Payson is located in Utah County north of Nephi between Spanish Fork and Santaquin along Hwy 115 just off I-15 near Utah Lake and Spring Lake.
The city was named for James Pace and founded in 1850 on the banks of Peteetneet Creek. Part of the Provo-Orem, Utah metro area, the population of Payson was approximately 14,000 in 2000.