Utah

Template:US state

Utah (IPA: [ˈjutɔː, ˈjutɑː]) is an intermountain state located in the western United States, which became the 45th state to join the Union on January 4, 1896. Approximately 88% of Utah's 2,500,000 population is concentrated in its largest metropolis, Salt Lake City, its capital, which lies in the center, of the Wasatch Front. Most remaining Utahns reside in the state's other cities, also found in the Wasatch Front. These municipalities include the suburb of Sandy and the twin cities of Provo and Orem to the south and Ogden and Logan, which are north of the capital. In contrast, this large state contains vast land areas which are nearly uninhabited. As a result, Utah ranks as the sixth most urbanized state in the Union. The state is famous for its geological diversity, which ranges from snowcapped mountains to great flowing river valleys and includes rugged, stony deserts. Simultaneously, Utah is also known as one of the most religiously homogeneous states in the Union, whose residents are approximately 62% proclaim membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Naturally, the denomination exerts strong influences upon Utah culture and daily life as one can see in the number of Latter Day Saints churches, particularly the Great Temple in Salt Lake City, home of the world renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the famous Deseret publishing company, and the famous Brigham Young University, to name a few examples.

With its pivotal central western location, the state is a center of transportation. It plays a major role in information technology and research, government services, mining, and tourism both for its famous churches and museums and well as its spectacular parks and natural recreation areas such as Bryce Canyon. As its State Motto, Industry, indicates, Utah has a long tradition of resourcefulness and hard work. St. George, Utah was the fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States from 2000-2005, and in 2006 Utah was ranked as the sixth fastest growing state in the Nation.[14]

Etymology

Utah's name originates from the Ute Indian language, which is translated "people of the mountains."

Geography

Utah State Symbols

Living Symbols
-Animal	Rocky Mountain Elk
-Bird	California Seagull
-Butterfly	N/A
-Fish	Bonneville Cutthroat Trout
-Flower	Sego Lily
-Furbearer	{{{Furbearer}}}
-Grass	Indian ricegrass
-Insect	European Honey Bee
-Reptile	N/A
-Tree	Blue Spruce
-Wildflower	N/A
Beverage	N/A
Capital	Salt Lake City
Colors	N/A
Dance	Square Dance
Fossil	Allosaurus
Gemstone	Topaz
Mineral	Copper
Motto	Industry
Musical Instrument	{{{MusicalInstrument}}}
Neckwear	{{{Neckwear}}}
Nickname	Beehive State
Rock	Coal
Game	Chess
Ship(s)	USS Utah (BB-31)
Song	Utah, This is the Place
Soil	Mivida
Tartan	Utah State Tartan
Waltz	N/A

File:Map of Utah NA.png

Map of Utah

Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah

Utah from space. The state is known for its diversity in geology, climate, and ecosystems.

Joshua Trees, yucca plants, and Jumping Cholla cactus occupy the far southwest corner of the state in the Mojave Desert.

Logan Canyon in northern Utah.

File:PSP 021.jpg

Mount Timpanogos in the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains.

Utah is generally rocky with three distinct geological regions: the Rocky Mountains, the Great Basin, and the Colorado Plateau. Residents and visitors alike enjoy Utah's natural diversity which features arid deserts and sand dunes to thriving pine forests in its mountains and valleys.

Utah shares borders with several states including Idaho to its northwest, Nevada to its west, Wyoming to its northeast, Colorado to its east, New Mexico to its southeast, and Arizona to its south. Utah is also one of the Four Corners states. At a single point and in a situation unique within the 48 contiguous states, these four state borders meet: Utah, Colorado, New Mexico; and Arizona at the Four Corners Monument). The total area of the Beehive State is 84,899 square miles (219,887 km²).

One of Utah's defining characteristics is the variety of its terrain. Running down the center of the state is the Wasatch Range, which rises to heights of about 12,000 feet (3,650 m) above sea level. Portions of these mountains receive more than 500 inches (12.7 m) of snow each year and are home to world-renowned ski resorts, made popular by the light, fluffy snow, which is considered good for skiing. In the northeastern section of the state, running east to west, are the Uinta Mountains, which rise to heights of 13,000 feet (3,950 m) or more and contains the highest summit in the state, Kings Peak, which has an elevation of 13,528 feet (4,123 m),.

Approximately 75% of Utah's residents live at the western base of the Wasatch Range, also known as the Wasatch Front, which is a series of valleys and basins. These residents dwell in the major cities of Ogden, Salt Lake City, Layton, West Valley City, Sandy, West Jordan, Orem, and Provo. This region extends from Brigham City at the north end to Nephi at the south end. Utah is growing rapidly as a whole, and in this region, urban sprawl is increasing along the valley outskirts.

