Utah

Coordinates: 39°N 111°W

Utah
State
State of Utah
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): “Beehive State” (official), “The Mormon State”, “Deseret”
Motto(s): Industry
Anthem: “Utah…This Is The Place“
Map of the United States with Utah highlighted
Country	United States
Before statehood	Utah Territory
Admitted to the Union	January 4, 1896 (45th)
Capital (and largest city)	Salt Lake City
Largest metro	Salt Lake City
Government
• Governor	Gary Herbert (R)
• Lieutenant Governor	Spencer Cox (R)
Legislature	State Legislature
• Upper house	State Senate
• Lower house	House of Representatives
U.S. senators	Mike Lee (R) Mitt Romney (R)
U.S. House delegation	1: Rob Bishop (R) 2: Chris Stewart (R) 3: John Curtis (R) 4: Ben McAdams (D) (list)
Area
• Total	84,899 sq mi (219,887 km2)
• Land	82,144 sq mi (212,761 km2)
• Water	2,755 sq mi (7,136 km2)  3.25%
Area rank	13th
Dimensions
• Length	350 mi (560 km)
• Width	270 mi (435 km)
Elevation	6,100 ft (1,860 m)
Highest elevation  (Kings Peak[1][2][3])	13,534 ft (4,120.3 m)
Lowest elevation  (Beaver Dam Wash at Arizona border[2][3][4])	2,180 ft (664.4 m)
Population
• Total	3,205,958 (2,019)[5]
• Rank	30th
• Density	36.53/sq mi (14.12/km2)
• Density rank	41st
• Median household income	$68,374[6]
• Income rank	14th
Demonym(s)	Utahn or Utahan[7]
Language
• Official language	English
Time zone	UTC-07:00 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-06:00 (MDT)
USPS abbreviation	UT
ISO 3166 code	US-UT
Trad. abbreviation	Ut.
Latitude	37° N to 42° N
Longitude	109° 3′ W to 114° 3′ W
Website	utah.gov

showUtah state symbols

Utah (/ˈjuːtɑː/ YOO-tah, /ˈjuːtɔː/ (listen) YOO-taw) is a state in the western United States. It became the 45th state admitted to the U.S. on January 4, 1896. Utah is the 13th-largest by area, 30th-most-populous, and 11th-least-densely populated of the 50 United States. Utah has a population of more than 3 million according to the Census estimate for July 1, 2018. Urban development is mostly concentrated in two areas: the Wasatch Front in the north-central part of the state, which contains approximately 2.5 million people; and Washington County in Southern Utah, with over 160,000 residents.^[8] Utah is bordered by Colorado to the east, Wyoming to the northeast, Idaho to the north, Arizona to the south, and Nevada to the west. It also touches a corner of New Mexico in the southeast.

Approximately 62% of Utahns are reported to be members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), making Utah the only state with a majority population belonging to a single church.^[9] This greatly influences Utahn culture, politics, and daily life.^[10] The church’s world headquarters is located in Salt Lake City.^[11][12]

The state is a center of transportation, education, information technology and research, government services, and mining and a major tourist destination for outdoor recreation. In 2013, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Utah had the second-fastest-growing population of any state.^[13] St. George was the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the United States from 2000 to 2005.^[14] Utah also has the 14th-highest median average income and the least income inequality of any U.S. state. A 2012 Gallup national survey found Utah overall to be the “best state to live in the future” based on 13 forward-looking measurements including various economic, lifestyle, and health-related outlook metrics.^[15]

Etymology

A common folk etymology is that the name Utah is derived from the name of the Ute tribe, purported to mean ‘people of the mountains’ in the Ute language.^[16] However, no such word actually exists in the Utes’ language, and the Utes referred to themselves as Noochee. The connection of “Utah” to mountains likely originated as a “Mormonization” of references to mountains made by members of the Ute tribe.^[17] According to other sources, Utah is derived from the Apache name Yuttahih, which means ‘one that is higher up’ or ‘those that are higher up’.^[16] In Spanish it was pronounced Yuta; subsequently English-speaking people may have adapted the word as ‘Utah’.^[18]

History

Pre-Columbian

Thousands of years before the arrival of European explorers, the Ancestral Puebloans and the Fremont people lived in what is now known as Utah, some of which spoke languages of the Uto-Aztecan group. Ancestral Pueblo peoples built their homes through excavations in mountains, and the Fremont people built houses of straw before disappearing from the region around the 15th century.

Another group of Native Americans, the Navajo, settled in the region around the 18th century. In the mid-18th century, other Uto-Aztecan tribes, including the Goshute, the Paiute, the Shoshone, and the Ute people, also settled in the region. These five groups were present when the first European explorers arrived.^[19][20]

Spanish exploration (1540)

The southern Utah region was explored by the Spanish in 1540, led by Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, while looking for the legendary Cíbola. A group led by two Catholic priests—sometimes called the Domínguez–Escalante expedition—left Santa Fe in 1776, hoping to find a route to the coast of California. The expedition traveled as far north as Utah Lake and encountered the native residents. The Spanish made further explorations in the region but were not interested in colonizing the area because of its desert nature. In 1821, the year Mexico achieved its independence from Spain, the region became known as part of its territory of Alta California.

European trappers and fur traders explored some areas of Utah in the early 19th century from Canada and the United States. The city of Provo, Utah was named for one, Étienne Provost, who visited the area in 1825. The city of Ogden, Utah was named after Peter Skene Ogden, a Canadian explorer who traded furs in the Weber Valley.

In late 1824, Jim Bridger became the first known English-speaking person to sight the Great Salt Lake. Due to the high salinity of its waters, He thought he had found the Pacific Ocean; he subsequently learned this body of water was a giant salt lake. After the discovery of the lake, hundreds of American and Canadian traders and trappers established trading posts in the region. In the 1830s, thousands of migrants traveling from the Eastern United States to the American West began to make stops in the region of the Great Salt Lake, then known as Lake Youta.^{[citation needed]}

Latter Day Saint settlement (1847)

Following the death of Joseph Smith in 1844, Brigham Young, as president of the Quorum of the Twelve, became the effective leader of the LDS Church in Nauvoo, Illinois.^[21] To address the growing conflicts between his people and their neighbors, Young agreed with Illinois Governor Thomas Ford in October 1845 that the Mormons would leave by the following year.^[22]

Young and the first band of Mormon pioneers reached the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. Over the next 22 years, more than 70,000 pioneers crossed the plains and settled in Utah.^[23] For the first few years, Brigham Young and the thousands of early settlers of Salt Lake City struggled to survive. The arid desert land was deemed by the Mormons as desirable as a place where they could practice their religion without harassment.

The Mormon settlements provided pioneers for other settlements in the West. Salt Lake City became the hub of a “far-flung commonwealth”^[24] of Mormon settlements. With new church converts coming from the East and around the world, Church leaders often assigned groups of church members as missionaries to establish other settlements throughout the West. They developed irrigation to support fairly large pioneer populations along Utah’s Wasatch front (Salt Lake City, Bountiful and Weber Valley, and Provo and Utah Valley).^[25] Throughout the remainder of the 19th century, Mormon pioneers established hundreds of other settlements in Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, California, Canada, and Mexico – including in Las Vegas, Nevada; Franklin, Idaho (the first European settlement in Idaho); San Bernardino, California; Mesa, Arizona; Star Valley, Wyoming; and Carson Valley, Nevada.

Prominent settlements in Utah included St. George, Logan, and Manti (where settlers completed the first three temples in Utah, each started after but finished many years before the larger and better known temple built in Salt Lake City was completed in 1893), as well as Parowan, Cedar City, Bluff, Moab, Vernal, Fillmore (which served as the territorial capital between 1850 and 1856), Nephi, Levan, Spanish Fork, Springville, Provo Bench (now Orem), Pleasant Grove, American Fork, Lehi, Sandy, Murray, Jordan, Centerville, Farmington, Huntsville, Kaysville, Grantsville, Tooele, Roy, Brigham City, and many other smaller towns and settlements. Young had an expansionist’s view of the territory that he and the Mormon pioneers were settling, calling it Deseret – which according to the Book of Mormon was an ancient word for “honeybee”. This is symbolized by the beehive on the Utah flag, and the state’s motto, “Industry”.^[26]

Utah was Mexican territory when the first pioneers arrived in 1847. Early in the Mexican–American War in late 1846, the United States had taken control of New Mexico and California. The entire Southwest became U.S. territory upon the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, February 2, 1848. The treaty was ratified by the United States Senate on March 11. Learning that California and New Mexico were applying for statehood, the settlers of the Utah area (originally having planned to petition for territorial status) applied for statehood with an ambitious plan for a State of Deseret.

