Southern Utah has Experienced Explosive Growth 

There was a time when Southern Utah was home to a handful of small towns that dotted the desert. About the time air conditioning became something most people could afford, these small desert towns began to grow. 

Look at this aerial view of St. George from 1975 and compare it to a shot from today on Google Earth. The city didn't even fill the bowl not to mention Green Valley, Bloomington, Bloomington Hills and everything in Washington City and the fields.

https://youtu.be/nr18-WCajrE?si=VaqYAun_Hw41SzD0
https://youtu.be/nr18-WCajrE?si=VaqYAun_Hw41SzD0
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Google
Google
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A zoom into Foremaster Ridge is impressive. Look at the growth of the University and where the hospital is.

https://youtu.be/nr18-WCajrE?si=MGb3uLrsIM1kggzl
https://youtu.be/nr18-WCajrE?si=MGb3uLrsIM1kggzl
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Google
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Here is an overhead shot oft Ivins in 1975. You could probably fit the whole town inside the canyon where Tuacahn now sits. People back then wouldn't even recognize the place today.

https://youtu.be/nr18-WCajrE?si=wu8XIWC1gQbHhFkC
https://youtu.be/nr18-WCajrE?si=wu8XIWC1gQbHhFkC
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Google
Google
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Here's an aerial shot of Washington. They didn't even picture the fields back then as there were only tractors in them.

https://youtu.be/nr18-WCajrE?si=0yrpRsh9ZcXOJC6P
https://youtu.be/nr18-WCajrE?si=0yrpRsh9ZcXOJC6P
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Google
Google
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This is probably the biggest noticeable change due to the giant body of water now sitting in the middle. This is Sand Hollow State Park and the Dixie Springs area.

https://youtu.be/nr18-WCajrE?si=pwz-iYnDBWozUoQH
https://youtu.be/nr18-WCajrE?si=pwz-iYnDBWozUoQH
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Google
Google
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Read More: Utah Is 9th Most Popular State In The U.S.

Of course, all this change may look like nothing when they peer at Southern Utah 49 years from now. Who knows how many new neighborhoods and reservoirs will cover the land.

LOOK: Fastest-growing jobs in Utah

Stacker analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine which jobs in Utah grew the fastest between 2022 and 2023.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

LOOK! States People Are Leaving To Move To Utah

Stacker compiled a list of states sending the most people to Utah using data from the Census Bureau. States were ranked by the number of people who moved to Utah from a different state in 2022. Here are the top 5 Utah population contributors.

Gallery Credit: Dr. T

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