their services. American Fork Canyon is popular with year-round campers, rock climbers, and recreational travelers; the Canyon boasts some of the best autumn displays found anywhere in the country. The American Fork Steel Days are the community's contribution to the Valley's summertime festivals, and are held annually in July
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Bands in American Fork
As early as 1865, American Fork had its own renowned brass band. American Fork is now known for its high school marching band, which has performed in many large events, including the Rose Bowl Parade, the Presidential inaugural parade, and in 2007, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. The marching band considers itself ranked 2nd in the western states and has gone four years undefeated in the state of Utah until their recent loss at the 2007 Davis Cup. This band has been the self declared state champions of Utah every year back to 1991. American Fork's Jazz Band has won numerous awards throughout the state. Recently the Jazz Band won first place in the state-wide Crescent Jazz Festival of 2007. The junior high bands have received awards and honors as well. The American Fork Percussion Ensemble has played at numerous venues, including the Grand National Percussion Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana. In the year 2007, all 6 percussion ensembles received a superior rating at the state competition.
American Fork Hospital is located at 170 East 1100 North
http://intermountainhealthcare.org/xp/public/americanfork/