Colorado City

Cultural Heritage & Evolution

FLDS Cultural Foundation

Colorado City’s cultural identity has been predominantly shaped by its fundamentalist Mormon roots, with the FLDS church historically dictating most aspects of community life, from dress codes to education and employment. Traditional FLDS culture in Colorado City was characterized by distinctive prairie-style dresses for women, with high necklines and long sleeves, and modest attire for men. Large family structures with multiple wives and many children were common, creating intricate kinship networks throughout the community.

United Effort Plan

The community historically operated under a cooperative economic system called the United Effort Plan (UEP), where much of the land was held in a communal trust. This arrangement reflected spiritual ideals of consecration and cooperation that traced back to early Mormon concepts of a United Order.

Cultural Transformation

In recent years, Colorado City has experienced profound cultural shifts. Following state intervention in the UEP trust in 2006 and Warren Jeffs’ imprisonment, the community has diversified significantly. Today, Colorado City includes a blend of devout FLDS members, former members who have chosen different religious paths, and non-FLDS residents who have moved to the area attracted by affordable property and scenic beauty.

Community Integration Challenges

These changes have brought both challenges and opportunities. Traditional FLDS members have sometimes struggled with the community’s transformation, while others have embraced new opportunities for education, employment, and social connection. Cultural preservation efforts exist alongside initiatives to build bridges between different groups within the community.

Linguistic Heritage

The linguistic heritage of Colorado City includes unique expressions and terms derived from its religious foundations and isolation. Terms like “keeping sweet” (maintaining a positive, obedient attitude) and “priesthood people” (referring to those in good standing with church leadership) represent a distinctive local vocabulary that persists even as external influences increase.

Artistic Identity

Traditional Arts and Crafts

The artistic expression in Colorado City has historically been heavily influenced by religious values and practical necessities. Traditional crafts like quilting, woodworking, and food preservation were emphasized as useful skills rather than artistic endeavors. Music has long played an important role in community life, primarily through religious hymns and songs that reinforced spiritual messages.

Emerging Artistic Expression

As the community diversifies, new artistic expressions are emerging. The Colorado City Music Festival, launched in 2017, has become a significant annual event bringing together local and regional musicians across various genres including country, blues, folk, and rock. The festival represents the community’s growing openness to outside influences and serves as a cultural bridge.

Landscape-Inspired Arts

Visual arts are gaining prominence with some local artists drawing inspiration from the dramatic landscapes surrounding Colorado City. The towering vermilion cliffs, expansive desert vistas, and striking geological formations of nearby Canaan Mountain Wilderness provide rich material for painters, photographers, and other visual artists.

Evolution of Craft Traditions

Crafting traditions continue to evolve, with some artisans modernizing traditional skills to create items for tourists and external markets. Handmade goods from community members are increasingly available at local shops and at events like the music festival, providing economic opportunities while preserving cultural knowledge.

Art Education Development

Art education is gradually expanding through community programs and the local charter school, Masada Charter School, which incorporates arts education alongside academic subjects. These developments reflect Colorado City’s ongoing transition from a community where art served primarily religious purposes to one where creative expression serves multiple roles, including cultural preservation, economic opportunity, and building connections with the wider world.

Signature Community Events & Celebrations

Colorado City’s event calendar has evolved significantly in recent years, reflecting the community’s transition from insularity to greater openness. These events serve not only as entertainment but as important markers of the town’s evolving identity and efforts to build new traditions.

Colorado City Music Festival

This vibrant two-day event has quickly become the community’s flagship celebration since its founding in 2017. Held in the beautiful Maxwell Canyon setting, the festival brings a diverse lineup of musicians from throughout the western United States to perform country, blues, folk and rock music. Beyond the performances, the festival features local food vendors, beverages including local beer, arts and crafts, and family activities. As the festival website states, the event explicitly celebrates the “wonderful growth and changes in this picturesque piece of heaven on Earth,” making it both an entertainment venue and a symbol of the community’s transformation.

Heritage Days Celebration

This relatively new summer event celebrates the complex history of the Short Creek community with historical displays, pioneer demonstrations, and traditional food. Activities include traditional skills demonstrations like quilting, canning, and woodworking that connect to the community’s self-sufficient past. The celebration serves as a bridge between longtime residents and newcomers, creating space for sharing stories and preserving elements of local heritage while acknowledging the community’s evolution.