Utah Territory (1850–1896)

The Utah Territory was much smaller than the proposed state of Deseret, but it still contained all of the present states of Nevada and Utah as well as pieces of modern Wyoming and Colorado.^[27] It was created with the Compromise of 1850, and Fillmore, named after President Millard Fillmore, was designated the capital. The territory was given the name Utah after the Ute tribe of Native Americans. Salt Lake City replaced Fillmore as the territorial capital in 1856.

Disputes between the Mormon inhabitants and the U.S. government intensified due to the practice of plural marriage, or polygamy, among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Mormons were still pushing for the establishment of a State of Deseret with the new borders of the Utah Territory. Most, if not all, of the members of the U.S. government opposed the polygamous practices of the Mormons.

Members of the LDS Church were viewed as un-American and rebellious when news of their polygamous practices spread. In 1857, particularly heinous accusations of abdication of government and general immorality were leveled by former associate justice William W. Drummond, among others. The detailed reports of life in Utah caused the administration of James Buchanan to send a secret military “expedition” to Utah. When the supposed rebellion should be quelled, Alfred Cumming would take the place of Brigham Young as territorial governor. The resulting conflict is known as the Utah War, nicknamed “Buchanan’s Blunder” by the Mormon leaders.

In September 1857, about 120 American settlers of the Baker–Fancher wagon train, en route to California from Arkansas, were murdered by Utah Territorial Militia and some Paiute Native Americans in the Mountain Meadows massacre.^[28]

Before troops led by Albert Sidney Johnston entered the territory, Brigham Young ordered all residents of Salt Lake City to evacuate southward to Utah Valley and sent out a force, known as the Nauvoo Legion, to delay the government’s advance. Although wagons and supplies were burned, eventually the troops arrived in 1858, and Young surrendered official control to Cumming, although most subsequent commentators claim that Young retained true power in the territory. A steady stream of governors appointed by the president quit the position, often citing the traditions of their supposed territorial government. By agreement with Young, Johnston established Camp Floyd, 40 miles (60 km) away from Salt Lake City, to the southwest.

Salt Lake City was the last link of the First Transcontinental Telegraph, completed in October 1861. Brigham Young was among the first to send a message, along with Abraham Lincoln and other officials.

Because of the American Civil War, federal troops were pulled out of Utah Territory in 1861. This was a boon to the local economy as the army sold everything in camp for pennies on the dollar before marching back east to join the war. The territory was then left in LDS hands until Patrick E. Connor arrived with a regiment of California volunteers in 1862. Connor established Fort Douglas just 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Salt Lake City and encouraged his people to discover mineral deposits to bring more non-Mormons into the territory. Minerals were discovered in Tooele County and miners began to flock to the territory.

Beginning in 1865, Utah’s Black Hawk War developed into the deadliest conflict in the territory’s history. Chief Antonga Black Hawk died in 1870, but fights continued to break out until additional federal troops were sent in to suppress the Ghost Dance of 1872. The war is unique among Indian Wars because it was a three-way conflict, with mounted Timpanogos Utes led by Antonga Black Hawk fighting federal and LDS authorities.

On May 10, 1869, the First Transcontinental Railroad was completed at Promontory Summit, north of the Great Salt Lake.^[29] The railroad brought increasing numbers of people into the territory and several influential businesspeople made fortunes there.

During the 1870s and 1880s laws were passed to punish polygamists due, in part, to the stories coming forth regarding Utah. Notably, Ann Eliza Young—tenth wife to divorce Brigham Young, women’s advocate, national lecturer and author of Wife No. 19 or My Life of Bondage and Mr. and Mrs. Fanny Stenhouse, authors of The Rocky Mountain Saints (T. B. H. Stenhouse, 1873) and Tell It All: My Life in Mormonism (Fanny Stenhouse, 1875). Both of these women, Ann Eliza and Fanny, testify to the happiness of the very early Church members before polygamy began to be practiced. They independently published their books in 1875. These books and the lectures of Ann Eliza Young have been credited with the United States Congress passage of anti-polygamy laws by newspapers throughout the United States as recorded in “The Ann Eliza Young Vindicator”, a pamphlet which detailed Ms Young’s travels and warm reception throughout her lecture tour.

T. B. H. Stenhouse, former Utah Mormon polygamist, Mormon missionary for thirteen years and a Salt Lake City newspaper owner, finally left Utah and wrote The Rocky Mountain Saints. His book gives a witnessed account of his life in Utah, both the good and the bad. He finally left Utah and Mormonism after financial ruin occurred when Brigham Young sent Stenhouse to relocate to Ogden, Utah, according to Stenhouse, to take over his thriving pro-Mormon Salt Lake Telegraph newspaper. In addition to these testimonies, The Confessions of John D. Lee, written by John D. Lee—alleged “Scape goat” for the Mountain Meadow Massacre—also came out in 1877. The corroborative testimonies coming out of Utah from Mormons and former Mormons influenced Congress and the people of the United States.

In the 1890 Manifesto, the LDS Church banned polygamy. When Utah applied for statehood again, it was accepted. One of the conditions for granting Utah statehood was that a ban on polygamy be written into the state constitution. This was a condition required of other western states that were admitted into the Union later. Statehood was officially granted on January 4, 1896.

20th century to present

Beginning in the early 20th century, with the establishment of such national parks as Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park, Utah became known for its natural beauty. Southern Utah became a popular filming spot for arid, rugged scenes featured in the popular mid-century western film genre. From such films, most US residents recognize such natural landmarks as Delicate Arch and “the Mittens” of Monument Valley.^[30] During the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, with the construction of the Interstate highway system, accessibility to the southern scenic areas was made easier.

Since the establishment of Alta Ski Area in 1939 and the subsequent development of several ski resorts in the state’s mountains, Utah’s skiing has become world-renowned. The dry, powdery snow of the Wasatch Range is considered some of the best skiing in the world (the state license plate once claimed “the Greatest Snow on Earth”).^[31][32] Salt Lake City won the bid for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, and this served as a great boost to the economy. The ski resorts have increased in popularity, and many of the Olympic venues built along the Wasatch Front continue to be used for sporting events. Preparation for the Olympics spurred the development of the light-rail system in the Salt Lake Valley, known as TRAX, and the re-construction of the freeway system around the city.

In 1957, Utah created the Utah State Parks Commission with four parks. Today, Utah State Parks manages 43 parks and several undeveloped areas totaling over 95,000 acres (380 km²) of land and more than 1,000,000 acres (4,000 km²) of water. Utah’s state parks are scattered throughout Utah, from Bear Lake State Park at the Utah/Idaho border to Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum deep in the Four Corners region and everywhere in between. Utah State Parks is also home to the state’s off highway vehicle office, state boating office and the trails program.^[33]

During the late 20th century, the state grew quickly. In the 1970s growth was phenomenal in the suburbs of the Wasatch Front. Sandy was one of the fastest-growing cities in the country at that time. Today, many areas of Utah continue to see boom-time growth. Northern Davis, southern and western Salt Lake, Summit, eastern Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, and Washington counties are all growing very quickly. Management of transportation and urbanization are major issues in politics, as development consumes agricultural land and wilderness areas and transportation is a major reason for poor air quality in Utah.

Geography and geology

Utah is known for its natural diversity and is home to features ranging from arid deserts with sand dunes to thriving pine forests in mountain valleys. It is a rugged and geographically diverse state that is at the convergence of three distinct geological regions: the Rocky Mountains, the Great Basin, and the Colorado Plateau.

Utah is one of the Four Corners states, and is bordered by Idaho in the north, Wyoming in the north and east; by Colorado in the east; at a single point by New Mexico to the southeast; by Arizona in the south; and by Nevada in the west. It covers an area of 84,899 sq mi (219,890 km²). The state is one of only three U.S. states (with Colorado and Wyoming) that have only lines of latitude and longitude for boundaries.