Western Utah is primarily an arid desert with a gorgeous landscape that is difficult to farm and develop. Its geological features include a basin and range. Small mountain ranges and rugged terrain prevail throughout the landscape. The Bonneville Salt Flats provide an exception to the topography. They are comparatively flat as a result of once forming the lake bed of Lake Bonneville. Great Salt Lake, Utah Lake, Sevier Lake, Rush Lake and Little Salt Lake are all remnants of this ancient freshwater lake, which once covered most of the eastern Great Basin. West of the Great Salt Lake, stretching to the Nevada border, lies the Great Salt Lake Desert, the most arid part of Utah, which posed a difficult crossing point for American pioneers as they ventured west.^{[citation needed]}

Much of the scenic southern landscape is comprised of Kayenta sandstone and Navajo sandstone. The Colorado River and its tributaries wind their way through this sandstone, creating some of the most spectacular wild terrain in the world. Wind and rain have sculpted the soft rock outcroppings over millions of years. The breathtaking sites include canyons, gullies, arches, pinnacles, buttes, bluffs, and mesas throughout south-central and southeast Utah. This terrain is accentuated and maintained in protected 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, a popular photographic and filming site.

Southwestern Utah contains the state's lowest and hottest spot. This area is also called Dixie because in this area early settlers harvested limited amounts of cotton, a popular southern cash crop. Beaverdam Wash, the site of the state's lowest point, lies in far southwestern Utah. Its elevation is 2,000 feet (610 m). The northernmost portion of the Mojave Desert is also found in this region. Many retirees and tourists are flocking to Dixie, where the population is growing rapidly and the residents enjoy Utah's highest ski resort, Brian Head located to Dixie's immediate north.

Eastern Utah has a high elevation, which is covered mostly by plateaus and basins. Its primary economies include mining, oil, natural gas-drilling, ranching, and recreation. Much of eastern Utah is part of the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation. The Navajo Nation also extends into southeastern Utah. The most popular destination within eastern Utah is Dinosaur National Monument.

Like most of the west and southwest states, the federal government owns a vast amount of Utah's land. Over seventy percent of the land is under the jurisdiction of the BLM land, Utah State Trustland, or U.S. National Forest, park, U.S. National Monument, National Recreation Area or U.S. Wilderness Area.

Climate

Most of Utah is arid and high in elevation. Many of its eastern and southern areas receive 12 inches (300 mm) or less of precipitation per year, and the annual rainfall in western Utah is generally less than 10 inches (25 cm). Likewise, the Wasatch Front receives approximately 15 inches (38 cm). The Great Salt Lake Desert is especially dry, receiving less than 5 inches (13 cm) annually. The rain favors the mountain areas, which falls more than 40 inches (1 m) per year, with some areas obtaining up to 60 in (1.5 m).

Snowfall is common in winter everywhere except the southern border and the Great Salt Lake Desert. St. George averages about 3 inches (7.5 cm) of snow per year, while Salt Lake City receives almost 60 inches (1.5 m) annually (amplified by the lake effect from the Great Salt Lake). Many mountain areas receive 350 inches (9 m) of snow in a year, while portions of the Wasatch Range receive up to 500 inches (12.7 m). Snowfall is common from November through mid-April in the lower elevations and from October through May in the mountains. The mountains often remain snow-covered into July. Fog and haze often caused by temperature inversions are common in the valleys and basins during winter, especially the Uinta Basin, just south of the Uinta Mountains.

During summer and fall, most of the precipitation originates from the storms coming up from the south. It consists of short, sporadic, and intense thunderstorms that can cause wildfires and flash floods. Most precipitation during the rest of the year arrives on jetstreams from the Pacific Ocean. Spring is the wettest season across the north, while late summer and early fall are the wettest times in the south. Winter is the wettest season in most of the mountain areas.

Utah winters are frigid, with temperatures throughout most of the state falling below freezing. High temperatures average between 25 °F (-4 °C) and 50 °F (10 °C) across the state. Days below 0 °F (-18 °C) generally occur in many areas at least once a year. In most of the populated areas, the cold snaps are usually short and not severe. However, some mountain valleys, including Randolph, generally experience temperatures below 0 °F (-18 °C) 50 days per year. Mountains to Utah's north and east sometimes function as barriers to Arctic air. In the summer, one can experience the other extreme, with high temperatures averaging between 85 °F (29 °C) and 100 °F (38 °C). Days over 100 °F (38 °C) can be expected in most areas below 5,000 feet (1,500 m) at least once per year and are the norm in the southern valleys. According to the Golden Gate Weather Service, the record high temperature in Utah was 117 °F (47 °C), recorded at St. George on July 5, 1985,^{[citation needed]} and the record low was -69 °F (-56 °C), recorded at Peter's Sink in the Bear River Mountains of northern Utah on February 1, 1985.

Like most of the western United States, Utah has very few thunderstorms. Generally, people experience them fewer than 40 days per year; however, when they happen, these tempests are usually short but intense. Only two tornadoes generally occur in the state each year.