Water Canyon Arts Festival

Taking advantage of one of the area’s most beautiful natural settings, this emerging arts event showcases local and regional artists against the backdrop of the spectacular Water Canyon in the nearby Canaan Mountain Wilderness. The festival features everything from traditional crafts to modern artistic expressions, reflecting the broadening creative landscape in Colorado City. Visitors can participate in workshops, purchase local art, and enjoy the dramatic natural scenery that has increasingly become part of the community’s identity.

Community Harvest Celebration

This fall event honors the agricultural traditions that have sustained the community through its history. Featuring produce from local gardens, traditional food preservation demonstrations, seed exchanges, and communal meals, the celebration connects residents to their agricultural heritage while promoting sustainable food practices for the future. The event brings together diverse community members around the shared value of self-sufficiency that has been central to Colorado City’s identity regardless of religious affiliation.

Short Creek Christmas Light Festival

This winter holiday celebration transforms the town with elaborate light displays and community activities. What began as small family displays has grown into a coordinated community event with themed installations, evening tours, and holiday performances. The festival attracts visitors from surrounding communities and serves as a symbol of Colorado City’s emergence from isolation into connection with the broader region, while creating new traditions that can be shared by all residents regardless of background.

Community Identity & Character

Community Self-Image

Colorado City’s identity has traditionally been defined primarily through its religious foundations, but recent years have seen the emergence of more diverse community narratives. The town’s previous nickname of “Short Creek” is still used affectionately by many residents, connecting to the community’s pre-1953 roots. Today, residents often refer to the combined communities of Colorado City and Hildale simply as “the Creek,” acknowledging their shared history and continuing interconnection across state lines.

Physical Layout

The physical layout of Colorado City reflects its distinctive history and values. Unlike many western towns with typical grid patterns, Colorado City features unusually large residential lots, often several acres in size, originally designed to accommodate extended polygamous families. Many older homes in the community were built in stages, sometimes remaining partially completed for years as families expanded, creating a distinctive architectural pattern. The most striking structures are the large, multi-unit homes built to house multiple wives and children under one roof, though many of these have now been subdivided into apartments.

Community Values

Community values have historically centered around religious obedience, family loyalty, hard work, self-sufficiency, and separation from “worldly” influences. While these values continue to influence the community, they’re increasingly expressed in more diverse ways. Newer residents often cite the strong sense of pioneering self-reliance and the breathtaking natural surroundings as primary attractions to the area.

Resident Perspectives

When describing their community to outsiders, longtime residents often emphasize its resilience through hardship and ability to sustain itself despite external pressures. Newer residents and those who have left the FLDS faith might focus on the community’s potential for renewal and transformation. This tension between tradition and change, between preservation and reinvention, lies at the heart of Colorado City’s current identity as it navigates a period of significant transition.

Local Governance & Civic Participation

Government Structure

Colorado City’s governmental structure has undergone significant transformation in recent years. The town operates under a council-manager form of government with an elected mayor and town council. Historically, most local officials were members of the FLDS Church, which created concerns about the separation of church and state.

Judicial Intervention

Following a 2017 federal jury ruling that found Colorado City had discriminated against non-FLDS residents in the provision of police services, utilities, and housing, the community has been under court-mandated oversight. This has led to substantial changes in municipal operations, including reforms to the police department, previously known as the Colorado City Marshal’s Office, which was found to have been more loyal to FLDS leadership than to state laws.

Broadening Civic Participation

Civic participation has broadened significantly with the diversification of the population. Community organizations that are not affiliated with the FLDS Church have emerged to address various needs. These include groups focused on supporting former FLDS members transitioning to independent life, organizations promoting economic development, and initiatives to improve educational opportunities.

Community Organizations

One notable community-led initiative is the Short Creek Community Alliance, which works to bridge divides between religious and non-religious residents while advocating for transparent governance. Another important organization is the Cherish Families non-profit, which serves people with backgrounds in polygamy by providing resources and support services.

