Kosmo, Utah

Kosmo (also spelled Kosmos or Cosmo) is a ghost town in Box Elder County, Utah, United States. The town was built in two sections, with the east end built in 1901 to serve as a rail spur of the First Transcontinental Railroad for the ranchers in the area.

Kosmo, Utah
Ghost town
Kosmo, Utah
Kosmo, Utah
Coordinates: 41.71772°N 112.79149°W / 41.71772; -112.79149
Country United States
State Utah
CountyBox Elder
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)

Background

The western part of the town was constructed in 1912, about one-half mile from the east part, as a spur for potash mining. Potash had become difficult to acquire during World War I, as its major producer was Germany. The Salt Lake Potash Company was established to combat the shortages and built ponds, canals, a rail spur and processing station in West Kosmo.

In addition, three bunkhouses, a cookhouse, garage, stock corral, general store, blacksmith and coal house were constructed in the town. A 1925 Utah Gazetteer noted the town had a population of 200 people. All that remain of the town are a few concrete foundations and canals in West Kosmo.[1][2]

Kosmo's post office was operational from 1919 through 1922.[3]

The town was near the epicenter of the 1934 Hansel Valley earthquake,[4] which damaged structures in the town.[5]

References
  1. "The Promontory Branch Stations". National Park Service. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  2. "Ghost town: Kosmo". Expedition Utah. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  3. "Post Offices". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  4. Huchel, Frederick M. (1999). A History of Box Elder County (PDF). Utah State Historical Society. ISBN 0-913738-09-3. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  5. "Eastern Section, Seismological Society of America". Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America. 24 (2): 142. April 1, 1934. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
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