Historic Butlerville

Traversed by Indigenous peoples for centuries, the first permanent settlement of this area began in the 1850s. By 1877, the community was formally recognized and named for the Butler brothers and their families, who held a slim majority among early settlers. Salt Lake County records refer to the area as both “Butler” and “Butlerville.”

Butlerville residents worked to transform the dry land into a productive farming community. A pioneering network of Irrigation canals brought water from Big Cottonwood Creek enabling the cultivation of crops, livestock, and fruit orchards.

The first Butler schoolhouse was built in 1893 on the north side of Fort Union Boulevard, where a church now stands.

The original school bell remains on that site. In 1925, Butler Elementary School opened in its current location and was rebuilt to 2016.

The private residence to the west of the school, originally a teacher dormitory, is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

This Crossroads location has supported community gatherings, education, and religious life since the 1890s. This spirit of community is honored in the city’s annual Butlerville Days celebration.