Sugar House has the name, but it’s West Jordan where they actually grew the sugar beets.

In the early days of the Salt Lake Valley, sugar was an expensive import and the pioneers sought a local solution. Under the direction of Brigham Young, the area now known as Sugar House (in Salt Lake City) was designated for a sugar beet refinery in the 1850s, but the venture never succeeded, producing mainly molasses and then being abandoned. Meanwhile, fertile farmland in neighboring West Jordan proved more suitable for large-scale beet cultivation, and by the late 19th century (around 1891) beet-sugar farming was underway there, culminating in a commercial factory by 1916. The result: Sugar House got the name, but West Jordan became the heart of the sugar-beet industry.

Laura Erekson recognizes that history with her new public art sculpture, unveiled at the West Jordan Senior Center on Wednesday. “Rooted,” a steel sculpture, rises from a landscaped circular bed as an oversized sugar beet crowned with vibrant green leaves. Its clean, faceted surface and sturdy form echo the agricultural heritage of West Jordan, installed near the historic site of the city’s original sugar-beet factory. The sculpture stands as a contemporary landmark—simple, elegant, and grounded—linking the city’s past industry with its ongoing sense of identity and place.

“Rooted,” Laura Erekson, 8082 S. 2200 West, West Jordan

Images by Shawn Rossiter

In Plain Site

With our In Plain Site byline we feature publicly viewable art, both official and street art, throughout the state of Utah.