United Effort Plan Trust Reform

The United Effort Plan (UEP) Trust, once controlled exclusively by the FLDS Church, is now managed by court-appointed trustees. This has dramatically changed property ownership patterns in the community, with many properties being transferred to individual ownership for the first time.

Ongoing Governance Challenges

Despite these changes, Colorado City’s governance continues to face challenges. The town is still working to establish full trust between different community factions and with outside government agencies. Court oversight remains in place, and the process of developing truly representative local institutions is ongoing as the community continues its transition.

Economic Landscape

Historical Economic Structure

Colorado City’s economy has historically centered around construction, with many men working in construction companies that operated throughout the Southwest. These businesses, often owned by FLDS members, provided employment for community members and brought income back to Colorado City. Agriculture, particularly alfalfa farming and some fruit production, has also been a traditional economic activity, though limited by the arid climate.

Communal Economic System

The community’s economic organization was distinctive, with the FLDS-controlled United Effort Plan Trust owning most property and many businesses operating within a partially communal system. Church members would contribute labor and resources to community projects, creating a parallel economic structure somewhat separate from the mainstream economy.

Economic Diversification

Recent years have brought significant economic diversification. Tourism is emerging as a new sector, with Colorado City’s dramatic location near Zion National Park, the Grand Canyon, and other natural attractions making it a potential base for visitors. New businesses catering to tourists include the Edge of the World Brewery—the first bar in Colorado City, where alcohol was once banned—along with restaurants, cafes, and accommodations.

Entrepreneurship Growth

Local entrepreneurship is expanding beyond traditional sectors. The Short Creek Cottage, established by the non-profit Voices for Dignity, helps FLDS members earn income by selling handmade products to tourists. Items including baked goods, jams, jellies, travel pillows, and blankets showcase traditional skills while creating economic opportunities.

Persistent Economic Challenges

Economic challenges remain significant. The transition from communal to private property ownership has been difficult for many residents, and unemployment and poverty rates exceed state averages. However, increased connectivity with surrounding communities and growing interest in the area’s natural beauty create potential for further economic development as Colorado City continues its evolution.

Education & Learning

Educational History

Education in Colorado City has undergone fundamental changes in recent years. Historically, most children attended schools controlled by the FLDS Church, with curriculum heavily influenced by religious teachings. Many students, particularly boys, would leave school early to work in construction or other trades.

Public School System

Today, Colorado City is part of the Colorado City Unified School District, which operates the El Capitan School (formerly Colorado City K-12 Public School). The district has experienced significant turnover in leadership as part of the broader community transition, with many FLDS-affiliated board members resigning during what has been described as a “political takeover” of the district. In 2005, the Arizona state government attempted to take over the district due to concerns about mismanagement.

Alternative Educational Options

Complementing the public school is Masada Charter School, which serves students in grades K-9. Located in nearby Centennial Park (a separate fundamentalist Mormon community that split from Colorado City in the 1980s), the charter school provides an alternative educational approach while remaining within reach of Colorado City residents.

Cultural Integration in Education

Educational programs increasingly incorporate elements of local history and culture, helping students understand the community’s unique heritage while preparing them for life in the broader world. This balance between preserving cultural knowledge and expanding horizons reflects the community’s larger navigation between tradition and change.

Adult Education Initiatives

Community education initiatives include adult literacy programs, GED preparation classes, and vocational training designed to support those with limited formal education. These programs are particularly important for former FLDS members who may have received restricted education under church control.

Educational Evolution

The educational landscape in Colorado City continues to evolve, with growing emphasis on providing quality education that both respects the community’s distinctive history and prepares students for diverse future paths.

Natural Environment & Outdoor Traditions

Dramatic Desert Setting

Colorado City exists within a breathtaking natural landscape that has profoundly shaped community life. Located in the high desert of the Arizona Strip at approximately 5,000 feet elevation, the town experiences hot summers, cold winters, and limited rainfall. The community sits at the base of the spectacular Canaan Mountain Wilderness, with its 2,000-foot sandstone cliffs, and near the Vermilion Cliffs, creating a dramatic backdrop for daily life.

Water Resources

Water has always been precious in this arid environment, and the community developed around the reliable water source of Short Creek. Water Canyon, a perennial stream flowing from Canaan Mountain, creates a verdant corridor of cottonwoods, willows, and other riparian vegetation cutting through the desert landscape. This oasis-like setting has traditionally provided both practical resources and recreational opportunities for residents.

