Echo was founded in 1854.[3] The community took its name from nearby Echo Canyon.[4]
History
Echo originated as a stopover along the Mormon Trail. Susanah Sneath Harker was an early Mormon pioneer who with her Husband, Joseph Henry Harker, gave birth to William Sneath Harker in Echo canyon September 25, 1847 before joining the rest of the of the Mormon pioneers who arrived between July 24 and October 1, 1847. Joseph and Susanah's sons John and Joseph died before the journey west with the pioneers. This left only their son Job as a tottler to travel from Winter Quarters Nebraska to Utah with his father and pregnant mother. October 1 is celebrated by some descendants as Harker Day in the United States. The town served as a junction between the First transcontinental railroad and a spur line to serve silver mines near Park City. Since the creation of U.S. Highways Echo has served as a highway junction, where the main road coming from Wyoming splits with one branch proceeding towards Salt Lake City, continuing towards San Francisco, California, and the other towards Ogden, continuing to Portland, Oregon. Originally the main highway was numbered U.S. Route 30S and the branch was U.S. Route 530; the modern freeway equivalents are numbered Interstate 80 and Interstate 84.[citation needed]
Echo was significant to the Union Pacific Railroad. The town served as a coaling and watering station for trains entering Echo Canyon. From Echo, helper locomotives were added, when needed, to push trains up the steep grade to Wahsatch. A large coaling tower and many other railroad infrastructures existed in and around the town. Echo saw the most action during World War II.[citation needed]
The introduction of diesel power, especially after the war, negated the need for the services previously required by steam. The coaling tower, most trackage, and structures were removed.[citation needed]
Echo had faded by the 1960s, yet was still alive by the junction of two major highways. However, the arrival of the interstate relegated the town to a few quaint buildings; some homes, a motel, tavern, restaurant and bus station. Nearby, Echo Canyon is a magnificent spectacle with its high rock sides and colorful scenery. The canyon begins just east of Echo and ends outside of Wahsatch, Utah.[citation needed]
As of the census[7] of 2010, there were 56 people living in the CDP. There were 31 housing units. The ethnic makeup of the town was 96.4% White and 3.6% American Native and Alaska Native. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.6% of the population.
There are three horror visual novels, "Echo", "Arches", and "The Smoke Room" by the group "Echo Project" that take heavy inspiration from the town, and take place in a town of the same name.[9][bettersourceneeded]
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