Dixie is the nickname for southwestern Utah. It was first settled in the early 1860s, when farmers were sent south by Brigham Young to grow cotton, hoping to capitalize on the lack of availability of cotton due to the American Civil War. Thus the name Dixie, to honor the attempt to grow cotton, and its association with the Dixie in the southeastern United States. Yields in the test fields were not as high as expected, and economic viability of growing cotton was never achieved.
The main city in the area is St. George and its metropolitan area of about 150,000 residents. The region, lying in Washington County, has become a retirement and recreational haven due to its pleasant winter climate, many golf courses and red sandstone landscape. Temperatures rarely dip below freezing in the winter and in most years there is no snowfall, the humidity is extremely low (usually below 25% in the summer), and it receives very little precipitation. Summer temperatures average over 100°F (38°C) and are the hottest in the state. The record high temperature is 117°F (47°C). Dixie is one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States, being located on the edge of the Sunbelt. St. George and its suburbs of Ivins, Santa Clara, Washington. Along with Hurricane, they are the largest and fastest-growing cities within the region.
