A pair of western Utah County towns with a total of fewer than 600 residents in 2020 believe they are positioned for some significant economic growth.
Cedar Fort, with 427 residents in 2020, and Fairfield, with 160, are expected to benefit from the creation of an inland port project area. The Utah Inland Port Authority board, at a recent meeting, approved the Pony Express Project Area, which the towns’ mayors believe will drive investment and help them manage growth while allowing the area to retain its rural character.
The Pony Express area, totaling more than 1,700 acres, becomes the 14th project area in Utah and the second in Utah County. Despite the small populations now, the towns in the Cedar Valley are expecting “explosive” population growth over the next two to three decades.
“We’re facing a substantial amount of growth,” Cedar Fort Mayor Wyatt Cook said. “We have everything coming from Eagle Mountain and all that, and it’s coming to us. Our little town is going to change significantly, but I think it will be really good to have this project area, to help create jobs and get a lot of those businesses here. … And I think the residents are very on-board to see this happen and see something like this come to the community and help [create] some great growth.”
Cook said the project “gives Cedar Fort the chance to shape our own future” as it lays the groundwork for meaningful growth and focuses on “building resilience without losing our roots.”
Cook noted that Cedar Fort is transitioning from farming to development, and he wants to “keep it a small, tightknit community” but also change going forward.
Fairfield Mayor Hollie McKinney said that despite the expected growth, the town desires to retain its rural charm and not be overtaken by developers. She described Fairfield as “a really unique little town” and “a magical place.”
The town’s goals include having space so residents “don’t lie on top of each other,” and developing infrastructure and high-quality jobs. Like Cook, she wants growth that fits the town’s vision and serves its residents.
“I believe that our roads are a mess, and half of the problem is that we don’t have the jobs out west to make it feasible for people to live here,” she said. “It’s not helping the housing crisis. It’s not helping anything. Our roads are just getting worse.”
Working with the inland port and others, McKinney said Fairfield sees an opportunity to improve its roads, attract businesses and retain people who currently leave town for jobs, she said.
“We do have a lot of businesses that want to come to Fairfield, and my problem was, I could not get the infrastructure to these businesses without totally breaking us,” McKinney said.
UIPA board documents indicate the two towns have historically faced limited economic development because of their remote locations, small populations and agricultural foundations. Fairfield once experienced an economic boost during the 1850s due to Camp Floyd’s military presence, but saw a sharp decline after the camp closed. Cedar Fort, similarly rooted in agriculture, has seen slow growth due to declining farming and limited infrastructure.
But the creation of the project area aims to support infrastructure investment, high-wage job creation and targeted business recruitment. UIPA will work with the towns, the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and other state partners to attract industries aligned with local values, including light manufacturing, agriculture technology, and renewable energy.
A UIPA document indicates that western Utah County is benefiting from proximity to the Silicon Slopes tech hub and to manufacturing. “Demand for consumer goods, construction materials and tech-related freight is rising due to residential and commercial development,” it says. Utah County has “significantly more” available land for future development than Salt Lake County and as western Utah County develops, additional infrastructure will be needed to serve the growing residential and workforce populations.
“This project honors the legacy of rural Utah while building the foundation for a more connected, competitive future,” said Ben Hart, UIPA’s executive director. “By investing in infrastructure and strategic development, we’re creating new opportunities while preserving what makes these communities special.”