One of Utah’s defining characteristics is the variety of its terrain. Running down the middle of the state’s northern third is the Wasatch Range, which rises to heights of almost 12,000 ft (3,700 m) above sea level. Utah is home to world-renowned ski resorts, made popular by the light, fluffy snow, and winter storms which regularly dump 1 to 3 feet of overnight snow accumulation. In the state’s northeastern section, running east to west, are the Uinta Mountains, which rise to heights of over 13,000 feet (4,000 m). The highest point in the state, Kings Peak, at 13,528 feet (4,123 m),^[34] lies within the Uinta Mountains.

At the western base of the Wasatch Range is the Wasatch Front, a series of valleys and basins that are home to the most populous parts of the state. It stretches approximately from Brigham City at the north end to Nephi at the south end. Approximately 75 percent of the state’s population lives in this corridor, and population growth is rapid.

Western Utah is mostly arid desert with a basin and range topography. Small mountain ranges and rugged terrain punctuate the landscape. The Bonneville Salt Flats are an exception, being comparatively flat as a result of once forming the bed of ancient Lake Bonneville. Great Salt Lake, Utah Lake, Sevier Lake, and Rush Lake are all remnants of this ancient freshwater lake,^[35] which once covered most of the eastern Great Basin. West of the Great Salt Lake, stretching to the Nevada border, lies the arid Great Salt Lake Desert. One exception to this aridity is Snake Valley, which is (relatively) lush due to large springs and wetlands fed from groundwater derived from snow melt in the Snake Range, Deep Creek Range, and other tall mountains to the west of Snake Valley. Great Basin National Park is just over the Nevada state line in the southern Snake Range. One of western Utah’s most impressive, but least visited attractions is Notch Peak, the tallest limestone cliff in North America, located west of Delta.

Much of the scenic southern and southeastern landscape (specifically the Colorado Plateau region) is sandstone, specifically Kayenta sandstone and Navajo sandstone. The Colorado River and its tributaries wind their way through the sandstone, creating some of the world’s most striking and wild terrain (the area around the confluence of the Colorado and Green Rivers was the last to be mapped in the lower 48 United States). Wind and rain have also sculpted the soft sandstone over millions of years. Canyons, gullies, arches, pinnacles, buttes, bluffs, and mesas are the common sight throughout south-central and southeast Utah.

This terrain is the central feature of protected state and federal parks such as Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion national parks, Cedar Breaks, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Hovenweep, and Natural Bridges national monuments, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (site of the popular tourist destination, Lake Powell), Dead Horse Point and Goblin Valley state parks, and Monument Valley. The Navajo Nation also extends into southeastern Utah. Southeastern Utah is also punctuated by the remote, but lofty La Sal, Abajo, and Henry mountain ranges.

Eastern (northern quarter) Utah is a high-elevation area covered mostly by plateaus and basins, particularly the Tavaputs Plateau and San Rafael Swell, which remain mostly inaccessible, and the Uinta Basin, where the majority of eastern Utah’s population lives. Economies are dominated by mining, oil shale, oil, and natural gas-drilling, ranching, and recreation. Much of eastern Utah is part of the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation. The most popular destination within northeastern Utah is Dinosaur National Monument near Vernal.

Southwestern Utah is the lowest and hottest spot in Utah. It is known as Utah’s Dixie because early settlers were able to grow some cotton there. Beaverdam Wash in far southwestern Utah is the lowest point in the state, at 2,000 feet (610 m).^[34] The northernmost portion of the Mojave Desert is also located in this area. Dixie is quickly becoming a popular recreational and retirement destination, and the population is growing rapidly. Although the Wasatch Mountains end at Mount Nebo near Nephi, a complex series of mountain ranges extends south from the southern end of the range down the spine of Utah. Just north of Dixie and east of Cedar City is the state’s highest ski resort, Brian Head.

Like most of the western and southwestern states, the federal government owns much of the land in Utah. Over 70 percent of the land is either BLM land, Utah State Trustland, or U.S. National Forest, U.S. National Park, U.S. National Monument, National Recreation Area or U.S. Wilderness Area.^[36] Utah is the only state where every county contains some national forest.^[37]

Adjacent states

• Idaho (north)
• Wyoming (east)
• Colorado (east)
• Nevada (west)
• Arizona (south)

Climate

Utah features a dry, semi-arid to desert climate,^{[citation needed]} although its many mountains feature a large variety of climates, with the highest points in the Uinta Mountains being above the timberline. The dry weather is a result of the state’s location in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada in California. The eastern half of the state lies in the rain shadow of the Wasatch Mountains. The primary source of precipitation for the state is the Pacific Ocean, with the state usually lying in the path of large Pacific storms from October to May. In summer, the state, especially southern and eastern Utah, lies in the path of monsoon moisture from the Gulf of California.

Most of the lowland areas receive less than 12 inches (305 mm) of precipitation annually, although the I-15 corridor, including the densely populated Wasatch Front, receives approximately 15 inches (381 mm). The Great Salt Lake Desert is the driest area of the state, with less than 5 inches (127 mm). Snowfall is common in all but the far southern valleys. Although St. George only receives about 3 inches (76 mm) per year, Salt Lake City sees about 60 inches (1,524 mm), enhanced by the lake-effect snow from the Great Salt Lake, which increases snowfall totals to the south, southeast, and east of the lake.

Some areas of the Wasatch Range in the path of the lake-effect receive up to 500 inches (12,700 mm) per year. This micro climate of enhanced snowfall from the Great Salt Lake spans the entire proximity of the lake. The cottonwood canyons adjacent to Salt Lake City are located in the right position to receive more precipitation from the lake.^[38] The consistently deep powder snow led Utah’s ski industry to adopt the slogan “the Greatest Snow on Earth” in the 1980s. In the winter, temperature inversions are a common phenomenon across Utah’s low basins and valleys, leading to thick haze and fog that can sometimes last for weeks at a time, especially in the Uintah Basin. Although at other times of year its air quality is good, winter inversions give Salt Lake City some of the worst wintertime pollution in the country.

Previous studies have indicated a widespread decline in snowpack over Utah accompanied by a decline in the snow–precipitation ratio while anecdotal evidence claims have been put forward that measured changes in Utah’s snowpack are spurious and do not reflect actual change. A 2012 study^[39] found that the proportion of winter (January–March) precipitation falling as snow has decreased by 9% during the last half century, a combined result from a significant increase in rainfall and a minor decrease in snowfall. Meanwhile, observed snow depth across Utah has decreased and is accompanied by consistent decreases in snow cover and surface albedo. Weather systems with the potential to produce precipitation in Utah have decreased in number with those producing snowfall decreasing at a considerably greater rate.^[40]

Utah’s temperatures are extreme, with cold temperatures in winter due to its elevation, and very hot summers statewide (with the exception of mountain areas and high mountain valleys). Utah is usually protected from major blasts of cold air by mountains lying north and east of the state, although major Arctic blasts can occasionally reach the state. Average January high temperatures range from around 30 °F (−1 °C) in some northern valleys to almost 55 °F (13 °C) in St. George.

Temperatures dropping below 0 °F (−18 °C) should be expected on occasion in most areas of the state most years, although some areas see it often (for example, the town of Randolph averages about 50 days per year with temperatures dropping that low). In July, average highs range from about 85 to 100 °F (29 to 38 °C). However, the low humidity and high elevation typically leads to large temperature variations, leading to cool nights most summer days. The record high temperature in Utah was 118 °F (48 °C), recorded south of St. George on July 4, 2007,^[41] and the record low was −69 °F (−56 °C), recorded at Peter Sinks in the Bear River Mountains of northern Utah on February 1, 1985.^[42] However, the record low for an inhabited location is −49 °F (−45 °C) at Woodruff on December 12, 1932.^[43]

Utah, like most of the western United States, has few days of thunderstorms. On average there are fewer than 40 days of thunderstorm activity during the year, although these storms can be briefly intense when they do occur. They are most likely to occur during monsoon season from about mid-July through mid-September, especially in southern and eastern Utah. Dry lightning strikes and the general dry weather often spark wildfires in summer, while intense thunderstorms can lead to flash flooding, especially in the rugged terrain of southern Utah. Although spring is the wettest season in northern Utah, late summer is the wettest period for much of the south and east of the state. Tornadoes are uncommon in Utah, with an average of two striking the state yearly, rarely higher than EF1 intensity.^[44]