History

Mormon settlement

More than 11,000 Latter-Day Saints remained in Nauvoo, IL after the assassination of Joseph Smith, Jr. which took place in Carthage, Illinois. Smith founded the new religion in 1930 based on an apparition from God and Jesus at the age of 14. Three years later the angel Moroni appeared and revealed church teachings to Smith over a four year period. After this time, he received the golden plates. One of his scribes, Mr. Cowdery, and Joseph Smith baptized each other into the church Priesthood, following revelation from John the Baptist; and they became the Church's first two elders. Joseph Smith and five other men founded what they first named the Church of Christ in 1830. They moved to Kirtland, Ohio, near Cleveland. In 1834 they changed the church's name to the Church of the Latter Day Saints. This early period was very difficult. Members experienced financial difficulties, verbal opposition, and outright hostility from neighbors who belonged to other denominations. Their troubles climaxed in a massacre of 17 in 1838 at Haun's Mill, Far West, Missouri in Caldwell County. This locale had been reserved for Church members after they had been expelled from nearby Jackson County . Brigham Young, the President of the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, emerged as their new leader. Under Young's leadership, the first group of Mormon pioneers traveled to the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. Seeiking a safe place to live and and worship freely, more than 70,000 Latter Day Saints pioneers crossed the plains and settled in Utah during the following 22 years.

For the first few years, Brigham Young and the thousands of early Salt Lake City settlers struggled to survive. The Mormons sought refuge in a desolate, barren desert where they believed no one else would seek a livelihood. Finally, after migrating from state to state and facing nonrelenting persecution, they hoped to practice their religion in peace—which they had never experienced in their first 20 years of existence, since their establishment in 1830.

Unknown to most people, Utah was the source of many pioneer settlements which later located elsewhere in the West. From the beginning, Salt Lake City was considered the hub of a "far-flung commonwealth" of Mormon settlements. The hardworking members produced many new members, and it brought a constant supply of converts hailing from the eastern United States and around the world. To encourage Mormon development in the area, Church leaders frequently assigned groups of church members to settle throughout the West. Applying the science of irrigation with their religious expansion efforts, settlements grew along Utah's Wasatch front (Salt Lake City, then expanded to the Bountiful and Weber Valley, and continued to Provo and Utah Valley. Thus large pioneer populations were established in an area that Jim Bridger had advised Young would be inhospitable for the cultivation of crops because of frost. Through the end of the 1800s, Brigham Young directed Mormon pioneers to leave Salt Lake City and establish hundreds of other western settlements in Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, California, Canada, and Mexico. Some noteworthy Mormon settlements outside Utah include Las Vegas, Nevada, Franklin, Idaho (the first white settlement in Idaho), San Bernadino, California, Star Valley, Wyoming, and Carson Valley, Nevada. Prominent Utah LDS settlements included St. George, Logan, and Manti (where settlers raised the three first temples in Utah, many years before the larger and more famous Salt Lake City Temple was completed in 1892). Other Utah cities settled initially by Mormons include Parowan, Cedar City, Bluff, Moab, Vernal, Fillmore (the territorial capital between 1850 and 1856), Nephi, Levan, Spanish Fork, Springville, Provo Bench (renamed 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. A Mormon expansionist, Young named this new territory Deseret that he and the Mormon pioneers were settling. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints had taught his followers that Deseret means "honeybee"; therefore, the beehive appears on the Utah state flag and is the source of the state motto, "Industry."

In 1847 when the first pioneers arrived, Utah was under Mexican jurisdiction. With the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, on February 2, 1848 after the United States won the Mexican-American War, the land became a United States territory. The United States Senate ratified this treaty on March 10. In 1850, the Utah Territory was created with the Compromise of 1850, and Fillmore was designated the territorial capital until 1856 when Salt Lake City assumed that role which it has held to this day.

Disputes between the Mormon inhabitants and the US Government intensified due to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints members' practice of plural marriage. The Mormons advocated establishing the State of Deseret into the Union; however, the U.S. Government, preferred both a smaller state and particularly one in which monogamy was observed.

Utah territory was located far from the Nation's capitol, but news of the LDS Church's polygamous practices spread, and soon its members were considered un-American and rebellious. Once again, contention toward the Latter Day Saints resumed. In 1857, news of a false rebellion spread; the federal government dispatched troops for the "Utah expedition" to crush the alleged revolt and replace territorial governor, Brigham Young, with Alfred Cumming. Thus began the Utah War.

As federal troops approached Salt Lake in northern Utah, frightened Mormon settlers and Paiutes attacked and killed 120 immigrants from Arkansas in southern Utah during what was later named the Mountain Meadows Massacre. The contention between LDS leaders and the federal government created from this slaughter endured for decades. Only one person, John D. Lee, was convicted of the murders, and he was executed at the massacre site.

Before Albert Sidney Johnston led troops into the territory, Brigham Young directed all residents of Salt Lake City to evacuate south to Utah Valley. Young then dispatched a force, the Nauvoo Legion, which attempted to delay the government's advance by burning federal wagons and supplies. However, the troops arrived, and Young relinquished official control to Cumming. Many people later commented that Young retained actual territorial control. For example, President James Buchanan appointed several governors to direct the region; yet, each executive leader resigned, stating that Utah's territorial government refused to cooperate with them. Brigham Young did agree with federal leader Col. Johnston's decision to establish Fort Floyd 40 miles southwest of Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake City was the site of the last link of the First Transcontinental Telegraph, completed in October of 1861. Brigham Young's influence emerged in this instance, too, as he was among the first officials to send a message, along with President Abraham Lincoln.

