St. George was founded in 1861 when over 300 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pioneer families were called on a mission to settle in a barren desert hundreds of miles from the nearest city. Pioneers grew cotton, and the warm climate reminded people of the Southern states, so it gained the nickname Utah's Dixie. The first families strived to cultivate a life and farm on the banks of the Virgin River. Isolated from the rest of the country, St. George continued to struggle until the advent of the automobile gave it a spot on a major travel route. As more people started vacationing, St. George became a tourist destination for its proximity to national parks and, later, for its sunny days and golf courses.