A story is told that in the very early days of Utah part of the Church cattle were run in Bingham Canyon, under the direction of Thomas Bingham and his sons. Brother Bingham and his sons found some mineral ore and took it to President Young, who told them to say nothing of it, as he was afraid the people would desert their farms and seek gold. He also told the Bingham men that the news would create excitement and people in the east would rush to Utah. President Young was conscious of the fact that gold and other precious metals were plentiful in the nearby hills, but he counseled the Bingham family to think nothing of it. Bingham Canyon received its name from this family who built a cabin in the hills and for some time made their home there.

Years went by, and then in l863, the Jordan mining claim was filed upon and the west mountain district organized to embrace what is at present known as Bingham. The discovery of placer gold the next year was heralded throughout the nation and so many gold seekers came to Utah that soon every likely spot in the streams and hills had been filed upon. So around the first claim, "the Jordan," the United States Mining Company was built. In 1887 a group of claims were filed upon by Enos A. Wall. Then Captain J. L. Lamar and later two engineers, Robert G. Gemmel and D. C. Jackling made an extensive study of the possibilities. They made certain recommendations which seemed too expensive for De Lamar, so he let go of his holdings. Jackling soon afterward interested the Penroses of Colorado and a Mr. MacNiels to finance his ideas. The result is the famous Utah Copper Company.

The Highland Boy, as a gold mine was almost a failure when it was learned that copper was its leading metal. Headed by Samuel Newhouse the properties were mined from this angle and proved very successful, operating under the name of the Utah-Delaware Mining, Company. Other properties gave forth their wealth, and today Bingham offers employment to thousands of men. It claims to be the only incorporated city that has only one street.

Source: Heart Throbs of the West, Kate B. Carter, Volume 2, Page 224