Anyone who visits or lives here feels the increasing activity: on the roads, in the schools, in the mountains. There’s no doubt that we are once again seeing a growth cycle. Park City is more than just a town, it’s now an idea, a lifestyle, a region. We now include Jordanelle, Wasatch County, Kamas Valley and Coalville as part of the Greater Park City Area. We’ve created a multi-billion-dollar economy and it draws people from around the world.
It’s a complex place. Commuters head to Salt Lake City for work, as others head up the canyon to their service jobs. Skiers drop hundreds of dollars per day while others work three jobs to pay the rent. Kids are heading to college with an excellent education, at the same time schools are feeling growing pains. Entrepreneurs are taking risks and financial institutions are lending funds for innovative services and products. Our economy is booming, and diversifying and providing employment to thousands.
Now, we’ve always had waves of newcomers. A hundred and fifty years ago, Park City was a transient town, where the population inhaled and exhaled with the price of lead and silver. And, it was an ethnic town, with Chinese, Irish, Italians and dozens of other nationalities all taking a chance to reap a Bonanza. Fifty years ago, wide-eyed vets and college kids wanted something different, and fell in love with the mountains and each other. Today, new residents may bring their jobs with them, or commute by air, while their Teslas are charging from their solar panels. Yet others struggle to find the American dream; seeing opportunity here, when there was none at home.
Within the pages of Milepost, we’ve put together another snapshot of where we are, and where we may be going, from transportation to schools to real estate to arts. We hope you’re able to better understand our community, and who we are. It’s a fascinating place.
— Patrick Cone