One exception of note, however, was the unprecedented F2 Salt Lake City Tornado that moved directly across downtown Salt Lake City on August 11, 1999, killing 1 person, injuring 60 others, and causing approximately $170 million in damage.^[45] The only other reported tornado fatality in Utah’s history was a 7-year-old girl who was killed while camping in Summit County on July 6, 1884. The last tornado of above (E)F0 intensity occurred on September 8, 2002, when an F2 tornado hit Manti. On August 11, 1993, an F3 tornado hit the Uinta Mountains north of Duchesne at an elevation of 10,500 feet (3,200 m), causing some damage to a Boy Scouts campsite. This is the strongest tornado ever recorded in Utah.^{[citation needed]}

Wildlife

Utah is home to more than 600 vertebrate animals^[46] as well as numerous invertebrates and insects.^[47]

Mammals

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Mammals are found in every area of Utah. Non-predatory larger mammals include the wood bison, elk, moose, mountain goat, mule deer, pronghorn, and multiple types of bighorn sheep. Non-predatory small mammals include muskrat, and nutria. Predatory mammals include the brown and black bear, cougar, Canada lynx, bobcat, fox (gray, red, and kit), coyote, badger, gray wolf, black-footed ferret, mink, stoat, long-tailed weasel, raccoon, and otter.

Birds

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Insects

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There are many different insects found in Utah. One of the most rare is the Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle, found only in Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, near Kanab.^[48] It was proposed in 2012 to be listed as a threatened species,^[49] but the proposal was not accepted.^[50]

In February 2009, Africanized honeybees were found in southern Utah.^[51][52] The bees had spread into eight counties in Utah, as far north as Grand and Emery counties by May 2017.^[53]

The white-lined sphinx moth is common to most of the United States, but there have been reported outbreaks of large groups of their larvae damaging tomato, grape and garden crops in Utah.^[54]

Vegetation

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Several thousand plants are native to Utah.^[55]

Demographics

The United States Census Bureau estimates that the population of Utah was 3,205,958 on July 1, 2019, an 16.00% increase since the 2010 United States Census.^[5] The center of population of Utah is located in Utah County in the city of Lehi.^[56] Much of the population lives in cities and towns along the Wasatch Front, a metropolitan region that runs north–south with the Wasatch Mountains rising on the eastern side. Growth outside the Wasatch Front is also increasing. The St. George metropolitan area is currently the second fastest-growing in the country after the Las Vegas metropolitan area, while the Heber micropolitan area is also the second fastest-growing in the country (behind Palm Coast, Florida).^[57]

Utah contains five metropolitan areas (Logan, Ogden–Clearfield, Salt Lake City, Provo–Orem, and St. George), and 6 micropolitan areas (Brigham City, Heber, Vernal, Price, Richfield, and Cedar City).

Health and fertility

Utah ranks among the highest in total fertility rate, 47th in teenage pregnancy, lowest in percentage of births out of wedlock, lowest in number of abortions per capita, and lowest in percentage of teen pregnancies terminated in abortion. However, statistics relating to pregnancies and abortions may also be artificially low from teenagers going out of state for abortions because of parental notification requirements.^[58][59] Utah has the lowest child poverty rate in the country, despite its young demographics.^[60] According to the Gallup-Healthways Global Well-Being Index as of 2012, Utahns ranked fourth in overall well-being in the United States.^[61] A 2002 national prescription drug study determined that antidepressant drugs were “prescribed in Utah more often than in any other state, at a rate nearly twice the national average.”^[62] The data shows that depression rates in Utah are no higher than the national average.^[63]

Ancestry and race

At the 2010 Census, 86.1% of the population was non-Hispanic White,^[64] down from 93.8% in 1990,^[65] 1% non-Hispanic Black or African American, 1.2% non-Hispanic Native American and Alaska Native, 2% non-Hispanic Asian, 0.9% non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 0.1% from some other race (non-Hispanic) and 1.8% of two or more races (non-Hispanic). 13.0% of Utah’s population was of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin (of any race).

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1850	11,380		—
1860	40,273		253.9%
1870	86,336		114.4%
1880	143,963		66.7%
1890	210,779		46.4%
1900	276,749		31.3%
1910	373,351		34.9%
1920	449,396		20.4%
1930	507,847		13.0%
1940	550,310		8.4%
1950	688,862		25.2%
1960	890,627		29.3%
1970	1,059,273		18.9%
1980	1,461,037		37.9%
1990	1,722,850		17.9%
2000	2,233,169		29.6%
2010	2,763,885		23.8%
Est. 2019	3,205,958		16.0%
Source: 1910–2010[66] 2019 estimate[5]

Utah Racial Breakdown of Population hide

Racial composition	1970[65]	1990[65]	2000[67]	2010[64]
White	97.4%	93.8%	89.2%	86.1%
Asian	0.6%	1.9%	1.7%	2.0%
Native	1.1%	1.4%	1.3%	1.2%
Black	0.6%	0.7%	0.8%	1.0%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander	–	–	0.7%	0.9%
Other race	0.2%	2.2%	4.2%	6.0%
Two or more races	–	–	2.1%	2.7%

The largest ancestry groups in the state are:

• 26.0% English
• 11.9% German
• 11.8% Scandinavian (5.4% Danish, 4.0% Swedish, 2.4% Norwegian)
• 9.0% Mexican
• 6.6% American
• 6.2% Irish
• 4.6% Scottish
• 2.7% Italian
• 2.4% Dutch
• 2.2% French
• 2.2% Welsh
• 1.4% Scotch Irish
• 1.3% Swiss

Most Utahns are of Northern European descent.^[68] In 2011 one-third of Utah’s workforce was reported to be bilingual, developed through a program of acquisition of second languages beginning in elementary school, and related to Mormonism’s missionary goals for its young people.^[69]

In 2011, 28.6% of Utah’s population younger than the age of one were ethnic minorities, meaning that they had at least one parent who was of a race other than non-Hispanic white.^[70]

Religion

As of 2017, 62.8% of Utahns are counted as members of the LDS Church.^[72][73] This declined to 61.2% in 2018^[74]and to 60.7% in 2019^[75]. Members of the LDS Church currently make up between 34%–41% of the population within Salt Lake City. However, many of the other major population centers such as Provo, Logan, Tooele, and St. George tend to be predominantly LDS, along with many suburban and rural areas. The LDS Church has the largest number of congregations, numbering 4,815 wards.^[76]

Though the LDS Church officially maintains a policy of neutrality in regard to political parties,^[77] the church’s doctrine has a strong regional influence on politics.^[78] Another doctrine effect can be seen in Utah’s high birth rate (25 percent higher than the national average; the highest for a state in the U.S.).^[79] The Mormons in Utah tend to have conservative views when it comes to most political issues and the majority of voter-age Utahns are unaffiliated voters (60%) who vote overwhelmingly Republican.^[80] Mitt Romney received 72.8% of the Utahn votes in 2012, while John McCain polled 62.5% in the 2008 United States presidential election and 70.9% for George W. Bush in 2004. In 2010 the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA) reported that the three largest denominational groups in Utah are the LDS Church with 1,910,504 adherents; the Catholic Church with 160,125 adherents, and the Southern Baptist Convention with 12,593 adherents.^[81] There is a small but growing Jewish presence in the state.^[82][83]

According to results from the 2010 United States Census, combined with official LDS Church membership statistics, church members represented 62.1% of Utah’s total population. The Utah county with the lowest percentage of church members was Grand County, at 26.5%, while the county with the highest percentage was Morgan County, at 86.1%. In addition, the result for the most populated county, Salt Lake County, was 51.4%.^[10]

According to a Gallup poll, Utah had the 3rd-highest number of people reporting as “Very Religious” in 2015, at 55% (trailing only Mississippi and Alabama). However, it was near the national average of people reporting as “Nonreligious” (31%), and featured the smallest percentage of people reporting as “Moderately Religious” (15%) of any state, being 8 points lower than 2nd-lowest state Vermont.^[84] In addition, it had the highest average weekly church attendance of any state, at 51%.^[85]

Languages

The official language in the state of Utah is English. Utah English is primarily a merger of Northern and Midland American dialects carried west by LDS Church members, whose original New York dialect later incorporated features from southern Ohio and central Illinois. Conspicuous in the speech of some in the central valley, although less frequent now in Salt Lake City, is a reversal of vowels, so that ‘farm’ and ‘barn’ sound like ‘form’ and ‘born’ and, conversely, ‘form’ and ‘born’ sound like ‘farm’ and ‘barn’.^{[citation needed]}

In 2000, 87.5% of all state residents five years of age or older spoke only English at home, a decrease from 92.2% in 1990.