Bonneville Salt Flats

Though the federal government strove to acquire greater influence in Utah Territory, one pivotal event, the American Civil War, forced the troops to divert their attention to the battlefields of that bloody event. As a result, the Utah territory, in effect, remained in LDS hands until Patrick E. Connor arrived with a regiment of California volunteers in 1862. Connor established Fort Douglas just three miles (5 km) east of Salt Lake City. To increase non-Mormon settlement in the area, he encouraged his people to search for mineral deposits. Minerals were discovered in Tooele County, and, as usual when such announcements became known, miners dashed to the territory in search of quick profits.

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 three years after he had surrendered because he saw the futility of continuing further bloodshed of his people and others. Earlier he and his people had raided white settlements, seeking cattle to replace the land and food that the Noonech had lost due to settlers influx. His father, Sanpitch, had been been brutally murdered by Dolf Bennett in 1866. Noonch, Black Hawk's native name, visited every city from Cedar City to the south to Payson in the north, and he restored friendly relations with the peoples therein. He was buried in the foothills east and south of Spring Lake Villa, Utah County. <ref. "Black Hawk Passes Over, A letter from William Provert." Mr. Provert shared the information with Mr. Peter Gottfriedson who included it in his website: http://www.blackhawkwarutah.com/black_hawk_war_utah.htm#BLACK_HAWK_PASSES_OVER__> Later the Chief's remains were removed from burial and put on display in an LDS church museum at Temple Square, heinous treatment for any deceased person, especially a leader who strove to promote peace. After 86 years, a young boy scout, seeking to gain the Eagle Scout rank through research, rescued the former chief's bones from storage. The tribe could finally provide the Chief a proper burial, so important to Native tradition. Despite the chief's valient efforts to attain peace, battles continued between the settlers and the native peoples until additional federal troops were ordered to suppress the Ghost Dance of 1872. This war is unique among Indian Wars because it was a three-way conflict, with mounted Timpanogos Utes led by Antonguer Black Hawk exploited by both federal and LDS authorities.

On May 10, 1869, the First Transcontinental Railroad was completed at Promontory Summit, north of the Great Salt Lake. The railroad brought increasing numbers of people to the territory where several influential business people made fortunes. Ogden became the main transfer point for transferring rolling stock, passengers, and freight once the railroad was completed. Additional industries developed at this time: woolen mills, canneries, livestock yards, flour mills, breweries, iron works, banks, hotels, and telephone, telegraph, and power companies. In 1879 Ogden inventor John M. Browning patented the single shot rifle and 100 other gun styles. <ref.> http://www.historyforkids.utah.gov/homework_help/counties/weber.html. Settlers and Development. Retrieved August 1, 2007. </ref.> The town of Corrine, founded in 1869 and named after one of the daughters of General J. A. Williamson, became famous for freighting and banking. Corinne's goal was to become the commercial center of the Intermountain West. Between 1869 to 1878 the town had 257 businesses relation to freight transport and banking. <ref.> http://library.usa.edu/Specol/manuscript/collms241.html. Retrieved August 1, 2007. </ref.>

Unfortunately many settlers' excessive desire for land during this period was instrumental in driving the Utes from their original lands in Central Utah and Colorado in 1879 to the Utah desert. Native Americans living on reservations in Utah, as in other states, were still affected by white laws. For example, in an effort to assimilate their children into white society, the youngsters were forced to attend boarding schools for six consecutive years. During that period the students were not permitted to see their parents at school, much less return home to visit them. Sadly, many of these students died from disease and were buried on property outlying the school. <ref.> "Black Hawk Passes Over, A letter from William Provert."

During the 1870s and 1880s, laws were passed to punish polygamists, and 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. Utah was the last state admitted in the Nineteenth Century.

Alpine Loop near Sundance in the fall.

Snowbird ski resort

1900s to present

In the early 1900s, with the establishment of national parks such as Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park, Utah was becoming known for its natural beauty. Southern Utah became a popular filming spot for arid, rugged scenes, and such natural landmarks as Delicate Arch and "the Mittens" of Monument Valley are instantly recognizable to most national residents. During the 1950s, '60s, and '70s, with the construction of the Interstate highway system, accessibility to the southern scenic areas was made easier.

Beginning in 1939, Alta Ski Area was established, and Utah became famous throughout the world for its skiing. The Wasatch Range provides the resort with top quality dry, powdery snow that many people consider some of the best skiing in the world. Salt Lake City won the bid for the 2002 Winter Olympics in 1995, and obtaining this honor greatly boosted the economy. The popularity of these ski resorts has increased, and many of the Olympic venues along the Wasatch Front are still used for sporting events. To serve the tourists, this attraction inspired the development of the TRAX light-rail system in Salt Lake Valley and the re-construction of the freeway system around the city.

During the late 20th century, the state grew quickly. In the 1970s, growth was phenomenal in the suburbs. Sandy was one of the fastest-growing cities in the country at that time. Today, many areas of Utah are experiencing amazing growth. Northern Davis, southern and western Salt Lake, Summit, eastern Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, and Washington counties are all growing rapidly. Transportation and urbanization are major political issues as development consumes agricultural land and wilderness areas.

