The settlement of Oak City was begun in late summer of 1868, when a few families moved there from the community of Deseret, Utah.

They had become discouraged after eight years of unsuccessful attempts to dam the Sevier River to provide water for their crops, and had left the area.

The early settlers were familiar with the Oak City area because they had pastured their cattle there in the spring and fall.

The first phase took place in July 1868 and consisted of a few families and young men to survey the town site, clear the land for farming, and provide shelter for the coming winter.

Maj. John Dudley of the Manhattan District Staff was assigned to survey the West and find potential sites for an atomic laboratory in October 1942.

However, I noticed one thing: If we took over this area we would evict several dozen families and we would also take a large amount of farm acreage out of production.

"[citation needed] Because of the potential loss of farmland, Dudley recommended his second choice — Jemez Springs, New Mexico.

In the end, Dudley's choice was overruled by J. Robert Oppenheimer, a physicist and the scientific director of the Manhattan Project.

Craft booths, kids games (including a children’s fish catch), as well as adult fun fill the day.