Connecting people through nature and our waterways

Cottonwood Heights

City Size: 8.8 square miles [01]
Population Count (2020): 34,951

Creeks: Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood
Total Stream Length: 6.1 miles [02]
Buried: 0.2 miles [03]
Impaired: 5.9 miles [04]

Diversity Index (2020)*: 25 [05]
Housing Affordability Index (2020)**: 136 [06]

 

Established out of portions of early colonial settlements, including Union, Butler Bench, Poverty Flats, and Danish Town, Cottonwood Heights emerged after residents petitioned to become a formal municipality. It serves as the gateway to both Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood Canyons, home to some of the most popular recreational areas in the Intermountain West and four world-class ski resorts.

Cottonwood Heights features natural stretches of Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood Creeks. Big Cottonwood Creek flows by the historic Cottonwood Paper Mill and adjacent Old Mill Open Space. The Big Cottonwood Trail parallels the creek from canyon mouth, through the City, and into Holladay. Little Cottonwood Creek flows through the 58-acre Crestwood Park, featuring natural space and trails.

 Opportunity Areas

Opportunity Areas
19. Wasatch Boulevard to Crestwood Park
19. Wasatch Boulevard to Crestwood Park

Using public property and neighborhood by-ways, create a trail connection near Little Cottonwood Creek.

Category: 10-Year
City: Cottonwood Heights & Sandy
Creek: Little Cottonwood

20. Fort Union to Wheeler Farm
20. Fort Union to Wheeler Farm

Create a trail connection along Little Cottonwood Creek (over Interstate-215), daylight the creek, and implement green infrastructure to improve water quality and connect communities.

Category: 100-Year
City: Cottonwood Heights, Midvale, & Murray
Creek: Little Cottonwood

Asset 12-100.jpg

Sources

  1. Esri, Forecasts for 2020 and 2025 with converted Census 2000 data into 2010 geography (2021).

  2. Salt Lake County, Stream Care Guide (2014).

  3. Seven Canyons Trust, Creek Channel Alignment Data (2018).

  4. Utah Division of Water Quality, Beneficial Uses and Water Quality Assessment Map (2016).

*Likelihood two persons chosen at random belong to different race or ethnic groups, ranging from 0 (no diversity) to 100 (complete diversity).

**Ratio of median household income to median home value. A value of 100 means a typical family has exactly enough income to quality for a mortgage on a typical home. Above 100, the typical family earns more than enough and, below 100, they do not earn enough.