As a result of
the United States Army coming into the Salt Lake Valley in 1858, Spanish
Fork became the temporary home of about four hundred families who had
fled from their homes in northern settlements. Many of the refugees
remained in Spanish Fork. The first commercial industry, a sawmill,
was established in 1858 and was owned by Archibald Gardner. He also
built the first flour mill, which began operation in 1859. The Spanish
Fork Foundry, established in 1884, turned out great quantities of iron
and brass castings. While the principal industry of Spanish Fork has
always been agriculture, the city has also become a primary livestock
center. The canning industry was also important; in 1925, the Utah Packing
Corporation established a factory and began to contract with local farmers
for the growing of peas, beans, and tomatoes.
As the population
increased and more land was brought under cultivation, the waters of
Spanish Fork River became inadequate to supply irrigation needs. After
lengthy negotiations and contracts with the federal government, Spanish
Fork secured the delivery of water from the newly completed Strawberry
Reservoir. Water was first received through the tunnel on 27 June 1915.