Paragonah Fort

 (1855-1862) - A Mormon settler Fort established in 1855 during the Walker Indian War in Paragonah, Iron County, Utah. Settlers continued to live inside the fort until 1862.

History
The Paragonah area was first settled in 1851 by the Hall brothers and other settlers from Parowan Fort. These settlers established the small community of Paragonah without a fortification. The town prospered until the Indian troubles began in July 1853. The settlers then dismantled the buildings and removed to the safety of Parowan Fort. In 1855 Brigham Young passed through the area and he called the settlers to return to the Paragonah area and build a fort. He then selected and dedicated a site for the new Fort.

The settlers returned to the fort site in the spring of 1855 and constructed a two-story adobe fort. The fort was massive and was said to have used some 374,000 adobes for just the lower level. The settler dwellings were placed inside the fort walls facing inward along the lower level. The dwellings were sized according to the number of family members. The fort took two years to complete but was finished enough to be occupied during the first year. The second story was added in 1857.

About 1860 a townsite was selected and laid out, but the families remained in the fort until 1862 before they built homes on the townsites.

The public square includes the site of the fort which was torn down in 1879.

Current Status
Marker only. The square includes the site of the fort which was torn down in 1879. Marker located near 55 N Main Street, Paragonah, Iron County, Utah.

See Also:
 * Ute Black Hawk War (1865-1872)
 * Walker Indian War (1854-1855)
 * Mormon Fortifications

Sources:
 * Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Lesson for May 1987, Early Pioneer Forts, pamphlet, Special Collections, Cedar City Public Library, pages 381-429

Links:
 * Waymarking - Paragonah Fort Marker
 * Utah Division of State History - Paragonah Fort
 * Jacob Barlow - Paragonah Fort