Top 14 Non-English Languages Spoken in Utah

Language	Percentage of population (as of 2010)[86]
Spanish	7.4%
German	0.6%
Navajo	0.5%
French	0.4%
Pacific Island languages including Chamorro, Hawaiian, Ilocano, Tagalog, and Samoan	0.4%
Chinese	0.4%
Portuguese	0.3%
Vietnamese	0.3%
Japanese	0.2%
Arapaho	0.1%

Age and gender

Utah has the highest total birth rate^[79] and accordingly, the youngest population of any U.S. state. In 2010, the state’s population was 50.2% male and 49.8% female. The life expectancy is 79.3 years.

Economy

Total employment 2016

• 1,239,348

Total employer establishments 2016

• 77,504^[88]

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the gross state product of Utah in 2012 was US$130.5 billion, or 0.87% of the total United States GDP of US$14.991 trillion for the same year.^[89] The per capita personal income was $45,700 in 2012. Major industries of Utah include: mining, cattle ranching, salt production, and government services.

According to the 2007 State New Economy Index, Utah is ranked the top state in the nation for Economic Dynamism, determined by “the degree to which state economies are knowledge-based, globalized, entrepreneurial, information technology-driven and innovation-based”. In 2014, Utah was ranked number one in Forbes‘ list of “Best States For Business”.^[90] A November 2010 article in Newsweek magazine highlighted Utah and particularly the Salt Lake City area’s economic outlook, calling it “the new economic Zion”, and examined how the area has been able to bring in high-paying jobs and attract high-tech corporations to the area during a recession.^[91] As of September 2014, the state’s unemployment rate was 3.5%.^[92] In terms of “small business friendliness”, in 2014 Utah emerged as number one, based on a study drawing upon data from over 12,000 small business owners.^[93]

In eastern Utah petroleum production is a major industry.^[94] Near Salt Lake City, petroleum refining is done by a number of oil companies. In central Utah, coal production accounts for much of the mining activity.

According to Internal Revenue Service tax returns, Utahns rank first among all U.S. states in the proportion of income given to charity by the wealthy. This is due to the standard 10% of all earnings that Mormons give to the LDS Church.^[60] According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, Utah had an average of 884,000 volunteers between 2008 and 2010, each of whom contributed 89.2 hours per volunteer. This figure equates to $3.8 billion of service contributed, ranking Utah number one for volunteerism in the nation.^[95]

Taxation

Utah collects personal income tax; since 2008 the tax has been a flat 5 percent for all taxpayers.^[96] The state sales tax has a base rate of 6.45 percent,^[97] with cities and counties levying additional local sales taxes that vary among the municipalities. Property taxes are assessed and collected locally. Utah does not charge intangible property taxes and does not impose an inheritance tax.

Tourism

Tourism is a major industry in Utah. With five national parks (Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion), Utah has the third most national parks of any state after Alaska and California. In addition, Utah features eight national monuments (Cedar Breaks, Dinosaur, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Hovenweep, Natural Bridges, Bears Ears, Rainbow Bridge, and Timpanogos Cave), two national recreation areas (Flaming Gorge and Glen Canyon), seven national forests (Ashley, Caribou-Targhee, Dixie, Fishlake, Manti-La Sal, Sawtooth, and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache), and numerous state parks and monuments.

The Moab area, in the southeastern part of the state, is known for its challenging mountain biking trails, including Slickrock. Moab also hosts the famous Moab Jeep Safari semiannually.

Utah has seen an increase in tourism since the 2002 Winter Olympics. Park City is home to the United States Ski Team. Utah’s ski resorts are primarily located in northern Utah near Salt Lake City, Park City, Ogden, and Provo. Between 2007 and 2011 Deer Valley in Park City, has been ranked the top ski resort in North America in a survey organized by Ski Magazine.^[98]

In addition to having prime snow conditions^{[citation needed]} and world-class amenities^{[citation needed]}, Northern Utah’s ski resorts are well liked among tourists^{[citation needed]} for their convenience and proximity to a large city and international airport, as well as the close proximity to other ski resorts, allowing skiers the ability to ski at multiple locations in one day.^{[citation needed]} The 2009 Ski Magazine reader survey concluded that six out of the top ten resorts deemed most “accessible” and six out of the top ten with the best snow conditions were located in Utah.^[99] In Southern Utah, Brian Head Ski Resort is located in the mountains near Cedar City. Former Olympic venues including Utah Olympic Park and Utah Olympic Oval are still in operation for training and competition and allows the public to participate in numerous activities including ski jumping, bobsleigh, and speed skating.

Utah features many cultural attractions such as Temple Square, the Sundance Film Festival, the Red Rock Film Festival, the DOCUTAH Film Festival, the Utah Data Center, and the Utah Shakespearean Festival. Temple Square is ranked as the 16th most visited tourist attraction in the United States by Forbes magazine, with over five million annual visitors.^[100]

Other attractions include Monument Valley, the Great Salt Lake, the Bonneville Salt Flats, and Lake Powell.

Branding

The state of Utah relies heavily on income from tourists and travelers visiting the state’s parks and ski resorts, and thus the need to “brand” Utah and create an impression of the state throughout the world has led to several state slogans, the most famous of which being “The Greatest Snow on Earth”, which has been in use in Utah officially since 1975 (although the slogan was in unofficial use as early as 1962) and now adorns nearly 50 percent of the state’s license plates. In 2001, Utah Governor Mike Leavitt approved a new state slogan, “Utah! Where Ideas Connect”, which lasted until March 10, 2006, when the Utah Travel Council and the office of Governor Jon Huntsman announced that “Life Elevated” would be the new state slogan.^[101]

Mining

Beginning in the late 19th century with the state’s mining boom (including the Bingham Canyon Mine, among the world’s largest open pit mines), companies attracted large numbers of immigrants with job opportunities. Since the days of the Utah Territory mining has played a major role in Utah’s economy. Historical mining towns include Mercur in Tooele County, Silver Reef in Washington County, Eureka in Juab County, Park City in Summit County and numerous coal mining camps throughout Carbon County such as Castle Gate, Spring Canyon, and Hiawatha.^[102]

These settlements were characteristic of the boom and bust cycle that dominated mining towns of the American West. Park City, Utah, and Alta, Utah were a boom towns in the early twentieth centuries. Rich silver mines in the mountains adjacent to the towns led to many people flocking to the towns in search of wealth. During the early part of the Cold War era, uranium was mined in eastern Utah. Today mining activity still plays a major role in the state’s economy. Minerals mined in Utah include copper, gold, silver, molybdenum, zinc, lead, and beryllium. Fossil fuels including coal, petroleum, and natural gas continue to play a large role in Utah’s economy, especially in the eastern part of the state in counties such as Carbon, Emery, Grand, and Uintah.^[102]

Incidents

In 2007, nine people were killed at the Crandall Canyon Mine collapse.

On March 22, 2013, one miner died and another was injured after they became trapped in a cave-in at a part of the Castle Valley Mining Complex, about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) west of the small mining town of Huntington in Emery County.^[103]

Energy

		Utah Wind Generation (GWh, Million kWh)
Year	Capacity (MW)	Total	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
2009	223	160	1	–	2	3	3	3	3	3	33	47	15	35
2010	223	448	31	17	46	44	50	38	36	56	39	26	26	42
2011	325	576	18	54	59	45	57	70	55	63	23	38	65	32
2012			36	40	97	62	80	93	56	40	34

Source:^{[104][105][106]}

Utah Grid-Connected PV Capacity (MW)[107][108]
Year	Capacity	Installed	% Growth
2007	0.2
2008	0.2		0
2009	0.6	0.4	200%
2010	2.1	1.4	250%
2011	4.4	2.3	110%

Potential to use renewable energy sources

Utah has the potential to generate 31.6 TWh/year from 13.1 GW of wind power, and 10,290 TWh/year from solar power using 4,048 GW of photovoltaic (PV), including 5.6 GW of rooftop photovoltaic, and 1,638 GW of concentrated solar power.^[109]

Transportation

I-15 and I-80 are the main interstate highways in the state, where they intersect and briefly merge near downtown Salt Lake City. I-15 traverses the state north-to-south, entering from Arizona near St. George, paralleling the Wasatch Front, and crossing into Idaho near Portage. I-80 spans northern Utah east-to-west, entering from Nevada at Wendover, crossing the Wasatch Mountains east of Salt Lake City, and entering Wyoming near Evanston. I-84 West enters from Idaho near Snowville (from Boise) and merges with I-15 from Tremonton to Ogden, then heads southeast through the Wasatch Mountains before terminating at I-80 near Echo Junction.