Demographics

File:Utah population map.png

Utah Population Density Map

The center of population of Utah is located in Utah County in the city of Lehi [15]. As of 2005, Utah's estimated population stands at 2,469,585, an increase of 48,877, or 2.0%, from only one year earlier, and an increase of 236,387, or 10.6%, since the year 2000. This total reflects a natural increase since the last census of 186,411 people—254,433 births minus 68,022 deaths. The number indicates an increase due to a net migration of 16,173 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States produced a net increase of 49,995 people; migration within the country brought a net loss of 33,822 people.

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. The rest of the state is mostly rural or wilderness. Most residents are members of the Mormon faith, and Utah has a higher percentage of people sharing a single religious denomination than any other state.

File:Utah Counties.png

Utah county boundaries

Utah contains 5 metropolitan areas (Logan, Ogden-Clearfield, Salt Lake City, Provo-Orem, and St. George), and 5 micropolitan areas (Brigham City, Heber, Vernal, Price, and Cedar City).

The St. George metropolitan area is currently the second-fastest growing in the country, following the Las Vegas metropolitan area, while the Heber micropolitan area is also the second-fastest growing in the country (behind Palm Coast, Florida). Growth is not limited to urban locales: the rural agricultural areas of Juab and Millard counties have likewise experienced rapid population growth. ^{[citation needed]}

Race and ancestry

Demographics of Utah (csv)
By race	White	Black	AIAN	Asian	NHPI
AIAN is American Indian or Alaskan Native   -   NHPI is Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
2000 (total population)	95.20%	1.14%	1.84%	2.20%	0.97%
2000 (Hispanic only)	8.62%	0.16%	0.26%	0.08%	0.05%
2005 (total population)	95.01%	1.32%	1.69%	2.40%	0.95%
2005 (Hispanic only)	10.39%	0.23%	0.26%	0.10%	0.05%
Growth 2000-2005 (total population)	10.37%	28.78%	2.04%	21.00%	8.53%
Growth 2000-2005 (non-Hispanic only)	8.09%	23.37%	0.78%	20.69%	8.43%
Growth 2000-2005 (Hispanic only)	33.30%	61.74%	9.53%	28.88%	10.45%

The largest ancestry groups in the state are:

• 29.0% English
• 11.5% German
• 6.8% American (Mostly British Descent)
• 6.5% Danish
• 5.9% Irish
• 4.4% Scottish

Most Utahns are of Northern European descent. The state has the highest percentage of residents who claim either British or Danish ancestry in the nation ^{[citation needed]}. Anglo-Utahns form the major group in every county except San Juan County, which has a large Navajo Indian population. Chinese have the most Asians. Other Asian ethnicities include Japanese-Americans, Koreans, Indians and Pakistanis. Tongans form the most populous Pacific Islander group; the majority of them are Mormons who converted in the south Pacific under LDS missionary work programs. ^{[citation needed]} Hispanics are rapidly growing in the state, especially in Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Orem/Provo area. Their numbers include recent immigrants from Latin America, predominantly Mexico, but also Central America and South America. ^{[citation needed]} Utah's African-American population is relatively small; yet it includes many newcomers to the state, generally middle-class professionals from California. Two small African-American communities live in southern Salt Lake city and in Ogden near Hill Air Force Base. ^{[citation needed]}

Religion

File:100 0297.jpg

The Great Salt Lake

Red Canyon

A majority of the state's residents are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes called the Mormons or the LDS Church. As of 2004, the percentage of Utahns included in those counted as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was 62.4% of the state's population,. This figure represents less than 50% of the population living in urban areas and over 90% of the rural dwellers.^{[citation needed]} The only other state in the Nation in which a majority of the population belongs to a single religious body is Rhode Island. The number of Catholics in Utah is increasing due to recent immigrant growth from Mexico, and other Latin American sources, added to the previous waves of Catholics from Italy, Austria, Germany and Ireland. A consistent number of Protestant denominations such as Baptists, Lutherans and Methodists, comprise approximately one-quarter of Utah's population. The Salt Lake Tribune has projected that as early as 2030, Latter-day Saints may lose their majority status throughout the state, not only in Salt Lake City.

The religion known as Mormonism has historically had a strong regional influence and has contributed to the state's restrictive attitude towards alcohol consumption and the practice of gambling. Also, LDS conservative beliefs have contributed to the state's high birth rate (which is 25% higher than the national average and is the highest of any American state.). Before the 1890 Manifesto, the Church's teachings of plural marriage had led to confrontation with the U.S. federal government in the Utah War. The Mormons in Utah tend to have conservative views when it comes to most political issues and the majority of Utahns are registered Republicans. But the state's Mormons have demonstrated their moderate viewpoints in certain social/moral issues^{[citation needed]}. Early Mormon settlers in the 19th century had more members registered as Democrats, a common trait in farmers in the Midwestern US where most Mormons briefly lived at the time. Historically, the founders of the LDS church considered the importance of socialism in the Mormons' tradition of social welfare provided by the church and Mormon values in family, community and assistance, or "looking out for each other" would placed them in the liberal category in terms of theology. ^{[citation needed]} Much like the early founders of the United States, they built their public facilities before their private ones, that is their churches, schools, irrigation projects, and other community buildings before their own homes, which were constructed as a public effort.

