St. George in Washington County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Struggle to Thrive

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, February 23, 2025

1. Struggle to Thrive Marker

Inscription.
"The people of St. George were determined to save their college because they knew that in the long run, education would help save them."- Bruce Hafen

Beginnings
In 1911, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints founded St. George Academy as a high school, eventually adding college courses as well. Through grit and determination, the school survived and began to thrive.

Struggle
A struggle for Dixie Junior College arose during the Great Depression. In 1932, the Church announced the closure of several junior colleges. The Utah State Legislature placed Dixie Junior College under state control without funding for two years.

The school operated on student tuition, school district funds, church giving, and over $1,000 in individual donations.

Challenge
Twenty years later, Dixie Junior College faced another challenge The Utah State Legislature voted to transfer the school back to the Church but needed a public vote. Washington County residents were overwhelmingly supportive of returning to a church-run school. Yet, the 1954 state wide voting results kept the college as a state school.

Support
The Dixie

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Education Association was instrumental in expanding the college. The Association raised $90,000 to build the women's residence hall, known as "Dixiana," which was completed in 1956. The work of these dedicated community members made the state more inclined to keep the school.

For more information visit: utahtech.edu/heritage-cove

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1911.

Location. 37° 6.244′ N, 113° 33.912′ W. Marker is in St. George, Utah, in Washington County. It can be reached from East 300 North. Located in the Heritage Cove just east of the Utah Tech University Gardner Student Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 975 E 300 North, Saint George UT 84770, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Color Country. It is also in the American Southwest,

in the Mountain West,

and on the Colorado Plateau.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, February 23, 2025

2. Struggle to Thrive Marker

also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Poetry and Music (here, next to this marker); Dixie Pioneers (here, next to this marker); University Growth (here, next to this marker); Black Ridge and Sugarloaf (here, next to this marker); The Dixie Spirit (a few steps from this marker); Manifest Destiny (a few steps from this marker); First Peoples (a few steps from this marker); The Name “Dixie” (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. George.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 23, 2025, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. This page has been viewed 99 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 23, 2025, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.