Traditional Environmental Relationship

The relationship between residents and the natural environment has historically been primarily utilitarian, with the land valued for grazing, timber, and water resources rather than recreational purposes. Traditional knowledge of local plants for food and medicine has been preserved by some community members, particularly those with deep roots in the area.

Growing Outdoor Recreation

In recent years, outdoor recreation has grown in importance both for residents and as a draw for visitors. Water Canyon has become increasingly popular for hiking, with trails leading to natural features like waterfalls and slot canyons reminiscent of those in nearby Zion National Park. The Canaan Mountain Wilderness offers more extensive backcountry experiences, with the 44,500-acre protected area featuring sandstone formations, hanging gardens with maidenhair fern and columbine, and diverse wildlife including golden eagles, deer, and occasionally black bears.

Conservation Initiatives

Conservation efforts have increased as the community recognizes the value of its natural surroundings. Local initiatives focus on water conservation, habitat protection, and sustainable recreation development. These efforts bring together diverse community members around shared appreciation for the unique landscape that defines Colorado City’s physical setting.

Food Culture & Culinary Traditions

Self-Sufficient Food Traditions

Colorado City’s food traditions reflect its historical emphasis on self-sufficiency and large family meals. Home food production has long been central to community life, with extensive vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and sometimes livestock providing much of what families consumed. Food preservation techniques like canning, drying, and root cellaring allowed families to maintain food security through winter months in this remote location.

Traditional Dishes

Traditional dishes in Colorado City tend toward hearty, filling meals designed to feed large families economically. These include:

• Funeral potatoes (a casserole of shredded potatoes, cream soup, sour cream, and cheese topped with corn flakes)
• Dutch oven stews and casseroles
• Homemade bread, often baked in large quantities several times a week
• Fruit cobblers and pies made with locally grown fruit
• Bottled fruits and vegetables from home gardens

Family-Centered Food Celebrations

Food-based celebrations have traditionally centered around religious holidays and family events rather than public gatherings. With large extended families, even “small” gatherings might include dozens of people, creating a distinct culture of abundant communal meals.

Diversifying Food Culture

As the community diversifies, so does its food culture. New restaurants and cafes offer cuisine previously unavailable in Colorado City, including the Edge of the World Brewery which serves pub-style food alongside locally brewed beer. Traditional cooking knowledge is being preserved through community events like the Harvest Celebration, where techniques for bread baking, fruit preservation, and other traditional foods are demonstrated and taught.

Culinary Heritage Preservation

The Short Creek Cottage has become a venue for FLDS women to sell traditional baked goods and preserves to tourists, creating economic opportunities while sharing culinary heritage. These developments reflect Colorado City’s broader pattern of preserving valuable traditions while embracing new influences.

Community Gathering Places

Religious Gathering Spaces

Historically, religious spaces dominated community gathering in Colorado City. The FLDS meetinghouse was the center of social life, hosting religious services, celebrations, and community announcements. Homes, particularly those of church leaders, also served as important gathering spaces, with large living areas designed to accommodate extended family gatherings.

Emerging Public Spaces

As the community diversifies, new gathering spaces have emerged or been repurposed:

• Water Canyon Recreation Area: This natural area with its creek, hiking trails, and picnic spots has become an important informal gathering place for residents and visitors alike. The stunning scenery makes it popular for community events, including the annual music festival.
• Berry Knoll Park: A newer public space that provides recreational facilities and event spaces accessible to all community members regardless of religious affiliation.
• Colorado City Town Hall: Once primarily a space for administrative functions, the town hall has increasingly become a venue for community meetings, public forums, and events that bring together diverse segments of the population.

Commercial Social Spaces

Local Businesses: The emergence of restaurants, cafes, and the brewery has created new “third places” where community members can interact informally outside of home and work settings. These venues are particularly significant as neutral spaces where different community factions can intermingle.

Educational Community Centers

Schools: Both the public school and charter school serve as community hubs beyond their educational function, hosting events, sports activities, and adult education programs.

