Corinne, Utah
Utah's original railroad boomtown, founded weeks before the Golden Spike and once known as the "Gentile Capital of Utah." Today it's a quiet farm town on the Bear River and the gateway to Golden Spike National Historical Park.
Quick Facts
Founded
1869
Known For
Railroad history
Population
About 800
To Brigham City
About 10 min
To Golden Spike
About 25 min
Utah's Wild West Railroad Town
Corinne was laid out in the spring of 1869, about six weeks before the transcontinental railroad was completed at Promontory. The Union Pacific chose this spot on the Bear River for a freight and shipping hub, and the town boomed almost overnight with banks, saloons, an opera house, hotels and a steamboat landing. Settled largely by non-Mormon railroad workers, merchants and miners, it quickly earned the nickname "Gentile Capital of Utah," and its founders even hoped it would become the territorial capital.
The boom faded within a decade as the railroad moved its shipping elsewhere, and Corinne settled into life as a farming town. Its past is still close at hand, from its 1870 church to historic markers around town. Today it's the first stop on the road west to Golden Spike, the Rocket Garden and Spiral Jetty.
Corinne sits right on the route to Box Elder County's railroad and land art landmarks, and minutes from some of its best birding and hunting.
Golden Spike National Historical Park
Follow Highway 83 west to Golden Spike National Historical Park at Promontory Summit, where the transcontinental railroad was completed on May 10, 1869. See the replica steam locomotives in season and drive the auto tours along the original grades.
Northrop Grumman Rocket Garden
On the way to Golden Spike, stop at the Northrop Grumman Rocket Garden, a free outdoor display of rockets and missiles built at the nearby Promontory facility.
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
Drive the 12-mile auto tour at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, through protected wetlands full of pelicans, avocets and, in fall, tens of thousands of tundra swans.
Spiral Jetty
Continue past Golden Spike on gravel roads to Spiral Jetty, Robert Smithson’s famous earthwork on the shore of the Great Salt Lake.
Dining in Corinne
Mim’s Bar & Grill
Golden Spike Burgers
Things to Do
in Corinne
SEE THE HISTORIC METHODIST CHURCH
Built in 1870, the Corinne Methodist Episcopal Church is considered the oldest existing Protestant church building in Utah and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has served as a local history museum, and the city is working to restore it.
FIND THE HISTORIC MARKERS
Look for markers around town telling the story of Corinne’s early days, including Utah’s first Masonic lodge, the Corinne Opera House and the Presbyterian bell from 1869.
FISH THE BEAR RIVER
The lower Bear River near Corinne is known for big channel catfish. Most of the riverbank is private, so fish at public access points. See our fishing guide for more spots.
HUNT THE MARSHES
Corinne sits between two of the county’s best waterfowl areas: Salt Creek Wildlife Management Area just west of town and the Public Shooting Grounds farther out on Highway 83. Learn more on our hunting page.
A Bit of History
Corinne was founded on March 25, 1869, as the Union Pacific Railroad pushed west toward its meeting with the Central Pacific. Railroad investors and freight companies saw it as the perfect shipping point for goods headed north to the mining camps of Idaho and Montana. Within months, the town had thousands of residents, along with Utah’s first Masonic lodge, banks, hotels, an opera house and a steamboat on the Great Salt Lake.
Corinne was also one of the most diverse towns in the territory. By 1870, it was home to one of Utah’s largest Chinese communities, along with Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic and other congregations. Its reputation as a rough-and-tumble railroad town earned it nicknames like “Hell on Wheels.” When the railroad shifted its freight hub to Ogden in the 1870s, the boom ended, and Corinne became the quiet farming community it is today.
Before You Go
Getting here
Corinne is about 6 miles west of Brigham City on Highway 13, and about an hour north of Salt Lake City.
HEADING WEST
There are no services between Corinne and Golden Spike, and even fewer on the road to Spiral Jetty. Fill up on gas, water and snacks before you go.
VISITING THE CHURCH
The historic Methodist church is under restoration. Check with Corinne City before planning a visit inside.
SEASONS
Spring and fall bring the best birding nearby. Golden Spike’s biggest event is the May 10 anniversary celebration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan Your Visit to Corinne
Stop in Corinne on your way west to see where Utah’s railroad story really began. Then follow the road to Golden Spike, the Rocket Garden and beyond.