by Terry Morrison 
Herriman, Utah means business. WalletHub recently ranked Herriman as #1 out of 1,334 small U.S. cities for access to resources for launching an enterprise and #98 overall considering various factors that go into starting a business.
Its reputation as a great place for entrepreneurs may be one of the reasons why Herriman, the fastest-growing American city over 10,000 residents from 2010 to 2019, continues to expand at an annual rate of 2.13%. World Population Review estimates that Herriman currently has 61,328 residents, who tend to be young and prosperous. Their average household income is $126,420, and their median age is 28.4.
About 5,000 feet above sea level, Herriman lies in the southwestern corner of the Salt Lake Valley at the base of the eastern slopes of the Oquirrh Mountains, around 27 miles southwest of Salt Lake City.
Although Herriman was settled by Mormons in 1849, it took plenty of time to incorporate and even more time to begin its legendary growth spurt. Originally named Butterfield for its first settler, Thomas Butterfield, it was renamed 10 years later for another prominent resident, Henry Herriman. The community, which had grown from a few dozen to approximately 1,500, finally became a city in 1999 after residents went door-to-door asking for signatures on a petition in favor of incorporation.
A fun fact about modern-day Herriman is that it has zero tolerance for nonsense. The city’s website features a “Rumor Has It” page that’s dedicated to stamping out local gossip. You can submit a rumor about a topic like development, health and safety, or city services, and find out what’s true and what’s baloney.
Why Move to Herriman?
Raising your family, starting your business, advancing your career, enjoying abundant natural beauty, and making the most of varied opportunities for outdoor recreation — these are all fantastic reasons to consider relocating to Herriman.
It’s a well-educated population: More than 96% of the city’s residents 25 and older are high school graduates, and over 40% have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Reviews on Great!Schools.org rate 5 of Herriman’s elementary schools, 2 of its middle schools, and 2 of its high schools at 3.9 to 5 on a 5-point scale. If you have kids or teens, they’ll be able to make plenty of friends since 36.6% of Herriman’s population is under 18.
Living up to its reputation as an awesome place to start a business, Herriman makes it easy to find out exactly what you need to do to make this possible. The city website devotes a page to business licensing and another to a step-by-step guide for entrepreneurs looking to launch a company.
If you’d rather work for one of Herriman’s largest industries, Data USA suggests a career in retail trade; health care and social assistance; or professional, scientific, and technical services. The same source gives the city’s highest paying industries as utilities; professional, scientific, and technical services; and public administration.
Some of Herriman’s best employers, according to Zippia, are:
- Evernym, a software company whose mission is building the next generation of identity infrastructure for the world
- The City of Herriman
- Providence Hall Elementary School
- Herriman High School
Why They Love Living Here … and What They’d Change
Reviewing Herriman on Niche, residents shared their feelings about living here:
“It is a very safe city that is growing healthily. There is a lot to do, and it is far away enough from the rest of the valley.”
“The landscape is beautiful, I like how so many different hikes are accessible. There are so many nice people here! Overall, Herriman is an incredible place to live.”
“I grew up in Herriman and lived here for the majority of my life. I loved the sense of community here and the friendships in the neighborhoods. I just wish that it would stop growing so much.”
“Herriman is great place to raise children with so many families and great neighborhoods. Excellent neighbors and community as well that really support and help each other out. I am so glad I moved my family to Herriman.“
“Very pretty city and a good neighborhood. Too much traffic, construction, and more houses are causing the traffic.”
“Herriman is a large, fast-growing community. Perfect for new families. However, the housing can feel a bit crowded for a suburb, so if you want a large lot you have to look around.”
Wide Open Spaces
Although some residents feel neighborhoods are a bit crowded and wish for homes on larger lots, Herriman’s outdoor enthusiasts have 52 parks and 47 trails to explore. The city makes sure to offer recreational opportunities for people of all ages and abilities.
Parks, which are typically open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., have amenities including:
- Playgrounds
- Pavilions
- Basketball, pickleball, tennis, volleyball, and gaga ball courts
- Baseball fields
- Rodeo areas
- Stages
- Music
- Picnic tables and benches
- Restrooms
- Parking lots and bike racks
Hikers, bikers, and runners can enjoy a variety of terrains and scenic vistas along trails like these, which AllTrails ranks among the best in the Herriman area:
- Blackridge, Sidewinder, and Diamondback Loop – An easy 3.6-mile trail that winds around and up a hill amid flowers and cacti
- Yellowfork Loop Trail – A moderate 6.8-mile path that gradually rises to a ridge line with terrific views of the Oquirrh Mountains and Salt Lake Valley
- Rose Canyon Spring Trail – An easy 2.9-mile out-and-back trail that welcomes dogs as long as they’re leashed
- Overlook Bench via Friendship Drive – An easy 2.2-mile gradual uphill climb that leads to an overlook spot where you can sit on a bench and view gorgeous scenery
- Breccia Knob via Big Rock Trail – A challenging 6.1-mile out-and-back trail with an elevation gain of 1,617 feet for adventurous humans and their dogs (off leash in some places) to enjoy
In winter, skiers have their pick of four renowned ski meccas that are less than an hour’s drive from Herriman:
- Snowbird
- Alta Ski Area
- Solitude Mountain Resort
- Brighton Resort.
