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114-594: Dixie is a nickname for the populated, lower-elevation area of south-central Washington County , the southwest corner of the State of Utah . The area lies in the northeastern Mojave Desert , south of Black Ridge and west of the Hurricane Cliffs . Its winter climate is significantly more mild than the rest of Utah. Originally settled by Southern Paiutes , the area became part of the United States after

228-613: A FCS independent for a single season, as the WAC re-established sponsorship of football. After the 2022 season, the WAC merged its football league with that of another FCS group, the ASUN Conference , forming the football-only United Athletic Conference , with Utah Tech as one of its nine inaugural members. The Trailblazers have won 16 PacWest Championships, 5 PacWest Community Engagement Awards, and have appeared in 34 NCAA Division II tournaments. The men's basketball team appeared in

342-553: A graduate or professional degree . In 2000, 92.5% of residents were adherents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ; 4.1% Catholic ; 0.8% Southern Baptist ; 0.6% Presbyterian ; 0.4% Lutheran ; 0.4% Episcopal ; 0.2% United Methodist ; 0.2% Baptist ; 0.2% Assemblies of God ; and 0.5% Other. As of 2015, the largest European self-reported ancestry groups in Washington County are: In addition to

456-458: A population density of 74.3 people per square mile (28.7/km ). Among non- Hispanic or Latino people, the racial makeup was 147,462 (81.8%) White , 913 (0.5%) African American , 1,566 (0.9%) Native American , 1,802 (1.0%) Asian , 1,607 (0.9%) Pacific Islander , 631 (0.4%) from other races , and 5,816 (3.2%) from two or more races . 20,482 (11.4%) people were Hispanic or Latino. There were 89,115 (49.43%) males and 91,164 (50.57%) females, and

570-639: A "parade float called 'Gone With the Plow', dating from the late 1960s, a man with his skin painted black pushe[d] a plow while a white student, formally dressed with a top hat, [held] what appear to be reins or a whip". John Jones and Dannelle Larsen-Rife wrote on behalf of the Southern Utah Anti-Discrimination Coalition, listing many Confederacy-related activities at Dixie State College, including “black-face minstrel shows (through October 2012), mock slave auctions (through

684-526: A fitness room, community kitchens, a basketball court, a pickleball court, a sand volleyball court, barbecue areas, a hammock garden and Brooks’ Stop Grill & Market. Campus View Suites III is set to open in fall 2024 to accommodate the growing student population. With 300 days of sunshine, an average temperature of 77 degrees, and 0 annual inches of snowfall, outdoor recreation is a popular student activity at Utah Tech, with many participating in activities like hiking, rock climbing, and biking. The university

798-430: A golf course and many distinct gated and non-gated housing communities. On the east side of the metropolitan area lies the cities of Hurricane and La Verkin . Because this locale is disconnected from the rest of the area by undeveloped swaths of land, it is still usually considered distinct from urban St. George, though this may change in the future due to anticipated development that will connect these cities. This area

912-480: A good-sized student body for the many social and academic programs. Another concern was that the county did not have the funds to build a new high school. Between 1935 and 1963 there were close calls when various state leaders proposed closing the college, but the local citizens were willing to donate to keep it alive. These local citizens, particularly the Dixie Education Association, raised

1026-533: A grand Southern-style ball presided over by a costumed Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara, who also participated in many publicity photos. A 40-foot Confederate flag was hung over St. George Boulevard. Smaller Confederate flags were displayed widely by city, county and school officials in promotional photographs. The Washington County News masthead included the Confederate flag and stated it was published in “St. George, Confederate State of Dixie". Controversy over

1140-482: A large climbing wall, pickleball courts, indoor/outdoor running track, classrooms and labs, and more. Utah Tech University golf teams call Entrada Golf Course their home. The off-campus course is known for its breathtaking scenery due to its location near Snow Canyon State Park. Utah Tech's tennis team plays at the Utah Tech Tennis Courts. Their old courts were demolished in 2018 to make room for

1254-464: A lawsuit against Dixie State University in federal court, stating that the university violated their Constitutional right to free speech with an overly restrictive and overly vague school policy. A few months later, Dixie State University settled the lawsuit with the three plaintiffs involved in the case. The university agreed to pay the students $ 50,000 total in damages and attorney fees. The university also agreed to revise its speech policies that

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1368-588: A little area devoted to agriculture. It is a mixture of mountains and flat stretches. The terrain slopes to the south and west; the lowest point in the state of Utah is located in the Beaver Dam Wash in Washington County, where it (seasonally) flows out of Utah and into Arizona , at 2,178 ft (664 m) ASL. The county's highest point is Signal Peak in the Pine Valley Mountains, at 10,369 ft (3,160 m) ASL. The county has

1482-402: A local advertising firm, Sorenson Advertising, to investigate names for the institution as a university and found that alumni overwhelmingly supported the name Dixie while less than half of faculty/staff supported the name Dixie (p. 48). Controversy over the name Dixie has arisen many times. In December 2020, the university's board of trustees unanimously voted to recommend removing

1596-701: A message to its students of color that it cares more about equality than nostalgia?" On December 14, the University's board of trustees voted to recommend removing the word Dixie from the school's name. The 2021 Utah Legislature voted to take the recommendation, starting a year long process to solicit input and consider alternative names. The Board of Trustees of DSU and the Utah Board of Education both voted unanimously voted to move forward with "Utah Tech University". Earlier than expected, after in November 2021,