Other laws

Utah is also one of only two states in the United States to outlaw all forms of gambling; the other is Hawaii. Utah is an alcoholic beverage control state. The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control regulates the sale of alcohol; wine and spiritous liquors may only be purchased at state liquor stores, and local laws may prohibit the sale of beer and other alcoholic beverages on Sundays.

Politics

Presidential elections results

Year	Republican	Democratic
2004	71% 663,742	26% 241,199
2000	67% 512,168	26% 201,734
1996	54% 361,911	33% 221,633
1992	43% 322,632	25% 183,429
1988	66% 428,442	32% 207,343

Historically, politics in Utah have been controversial, such as the Federal government versus the LDS Church on the issue of polygamy. The LDS Church renounced polygamy 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. [16] These tensions played a large part in Utah's historical (Liberal Party vs. People's Party).

The Utah State Capitol, Salt Lake City.

The Scott Matheson Courthouse is the seat of the Utah Supreme Court

The current governor of Utah is Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., a member of the Republican Party. He is a proponent of a flat tax, an opponent to same-sex marriage, while supporting the creation of a reciprocal beneficiary status for same-sex couples, and an opponent to intelligent design being taught in the classroom. He also receives high approval ratings from across the Utah political spectrum.

Both of Utah's U.S. Senators, Orrin Hatch and Robert Foster Bennett, are Republican. Two more Republicans, Rob Bishop and Chris Cannon, as well as one member of the Democratic Party, Jim Matheson, represent Utah in the United States House of Representatives.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the religion of the majority of Utahns, and the majority of politicians in Utah from both political parties are LDS.^{[citation needed]} While the Church maintains an official policy of neutrality in regards to political parties and candidates, Utah votes predominately Republican. Self-identified Latter-day Saints are more likely to vote for Republican ticket than non-Mormons, and Utah is one of the most Republican states in the nation. The connection between the LDS Church and the Republican Party of Utah is controversial.

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. 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. Political scientist and pollster Dan Jones explains this disparity by noting that the national Democratic Party is associated with progressive positions on gay rights and abortion that make Latter-day Saints uncomfortable. The Republican Party in heavily Mormon Utah County presents itself as the superior choice for Latter-day Saints. Even though Democratic candidate are predominantly LDS, socially conservative, and pro-life, no Democrat has won in Utah county since 1994. 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. For example, the Republican Party of Utah opposes all abortions while the LDS Church and Utah Democrats allow exceptions for rape, incest, and to save the life of the mother. Similarly, the state GOP has been at odds with the LDS Church position opposing concealed firearms in places of worship.

The LDS Church itself has been troubled by the perception of political bias in the wake of Massachusetts Republican Mitt Romney's prospective presidential run. 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.

Governor elections results

Year	Republican	Democratic
2004	57% 473,814	42% 350,841
2000	56% 422,357	43% 320,141
1996	75% 500,293	24% 155,294

The state's leadership is run by the Republican Party. State governors are usually centrist on social issues and favor free trade on economic policies, while the state senate and house are much more polarized with Republican members passing very socially conservative policies on party-line and partisan votes. Many of these bills have been subsequently vetoed by the governors.^{[citation needed]}

While the people of the state are generally more tolerant of gay rights and polls indicate that a majority of residents support some form of legal recognition for same-sex couples, the state legislature is markedly more hostile.^{[citation needed]} About 80% of Utah's Legislature are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, while they account for 62% of the population.

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.

Senator Bennett results

Year	Republican	Democratic
2004	69% 626,640	28% 258,955
1998	64%	33%

Prayers are commonplace in Utah politics, and lawmakers of both parties, whether liberal or conservative, speak of their relationship with God or their religious beliefs in ordinary conversation.

Utah's liberal areas include Carbon County, Grand County, Salt Lake County, and Summit County. Currently, both Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County have Democratic Party mayors and are home to about one million of the state's two and a half million residents. Salt Lake City's Mayor Rocky Anderson is supports same-sex marriage and the Kyoto Treaty, while the county mayor Peter Corroon is a relative of Howard Dean and shares similar views.^{[citation needed]} Salt Lake City has not voted for a Republican mayor since the 1970s. Salt Lake County's Democrats tend to favor the economic policies of free trade while being socially liberal, particularly with gay rights and less so with abortion. ^{[citation needed]}

Senator Hatch results

Year	Republican	Democratic
2006	NA	NA
2000	66% 501,925	32% 241,129

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 1900s 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.

Grand County's politics are heavy on environmentalism and being socially liberal. The county has a large hippie community situated in the popular tourist destination, Moab,^{[citation needed]} in red rock country between Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.

The Democrats of Summit County are the by-product of the migration of wealthy families from California in the 1990s to the ski resort town of Park City; their views are generally supportive of the economic policies favored by unions and the social policies favored by the liberals.

