[6] Murray shares borders with Taylorsville, Holladay, South Salt Lake, Millcreek and West Jordan, Utah.

Unlike most of its neighboring communities, Murray operates its own police, fire, power, water, library, and parks and recreation departments and has its own school district.

Artifacts of Native American encampments have been located along the Jordan River, including camps near Willow Pond Park.

[9] At what was known as the "big bend" of the Jordan River (near 4984 South 700 West Street), the Goshute Indians from Skull Valley made their camp.

Early settlers recorded that they generally traded buffalo robes, deer skins, dried meat and tallow.

A pioneer group that was called the Mississippi Saints arrived one year later and began to develop a scattered settlement in the south end of the valley that fall.

The early settlers mutually agreed that no individual should fence or take title to it, but that it should be set aside and considered as belonging to South Cottonwood Ward.

In 1853, when teamsters commenced to haul granite rock from Little Cottonwood Canyon to the Salt Lake Temple construction site, a dirt path was made along what is now Vine Street.

The east side of the road (at the northeast corner, where the Stillwater Apartments now stand) became a halfway camping ground for the teamsters.

The Utah Pony Express Station Number 9 was located near present-day 6200 State Street and was called "Travelers' Rest", but the accommodations were meager, consisting of a stable and one-room bunk house.

The area changed over time as the railroad came in, smelting expanded, the territorial road (later known as State Street) was established, and trolley transportation was developed.

Murray's industry would later include a water plant, lighting system, canning factory, flour mills, and brickyards.

[17] Many of those employed at the Franklyn and Germania smelters were immigrants from Scandinavian countries who had joined the LDS church in their homeland and moved to Utah; most spoke little English.

The Scandinavian population settled in the area west of State Street and was large enough to hold separate LDS services in the Swedish language.

[20] In addition to the impact of lawsuits due to the spread of lead dust, Murray's industry suffered greatly in the 1930s depression.

With the demise of heavy industry prior to World War II, and the advent of the Interstate Freeway System in the 1950s, Murray became a major retail hub due to its central location.

In the mid-2000s, people of the census-designated place (CDP), Cottonwood West, petitioned for annexation into Murray,[25] increasing the population by 17,000, nearly one-third more than in the 2000 census.

Murray's eastern boundary, along 900 East, was extended as a result of the annexation to Van Winkle Expressway and Highland Drive, along the city borders of Holladay and Cottonwood Heights.

The city provides for most of its own services, including Police, Fire, Power, Water, Sewer, Library, Senior Center, and Parks and Recreation.

Address: 10 East 4800 South, Murray, UT 84157-0520 Website: www.murray.utah.gov According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.6 square miles (24.9 km2), all land.

Several man-made lakes have been created in the Lynn Pett Murray Parkway and Mick Riley Golf Courses.

Murray Park is adjacent to the Salt Lake County Ice Center that was utilized as a practice venue during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

The farm presents to the public the history of Utah family agriculture and rural lifestyle from 1890 to 1920, and gives historic demonstrations and exhibits.

Adult, high school and youth leagues use the facility that is sanctioned by the Murray City Parks and Recreation department.

[34] Sanctioned by the Murray Parks and Recreation department, adult and youth leagues play on the numerous soccer fields.

Most notable was boxing legend Jack Dempsey's only defeat, due to a knockout, at the Murray Fire Hall (4735 South State Street).

In 1992, Murray consolidated its two libraries into a new center on 5300 South that would permit it to have more books and include study space and conference rooms.

The physical, in-building collection has grown to include books, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, tablets, Wi-Fi hotspots, and a telescope.

Murray is home to several professional and amateur performing-arts groups, notably, the Desert Star Playhouse, located in the historic Iris Theatre which is noted for its community-based plays and melodramas.

RGW merged to form the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad which later created a depot in Murray.