1710-604: A name change in 2019. "The vote to change [the Convention Center name] to Greater Zion on June 23 led to a flood of social media posts and an online petition that gathered over 17,000 signatures in favor of keeping Dixie as the name." "[A]fter a public comment period in which multiple community members expressed strong support of the Dixie name, the Interlocal Agency amended the motion to temporarily revert to

1824-613: A polytechnic university, including active and applied student learning, student career preparation and development, and industry collaboration. The mission of the Booth Honors Program at Utah Tech is to “attract a diverse community of highly capable and motivated individuals who challenge one another in a lifelong pursuit of learning.” The Honors Program allows students access to priority registration, scholarship opportunities that provide students with research and travel grants, and small, discussion formatted classes that cover

1938-455: A single person living alone and 3,320 (5.3%) were two or more people living together. 20,177 (32.3%) of all households had children under the age of 18. 45,539 (73.0%) of households were owner-occupied while 16,877 (27.0%) were renter-occupied . The median income for a Washington County household was $ 61,747 and the median family income was $ 72,683, with a per-capita income of $ 29,886. The median income for males that were full-time employees

2052-578: A sparse population exists. The center-county communities of Central and Pine Valley are popular resort communities and contain many cabins and recreational parks due to their locations in Dixie National Forest and the Pine Valley Mountains . Veyo and Dammeron Valley , also near the center of the county, are primarily ranching towns, with most houses situated on large plots of land. This central area of Washington County

2166-673: A state school of the Utah System of Higher Education . Until 2000, it was a two-year junior college named Dixie College. In 2021, after controversy over the use of the term " Dixie " in the school's name, the state legislature approved the bill that allowed the school to become Utah Tech University. UT's 16 athletic teams compete in NCAA Division I and are collectively known as the Utah Tech Trailblazers . Utah Tech reclassified to Division I in 2019 and joined

2280-399: A success". Cultivation of cotton and food crops depended on irrigation, which was a collective activity. There were regular food shortages, including "the 'starving time' when many people were reduced to eating pigweed, alfalfa, and carrot top greens in lieu of a more substantial diet". The area's culture included a shared religion, shared suffering and success, and even a collective economy for

2394-476: A termination appeal hearing as outlined in (then) DSU Policy. A reinstatement petition was started by students that ultimately garnered over 1,400 signatures, and many letters were also sent to the State Board of Regents from the community and faculty members. A faculty review board convened, and after hearing testimony and evidence from both sides, recommended Davenport's reinstatement. In the final review of

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2508-652: A time. The Cotton Mission did not work as well as Young had hoped. Yields in the test fields were not as high as expected, and growing cotton never gained economic viability, although a cotton mill was built and used for a few years in the Town of Washington . "[C]onsistent operation of the Factory" ended in 1897. Local residents and others in Utah used “Dixie" to refer to the area. In 1915, St. George Stake Academy officially became Dixie State College . Shortly thereafter, "Dixie"

2622-591: A total area of 2,430 square miles (6,300 km ), of which 2,426 square miles (6,280 km ) is land and 3.6 square miles (9.3 km ) (comprising 0.1%) is water. Washington County is made up of three major geographic areas; the Colorado Plateau in the east-northeast, the Great Basin in the northwest, and the Mojave Desert in the south-southwest. Most of the population is centered in

2736-445: A trial was held in 2016, with the jury finding the professor not guilty. In 2015, in accordance with school policy, three students requested permission from the university to post fliers with satirical images of former U.S. President George W. Bush and Argentine revolutionary leader Che Guevara on campus. The university disapproved the request because the fliers violated school policy by mocking people. The three students filed

2850-480: A variety of endangered wildlife and unspoiled desert. The only communities in northern St. George are The Ledges and Winchester Hills in the west, and Green Springs, near Washington, in the east. While the community of Winchester Hills has existed for many decades, The Ledges is a newer development met with significant controversy. A few houses in the gate portion feature what many consider to be multimillion-dollar views of Snow Canyon State Park and are visible from inside

2964-561: A vote and decision. Both bodies of the legislature voted on November 10, 2021 to change the name of the university to Utah Tech University effective July 2022. In 2020, controversy affected the Dixie Convention Center . After a rebranding study, the governing board voted to change the Dixie Center name to Greater Zion Convention Center, consistent with the area's Greater Zion Convention and Tourism Office, which had

3078-427: A white student dressed as a Col. Sanders-type figure. 'In 1968 they were still doing minstrel shows,'" he said. The college student body president said in 2012 that when "on recruiting trips to California that he encountered students unwilling to consider studying at a place called Dixie. "One said, 'Your name makes me shudder,' and walked away ..." Faculty members who raised the issue complained about being asked to leave

3192-586: A wide range of topics, like HON 3010: Science and Nature Writing or HON 3010: Super Heroes and Citizenship. Students involved in the Honors Program are also granted access to an exclusive honors space in the Holland Centennial Commons, which serves as a spot for students to study, read, meet and socialize with other Honors students. Utah Tech University's Student Association (UTSA) is a federated student administrative body overseeing