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the young and young at heart can refresh themselves at splash pads operated by Herriman’s Parks Department. These are open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Families looking to enjoy summer fun in the sun can find lots to do at Blackridge Reservoir, which boasts a sandy beach, water for swimming and boating, a playground, and a scenic trailhead.
While Blackridge Reservoir does not allow dogs, you can take your canine companions for a romp in the K9 Memorial Dog Park, which covers almost 5 acres. It’s open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. You can bring up to three pooches at a time. Just make sure they’re leashed as they enter and exit the park.
For one week in June every year, the community takes over parks, stages, and other outdoor venues for Fort Herriman Towne Days. You can work up an appetite by running a 5K race or competing in a pickleball tournament, a cornhole tournament, or a home run derby, then head for the food trucks to sample varied cuisine. You can enjoy a car show, a big parade, a pop-up history museum, a local talent show, and fireworks. You’ll be serenaded by bands on two stages and can join in a DJ Dance Party. And that’s only about half of the things you can expect to see and do.
A Globe-Trotting Yeti and a House Right Out of a Movie
As successful as they may be at adulting, Herriman’s residents enjoy a little childlike whimsy, too.
Ever since Alexander the Great started the trend in 326 BC, people in mountainous areas all over the world have searched for the Yeti, also known as the Abominable Snowman. He was finally located during Herriman’s December 2016 scavenger hunt. Friendly, furry Yeti easily disposed of that insulting nickname. He proved to be an Amiable Snowman who felt at home in Herriman and asked if he could stay.
Warmly welcomed as the city’s mascot, Yeti has excelled at doing PR for Herriman, promoting city events, providing Shop Local information, and appearing at new businesses’ grand openings. In 2018, he became an international celebrity when he attended the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea with a Herriman resident and a local reporter.
Recently, Herriman’s Yeti had to quash rumors that he might be leaving town to represent Utah’s new professional hockey team, which is likely to be named the Utah Yeti. He promised that there’s no way he’s going anywhere. “Allowing me to represent your city as a mascot makes my heart melt with happiness,” he said.
If you loved the multicolored house that starred in the 2009 animated movie “Up,” you can see its only Disney-approved, real-life replica here. In 2011, Bangerter Homebuilders recreated the house as part of the Salt Lake City Parade of Homes tour, and like Yeti, it decided to stay in Herriman.
Aside from being great fun to view, the picture-perfect cottage pays tribute to the feisty real-life homeowner who inspired the movie. She was a Seattle, WA woman in her 80s who had lived in her house for 54 years and refused to budge for developers who wanted to build a mall in her neighborhood. They offered her $1 million for her property, but she refused — so they built the mall around it, and she lived in the home she loved for the rest of her life.
Olympia and Panorama: Planning for Growth
Since more growth is inevitable, the city is making sure that it’s as well-planned as possible. In 2021, it annexed 933 acres in northwestern Herriman along with an agreement for a master development called Olympia. The total project, developed by Doug Young and to be phased in over several years, will include up to 6,330 residential units plus commercial areas and open space.
The first four subdivisions, including a 7.46-acre, centrally located park to be funded by Herriman, were submitted for review and approval by the city, and infrastructure construction has begun. The subdivisions’ names are Great Basin, Joshua Tree, Kings Canyon, and Mount Rainier. As of April 2024, all but Mount Rainier had been approved.
Another big development may be on the way soon. Real estate developer DAI Utah has applied to the city to build a 640-plus-acre planned community called Panorama in southeast Herriman. Like Olympia’s, the plan for Panorama includes commercial and residential zones as well as open spaces. Although the project has not been formally approved, a city councilman said the council is “supportive of the concept.”
The pros and cons of both projects will undoubtedly be debated for quite a while as the developers, city government, and Herriman residents ponder the virtues of aesthetics, sustainability, and affordability versus the vices of traffic and overcrowding. Whether you’re a real estate professional or a would-be homebuyer, Olympia and Panorama are two developments to keep a watchful eye on.
