The Sugar House neighborhood in Salt Lake City, Utah, earned its name from an endeavor by the early settlers of the city to produce sugar from sugar beets. Although these efforts were short-lived, the attempt to do so enabled sugar beets to become an icon that is recognized and celebrated throughout the neighborhood and beyond.
Honoring History and Symbolizing a Community
Residents of the Sugar House neighborhood have come to embrace the sugar beet as an icon that honors the history of the area but also symbolizes the character of the community. Sugar beets are directly connected to an effort to produce sugar in the 1850s by the early pioneers of the city. The effort was a failure but the sugar mill building that was constructed to enable this endeavor would define the “Sugar House” identity of the neighborhood.
The Sugar House Monument celebrates this legacy but sugar beet icons that appear in various shapes and formats can be seen throughout the neighborhood. A large bronze sugar beet resides outside of the library which artist Day Christiansen wanted to be a permanent version of the symbol. The icon also appears on various pieces of city infrastructure like sewer covers and barriers.
Businesses and organizations have also used sugar beet icons to connect themselves to the community and neighborhood, with interpretations that range from figurative to abstract. This variety allows everyone to use and interpret this essential history and motivated spirit in their own way. This has allowed the Sugar House neighborhood to develop a strong community with a hip vibe.
Mentioned as one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Salt Lake City, the sugar beet icon has helped the Sugar House neighborhood to establish an identity that resonates with both residents and visitors. Doing so showcases how such icons can define the present and future of a neighborhood in a way that spans space and time.
A Neighborhood Icon and a Symbol of the State
Utah designated the sugar beet as the state historic vegetable in 2002, highlighting how the sugar beet icon resonates beyond the Sugar House neighborhood. That it has been cultivated in such a specific way has ensured that the sugar beet icon will continue to be used in ways that support people looking for opportunities and community.
