Historically, the annual Golden Onion Days event in Payson could just as easily have been called the Peteetneet Golden Sugar Beet Days. The creek area that remains a popular camping spot was originally named after Chief Peteetneet, a local Ute Indian resident. The creek was a historical location for Spanish explorers traveling from Santa Fe to Monterey, Calif., at the time of George Washington.

In 1850, under the direction of Latter-day Saint Prophet Brigham Young, three pioneer families settled in the area to start a new life. James Pace, John Courtland Searle, and Andrew Jackson Stewart brought their families to the fertile bank of Peteetneet Creek to develop what is known today as Nebeker’s Grove.

Further growth and a developing agricultural industry brought other settlers to the area. According to historian L. Dee Stevenson, in August of 1852, the settlement was renamed Pacen in honor of original settler James Pace and his sons. The spelling was later changed to Payson.

Then, in January of 1853, the Utah Territory Legislature passed an act officially incorporating Payson City.

Though the city of Payson and sweet onions go hand in hand like a burger and fries (the Spanish Sweet Onion was declared the official Utah State Vegetable by the Utah State Legislature in 2002), the dominant industry in the early 20th Century was sugar beets. According to Pioneer.com, in that same session, the sugar beet was declared the Utah State Historic Vegetable. The production of beet sugar was a major contributor to the Utah economy for almost 100 years.

By the 1980s, traces of this once-thriving industry were long gone. What remains is the trusty onion — a crop that generates $9 billion of business in Utah as farmers grow about 100 million pounds of onions each year.

One of the tenacious features of the onion is its ability to endure cold weather without spoiling. Thanks to the 17 original settlers of Payson, who endured a cold winter upon arrival, the city now boasts a population exceeding 18,000 residents.

In 1929, in recognition of the spirit of the Payson people, Mayor L.D. Stewart proclaimed the city’s first Onion Harvest and Homecoming celebration. Eighty-seven years later, Mayor Stewart’s proclamation still rings true.

“Whereas the citizens of Payson City are putting forth much effort to make this occasion a success, and it is apparent that much good may come to Payson City and the inhabitants thereof and the friends who reside elsewhere, in making Payson and vicinity popular as an agriculture district and outstanding in the production of the onion. I urge all citizens to aid in every possible way to patronize and popularize this event.”

Every year, the Payson Golden Onion Days celebration provides events which have delighted young and old alike — from people living within its city limits and beyond. Join the city Sept. 2-5 as the tradition continues.