I-70 splits from I-15 at Cove Fort in central Utah and heads east through mountains and rugged desert terrain, providing quick access to the many national parks and national monuments of southern Utah, and has been noted for its beauty. The 103 mi (166 km) stretch from Salina to Green River is the country’s longest stretch of interstate without services and, when completed in 1970, was the longest stretch of entirely new highway constructed in the U.S. since the Alaska Highway was completed in 1943.

TRAX, a light rail system in the Salt Lake Valley, consists of three lines. The Blue Line (formerly Salt Lake/Sandy Line) begins in the suburb of Draper and ends in Downtown Salt Lake City. The Red Line (Mid-Jordan/University Line) begins in the Daybreak Community of South Jordan, a southwestern valley suburb, and ends at the University of Utah. The Green Line begins in West Valley City, passes through downtown Salt Lake City, and ends at Salt Lake City International Airport.

The Utah Transit Authority (UTA), which operates TRAX, also operates a bus system that stretches across the Wasatch Front, west into Grantsville, and east into Park City. In addition, UTA provides winter service to the ski resorts east of Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Provo. Several bus companies also provide access to the ski resorts in winter, and local bus companies also serve the cities of Cedar City, Logan, Park City, and St. George. A commuter rail line known as FrontRunner, also operated by UTA, runs between Ogden and Provo via Salt Lake City. Amtrak‘s California Zephyr, with one train in each direction daily, runs east–west through Utah with stops in Green River, Helper, Provo, and Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake City International Airport is the only international airport in the state and serves as one of the hubs for Delta Air Lines. The airport has consistently ranked first in on-time departures and had the fewest cancellations among U.S. airports.^[110] The airport has non-stop service to over 100 destinations throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as well as to Amsterdam, London and Paris. Canyonlands Field (near Moab), Cedar City Regional Airport, Ogden-Hinckley Airport, Provo Municipal Airport, St. George Regional Airport, and Vernal Regional Airport all provide limited commercial air service. A new regional airport at St. George opened on January 12, 2011. SkyWest Airlines is also headquartered in St. George and maintains a hub at Salt Lake City.

Law and government

showUtah state symbols

Utah government is divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The current governor of Utah is Gary Herbert,^[112] who was sworn in on August 11, 2009. The governor is elected for a four-year term. The Utah State Legislature consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives. State senators serve four-year terms and representatives two-year terms. The Utah Legislature meets each year in January for an annual 45-day session.

The Utah Supreme Court is the court of last resort in Utah. It consists of five justices, who are appointed by the governor, and then subject to retention election. The Utah Court of Appeals handles cases from the trial courts.^[113] Trial level courts are the district courts and justice courts. All justices and judges, like those on the Utah Supreme Court, are subject to retention election after appointment.

Counties

Utah is divided into political jurisdictions designated as counties. Since 1918 there have been 29 counties in the state, ranging from 298 to 7,819 square miles (772 to 20,300 km²).

County name	County seat	Year founded	2010 U.S. Census	Largest County City	Percent of total	Area	% of state
Beaver	Beaver	1856	6,162	Beaver	0.22%	2,589 sq mi (6,710 km2)	3.2%
Box Elder	Brigham City	1856	49,975	Brigham City	1.81%	5,745 sq mi (14,880 km2)	7.0%
Cache	Logan	1856	112,656	Logan	4.08%	1,164 sq mi (3,010 km2)	1.4%
Carbon	Price	1894	21,403	Price	0.77%	1,478 sq mi (3,830 km2)	1.8%
Daggett	Manila	1918	938	Manila	0.03%	696 sq mi (1,800 km2)	0.8%
Davis	Farmington	1852	306,479	Layton	11.09%	298 sq mi (770 km2)	0.4%
Duchesne	Duchesne	1915	18,607	Roosevelt	0.67%	3,240 sq mi (8,400 km2)	3.9%
Emery	Castle Dale	1880	10,976	Huntington	0.40%	4,462 sq mi (11,560 km2)	5.4%
Garfield	Panguitch	1882	4,658	Panguitch	0.17%	5,175 sq mi (13,400 km2)	6.3%
Grand	Moab	1890	9,589	Moab	0.35%	3,671 sq mi (9,510 km2)	4.5%
Iron	Parowan	1852	46,163	Cedar City	1.67%	3,296 sq mi (8,540 km2)	4.0%
Juab	Nephi	1852	10,246	Nephi	0.37%	3,392 sq mi (8,790 km2)	4.1%
Kane	Kanab	1864	6,577	Kanab	0.24%	3,990 sq mi (10,300 km2)	4.9%
Millard	Fillmore	1852	12,503	Delta	0.45%	6,572 sq mi (17,020 km2)	8.0%
Morgan	Morgan	1862	8,669	Morgan	0.31%	609 sq mi (1,580 km2)	0.7%
Piute	Junction	1865	1,404	Circleville	0.05%	757 sq mi (1,960 km2)	0.9%
Rich	Randolph	1868	2,205	Garden City	0.08%	1,028 sq mi (2,660 km2)	1.3%
Salt Lake	Salt Lake City	1852	1,029,655	Salt Lake City, State Capital.	37.25%	742 sq mi (1,920 km2)	0.9%
San Juan	Monticello	1880	14,746	Blanding	0.53%	7,819 sq mi (20,250 km2)	9.5%
Sanpete	Manti	1852	27,822	Ephraim	1.01%	1,590 sq mi (4,100 km2)	1.9%
Sevier	Richfield	1865	20,802	Richfield	0.75%	1,910 sq mi (4,900 km2)	2.3%
Summit	Coalville	1854	36,324	Park City	1.31%	1,871 sq mi (4,850 km2)	2.3%
Tooele	Tooele	1852	58,218	Tooele	2.11%	6,941 sq mi (17,980 km2)	8.4%
Uintah	Vernal	1880	32,588	Vernal	1.18%	4,479 sq mi (11,600 km2)	5.5%
Utah	Provo	1852	516,564	Provo, third largest city in UT.	18.69%	2,003 sq mi (5,190 km2)	2.4%
Wasatch	Heber	1862	23,530	Heber City	0.85%	1,175 sq mi (3,040 km2)	1.4%
Washington	St. George	1852	138,115	St. George	5.00%	2,426 sq mi (6,280 km2)	3.0%
Wayne	Loa	1892	2,509	Loa	0.09%	2,460 sq mi (6,400 km2)	3.0%
Weber	Ogden	1852	231,236	Ogden	8.37%	576 sq mi (1,490 km2)	0.7%

• Total Counties: 29
• Total 2010 population: 2,763,885^[114]
• Total state area: 82,154 sq mi (212,780 km²)

Women’s rights

Utah granted full voting rights to women in 1870, 26 years before becoming a state. Among all U.S. states, only Wyoming granted suffrage to women earlier.^[115] However, in 1887 the initial Edmunds-Tucker Act was passed by Congress in an effort to curtail Mormon influence in the territorial government. One of the provisions of the Act was the repeal of women’s suffrage; full suffrage was not returned until Utah was admitted to the Union in 1896.

