The History of Utah Part 2: The Fremont Indians

​   Highly influenced by the Anasazi, the Fremont Indians lived in central and northern Utah from around AD 1 to AD 1300. Being such an ancient people (like the Anasazi) the Fremont’s names are not derived from their own language or culture, but are named after the Fremont River in Southern Utah, near Capitol Reef National Park. (The Fremont River itself is named after John Charles Fremont, who led an expedition through Utah before the commencement of the Civil War.) The largest site to find the remnants of the  Fremont Indians is near Richfield, Utah, and was actually discovered while constructing I-70.

    The Fremont Indians were dependent upon foraging and farming corn, and were not quite so highly advanced as the Anasazi in terms of village construction and infrastructure. While the infrastructure may not have been quite as astounding as the Anasazi, they certainly had great taste in living location. Today, there are more national parks within the range of the ancient Fremont people than there are in any other place in the United States! These National Parks include Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, as well as several National Monuments including Hovenweep, Monument Valley, Natural Bridges, Escalante-Grand Staircase, and quite a few state parks are also found within the range of the ancient Fremont Indians.

  The Fremont are believed to have been a rather aggressive people, delighting in raiding neighbour villages and farms, which some have said is a likely explanation for the departure of the Anasazi from the Four Corners area.

  Right here near Rising K Ranch is a gallery of Fremont Rock Art (which may also include some figures from the Anasazi and from the more recent Paiutes who still live here). This place is called Parowan Gap and is only about 15 miles north of Cedar City, Utah.