3306-603: Is Brooks the Bison, who made his first appearance on September 1, 2016, during half-time at the Fall 2016 football season-opener against New Mexico Highlands in Greater Zion Stadium (formerly known as Legend Solar Stadium). The football team went on to win that game, marking its first season-opening win since August 2009. The mascot is named after the first student in the institution's history, Samuel Brooks, who slept on

3420-541: Is a 50-minute drive from Zion National Park , a 2-hour drive from Bryce Canyon National Park , and a 20-minute drive from Snow Canyon State Park . Students of Utah Tech University started a chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, the first official fraternity in the Saint George area in 2019, and has since been operational. Utah Tech University competes in NCAA Division I as a full member of

3534-404: Is generally more wet and humid than the rest of the county due to its high elevation and high precipitation. In Pine Valley, precipitation often exceeds 20 inches per year. The northern portion of Washington County is semi-arid and dry, albeit less so than in the southern portion. The only incorporated town in this area is Enterprise with a population of just over 1,700. Enterprise is the home of

Utah's Dixie - Misplaced Pages Continue

3648-448: Is more farm-based and rural than St. George, but is still experiencing rapid expansion in commercial, industrial, and residential development like the rest of the region. It is served by Hurricane High School . While the entire county, due to its large size, is considered part of the St. George Metropolitan Area, most land in the county is rural. In the middle and north of Washington County,

3762-403: Is not clear for everyone. For some, it only requires explanation; for others, who are not from this area, it has offensive connotations.... Our hospital name should be strong, clear and make everyone we serve feel safe and welcome." St. George , founded in 1861 when Brigham Young selected 300 families to take over that area and grow cotton, grapes, and other crops, is the largest community in

3876-647: Is unknown whether Covington had grown cotton or supervised slaves who grew cotton. A contemporary said: "He was a strong Rebel sympathizer and rejoiced whenever he heard of a Southern victory." Covington was the first President of the Washington Branch of the LDS Church. Covington's first counselor was Alexander Washington Collins, who the contemporary said was a former slave driver known to publicly and humorously tell horrific stories of whippings and rapes of his slaves. Andrew Larson's landmark history of

3990-600: The Bureau of Land Management , but some are integral parts of the above-listed protected areas. Two of these extend into neighboring counties (as indicated below). Many of the BLM wildernesses are not much more than small appendages of Zion Wilderness in Zion National Park: According to the 2020 United States census and 2020 American Community Survey , there were 180,279 people in Washington County with

4104-486: The Great Basin be self-sufficient, it was not. He criticized his fellow Mormon Saints as "quite negligent in raising cotton and flax.” His emphatic command was: "And let our brethren who have the means, bring on cotton and woolen machinery, that we may be enabled to manufacture our own goods, so fast as we shall be able to supply ourselves with the raw material...." "[The] first groups of settlers [arriving in Spring 1857] –

4218-538: The Great Flood of 1862 that followed 44 days of rainfall in January and February 1862. New Harmony , Springdale and Rockville were founded in 1862 by settlers flooded out of Fort Harmony, Adventure, Northrup and other places in the vicinity. Harrisburg was relocated. Shoal Creek later called Hebron, was a ranching community established in 1862 west of the county. Leeds was settled in 1867, and Silver Reef

4332-982: The Los Angeles - Salt Lake Road in 1856, as was Gunlock in 1857. Next came the settlements established as colonies to grow cotton before the beginning of the American Civil War . They were located along the Virgin River, in the warmer climate below the Great Basin, which was called Utah's Dixie . The first was Virgin , and Washington in 1857. Heberville, Pintura and Toquerville followed in 1858, Grafton , Harrisburg and Pine Valley in 1859, Adventure in 1860, Duncans Retreat , Northrop , Shonesburg and St. George in 1861. Fort Harmony, Adventure, and Northrup were abandoned, and Santa Clara, St. George, Washington, Harrisburg, Heberville, Grafton, and Duncans Retreat were nearly destroyed by

4446-587: The Mexican–American War . In 1854, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints moved to the area to establish Brigham Young 's intended Indian mission in the region. After arrival, the settlers began growing cotton and other temperate cash crops in and around Santa Clara, Utah . By 1860, the Paiute population had declined due to disease from and displacement by the new settlers. Because of

4560-773: The University of Utah to become the University of Utah–St. George. The proposal was approved by the Dixie State College Board of Trustees on October 7, 2007, and by the University of Utah Board of Trustees on October 14, 2007; however, this did not come to fruition. In 2011, a bill was drafted for the review of the Utah State Legislature and the Utah State Governor to support Dixie State College's transition to university status. The institution contracted with

4674-413: The Utah State Legislature was called into a special session by Governor Spencer Cox . While the primary purpose for that session was to approve redistricting maps, The name change bill for Dixie State was included on topics to be discussed. While the issue continued to be contentious, the decision to bring the issue early in special session was made because leaders felt no more information was needed, only

Utah's Dixie - Misplaced Pages Continue

4788-474: The Wasatch Front generally is "Dixie." Washington County, Utah Washington County is a county in the southwestern corner of Utah , United States. As of the 2020 United States Census , the population was 180,279, making it the fifth-most populous county in Utah. Its county seat and largest city is St. George . The county was created in 1852 and organized in 1856. It was named after