Utah is one of the 15 states that have not ratified the U.S. Equal Rights Amendment.^[116]

Free-range parenting

In March 2018, Utah passed America’s first “free-range parenting” bill. The bill was signed into law by Republican Governor Gary Herbert and states that parents who allow their children to engage in certain activities without supervision are not considered neglectful.^[117][118]

Constitution

The constitution of Utah was enacted in 1895. Notably, the constitution outlawed polygamy, as requested by Congress when Utah had applied for statehood, and reestablished the territorial practice of women’s suffrage. Utah’s Constitution has been amended many times since its inception.^[119]

Alcohol, tobacco and gambling laws

Utah’s laws in regard to alcohol, tobacco and gambling are strict. Utah is an alcoholic beverage control state. The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control regulates the sale of alcohol; wine and spirituous liquors may only be purchased at state liquor stores, and local laws may prohibit the sale of beer and other alcoholic beverages on Sundays. The state bans the sale of fruity alcoholic drinks at grocery stores and convenience stores. The law states that such drinks must now have new state-approved labels on the front of the products that contain capitalized letters in bold type telling consumers the drinks contain alcohol and at what percentage. The Utah Indoor Clean Air Act is a statewide smoking ban, that prohibits smoking in many public places.^[120] Utah is also one of only two states in the United States to outlaw all forms of gambling; the other is Hawaii.

Same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriage became legal in Utah on December 20, 2013 when judge Robert J. Shelby of the United States District Court for the District of Utah issued a ruling in Kitchen v. Herbert.^[121][122] As of close of business December 26, more than 1,225 marriage licenses were issued, with at least 74 percent, or 905 licenses, issued to gay and lesbian couples.^[123] The state Attorney General’s office was granted a stay of the ruling by the United States Supreme Court on January 6, 2014 while the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals considered the case.^[124] On Monday October 6, 2014, the Supreme Court of the United States declined a Writ of Certiorari, and the 10th Circuit Court issued their mandate later that day, lifting their stay. Same-sex marriages commenced again in Utah that day.^[125]

Politics

In the late 19th century, the federal government took issue with polygamy in the LDS Church. The LDS Church discontinued plural marriage in 1890, and in 1896 Utah gained admission to the Union. Many new people settled the area soon after the Mormon pioneers. Relations have often been strained between the LDS population and the non-LDS population.^[126] These tensions have played a large part in Utah’s history (Liberal Party vs. People’s Party).

Utah votes predominantly Republican. Self-identified Latter-day Saints are more likely to vote for the Republican ticket than non-Mormons. Utah is one of the most Republican states in the nation.^[127][128] Utah was the single most Republican-leaning state in the country in every presidential election from 1976 to 2004, measured by the percentage point margin between the Republican and Democratic candidates. In 2008 Utah was only the third-most Republican state (after Wyoming and Oklahoma), but in 2012, with Mormon Mitt Romney atop the Republican ticket, Utah returned to its position as the most Republican state. However, the 2016 presidential election result saw Republican Donald Trump carry the state (marking the thirteenth consecutive win by the Republican presidential candidate) with only a plurality, the first time this happened since 1992.

Both of Utah’s U.S. Senators, Mitt Romney and Mike Lee, are Republican. Three more Republicans—Rob Bishop, Chris Stewart, and John Curtis—represent Utah in the United States House of Representatives. Ben McAdams, the sole Democratic member of the Utah delegation, represents the 4th congressional district. After Jon Huntsman Jr. resigned to serve as U.S. Ambassador to China, Gary Herbert was sworn in as governor on August 11, 2009. Herbert was elected to serve out the remainder of the term in a special election in 2010, defeating Democratic nominee Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon with 64% of the vote. He won election to a full four-year term in 2012, defeating the Democrat Peter Cooke with 68% of the vote.

The LDS Church maintains an official policy of neutrality with regard to political parties and candidates.^[77]

In the 1970s, then-Apostle Ezra Taft Benson was quoted by the Associated Press that it would be difficult for a faithful Latter-day Saint to be a liberal Democrat.^[129] Although the LDS Church has officially repudiated such statements on many occasions, Democratic candidates—including LDS Democrats—believe that Republicans capitalize on the perception that the Republican Party is doctrinally superior.^[130] Political scientist and pollster Dan Jones explains this disparity by noting that the national Democratic Party is associated with liberal positions on gay marriage and abortion, both of which the LDS Church is against.^[131] The Republican Party in heavily Mormon Utah County presents itself as the superior choice for Latter-day Saints. Even though Utah Democratic candidates are predominantly LDS, socially conservative, and pro-life, no Democrat has won in Utah County since 1994.^[132]

David Magleby, dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Brigham Young University, a lifelong Democrat and a political analyst, asserts that the Republican Party actually has more conservative positions than the LDS Church. Magleby argues that the locally conservative Democrats are in better accord with LDS doctrine.^[133] For example, the Republican Party of Utah opposes almost all abortions while Utah Democrats take a more liberal approach, although more conservative than their national counterparts. On Second Amendment issues, the state GOP has been at odds with the LDS Church position opposing concealed firearms in places of worship and in public spaces.

In 1998 the church expressed concern that Utahns perceived the Republican Party as an LDS institution and authorized lifelong Democrat and Seventy Marlin Jensen to promote LDS bipartisanship.^[129]

Utah is much more conservative than the United States as a whole, particularly on social issues. Compared to other Republican-dominated states in the Mountain West such as Wyoming, Utah politics have a more moralistic and less libertarian character, according to David Magleby.^[134]

About 80% of Utah’s Legislature are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,^[135] while members account for 61 percent of the population.^[136] Since becoming a state in 1896, Utah has had only two non-Mormon governors.^[137]

In 2006, the legislature passed legislation aimed at banning joint-custody for a non-biological parent of a child. The custody measure passed the legislature and was vetoed by the governor, a reciprocal benefits supporter.

Carbon County’s Democrats are generally made up of members of the large Greek, Italian, and Southeastern European communities, whose ancestors migrated in the early 20th century to work in the extensive mining industry. The views common amongst this group are heavily influenced by labor politics, particularly of the New Deal Era.^[138]

The state’s most Republican areas tend to be Utah County, which is the home to Brigham Young University in the city of Provo, and nearly all the rural counties.^[139][140] These areas generally hold socially conservative views in line with that of the national Religious Right. The most Democratic areas of the state lie currently in and around Salt Lake City proper.

The state has not voted for a Democrat for president since 1964. Historically, Republican presidential nominees score one of their best margins of victory here. Utah was the Republicans’ best state in the 1976,^[141] 1980,^[142] 1984,^[143] 1988,^[144] 1996,^[145] 2000,^[146] and 2004^[147] elections. In 1992, Utah was the only state in the nation where Democratic candidate Bill Clinton finished behind both Republican candidate George HW Bush and Independent candidate Ross Perot.^[148] In 2004, Republican George W. Bush won every county in the state and Utah gave him his largest margin of victory of any state. He won the state’s five electoral votes by a margin of 46 percentage points with 71.5% of the vote. In the 1996 Presidential elections the Republican candidate received a smaller 54% of the vote while the Democrat earned 34%.^[149]

Major cities and towns

Utah’s population is concentrated in two areas, the Wasatch Front in the north-central part of the state, with a population of over 2 million; and Washington County, in southwestern Utah, locally known as “Dixie“, with over 150,000 residents in the metropolitan area.

According to the 2010 Census, Utah was the second fastest-growing state (at 23.8 percent) in the United States between 2000 and 2010 (behind Nevada). St. George, in the southwest, is the second fastest-growing metropolitan area in the United States, trailing Greeley, Colorado.