Salt Lake County Mayor

Year	Republican	Democratic
2004	44% 144,928	48% 157,287
2000	52% 158,787	47% 144,011

The state's most Republican areas tend to be Utah County, which is the home to Brigham Young University and Provo, and nearly all the rural counties. [17] [18] These areas generally hold socially conservative views in line with that of the national Religious Right.

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, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1996, 2000 and 2004 elections. In 1992, Utah was the only state in the nation where Democratic candidate Bill Clinton finished behind both Republican candidate George H. W. Bush and Independent candidate Ross Perot. 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 5 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%.

Important cities and towns

File:092102 03.jpg

Salt Lake City

Provo

Sandy

File:09-17-04i.jpg

Park City

St. George

Utah's population is concentrated in two areas, the Wasatch Front in the north-central part of the state, with a population of approximately 2 million; and southwestern Utah, locally known as "Dixie", with nearly 150,000 residents.

According the 2000 Census, Utah was the fourth fastest growing state (at 29.6%) in the United States between 1990 and 2000. St. George, in the southwest, is the second-fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States, trailing Greeley, Colorado.

The state's two fastest growing counties are: Summit (at 91.6%; ranking it 8th in the country) and Washington (at 86.1%; ranking it 12th). The cities (defined as having at least 9,000 residents in 2000) that saw the greatest increases between 1990 and 2000 were: Draper (248%), South Jordan (141%), Lehi (125%), Riverton (122%), and Syracuse (102%). Between 1990 and 2000 the five fastest-growing cities of any size were Cedar Hills (302%), Draper (248%), Woodland Hills (213%), Ivins (173%), and South Jordan (141%). According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the five fastest-growing cities of any size between 2000 and 2005 were Herriman (637%), Saratoga Springs (548%), Eagle Mountain (380%), Cedar Hills (152%), and Syracuse (91%).

Utah Rank	City	Population (2005) within city limits	Land Area (sq. miles)	Population Density per sq mi	County
1	Salt Lake City	178,097	109.1	1,632.4	Salt Lake
2	Provo	113,459	39.6	2,865.1	Utah
3	West Valley City	113,300	35.4	3,200.5	Salt Lake
4	West Jordan	91,444	30.9	2,959.3	Salt Lake
5	Orem	89,713	18.4	4,875.7	Utah
6	Sandy	89,664	22.3	4,020.8	Salt Lake
7	Ogden	78,309	26.6	2,943.9	Weber
8	St. George	64,201	64.4	996.9	Washington
9	Layton	61,782	20.7	2,984.6	Davis
10	Taylorsville	58,009	10.7	5,421.4	Salt Lake

Combined Statistical Area	Population (2004)
Salt Lake City-Ogden-Clearfield comprised of: Salt Lake City and Ogden-Clearfield Metropolitan Areas and Brigham City and Heber Micropolitan Areas (as listed below)	1,559,230

Utah Rank	Metropolitan Area	Population (2004)	U.S. Rank	Counties
1	Salt Lake City	1,018,826	50	Salt Lake, Tooele, Summit
2	Ogden-Clearfield	477,455	101	Weber, Davis, Morgan
3	Provo-Orem	412,361	112	Utah
4	St. George	109,924	318	Washington
5	Logan	109,666	320	Cache, Franklin (Idaho)

• Until 2003, the Salt Lake City and Ogden-Clearfield metropolitan areas were considered as a single metropolitan area.

Utah Rank	Micropolitan Area	Population (2004)	U.S. Rank
1	Brigham City	44,810	280
2	Cedar City	36,285	386
3	Vernal	26,671	495
4	Price	19,689	550
5	Heber	18,139	560

Education

Utah has recently enacted a universal school voucher program.

Colleges and universities

Brigham Young University in Provo College of Eastern Utah in Price Dixie State College of Utah (formerly Dixie College) in St. George ITT Technical Institute in Murray LDS Business College in Salt Lake City Neumont University in South Jordan Provo College in Provo Salt Lake Community College in Taylorsville Snow College in Ephraim and Richfield Southern Utah University (formerly Southern Utah State College) in Cedar City

Stevens-Henager College at various locations statewide University of Phoenix at various locations statewide University of Utah in Salt Lake City Utah College of Massage Therapy in Salt Lake City Utah State University in Logan (satellite campuses at various state locations) Utah Valley State College (Utah Valley University effective July 2008) in Orem Weber State University in Ogden Western Governors University an online university, begun by former Utah Governor, Michael O. Leavitt Westminster College in Salt Lake City

Sports

The Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association play in the EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City. Utah is the least populous U.S. state to have a major professional sports league franchise, although the District of Columbia has fewer people. Other teams include:

File:Utah Jazz logo.png

The Utah Jazz NBA team based in Salt Lake City.

• Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer in Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City (a soccer-specific stadium has been approved for Sandy, and ground was broken for the new stadium on August 12, 2006)
• Salt Lake Bees of the Pacific Coast League in Franklin Covey Field in Salt Lake City
• Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League in Lindquist Field in Ogden
• Orem Owlz of the Pioneer League in Parkway Crossings in Orem
• Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL in the E Center in West Valley City
• Utah Blaze of the Arena Football League at the EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City

See also List of professional sports teams in Utah

Miscellaneous

Panoramic view of the salt flats of the Great Salt Lake Desert.