4902-912: The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in the 2020–2021 season. Previously, the Trailblazers competed in NCAA Division II , with the football team being part of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference , while the Women's Swimming team competed in the Pacific Collegiate Swim Conference, and the school's 14 other athletic teams competed in the PacWest Conference . The institution was founded by

5016-636: The Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Previously, Dixie played in the Intermountain Collegiate Athletic Conference . The teams are collectively known as the Utah Tech University Trailblazers (new Trailblazers nickname for then DSU was unveiled on April 11, 2016. ) Ken Beazer serves as Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and is in his first year replacing former director Jason Boothe. During Boothe's his first seven years at

5130-541: The 'baggage' of Dixie would be mandatory." "'Dixie' has connotations of the Old South, the Confederacy, and racism,’ Randy Dryer, then the U. trustees' chairman, wrote to The Chronicle of Higher Education ." The affiliation with the University of Utah did not happen. In 2012, many articles appeared as the school was about to make "the leap to university status next year". The Salt Lake Tribune editorialized that

5244-538: The Adair and Covington Companies – were people from the Southern States, mainly from Mississippi, Alabama, Virginia, Texas, and Tennessee." While there is no indication that slavery was practiced in Utah's cotton farming, Robert Dockery Covington, the leader of the second company of Saints, was a former slave overseer and owned eight slaves per the 1840 Census, which made "farming a very profitable occupation.” It

5358-585: The Bison as the mascot in 2016. The process of changing the university's name began in June 2020 during the George Floyd protests in the midst of the 2020–2022 racial unrest and the Black Lives Matter movement. In December 2020, both the university board of trustees and the Utah Board of Higher Education unanimously voted to recommend a name change to the state legislature, which established

5472-948: The Burns Arena, named after Dixie alumnus and donor M. Anthony Burns. The arena contains over 4,700 permanent seats, and recently underwent multiple upgrades, including adding a new large-scale video board and scoreboard hanging above mid-court (funds donated by Mountain America Credit Union). UT's women's volleyball plays in the Old Gymnasium, located in the Student Activities Center. The Old Gymnasium has seating for just under 1,500 spectators, and offers close, intimate views from nearly every seat. Utah Tech University baseball has called Bruce Hurst Field their home since 1994. Named after St. George native and former Major League pitcher Bruce Hurst ,

5586-433: The Confederate battle standard." The local newspaper The Spectrum reviewed and published excerpts from local newspapers and Dixie College publications that contained Confederate related activities, photographs, and references. In March 1987 and 1988, the community held a festival called a Secession, presided over by Governor Norman Bangerter in 1987 and Wilford Brimley , the actor and Utah native, in 1988. Events included

5700-646: The Division II College Softball Championships. Utah Tech University women's swim team competes in the Human Performance Center which holds a 50-meter Olympic-sized swimming pool, grandstands that can hold a capacity of 750 attendees, a large-scale video board, 2 movable bulk heads, two 3-meter and two 1-meter diving springboards, and a 20-person spa. The Human Performance Center also houses a multi-story gym, multiple basketball courts, an indoor soccer court,

5814-506: The Dixie Center name and to meet again on the issue in six months." A substantial number of citizens gathered at the St. George City offices July 2, 2020 to advocate for retaining the "Dixie" names. Joey Sammons Ashby, who organized the event as part of the Protect Dixie effort, said "People in St. George are not racist.... We were never racist — never...." "You're not going to get rid of racism, but, instead of complaining, think about

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5928-526: The East Zion Special Service District. Washington County has traditionally voted Republican; it voted for Franklin D. Roosevelt in all four of his elections but as of 2020 has not been carried by any Democratic presidential candidate since. Utah Tech University The institution began as St. George Stake Academy , founded in 1911 by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Later it became

6042-575: The Habibian Center houses locker-room facilities for the men and women soccer teams, two coaches' offices, and one classroom. Utah Tech Athletics recently entered into a five-year partnership with dōTERRA to create the dōTERRA Nutrition Center. The center will be located next to UT's weight training facility in the Habibian Athletic Center and will provide student-athletes with the nutritional resources they need to compete at

6156-592: The Hiking Club, Japanese Culture Club, Trailgazers Astronomy Club, and the Healthy Trailblazers Coalition. Utah Tech provides students with single student and family student housing options. Single student housing includes Campus View Suites I, Campus View Suites II, Abby Apartments, and Chancellor Apartments. Family student housing includes Tech View Apartments and Morgan Apartments. Campus View Suites I & II offer students access to

6270-421: The LDS Church on September 19, 1911, as St. George Stake Academy. The academy, located in a region called "Utah's Dixie" by Brigham Young and local settlers, was renamed to Dixie Academy in 1913 Dixie Normal College in 1916, and Dixie Junior College in 1923. In 1933, the LDS Church discontinued its support of the college, and rather than give up on it, the local citizenry came together and maintained

6384-592: The North's fascination with aristocracy and lost causes, the national appeal of the agrarian myth, and the South's personification of that ideal, to say nothing of the North's persistent use of the South in the manipulation of her own racial mythology." Dozens of institutions and businesses in the area adopted and used the name "Dixie". Links between Utah's Dixie and the Confederacy re-emerged in 1952, when "Dixie Junior College sports teams adopted 'Rebel' as their nickname and

