It originally incorporated as a town named Salem Hills.

Elk Ridge became a fifth-class city by state law in November 2000.

The area that later became Elk Ridge was originally part of Goosenest Ranch at the foot of Mount Loafer at the southern end of Utah County southeast of Salem and Payson.

[4][5] A dirt road was built in 1970 after the ranch was sold, and it was developed into a settlement called Salem Hills.

[5] The new name was taken from the large herds of elk that roamed the area in and around the town.

[6] It became a fifth-class city in Utah in 2000 when its official population exceeded 1000.

[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2), all land.

The population of Elk Ridge grew from 1,838 in 2000 to 4,687 in 2020, with 1,229 households residing in the town.

[9] Of the 1,229 households, 99.5% of them owned the homes in which they lived, 89.4% were married couples living together, 7.6% were a single female with no spouse present, and 2.8% were a single male with no spouse present.