Tropic is located in a snug little valley on the head of Paria Creek (a tributary of the Colorado River), five miles down the slope from the Rim of the Basin, four miles north of Cannonville, and 30 miles southeast of Panguitch. Nearly all the inhabitants are Latter-day Saints.
It was surveyed in 1891. On Aug. 28, 1894, Tropic first LDS ward was organized and on May 23, 1895, Andrew J. Hansen was ordained a Bishop.A frame chapel was soon afterwards erected.
Dec. 31, 1930, it had a membership of 444, including 137 children. The total population of the Tropic Precinct was 458 in 1930. Of these, 447 resided on the townsite.