6498-543: The Rebels starting in 1952 and a Confederate soldier was used as a mascot starting in 1956. Until 1994, the university used the Confederate Battle Flag as a school symbol (and for a time, still used a reminiscent pattern of stripes with stars after dropping it), and the yearbook was called The Confederate . The Salt Lake Tribune described the yearbooks containing "troubling photos, some as late as

6612-564: The St. George community at large for business and idea development. Students and community members have access to free consultations and an incubator workspace through the Business Resource Center, tools to create prototypes and perform small-run manufacturing through the Makerspace, assistance with research, patents, trademarks, and copyrights through Innovation Guidance & Solutions, and help getting businesses off

6726-482: The Utah State Legislature approved with the condition that the main St. George campus will be named the "Dixie Campus" of UT. The name change took effect July 1, 2022. In December 2014, theater professor Varlo Davenport received a notice of dismissal and termination of employment in connection with a student complaint of an alleged assault, but because of his tenured status he was allowed to request

6840-472: The airport), and Hidden Valley and is served by Desert Hills High School . Limitations on development in this area exist due to terrain, and as such, it contains less population than its east and west counterparts. The SR-7 freeway, also known as Southern Parkway, has been built as a beltway to accommodate future growth in the southeastern portion of St. George and Washington. The partially constructed freeway also connects to St. George Regional Airport , and in

6954-594: The anticipated need for more housing and business. Pine View High School is in this section and serves the east side and Washington. To accommodate the rapidly expanding population, an additional high school (Crimson Cliffs High School) has been built in the Washington Fields area. The western portion of the urban area contains the suburbs of Santa Clara and Ivins, and the neighborhoods of Green Valley, Dixie Downs, Sunset, and Tonaquint. Due to this area's proximity to Snow Canyon State Park , this has resulted in

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7068-514: The area states that it was already referred to as “Dixie" by 1857: Already the settled area of the Virgin Valley was being called Utah's "Dixie". The fact that cotton would grow there, as well as tobacco and other semi-tropical plants such as the South, produced made it easy for the name to stick. The fact that the settlers at Washington were bona fide Southerners who were steeped in the lore of cotton culture—many of them, at least—clinched

7182-453: The area. Other communities in Washington County include Ivins, Santa Clara, Hurricane, LaVerkin, and Toquerville. The population is nearly 180,000 in the metropolitan area. “Dixie” is almost exclusively used to refer to Washington County. However, it sometimes is used to refer to a larger area, including nearby Kane and Iron counties, or even broader southern Utah. The term Payson-Dixon Line implies that everything south of Payson and

7296-415: The attachment to Iron was terminated. The county boundaries were altered a dozen times after that; but its boundaries have retained their present configuration since March 10, 1892. Washington County lies in the southwest corner of Utah. Its south border abuts the northern border of the state of Arizona , and its west border abuts the east border of the state of Nevada . Its terrain is rough and arid, with

7410-431: The blessings black people have." "Because of their ancestors, they're able to be an American, they were able to be born here, they're able to do something for themselves because this is America. This is America, and they can pull up their bootstraps and do it if they want to. There's plenty of people to help the blacks right now so instead of complaining, do something." "We used to have minstrel shows here in St. George. It

7524-620: The central area of St. George, with many new infill developments being planned and constructed. The center of the city, or downtown, also contains Utah Tech University , the only four-year college within a 50-mile (80 km) radius. Dixie High School is also located in the downtown area. Most commercial and industrial lots exist in the eastern portion of the Greater St. George Area in eastern St. George and Washington . Rapidly expanding suburbs also exist there, especially in an area known as Washington Fields. Large irrigated farms have been sold to commercial and residential developers to make way for

7638-433: The community. In 2015, following the Charleston, South Carolina , shootings by Dylann Roof , Dannelle Larsen-Rife again editorialized for renaming Dixie State University. She was interviewed on an episode of RadioWest (KUER) with professors from the University of Utah and University of Wyoming. A substantial statue of rebel soldiers and a horse, with a Confederate flag displayed, was returned to its sculptor. In 2020, in

7752-456: The construction of many resort-style communities and gated subdivisions such as Entrada, Kayenta, and the Palisades, with homes often exceeding $ 1,000,000 in price. However, there are still many other neighborhoods and older houses that tend to be more affordable. This section is served by Snow Canyon High School . The southern portion of the city contains the neighborhoods of Southgate, Bloomington, Bloomington Hills, SunRiver, Desert's Edge (near

7866-411: The construction of the Human Performance Center and a larger parking lot. The new courts were constructed in place of an old parking lot just a block West of campus. The Frank Habibian Wrestling and Athletic Center was constructed in 2010 and houses a 6,400-square-foot weight training facility for UT student-athletes, along with 4,800 square feet dedicated to youth and college club wrestling. In addition,

7980-466: The county is also the location of the lowest area of the state, Beaver Dam Wash. Eastern Washington County is also sparsely populated. However, the towns of Rockville and Springdale are filled with major hotels and resorts, despite their small sizes. This is due to their extreme proximity to Zion National Park, one of the most visited national parks in the United States. Springdale, in particular, contains many kitschy shopping and dining options. Most of

8094-401: The creation of a sorority and its financial support. DSU did not approve it or the creation of clubs with Greek letters in their names (excepting honor societies), because they said introducing Greek Life properly requires significant funding and the inherent "partying" stereotype of a Greek system was not a culture they wanted to encourage on campus. The Dixie College sports teams were called

