Tooele

Tooele is a city in Utah situated at 1,537 meters (5,043 ft) elevation in Tooele Valley, surrounded by the Oquirrh Mountains. The city provides direct access to the Great Salt Lake and contains multiple schools along with a regional campus of Utah State University.

Mormon pioneers established the first settlement in 1849 with three families, leading to the official incorporation of Tooele City Corporation in 1853. Growth accelerated with the arrival of different immigrant groups in the early 1900s.

The eastern neighborhood called New Town developed in the early 1900s and drew families from the Balkans, Italy, Greece, and Asia Minor to settle there. These different groups shaped how the area looks and feels today.

The city sits at high elevation, which helps with orientation when using the surrounding mountains as landmarks. Visitors should know that winters are cold and the altitude may require a slower pace of adjustment.

Danger Cave in Tooele Valley holds archaeological finds from human settlements dating back about 11,000 years. These well-preserved ancient tools and artifacts reveal that the region is among the oldest known settlement areas in North America.

Location: Tooele County

Inception: 1851

Elevation above the sea: 1,537 m

Part of: Western Utah

Shares border with: Magna, Grantsville, Ophir, Stockton

Website: http://tooelecity.org

GPS coordinates: 40.53056,-112.29861

Latest update: December 17, 2025 07:49