• Popular recreational destinations within the mountains besides the ski resorts include Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Bear Lake, and Jordanelle, Strawberry, Pineveiw Reservoir, East Canyon, and Rockport reservoirs. The mountains are popular camping, rock-climbing, skiing, snowboarding, and hiking destinations.
• The USS Utah was named in honor of this state.
• The Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster is built and serviced by the Thiokol division of ATK, which has its facilities in Promontory Point. Boosters are tested periodically at a proving grounds in the Wasatch Range.
• According to a study based on prescription claims from one mail-order pharmaceutical provider, Utah (as of 2000) ranked first in antidepressant and narcotic painkiller use, and was in the top three for prescriptions for thyroid medications, anticonvulsants and anti-rheumatics. While Utah once ranked first in personal bankruptcies per capita in the US, this is no longer true (as of 2005). It ranks 47th in teen pregnancy (although at least some of these are married teenagers, which is not uncommon in the state), last in percentage of births out of wedlock, last in number of abortions per capita, and last in percentage of teen pregnancies terminated in abortion. Statistics relating to pregnancies and abortions may be artificially low from teenagers going out of state for abortions because of parental notification requirements. Utah has the lowest child poverty rate in the country, despite its young demographics.
• 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.
• Jell-O is the official snack food of Utah, giving rise to the term the Jello Belt.
• Mexican President Vicente Fox visited Salt Lake City, Utah, on May 23, 2006, as the first stop on his trip to the United States, which also included stops in California and Washington state. It is unusual for a foreign head of state to visit Utah (except for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics). However, the growing presence of Mexicans and Mexican Americans in Utah may be a reason for his visit.^{[citation needed]} The LDS Church also has a large presence in Mexico, with 1,043,718 members as of December 31, 2005,, although only about 200,000 profess to be LDS
• The popular subculture, Straight Edge, is an anti-drug/anti-alcohol punk music scene which had its origins in Washingtion D.C., including large numbers of Utahns, in Salt Lake City and Provo in the 1990s. ^{[citation needed]}

Famous Utahns

• Roseanne Barr - Comedian, actress, writer, talk-show host.
• Shawn Bradley - Former NBA player.
• John Moses Browning - Designer of popular firearms like the M2 .50 caliber machine gun and the Colt Model 1911 .45 semi-automatic handgun.
• Butch Cassidy - Outlaw.
• Gary Coleman - Relocated to Utah after the filming of the movie Church Ball.[19]
• Andre Dyson - NFL player
• Kevin Dyson - NFL player
• Marriner Eccles - Banker, economist, and Chairman of the Federal Reserve during Roosevelt and Truman administrations.
• Philo Farnsworth - Inventor of the electronic television.
• John D. Fitzgerald - Author of The Great Brain series of children's books.
• Brandon Flowers - Lead singer of The Killers (although born in Las Vegas he was raised in Nephi, Utah)
• Jake Garn - Former U.S. Senator and one-time astronaut.
• John Gilbert - Silent-film actor.
• John D. Lee- Early Mormon Church leader. The only man convicted in the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
• Orrin Hatch - U.S. Senator
• Jon Huntsman, Sr. - Businessperson, philanthropist.
• Jewel - Musician, author.
• Chad Lewis - NFL player
• Maddox - Internet satirist and author of The Best Page In The Universe and The Alphabet of Manliness.
• John Willard Marriott - Founder of worldwide hotel business Marriott International, Inc..
• Bert McCracken - Lead singer of The Used Raised in Utah, moved away at age 18.
• Larry H. Miller - Businessperson, philanthropist.
• Merlin Olsen - Former National Football League player and actor.
• Donny Osmond - Singer, actor, former talk-show host.
• Marie Osmond - Singer, actor, businessperson.
• The Osmonds - Show-business family, former pop-music group.
• Neil Papiano - Internationally prominent Los Angeles lawyer
• Kim Peek - The world renowned savant that the title character of "Rain Man" was modeled after.
• Robert Redford - Actor, director, movie producer, environmentalist, philanthropist
• Cael Sanderson - Four-time NCAA champion wrestler, 2004 Olympic Gold Medal winner, and current wrestling coach of his alma-mater Iowa State. Grew up in Heber City.
• Brent Scowcroft - National Security Advisor to presidents Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush.
• SheDaisy - Country music group. All 3 members born in Utah.
• Branden Steineckert - Drummer of Rancid and ex-drummer of The Used, was raised in Utah from an early age and currently lives there, but was born in Idaho.
• Mack Swain - Vaudeville performer and silent-film actor.
• The band The Used was formed in Utah, all current members were born there.
• Mike Weir - Professional golfer.
• Scott Wolf - Actor.
• James Woods - Born in Vernal, Utah. A well renowned actor, appearing in several major motion pictures, including Casino. As well as many high profile videogames, including Grand Theft Auto San Andreas.
• Loretta Young - