The original plat of the City of Zion. The plat of Zion, or a modified version called the "grid system," has subsequently been the basis for the plans of most Western U.S. communities.
The plat of Zion is a plat (city plan) that defined a grid system of streets that was used in the construction of hundreds of Mormon and Western United States communities. Designed around Latter Day Saint principles of agrarianism and community, the plan called for 24 temples at the city's center, reflecting the central role played by the church in the community. The temples were to be used for education, worship and cultural events, similar to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Conference Center.
The original plan called for a city of 15,000-20,000 people living in a one mile square (a mile being 6,336 feet or the average of a Scottish and an Irish mile) grid of streets including a 660 foot easement to the South and a 330 foot easement to the West. The streets are laid out on the cardinal directions of the compass (East, South, West, North).
The original plan specified that land was to be set aside to the North, South, East and West of the city, enough to supply the city "without going too great of a distance". The plan did not allow for larger communities; once a city had reached the 20,000 limit it was envisaged that other cities would be built. Subsequently larger cities have been built, following the grid design of the plat - Salt Lake City, Utah and surrounding communities are one of largest example of the grid part of the plan.
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