Colorado City by junge1
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Description
Colorado City, formerly known as Short Creek, was founded in 1913 by members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a breakaway sect of the Salt Lake City-based The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons).
The FLDS membership desired a remote location where they could practice polygamy (Wikipedia).
Colorado City, located on what is generally known as the Arizona Strip is in Mohave County north of the Grand Canyon. The shortest way to reach Colorado City by car from Kingman, the County seat and south of the Grand Canyon, is via Las Vegas, Nevada, I-15 north to St. George, Utah and east via Hurricane, and Utah State Route 59, a distance of 220 miles. Reaching the community via Flagstaff is about 350 miles.
Colorado City, a community of about 4,600 inhabitants, straddles the Arizona/Utah state line and is called Hildale in the Utah part of the community. It is equally difficult to reach this community from the Utah side, either via St. George, or Kanab.
Arizona State Route 389/Utah State Route 59 runs by the community. Yet there are no stores, motels, hotels, fast food outlets, or gas stations in this community, and therefore no reason for anyone to turn off the highway and stop while on their way from Fredonia, AZ to Hurricane, UT.
But if someone does turn off, they are instantly recognized for what they are - strangers and intruders.
The sect had been run by Warren Jeffs (born 1955)until a few years ago. He was accused of expelling young men from the community (for illegally dating young girls against his will, and interfering with the powerful clan leaders).
Warren Jeffs had been a fugitive and was on the FBI's Most Wanted List. He was captured, tried in 2011 on two felony counts of child sexual assault and convicted to life plus 20 years.
Recently he was accused of still running the sect from his prison cell. Jeffs has 79 wives and over 60 children. The Federal Government, and Mohave County, have requested additional funds for bringing in outside law enforcement. The local police force is either part of the sect, or intimidated to the point of ineffectiveness.
I had been to Colorado City twice. The first time about 20 years ago on a Sunday. I turned off the highway on slowly cruised through town. A young woman, in the typical angle-length dress, was plowing a field, while a slew of young kids, girls in long dresses, played in or near the field. Their dress code reminded me of pictures I had seen as a kid in a book my grandmother had, where girls were ice skating in long dresses. That book was published in the 1890's.
The second time I went to Colorado City was when I took these pictures. I had to meet some elders and inspect two dams. Not being familiar with the local setup, I went to the U.S. Post Office. The moment I entered this U.S. Post Office, marked on the wall behind the counter as 'U.S. Post Office Colorado City, Arizona/Hildale, Utah' the post mistress spotted me and recognized me for what I was, an unwelcome intruder. I could not get any information from her, she claimed ignorance. Somehow I found the office of the official I was supposed to contact and he in turn would get the elders.
The contact person was out to lunch, but the young girl that was the secretary was good looking, friendly, warm, but kind of shy, and of course wore the traditional long dress and hairdo all women of the sect wear. When the contact person returned from lunch it was amazing to see the transformation of this young woman. From being warm and friendly she instantly turned into an emotionless robot. No smile, head bowed over the typewriter/computer, and apparently not listening.
I had never seen anything like that before.
This is a 4 picture panorama taken on 18 August 2005,
Sig...
Comments (42)
bobrgallegos
A Wonderful panoramic view of this strange but beautiful area and town!!
jophoto
Super panorama and very interesting story.
miztere
excellent shot of this landscape!
Faemike55
Fantastic photo and very fascinating & strange infornation Very beautiful area
jocko500
wonderful shot
bmac62
A beauty of a pano Sig. I've never been through there but know the Warren Jeffs story from the news of his arrest and trial. Amazing that the cult has the entire city sewn up so tightly...to include the police force!
0rest4wicked
Oh I could tell you a few tales having lived in Cedar City for four years! Great Pano of the area. Can't deny it is beautiful country!
Isabelle711
Most beautiful landscape. :)))))) I remember when that guy was tried. What he did is/was sick. It is really sad about the young lady you saw. :( It is really something what you may see while away from home. Amazing capture my friend. :)))) Thank you for sharing all of the beauty you see. :)))) Carry A Smile In Your Heart :)))))
renecyberdoc
the polygamy bit sounds interesting,but them come to think of too much trouble for an old fart like me lol.
jayfar
A super panorama and what a story.
UteBigSmile
Das ist wirklich ein fantastisches Panorama und eine gute Info dazu!
blinkings
A beautiful part of the world.
kgb224
Superb capture my friend. Sounds like our president who have four wives. God Bless.
bazza
Great panoramic view Sig.. Great view strange city by the sound of it!!
rocdan
SUPERB PANORAMA BRILLIANT CAPTURE
Maxidyne
Visually stunng panorama and a very interesting if disturbing story. Thanks for posting.
dakotabluemoon
Wonderful view and mountains are one of my favs.
farmerC
Splendid Shot.
nefertiabet
Fantastisches Panorama Bild!!! Thanks for the info :-)
Leije
Superb in full size !
adrie
Wow this is one fabulous panorama capture my friend, superb view....love it.
Dreamingbee
wow Sig !!! stunning panorama!!!!!!!
drifterlee
Really fantastic panorama!
kbrog
Excellent panoramic capture! :)
flavia49
stunning sky and panorama
sandra46
GREAT PANORAMA
bkhook
WOW, What a pano. A must see full zoom.
psyoshida
Reminds me of the Stepford Wives. But such lovely country. Glad they finally go Jeffs I'm sure there are more out there they could round up. A beautiful shot especially zoomed in.
Richardphotos
I just read a few days ago about how the "church" people treat people that is not of their rank and file. I past through there last May and did not bother driving into town to find a place for lunch. I stopped on the east end of town at a convenience store. the man in prison here in Texas still controls the sect from his cell after reading the information, I was more than happy than I did not drive into town outstanding pano Sig
auntietk
Did you see the February, 2010 article in National Geographic on this place? Fascinating stuff. Your photograph is excellent, and your narrative is captivating. I revisited the stories again and caught up on the unfolding drama. What an amazing group of people! It boggles the mind.