in 1847, mormon farmers from the salt lake area became the first people of european descent to settle the virgin river region. in 1851, the parowan and cedar city areas were settled by mormons who used the kolob canyons area for timber, and for grazing cattle, sheep, and horses. they prospected for mineral deposits, and diverted kolob water to irrigate crops in the valley below. mormon settlers named the area "kolob"—in mormon scripture, the heavenly place nearest the residence of god.