The three fastest-growing counties from 2000 to 2010 were Wasatch County (54.7%), Washington County (52.9%), and Tooele County (42.9%). However, Utah County added the most people (148,028). Between 2000 and 2010, Saratoga Springs (1,673%), Herriman (1,330%), Eagle Mountain (893%), Cedar Hills (217%), South Willard (168%), Nibley (166%), Syracuse (159%), West Haven (158%), Lehi (149%), Washington (129%), and Stansbury Park (116%) all at least doubled in population. West Jordan (35,376), Lehi (28,379), St. George (23,234), South Jordan (20,981), West Valley City (20,584), and Herriman (20,262) all added at least 20,000 people.^[150]

Utah Rank	City	Population (2017) within city limits	Land area	Population density (/mi2)	Population density (/km2)	County
1	Salt Lake City	200,544	109.1 sq mi (283 km2)	1,666.1	630	Salt Lake
2	West Valley City	136,170	35.4 sq mi (92 km2)	3,076.3	1,236	Salt Lake
3	Provo	117,335	39.6 sq mi (103 km2)	2,653.2	1,106	Utah County
4	West Jordan	113,905	30.9 sq mi (80 km2)	2,211.3	1,143	Salt Lake
5	Orem	97,839	18.4 sq mi (48 km2)	4,572.6	1,881	Utah County
6	Sandy	96,145	22.3 sq mi (58 km2)	3,960.5	1,551	Salt Lake
7	Ogden	87,031	26.6 sq mi (69 km2)	2,899.2	1,137	Weber
8	St. George	84,405	64.4 sq mi (167 km2)	771.2	385	Washington
9	Layton	76,691	22.0 sq mi (57 km2)	3,486	1,346	Davis
10	South Jordan	70,954	22.05 sq mi (57 km2)	3,016	1,163	Salt Lake
11	Lehi	62,712	26.3 sq mi (68 km2)	2,200	850	Utah
12	Millcreek	60,192	13.7 sq mi (35 km2)	4,500	1,800	Salt Lake
13	Taylorsville	59,992	10.7 sq mi (28 km2)	5,415	2,077	Salt Lake

Combined statistical area	Population (2010)
Salt Lake City–Ogden–Clearfield comprises: Salt Lake City and Ogden-Clearfield Metropolitan Areas and Brigham City and Heber Micropolitan Areas (as listed below)	1,744,886

Utah Rank	Metropolitan area	Population (2017)	Counties
1	Salt Lake City*	1,203,105	Salt Lake, Tooele, Summit
2	Ogden–Clearfield*	665,358	Weber, Davis, Morgan
3	Provo–Orem	617,675	Utah
4	St. George	165,662	Washington
5	Logan	138,002	Cache, Franklin (Idaho)

• Until 2003, the Salt Lake City and Ogden-Clearfield metropolitan areas were considered as a single metropolitan area.^{[citation needed]}

Utah Rank	Micropolitan area	Population (2010)
1	Brigham City	49,015
2	Cedar City	44,540
3	Vernal	29,885
4	Heber	21,066
5	Price	19,549
6	Richfield	18,382

Colleges and universities

Culture

Sports

Utah is the second-least populous U.S. state to have a major professional sports league franchise, after the Vegas Golden Knights joined the National Hockey League in 2017. The Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association play at Vivint Smart Home Arena^[151] in Salt Lake City. The team moved to the city from New Orleans in 1979 and has been one of the most consistently successful teams in the league (although they have yet to win a championship). Salt Lake City was previously host to the Utah Stars, who competed in the ABA from 1970–76 and won 1 championship, and to the Utah Starzz of the WNBA from 1997 to 2003.

Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer was founded in 2005 and play their home matches at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy. RSL remains the only Utah major league sports team to have won a national championship, having won the MLS Cup in 2009.^[152] RSL currently operates three adult teams in addition to the MLS side. Real Monarchs, competing in the second-level USL Championship, is the official reserve side for RSL. The team began play in the 2015 season at Rio Tinto Stadium,^[153] remaining there until moving to Zions Bank Stadium, located at RSL’s training center in Herriman, for the 2018 season and beyond.^[154] Utah Royals FC, which shares ownership with RSL and also plays at Rio Tinto Stadium, has played in the National Women’s Soccer League, the top level of U.S. women’s soccer, since 2018.^[155] Before the creation of the Royals, RSL’s main women’s side had been Real Salt Lake Women, which began play in the Women’s Premier Soccer League in 2008 and moved to United Women’s Soccer in 2016. RSL Women currently play at Utah Valley University in Orem.

The Utah Blaze began play in the original version of the Arena Football League in 2006, and remained in the league until it folded in 2009. The Blaze returned to the league at its relaunch in 2010, playing until the team’s demise in 2013. They competed originally at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, and later at Vivint Smart Home Arena when it was known as EnergySolutions Arena.

Utah’s highest level minor league baseball team is the Salt Lake Bees, who play at Smith’s Ballpark in Salt Lake City and are part of the AAA level Pacific Coast League. Utah also has one minor league hockey team, the Utah Grizzlies, who play at the Maverik Center and compete in the ECHL.

Utah has six universities that compete in Division I of the NCAA, with a seventh set to move to Division I in 2020. Three of the schools have football programs that participate in the top-level Football Bowl Subdivision: Utah in the Pac-12 Conference, Utah State in the Mountain West Conference, and BYU as an independent (although BYU competes in the non-football West Coast Conference for most other sports). In addition, Weber State and Southern Utah (SUU) compete in the Big Sky Conference of the FCS. Utah Valley, which has no football program, is a full member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Dixie State, currently a member of NCAA Division II, will begin a four-year transition to Division I in 2020 as a member of the WAC. Since the WAC has been a non-football conference since 2013, Dixie State football will play as an FCS independent.

Salt Lake City hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics. After early financial struggles and scandal, the 2002 Olympics eventually became among the most successful Winter Olympics in history from a marketing and financial standpoint.^{[citation needed]} Watched by over 2 billion viewers, the Games ended up with a profit of $100 million.^[156]

Utah has hosted professional golf tournaments such as the Uniting Fore Care Classic and currently the Utah Championship.

Rugby has been growing quickly in the state of Utah, growing from 17 teams in 2009 to 70 teams as of 2013, including with over 3,000 players, and more than 55 high school varsity teams.^[157][158] The growth has been inspired in part by the 2008 movie Forever Strong.^[158] Utah fields two of the most competitive teams in the nation in college rugby – BYU and Utah.^[157] BYU has won the National Championship in 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. Formed in 2017, Utah Warriors is a Major League Rugby team based in Salt Lake City.^[159]

Entertainment

Utah is the setting of or the filming location for many books, films,^[160] television series,^[160] music videos, and video games. A selective list of each appears below.

Books

• Harry Turtledove‘s Southern Victory Series, which is set in a North America where the South won the Civil War, mentions Utah several times. The state’s Mormon population rebels against the United States in an attempt to create the Nation of Deseret throughout the series, which results in battles in and around Salt Lake City, Provo, and other locations.
• In Around the World in Eighty Days, the characters pass through Utah by train.
• The children’s series The Great Brain is set in a fictional town that is based on Price.
• Edward Abbey‘s The Monkey Wrench Gang is set in Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. The characters’ ultimate goal is the destruction of the Glen Canyon Dam.
• Much of Walter M. Miller Jr.‘s post-apocalyptic novel A Canticle for Leibowitz is set near or directly within Utah. The “hero” of the first part of the novel, the novice Brother Francis Gerard, is from Utah.
• In the second of four books based on the video game Doom much of the story takes place in Salt Lake City.
• Jack Kerouac‘s semi-autobiographical novel On the Road (arguably the most defining work of the post-WWII Beat Generation) describes traveling through Utah as part of a number of spontaneous road trips taken by the book’s main characters. Additionally, the character of Dean Moriarty (like his real life counterpart Neal Cassady) was born in Salt Lake City. While many of the names and details of Kerouac’s experiences are changed, the characters and road trips in the novel are based heavily on road trips taken by Kerouac and his friends across mid-20th century America.
• Will Hobbs’ 1999 young adult novel, The Maze, takes place in Canyonlands National Park in Southern Utah.
• Mark Twain‘s book Roughing It (describes meeting with Brigham Young.)
• In Dean Koontz‘s book Dark Rivers of the Heart the two main characters travel through Utah while being sought after by a secret government agency. One scene takes place in Cedar City.
• The backstory of Arthur Conan Doyle‘s first Sherlock Holmes novel, A Study in Scarlet, takes place in Utah.

Film

Utah’s Monument Valley has been location to several productions, such as 127 Hours (2010), Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes (2001), and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969).

Goblin Valley State Park appears in the movie Galaxy Quest (1999).

A scene from the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End was filmed at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

• 

  Monument Valley in southeastern Utah. This area was used to film many Hollywood Westerns.

• 

  The otherworldly look of the Bonneville Salt Flats has been used in many movies and commercials.

Video games

Utah’s capitol Salt Lake City is the final location in the video game The Last of Us.^[161]

Fallout: New Vegas features a DLC called Honest Hearts that takes place in Zion National Park.

The fictional metropolis of Mesa City, Utah was featured as the second level of Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus. Coincidentally, the main themes of Mesa City—casinos and gambling—are actually illegal in Utah.

See also

• Outline of Utah – organized list of topics about Utah
• Index of Utah-related articles