A quick jaunt down the South Jordan Parkway (106th South) westward from I-15 reveals a community emerging from its pioneer heritage into the modern age of shopping centers, restaurants and high-rise office buildings. Horses in meadows behind their owners' homes exercise and graze, oblivious to the skyrocketing development surrounding them; development which includes a housing and commercial project, that when complete will double the population of South Jordan City.

Incorporated in 1935, South Jordan remained a rural farming community until the 1960s, when the city's population was 1,354. During the past four decades, the city has seen its population double every 10 years to its current size of 33,010, and is still growing. Such exponential growth can take its toll on any city's infrastructure and the funds necessary to sustain it. Redwood Road, one of the primary roadways in the city is only now being expanded to accommodate its long over stressed traffic flow to I-15. Until recently, South Jordan had a relatively small commercial tax base upon which to draw to make such improvements despite the affluence of its population. South Jordan has the second-highest household income in Utah according to the 2000 Census.

"Other communities have out paced South Jordan's growth in individual years," explains J. Kent Money, mayor of South Jordan. "We have consistently grown at a pace of 14 percent a year for 10 consecutive years." Concerned about the tax burden of the single-family households that account for 93 percent of the city's population --- and property tax base --- South Jordan knew it would have to accommodate commercial growth and development, which meant the influx of strip malls, shopping centers and office complexes. However, city leaders have been dedicated to keeping the city's bucolic charm intact by avoiding urban sprawl and enforcing strict esthetic guidelines.

"It's not often a city has the opportunity to build a vision and master plan of a city from scratch," Money says. "We wanted to create a 'lifestyle concept' where people could live, work and play and still be guaranteed open spaces.

To accommodate growth and to build a tax base, South Jordan has encouraged development along the South Jordan Parkway and the 104th South corridor. Mayor Money can remember a time in the not-too distant past when South Jordan had only a single grocery store that caused quite a stir when it closed. "Now you have a Harmon's, a Smith's, a Walgreen's and an Auto Zone in the same block," he said.

"How do we introduce a balanced and diversified community into the picture when historically there has been a strong desire to be a bedroom community only?" Horst asks. "We had to build a tax base which could support the service delivery requirements of our citizens, while protecting our 'sense of place.' We had to grow a budget, build a stronger professional staff, protect taxes and demonstrate to the world that South Jordan was a player --- but a different kind of player.

South Jordan will soon see completion of its new town center, which will house city offices and create a shopping and events district in the heart of the city.

But it is for the planned community known as "Sunrise," a development that is yet to be built and a development that will again double the population, for which the city has been locally and nationally recognized.

"The Sunrise project is a mixed-use development with residential, commercial, retail,office, industrial and park and open-space components," said Ricky A. Horst, South Jordan's city manager.

Developed by Kennecott Development Corporation, a division of Kennecott Utah Copper. Sunrise will sit on 4,500 acres of a former Kennecott dumping site, once contaminated with tailings from the mine. The development has been the subject of a 2001 Time magazine article, and the city has received The Governor's Quality Growth Award from Envision Utah for the project's architectural design and its municipal planning.

The more appealing aspect of development is that taxpayers have not had to foot the bill for any of the city-fostered development. "Development in the city is not subsidized by taxpayers," says Steve Noble, assistant city manager of South Jordan. "All new public infrastructures are either constructed by the developers or from impact fees paid by developers and builders."

"Sunrise, South Jordan will not only pay its own way, but will provide additional revenues in support of citywide needs," Horst adds.

The problems of South Jordan in the 21st Century are vastly different from those of the first settlers. The city was originally settled in 1857 by the Alexander and Catherine Lince Beckstead family. Their first dwellings were crude, 14-foot square caves carved into the embankments and surrounding hills of the Jordan River. Despite the city's new commercial landmarks, the local population is just as fond of its pioneer heritage.

The citizens and mayor still speak fondly of "The Beckstead Ditch," which still meanders from 106th South to 120th South. Dug with the picks and axes of the early settlers in June, 1857, the ditch was the lifeblood of South South Jordan for nearly a century first as an irrigation canal that diverted water from the Jordan River and then as the mill race for the White Faun Flour Mill --- the first mill in South Jordan. The Beckstead Ditch and the mills it fueled (White Faun was destroyed in a fire in 1902 hut was rebuilt) were the heart of South Jordan's original commerce. Farmers would take their grains --- oats, wheat and barley --- to the mill to barter for sacks of milled flour, cereal products and "bran and shorts," their affectionate term for livestock feed.

It seems hard to believe that this once small farming community between 90th and 118th South and the highway (now the freeway) to the foothills once prided itself on being being void of big-city crowds and hassle. In fact, long-time residents of South Jordan still note the fact that lots in South Jordan are typically larger than the rest of the Salt Lake Valley, and they scoff at the city's unofficial motto of "life just off the fast lane."

"I much prefer 'country feel; city appeal," Money says. "For so many years South Jordan was a bedroom community of Salt Lake. We are determined to carry out the vision our forefathers instigated with those desirable concepts such as large lots and a country atmosphere."

While horse stables and small pastures are still a common sight in South Jordan, the vast majority of city residents are no longer in agriculture. Its highly educated work force (30.9 percent of the population have earned at least a bachelor's degree) fuels the Wasatch Front's high-tech computer chip / software and business service industries.

Today, the city's most recognizable landmark is the Jordan River Temple, maintained by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which befits a community whose population is approximately 75 percent Mormon. The temple has been called "the busiest [LDS] temple in the world and has more visitors than any other of the church's temples," according to one of the temple's workers.

The people of South Jordan aren't only dedicated to a sense of community, but also to a sense of natural beauty and, as city leaders have explained, will not support growth at the cost of its local ecology The city's plan for development is dedicated to preserving walking trails and the natural beauty of the Jordan River habitat. Long a polluted eyesore, the Jordan River has undergone a transformation as would befit a river named for its Biblical predecessor flowing so near a religious landmark.

Supported by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The City of South Jordan Riverwav Wildlife Enhancement Project, which sits on 111 acres of the Jordan River Floodplain between 106th and 113th South, is in full swing.

The project includes the repair and restoration of wetlands and a wildlife preserve with emphasis on protecting the habitat of neotropical migratory birds. Surrounding the preserve will be a wetland park where visitors can stroll and hike along an established trail system. These surface trails will connect to the Jordan River Parkway trail, which provides a type of urban greenbelt to many of South Jordan's residential developments.

With the influx of people also has come a panoply of cultural influences that many original residents could not have fathomed. Within view of the Jordan River Temple. South Jordan is now home to the Sri Ganesha Hindu Temple and Cultural Center at 1142 West 10400 South, which has been enthusiastically welcomed by the people, government and religious communities of South Jordan.

"Our (Mormon) neighbors have been very enthusiastic about the project," explains Indra Neelameggham. president of the executive committee of the Sri Ganesha Hindu Temple and Cultural Center. "South Jordan has been a very welcoming city.

Neighbors have visited the construction site. It has been a grand thing."

In fact, in a city that strives ever harder to keep its sense of community, local LDS Wards, nurseries and private citizens donated time. money and greenery to landscape the site on March 15.

"We're dedicated to creating a heart for our community," Money says. "It's an assurance that our towns spiritual center will endure."