Dover, Utah

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Dover | settlement_type = Ghost town | image_skyline = | imagesize = | image_caption = | pushpin_map = Utah#USA | pushpin_label_position = right | map_caption = Location of Dover in Utah | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Utah | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Sanpete | established_title = Founded | established_date = 1877 | founder = William Robinson | named_for = Dover | extinct_title = Abandoned | extinct_date = 1930s | elevation_ft = | coordinates = {{coord|39|12|27|N|111|53|46|W|region:US-UT|display=inline,title}} }} '''Dover''' is a ghost town located in Sanpete County, Utah, United States. The site lies west of Fayette across the Sevier River.

The community was named after Dover, in England.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, Volumes 9-10|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L7M3AQAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA121|year=1918|page=121}}</ref>

==History== The land was first settled in 1877–1878 by 45 families led by William Robinson. They found the soil was good, but water somewhat scarce. By 1879 they had a schoolhouse, also used for church and civic functions, and a post office, which operated until 1895. There were also two general stores, where residents typically paid for goods in kind with eggs.<ref name=guide/>

When Utah Territory achieved statehood on January 4, 1896, Dover's celebrations took a tragic turn. They had no cannon to fire, instead exploding some dynamite with a well-driving hammer.<ref name=sanpete/> The hammer, which had been through many such celebrations before,<ref name=guide/> blew apart, injuring several people.<ref name=sanpete/>

In the years 1910–1916, irrigation companies in Millard County dammed the Sevier River some distance to the north.<ref name=sanpete2/> The resulting reservoir, now known as Yuba Reservoir, covered parts of Dover's farmland, driving out some of the residents.<ref name=sanpete/> A severe drought in the 1930s finished off the town; a few houses were moved, and most of the others were later torn down.<ref name=guide/> Nothing remains but some foundations and fallen buildings, and a memorial cemetery.<ref name=cem/>

==References== <references>

<ref name=guide>{{cite book | last = Carr | first = Stephen L. | title = The Historical Guide to Utah Ghost Towns | edition = 3rd | orig-date = June 1972 | year = 1986 | publisher = Western Epics | location = Salt Lake City | page = 101 | isbn = 0-914740-30-X}}</ref>

<ref name=sanpete>{{cite book | last = Antrei | first = Albert C.T. |author2=Roberts, Allen D. | title = A History of Sanpete County | series = Utah Centennial County History Series |date=January 1999 | publisher = Utah State Historical Society | location = Salt Lake City, Utah | pages = 364–365 | isbn = 0-913738-42-5 | url = http://utah.ptfs.com/awweb/guest.jsp?smd=1&cl=all_lib&lb_document_id=34355 | format = PDF | accessdate = July 16, 2012}}</ref>

<ref name=sanpete2>Antrei, p.372.</ref>

<ref name=cem>{{cite web | title = Cemetery Database | work = Utah State History | publisher = Utah Department of Community and Culture | url = http://history.utah.gov/burials/execute/viewcemetery?id=SP0101 | accessdate = October 20, 2009 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100718051736/http://history.utah.gov/burials/execute/viewcemetery?id=SP0101 | archivedate = July 18, 2010 }}</ref>

</references>

==External links== * [http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/ut/dover.html Dover] at GhostTowns.com

Category:Ghost towns in Utah Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1877 Category:Ghost towns in Sanpete County, Utah Category:1877 establishments in Utah Territory