The Avenues (Images of America)

East of Utah’s domed state capitol and near downtown Salt Lake City, a residential district sharply climbs the foothills of the Wasatch Range. The neighborhood is known as “The Avenues.” Settlement of the oldest portion of the area took place from the 1860s until the late 1930s. The proximity of the neighborhood to the central business district and transportation hub made it a convenient living location for middle- and upper-class citizens involved in many trades. The streets were originally named mostly after trees. Then in 1885, the north-south streets became A through V Streets, and the east-west streets became First through Fourth Avenues. This change in street names gave the area its popular title. After a long period of decline, The Avenues was declared a historic district in 1980. Today, residents strive to restore the celebrated treasures of their neighborhood.