The Mormon corridor, a vast cultural region spanning the western United States from Canada to Mexico, remains a focal point of Church of Jesus::Christ of Latter-day Saints activity, evidenced by the recent completion of a nearly three-year renovation at the San Diego temple.
Geography of the Corridor
The geographic area known as the Mormon corridor was primarily settled between 1850 and approximately 1890 by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This region, also referred to in academic literature as the Mormon culture region, the Book of Mormon belt, or the Jell-O belt, follows the path of the North American Rocky Mountains.
Regional Boundaries and States
The corridor's reach is extensive, beginning in Utah and extending northward through western Wyoming and eastern Idaho into parts of Montana and the southern regions of Alberta, Canada. To the west, the region reaches into parts of Oregon near the Jordan Valley, while its southern boundaries stretch through Tucson, Arizona, to the U.S.-Mexico border, including isolated settlements in Chihuahua and Sonora, Mexico, as well as Baja California.
In the United States, the corridor encompasses portions of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. The population is largely clustered between present-day Interstate 15 and U.S. Route 89, with significant concentrations found in Utah's Cache Valley and the Wasatch Front.
Early Settlement and Industry
The establishment of these communities was often driven by specific economic and survival needs. Early settlements served as agricultural centers or provided access to vital minerals and timber. For example, colonies were established for iron production in Cedar City, cotton in St. George, cattle in Cache Valley, and sheep in Spanish Fork.
During the mid-to-late 19th century, these communities functioned as critical waystations for migration and trade centered around Salt Lake City. Because many of these valleys in the Great Basin, Southeastern Idaho, Nevada, and Arizona were relatively dry, early settlers relied heavily on complex irrigation systems involving wells, dams, canals, headgates, and ditches to sustain crops, orchards, and livestock.
Expansion Under Brigham Young
Under the leadership of Church President Brigham Young, who served from 1847 to 1877, the expansion of these colonies was highly organized. Historian Leonard J. Arrington noted that within ten years of the arrival of Latter-day Saints in the Salt Lake Valley, nearly 100 colonies had been planted; this number grew to more than 200 by 1867 and reached nearly 400 by the time of Young's death in 1877.
These missions served diverse purposes. Some were temporary gathering points, such as Carson Valley in Nevada, while others were permanent homes for immigrants. Certain locations, like Harmony in southern Utah, Las Vegas in Nevada, and Fort Lemhi in Idaho, were designated as centers for proselytizing and assisting Indigenous populations.
Migration and Political Pressure
The expansion of the corridor was also influenced by legal and political pressures. In 1884, under President John Taylor, church members in Arizona and New Mexico were encouraged to move across the border into Mexico to avoid prosecution related to polygamy. Although initial attempts to purchase land in Chihuahua were denied by the governor, negotiations with Mexican President Porfirio Díaz eventually allowed for the establishment of colonies such as Colonia Díaz, Colonia Juarez, and Colonia Dublán.
Similarly, Charles Ora Card led an expedition into present-day Alberta in 1886, resulting in the establishment of Cardston, Canada, in 1887. This expansion continued after Young's death, with leaders establishing new settlements in Wyoming, Nevada, and Colorado to accommodate a growing population and changing political climates.
Modern Temple Renovations
While much of the corridor's history is rooted in 19th-century settlement patterns, the Church continues to maintain and renovate its infrastructure in these regions. On July 9, 2026, Karl Keating reported on a recent tour of the San Diego temple, noting that the structure has just completed a renovation process that lasted nearly three years.
Ongoing Church Presence
The history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the United States remains a central component of the corridor's identity, as the organization continues its presence across the various states and territories originally settled by its members.
