Uniquely Us

Richfield has a population of approximately 8305, with a population growth of about 1% annually. Its elevation is 5354. Richfield was first settled in 1864. Richfield experiences a cold semi-arid climate with four distinct seasons.
Richfield is gifted with the beauty of colorful and forested areas in nearby mountains.

Richfield city is the county seat of Sevier County Utah. It lies just off interstate 70 approximately 40 miles east of its junction with interstate 15. Richfield has developed as a regional tourist center because it is located on the interstate freeway about half way between Los Angelas, California and Denver Colorado. Richfield is remote from larger cities about 100 miles or more in any direction such as Salt Lake City, while dozens of smaller communities are found in the general area.

Many people from the region drive to Richfield to shop, to bowl, to attend theater, concerts, or for religious gatherings. People are also drawn to the community college, affiliated with Snow College. Residents can receive a variety of medical services.

Richfield was first settled in 1864 by a group under the leadership of Albert Lewis. As in the case in most areas of rural Utah, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS church) plays a prominent role. The Richfield area also has other churches including Catholic, First Baptist, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Lutheran, Assembly of God and others.  

History

What is now the Richfield area was traveled between 1830-1850 as it lay on one of the variants of the Old Spanish Trail between Santa Fe, New Mexico and California. In January of 1864 after having been considered as a community site by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a group of men under the leadership of Albert Lewis as “Mormon” settlers arrived in what is now Richfield.

Richfield then grew and became a regional center. The coming of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad in 1891 opened the Richfield area for expanded agriculture, commerce, and mining. In 1839, Utah governor Henry H Blood vetoed a proposal for a junior college in Richfield. Fifty-seven years later a satellite campus of Snow College was opened.

Religion The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) plays a prominent role in Richfield’s history. Other major churches located through many years in the Richfield area are St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, First Baptist Church, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Lutheran, and Assembly of God. The first LDS stake was established in Richfield in 1874 with Joseph A Young as president. Previously in 1871 Nelson Higgins had been sustained as the first bishop of Richfield. A second stake was formed in 1977 (Richfield East Stake). Additionally, the Central Valley Stake, which encompasses some of Richfield was formed in 2019.

Geography and Climate Richfield is located 5280 feet above sea level. Richfield experiences a cold semi-arid climate. Winter temperatures typically range from a high of around 40 degrees and a low of 5 degrees; whereas summer temperatures range typically from 100-53 degrees. The average annual precipitation is 8 inches.

Economy Major employers in Richfield include Walmart, Sevier Valley Hospital, Lin’s Fresh Market, and US Forest Service. There are also retail employers such as restaurants, hotels, and a variety of local businesses that add to the strength of the economy. Richfield has a median household income of $70,477 (2022), and a median property value of $235,800 (2022). Approximately 3300 people are employed in Richfield.

Transportation Richfield is served by I-70 and routes 89, 118,119 and 120 which connect local communities. Richfield is served by Greyhound to Denver and Las Vegas. Richfield Municipal Airport is located one mile SW of the city.

Education Today there are two elementary schools (Ashman and Pahvant); one middle school (Red Hills); one high school (Richfield); and one alternative high school (Cedar Ridge). There is a satellite campus of Snow College. An additional educational resource is the Richfield public library. This Carnegie library was completed in 1914 and is still in use today.

The Ashman Elementary school was built in 1951 and restructured in 2011. It was named after the district’s first Superintendent, A J Ashman. Today it serves approximately 500 students (grades K-2).

The Pahvant Elementary School was constructed in 1958 as a K-6 school. In 2006, a major renovation took place, and it now serves students in grades 3, 4 and 5 with an enrollment of approximately 475 students.

Red Hills Middle School was constructed in 1985. Today it has an enrollment of 530 students. Prior to 1985 the middle school (or Jr. high) was located adjacent to Richfield High School.

Richfield High School came into existence in September of 1897 with David A Nelson and N H Hayes as its first teachers and subsequently Frank K Seegmiller as its first principal. He also acted at that time as principal of the elementary school. A new high school building was completed in 1914 at the west end of Center Street. The previous high school was located with the ‘old school’ with all the lower grades. It was west of today's Knit and Craft store. In 1961 a new RHS was completed which was located on the same grounds as the current modern day RHS now stands. The new current campus was completed during 2014-2016.

Cedar Ridge High School began operation in 1990. The facility worked out of modular trailers until a new building was built in 2008. The school helps students to gain a diploma and serves adults who wish to gain a degree. Currently there are approximately 60 high school age and 45 adults attending.

Recreation Richfield has a competitive-size swimming pool, tennis courts, new pickle ball courts, four city parks, and a bowling facility, which first opened its business at its current location as Fundale Lanes in the early 1960s. An 18-hole golf course is also available.

Entertainment Richfield has the Sevier Valley Center which hosts a variety of events and entertainment. The Sevier Valley Center has served the area for over 20 years.

Health Care In 1941 a hospital was established on the corner of 100 North and Main Street. Five years later the hospital moved to an 18-bed facility at 201 E 500 N. In 1976 a 29-bed hospital was built at 1000 N Main Street where the current modern hospital now stands. In 2014 the Sevier Valley IHC Hospital was extensively updated and modernized. Additions at that time or since have included an internal imaging center offering MRI, CT, ultrasound, and Xray services. Also, a dialysis center, infusion therapy, onsite chemotherapy treatment, and a new women and newborn center.

Founding Families

In January of 1864, a party of ten men under the leadership of Albert Lewis, came from Sanpete County and arrived in what is now Richfield. These ten men were Albert Lewis, Nelson Higgins, Andrew Poulson, Hans Hansen, C.O. Hansen, George Ogilvie, August Nelson, Robert Glenn, Jorgen Smith, and Eskild Peterson. The Mormon settlers found fertile soil, good water, and wood in nearby hills. They found the area very desirable for settlement. They made a dwelling place a “hole in the ground” This was located where Classic Motors sits today. It served as their headquarters through the winter as they planned and prepared. Several families joined this first group later in 1864.

The first white women in Richfield were Ann Swindle and Charlotte Doxford. The settlement was first called Big Springs or Warm Springs, after the life-giving springs at the foot of the red hills to the west. Later it was called Omni. The first dwelling places were dugouts.

In the Spring of 1864 Nelson Higgins, a veteran of the Mormon Battalion was selected as President of the settlement. Into the summer of 1864 the community became known as Richfield. Many of the families began farming five-acre plots and were producing good amounts of wheat.

Early in 1865 the population of Richfield increased by more than 100 families, most of whom came from Sanpete valley. In 1865 the first schoolhouse was built, first used February 13 and had an average attendance of 50 pupils.

In April of 1865 Black Hawk and his band of Indians began stealing stock and creating other problems with the white settlers. On March 21 of 1867 Jens Peter Peterson and part of his family were killed by Indians. With continued problems, by around April of 1867, the Richfield area became completely abandoned.

In the summer of 1870, the old settlers of the Sevier Valley received permission from church leaders to return to their former locations. In July of 1872, there were 150 families in Richfield. In December 1873 it is reported that there were more than 200 families living in Richfield.

In the next few years irrigation systems, blacksmith shops, a meat market, silk industry, undertaker business, livery stable, and an opera house had begun to operate.

Compiled by Wayne Ogden, Richfield Historian, October 3, 2024