8208-515: The desert. Utah Tech has also expanded its campus to surrounding communities by adding new community education centers that offer concurrent enrollment and college-level classes. The Utah State legislature granted Utah Tech over $ 55 million in 2022 to build a 120,000 square-foot General Classroom Building which is set to open in fall 2025. The building will have 45 classrooms, 105 faculty offices, and 20 study rooms. The Atwood Innovation Plaza on Utah Tech's campus provides resources to students and

8322-469: The early 1990s", in which "White students sing in black face, dress as Confederate soldiers, stage slave auctions and affectionately display the Confederate battle standard." In 2009, the school dropped its "Rodney the Rebel" mascot and "the Rebels" as the name for the sports teams, renaming the teams to Red Storm, with a bull mascot. The sports team name was eventually changed to Trailblazers with Brooks

8436-567: The early 1990s), Confederate flags (continuing to the present), and numerous other associations to the Confederacy prevalent on this campus (The "Rebel" mascot as recently as 2008, True Rebel Night is ongoing; The Dixie Confederate Yearbook into the 1990s)." The Salt Lake Tribune recounted photos in Dixie College yearbooks, called The Confederate . "[A]s late as the early 1990s [w]hite students sing in black face, dress as Confederate soldiers, stage slave auctions and affectionately display

8550-569: The first President of the United States , George Washington . A portion of the Paiute Indian Reservation is in western Washington County. Washington County comprises the St. George, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area . The earliest settlement was Fort Harmony in 1852. Santa Clara was established in 1854 as a mission to the natives who lived on the Santa Clara River . Hamblin and Pinto were settled along

8664-592: The first base dugout. The complex also hosts multiple high school baseball tournaments and summer league games. Utah Tech University softball has called Karl Brooks Field its home since construction of the Cooper Diamonds. The field has played home to multiple runs for the Trailblazers toward Pacific West Conference and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championships. The complex hosted the 2009 West Regional and Super Regional during DSU's run to

8778-514: The first cohort will start in fall 2023 and graduate in spring 2026. The university is organized into seven academic colleges: In 2016, Utah Tech made the decision to pivot towards becoming a comprehensive polytechnic university. A polytechnic model was selected because it relies on the university's instructional model of "active learning. active life," that focuses on career preparation and engagement in regional economic and workforce growth and development. UT specializes in three core principles of

8892-402: The first time in school history. They also earned 11 PacWest Postseason Honors The Trailblazers football, soccer, and track and field teams compete in Greater Zion Stadium, formerly known as Hansen Stadium, and shortly known as Legend Solar Stadium. On April 29, 2016, Legend Solar announced it a donation of $ 10 million in cash and trade toward the renovation of DSU's stadium. The west grandstand

9006-463: The fulfillment of the dream of the original Mormon pioneers of the area to have a university for their communities. That same year the Board of Trustees approved a student-driven proposed campus-wide tobacco ban. The ban prohibits all tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes . The ban went into effect on January 1, 2014. Also in 2013, Dixie State University student Indigo Klabanoff pushed for

9120-879: The functions, funding, and promotion of official student organizations. Executive and legislative power is primarily vested in an elected Executive Council, the President's Cabinet, and the Student Senate. Student clubs interact with the UTSA governing bodies primarily through non-elected Club Representatives. Club Representatives work on behalf of the following organizational categories: Academic Clubs, Student Organizations, Non-Traditional Clubs, Multicultural and Diversity Clubs, Health Science Clubs, and Athletic and Recreation Clubs. All Executive Council members and most Managers receive some sort of financial aid in return for their work. Various responsibilities fall to UTSA including

9234-562: The funds to purchase four blocks of land on 700 East and 100 South for a new campus. They presented that land to the state which, in turn, agreed to fund a few buildings for a new campus there. In 1957, the gymnasium was finished and by 1963 four other buildings were ready for college students with the high school students remaining on the downtown campus. In 1970 the name was changed from Dixie Junior College to Dixie College. On September 7, 2007, Dixie State College Board of Trustees members announced that Dixie State College of Utah would petition

9348-549: The future, will provide a vital connection to the community of Hurricane , which will thereby provide quicker and more efficient access to Zion National Park, thus providing an alternative route to Interstate 15. Despite its scenic location amid red sandstone, lava fields, and the backdrop of the Pine Valley Mountains , the northern area of St. George is almost entirely undeveloped due to the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, which protects

9462-639: The ground through the Startup Incubator. Since opening, the Atwood Innovation Plaza has helped to submit 195 patents with 100 of those patents being granted along with helping to secure 104 trademarks and 22 copyrights. As of June 2021, Utah Tech University offered 242 academic programs, including 4 master's degree programs, 53 bachelor's degree programs with 70 different emphases, 18 associate degree programs, 45 minors, and 52 certificate and endorsement options. On January 26, 2018,

9576-507: The hearing evidence and testimony, University President Richard Williams found the faculty review board's recommendation to be contrary to the information presented. He rejected the recommendation and upheld the termination. Members of the faculty review board subsequently met with President Williams, pressing for a change in his decision. They were unsuccessful. The City of St. George filed Class B misdemeanor charges in Justice Court and

