Murray City School District (MCSD) is roughly 10 square miles at the heart of Salt Lake County. Many have wondered over the years just how Murray, easily the smallest school district in the County, got that way and has remained that way for more than 100 years.
To understand this, we must go back to when it was first created in 1906. Murray City was incorporated in 1902 and recognized by the State of Utah as a Third Class City the following year. Classifications are designations given to cities and counties based on their population. Different-sized governments and jurisdictions have different needs, and the classification system helps the State determine appropriate laws, funding, and other treatments.
In the early 1900s and across Salt Lake County, responsibilities for schools and funding, along with a lack of high schools, were big issues. Several school districts dotted the valley, and schools located in and around present-day Murray were part of the 24th and 25th Districts, as they were known in the late 1800s and into the early turn of the century.
To help resolve which taxing jurisdictions should be responsible for which schools, in 1905, the County passed a proposal to consolidate all county schools into two districts – Granite and Jordan. However, Murray City administrators and citizens felt the new consolidation would unfairly take a disproportionate share of tax revenue coming from the American Smeltering and Refining Company (ASRC), located in the city.
Taking advantage of an 1890 Utah law that allowed first and second-class cities to levy their own taxes and operate an independent school district, Murray annexed just enough adjacent land to raise the population to a second-class classification. Once complete in early 1905, the Governor granted the state’s first change in classification (in July), and Murray quickly divided the city into five wards and held a board of education election in December.
And with that, MCSD commenced in January 1906. Properties inherited from the 24th and 25th districts were deeded over to the new district, which also led to renaming them to Arlington School (from Central School) and Pioneer School (from West Side or White School). A third school within Murray City boundaries was under construction in 1905 and completed the same month MCSD started. It was named Liberty School.
Public interest has been up and down over the years on Murray’s size and autonomy. In 1987, an independent study was performed on MCSD to assess whether a small district still made sense. The report favored the arrangement, citing four key reasons: A favorable tax rate, low-bonded indebtedness, an excellent ratio or representation, and sustainable school populations.
Moreover, the report noted a distinguishable community pride found in Murray. The city has its own police, fire, parks, library, and power and water utilities. It was concluded that adding Murray to a surrounding district would only be a ripple or of little gain to the large absorbing district. And for Murray, it would spell the end of those local connections and the special identity it has long enjoyed.
In 2003, Murray City annexed some additional unincorporated land to the east. This included two elementary schools (Twin Peaks and Woodstock) and one high school (Cottonwood) that were part of the Granite School District. Murray and Granite district officials discussed the transfer of the schools into Murray but mutually agreed to keep things the same for now. In 2022, Granite School District announced Twin Peaks Elementary would close due to declining enrollment. However, students living there will remain in Granite schools (unless individual families seek a boundary exception for elsewhere).
Utah legislation in 2006 allowed for larger school districts to split, which paved the way for Jordan School District to divide by east and west, creating Canyons on the east side. So while Murray has occasionally questioned the validity of its size, there has been some public confirmation that being large isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. And it’s possible Murray could eventually expand some if the conditions and attitudes about it shift from the present.
But today, the Murray community – students, parents, teachers, and others – continue to hail the “little” Murray School District as big in heart and tradition. Everyone enjoys the closer connection and responsiveness of administrators and board members. For now, the “we are Murray” banner will continue to fly high and independently in the Salt Lake Valley.