Significance of New Gathering Places

These gathering places hold special significance in a community transitioning from relative isolation to greater openness. They provide neutral ground where longtime residents and newcomers can interact, building new community connections that transcend historical divisions. The stories associated with these spaces are evolving as the community itself changes, with places once exclusive to certain groups becoming more accessible to all.

Challenges & Resilience

Historical Challenges

Colorado City has faced extraordinary challenges throughout its history, from the 1953 Short Creek raid that separated families to more recent upheavals following Warren Jeffs’ arrest and the restructuring of the UEP Trust. These experiences have created both trauma and remarkable resilience within the community.

Current Challenges

Current challenges facing the community include:

• Economic uncertainty: The transition from a church-controlled economy to more conventional economic structures has created financial hardship for many residents who previously relied on communal support systems.
• Cultural divisions: Tensions exist between traditional FLDS members, former members, and newcomers to the community, creating sometimes painful divisions in a town where many residents are related through complex family networks.
• Educational gaps: Years of limited educational opportunities have left some residents without the skills needed for economic advancement in the changing economy.
• Housing instability: The restructuring of property ownership through UEP Trust reforms has resulted in evictions and housing uncertainty for some residents, particularly those still affiliated with the FLDS Church.

Community Resilience

Despite these challenges, Colorado City has demonstrated remarkable resilience. Community organizations have emerged to provide support services, build bridges between different groups, and create new economic opportunities. Former adversaries sometimes find themselves working together to address shared concerns.

Stories of Perseverance

Stories of community perseverance abound, from families rebuilding their lives after leaving the FLDS Church to longtime residents adapting to dramatic community changes while preserving valued traditions. These stories increasingly form part of a new community narrative that emphasizes resilience rather than victimhood, and potential rather than limitation.

Future Vision While Honoring the Past

Community at a Crossroads

Colorado City stands at a crucial juncture between preserving its unique heritage and embracing new possibilities. The community is navigating the complex challenge of honoring authentic aspects of its history while addressing problematic elements and opening to new influences.

Cultural Preservation Efforts

Efforts to maintain cultural and historical authenticity include:

• Oral history projects collecting stories from longtime residents
• Preservation of historic buildings and sites
• Cultural events that showcase traditional skills and knowledge
• Support for continuing valuable traditions like gardening, food preservation, and crafts

Evolution and Transformation

At the same time, the community is evolving in significant ways:

• Developing tourism infrastructure that shares the area’s natural beauty and unique story
• Creating more inclusive governance structures
• Expanding educational and economic opportunities
• Building connections with surrounding communities

Diverse Community Visions

Residents express varied hopes for the community’s future. Some envision Colorado City becoming a tourist destination known for its dramatic landscape and fascinating history. Others focus on creating a more inclusive community where diverse beliefs can coexist peacefully. Many emphasize the importance of maintaining the strong sense of community and self-reliance that has characterized Colorado City throughout its complex history.

Balanced Approach to Change

These varied visions share a common recognition that Colorado City’s future will neither entirely abandon its past nor remain static in traditions. Instead, the community is finding ways to carry forward valuable elements of its heritage while embracing new possibilities that were unimaginable just a few decades ago.

Conclusion: The Soul of Colorado City

What makes Colorado City special transcends its controversial history or dramatic physical setting. Residents from across the community’s spectrum consistently point to qualities of resilience, resourcefulness, and deep community bonds as defining characteristics of this unique place.

For traditional FLDS members, the soul of Colorado City lies in its religious foundations and historical separation from mainstream society. For those who have left the FLDS Church, it may be found in the community’s capacity for transformation and healing. Newer residents often speak of the pioneering spirit and stunning natural beauty that drew them to this remote location.

Across these differences, common themes emerge. Colorado City is a place where people know their neighbors, where self-reliance remains valued, and where the dramatic landscape creates a shared sense of place. It is a community that has experienced extraordinary challenges and continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience in response.

The ongoing story of Colorado City defies simple narratives. It is neither a tale of complete reinvention nor one of static tradition. Instead, it represents the complex, sometimes messy, but ultimately hopeful process of a community reconciling with difficult aspects of its past while building toward a more inclusive future. In this ongoing navigation between heritage and change, Colorado City continues to redefine itself while maintaining the distinctive character that makes it unlike any other community in America.