9690-403: The helm, (then) DSU continued to establish itself as a powerful NCAA Division II program as it experienced high levels of success both on and off the courts and fields. In July 2020, Dixie State began the multi-year reclassification process to NCAA Division I. The Trailblazers began competition against Division I opponents in the 2020–21 season in the WAC, though the football program competed as

9804-628: The income in these two towns is fueled by tourism alone. The county includes an area along the Old Spanish Trail called Mountain Meadows , just south of Enterprise on SR-18. Zion National Park is located in the eastern part of Washington County. There are 18 official wilderness areas in Washington County that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System . Most are entities managed by

9918-405: The name in state law. Although the legislature delegated the task to a committee that collected suggestions and decided on Utah Polytechnic State University, the Dixie board of trustees recommended Utah Tech University after the original proposed name received negative community input. The Utah System of Higher Education voted unanimously to recommend the name change to Utah Tech University which

10032-535: The only secondary school outside of the Greater St. George Area, Enterprise High School. The town contains a small grocery store and multiple gas stations but is very quaint and rural when compared to the urban area of St. George. Western Washington County is home to Gunlock ; also a ranching town, and a small Native American reserve named Shivwits , occupied by the Shivwits Band of Paiutes . This area of

10146-603: The planning of most on-campus events, charity and service work, and relations between university students and the school's faculty and surrounding community. Any student is able to apply for any position in UTSA, and if chosen is asked to maintain good academic and community standing, while abiding by the university's other rules and bylaws. The UTSA Inter-Club Council (ICC) comprises all the university club presidents and UTSA's Club Council. ICC meetings are held bi-weekly and club presidents are encouraged to attend. Utah Tech University has over 85 clubs for students to join, including

10260-556: The population distribution by age was 47,542 (26.4%) under the age of 18, 92,818 (51.5%) from 18 to 64, and 39,919 (22.1%) who were at least 65 years old. The median age was 37.6 years. There were 62,416 households in Washington County with an average size of 2.89 of which 46,724 (74.9%) were families and 15,692 (25.1%) were non-families. Among all families, 38,423 (61.6%) were married couples , 2,728 (4.4%) were male householders with no spouse, and 5,573 (8.9%) were female householders with no spouse. Among all non-families, 12,372 (19.8%) were

10374-823: The primary and secondary schools that compose Washington County School District , which covers the entire county, Washington County is home to Utah Tech University in St. George , with campus extensions in Hurricane and Hildale ( Water Canyon Center ). Retail utility companies operating in Washington County include city water and power departments, Dixie Power, Rocky Mountain Power , Dominion Energy (natural gas), Washington County Water Conservancy District , Mountain Springs Water Company in New Harmony , and

10488-400: The rest of the county. Most homes are located in subdivisions characteristic of a growing urban sprawl . In Downtown St. George, several local restaurants and stores call the area home, and despite its small size, it tends to attract many locals and tourists alike. To combat the sprawl (which threatens many nature reserves and increases congestion), growth and promotion are projected inward to

10602-531: The school made its mascot a Confederate soldier in 1956. By 1960, the Confederate flag was flown as a school symbol." These changes were contemporaneous with the University of Nevada Las Vegas ’s (UNLV) adoption of the "Rebel" name and mascot, "a cartoon wolf with a Confederate uniform.” They also occurred during the emerging civil rights era, between President Truman's integration of the Armed Services in 1948 and Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. On

10716-462: The school needed a new name based on the pioneer origin of the name, and Confederacy-honoring practices of the students. An African American student told the Tribune he was shocked to find old yearbooks with photos "of students in blackface, holding mock slave auctions, dressed in Confederate uniforms and staging parade floats and skits that seem to ridicule blacks, such as a crowd in black face behind

10830-484: The school reached an agreement with Washington County, Utah that included naming rights for the stadium as well as planned expansions to UT's athletic facilities. The stadium name comes from the branding of the county's tourism promotion agency as the Greater Zion Convention and Tourism Office. The planned renovations include the construction of an east grandstand (completed in 2019); an addition to

10944-436: The school's operation through donations and labor for two years. In 1935, the State Board of Education took over the funding for the school, but wanted to split the college students from the high school students, with the high school moving under the direction of Washington County. The community resisted, feeling that the approximate 200 college students and similar number of high school students needed to be combined to provide

11058-473: The south-central part of the county near the Arizona border around St. George . Most national shopping, dining, and hospitality chains are located here, along with several local businesses. The climate of this section of the county is typical of the Mojave Desert in which it lies; its annual rainfall is 8 inches, and it is the lowest elevation in Washington County, making it particularly hot and dry compared to

11172-473: The stadium has seen its share of great teams in both the junior college and NCAA Division II ranks. The field features a natural grass surface in the infield and outfield. Fences are 12 feet high from the foul poles to the batter's eye in center, which extends to 20 feet high. Hurst Field sits 2,500 capacity, with a reserved section of seats in the main seating bowl. Nine field-level boxes were added in 2008 right behind home plate to complement four boxes just beyond

11286-462: The state park. This has led many to believe that the beauty of Snow Canyon is in jeopardy due to the City of St. George's willingness to sell the land around the park to private companies. In reality, only three houses are visible inside the canyon, although more visible lots exist to be built upon. On the opposite end of the city is Green Springs, an upscale multimillion-dollar development that consists of

11400-570: The steps outside what was then St. George Stake Academy to be the first to pay the $ 10 tuition the next morning. The descended family of Samuel Brooks sat in the stands and was recognized when Brooks the Bison first arrived in the stadium. The Utah Tech student section is called "The Stampede" and is run by the Utah Tech Student Association. The Trailblazers soccer team, won the PacWest 2016 championship by going 13–0, for

11514-509: The sweet sixteen in 2011 and the women's volleyball appeared in 2014. The women's softball team has appeared in the College World Series three times and finished as runner up of the 2015 College World Series. The athletic department as a whole has completed 8,500 hours of community service since 2010 and held a grade point average of 2.97 during the 2016–2017 academic year. The Trailblazers compete in: The Trailblazers' mascot

11628-528: The three plaintiffs said were restrictive and vague. The primary campus of Utah Tech University, known as the Dixie Campus, is in St. George, Utah. The Hurricane Education Center campus extension located in Hurricane, Utah , is 20 minutes to the east. At the center of UT campus is the Encampment Mall, where Mormon pioneers first camped when they arrived in 1861 to settle and grow cotton in

11742-463: The title. Dixie it became, and Dixie it remained. ... The name "Dixie" is one of those distinctive things about this part of Utah ... It is a proud title. "[T]he harsh environment, the intense heat of summer, the continual toil, and the ravages of malaria . . . led some of the settlers to desert the place at the end of the first season." In the fall of 1858, it was reported "that of approximately 400 acres planted to cotton only 130 acres could be counted

11856-497: The top of the west grandstand for banquet rooms, executive boxes, and new press box (completed in 2022); a renovation below the west grandstand to create new locker rooms and training facilities (in progress as of October 2020); a new scoreboard and video board (completed in October 2020) and the installation of solar panels and a 1,500-kilowatt system in the stadium and throughout UT's campus. The Trailblazers basketball teams play in

11970-531: The university added its first graduate degree program, a Master of Accountancy. The university is set to offer its first doctoral degree, a clinical doctorate in occupational therapy, after it was approved by the Utah Board of Higher Education in July 2022. The program is currently being reviewed by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities for final approval. If the program is approved,

12084-403: The use of "Dixie" has repeatedly arisen in the larger Southern Utah community. The Confederate flag was removed as a Dixie College symbol in 1993. The Confederate soldier 'Rodney the Rebel' was eliminated as the mascot in 2005 and the nickname 'Rebels' was discontinued in 2007. That same year, Dixie State College considered affiliation with the University of Utah, and “U. officials said dropping

12198-408: The wake of the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent protests , the issue again returned. Jamie Belnap, a former resident of St. George, wrote "Now, seven years after the vote at DSU [to retain the Dixie name], murmurings about the name 'Dixie' have begun again. There's a new petition and, unsurprisingly, online detractors from the community have already begun to emerge.... Isn't it time DSU sends

12312-587: The warmer climate, the importance of cotton, and the origin of some early settlers, the area was nicknamed "Dixie,” referencing Dixie , the nickname for the southern states of United States that seceded and formed the Confederate States of America , which lost the American Civil War. The area was first referred to as the "Cotton Mission", in response to Brigham Young's 14th General Epistle issued in October 1856. Although he determined that

12426-473: The word Dixie from the school's name. In 2013, the Utah Legislature changed the status of the institution from a college to a university and named it Dixie State University. Governor Gary Herbert signed the bill into law in a ceremony on campus, calling the new university into existence on February 16, 2013. President Stephen Nadauld of Dixie State University and others recognized this step as

12540-439: Was $ 50,029 and for females $ 36,844. 10.0% of the population and 7.2% of families were below the poverty line . In terms of education attainment, out of the 112,121 people in Washington County 25 years or older, 6,908 (6.2%) had not completed high school , 25,232 (22.5%) had a high school diploma or equivalency, 47,254 (42.1%) had some college or associate degree , 20,939 (18.7%) had a bachelor's degree , and 11,788 (10.5%) had

12654-410: Was a mining town begun in 1875 and abandoned by 1891 due to the collapse in silver prices. The Utah Territory legislature created Washington County on March 3, 1852. It was not organized at that time, and it was attached to Iron County for administrative and judicial purposes. This continued until February 23, 1856, when the organization was completed, Saint George was listed as the county seat, and

12768-513: Was in fun, it was nothing racist." "I used to dress up with a blackface for Halloween. I think actually it was a compliment to want to look like a blackface." On July 16, 2020, Intermountain Health Care announced Dixie Regional Medical Center’s name would become Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital effective January 1, 2021. Mitch Cloward, hospital administrator, said "The meaning of Dixie

12882-480: Was painted on Sugarloaf, the red rock hill above St. George. “Dixie Rock,” as it became known, previously had been painted with the year of the graduating class and a "D.” The wider option of Dixie occurred during a period of nostalgic Civil War revisionism, including the Lost Cause of the Confederacy myth. Dixie and the South became idealized "by the many attentions of northern artists to southern mythology,

12996-514: Was previously named "Hansen Grandstand" in honor of the George T. Hansen family, who funded the construction of the stadium in the 1980s and who support the renaming and renovation of Legend Solar Stadium. In April 2018, Legend Solar and Dixie State parted ways due to financial troubles for the solar company. As of January 2020, the Dixie State stadium is now known as "Greater Zion Stadium" since

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