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SALT LAKE CITY — After three weeks of debates and thousands of votes cast on the KSL.com polls, the winner of the “Best Small City” in Utah is Midway.
This small city put up a strong fight throughout the tournament, most notably defeating the perceived favorite of Moab in the Final Four round. Midway defeated Kamas in the championship round in easy fashion, claiming the top spot in 2017.
Midway, which has approximately 3,845 residents according to 2010 census data, is in the Heber Valley in Wasatch County. Most recently, the city has become famous for its incredible ice castles that rival those created by Disney’s fictional character, Queen Elsa of Arendelle. However, its Swiss Days event in the fall also brings thousands to the city and has been going on since 1941.
Midway was originally referred to as “upper Provo” in the 1800s but was later named Midway City on June 1, 1891. The city got its name after Brigham Young asked early settlers of the Upper Settlement and another area community called the Lower Settlement to build forts for protection against Native Americans. The two communities agreed to build a fort midway between the two settlements and the name Midway stuck, according to the city’s website.
Agriculture remains a vital part of the community of Midway; however, the city also attracts many to its recreational activities, including Soldier Hollow, which hosted the Nordic Skiing of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, and its Homestead Resort, which features a caldera, or 90-degree “hot-pots.”
Congratulations to Midway!
