Rockville, Washington County, Utah
In the fall of 1861 the early settlers of Rockville first began their community at the lower end of the Rockville fields between the present town site and Grafton. They called this early settlement Adventure. By spring it was clear that they had settled too close to the Virgin River so they moved from their crude shelters of dugouts and cabins to higher ground and thus began the present settlement of Rockville. The town was called Rockville because of the many boulders on the above hillside. By the winter of 1862-1863 there were about twelve families living in the town. The first years were very hard on the settlers and they suffered for want of food and proper shelter.
Gradually more land was brought under cultivation. Life was hard and some families left and others came. The early crops were cotton, corn, cane and a small amount of wheat.
By 1864 there were 18 families and about 95 people living in the area. The settlers in this area began to raise more grain, in particular corn and wheat. They improved their surrounding and homes and used local materials such as the rock to build their homes and fences.
Through the years floods, insects such as grasshoppers, Indians, and even a time living the United Order kept life interesting and difficult. But many of them stuck it out and persevered.
Rockville is a nice town in a beautiful area along the Virgin River. Today there is still farming in the area but Rockville also serves as a bedroom community with some residents commuting to larger communities and nearby Zion National Park for employment. According to the 2000 U.S. Census there were 247 people, 115 households, and 64 families residing in the town. -CBA
_________________________
Related links:
Note to all:
If you have histories of the Rockville pioneers (on a website or that you
would like to have published on the web), other genealogy help for this town,
or know of related links please let me know.
--Cindy Alldredge
Copyright © 2006 by Cynthia B. Alldredge