Maeser (Uintah) is three miles west of Vernal. The first sawmills in Ashley Valley were built in this area and the name of the site was Millward. After the sawmills closed down, the settlement was temporarily renamed Buena Vista. Karl G. Maeser, early head of the Brigham Young Academy and superintendent of the Mormon church sunday schools, made an official visit to the region. The people liked him so much they decided to name their own town for him.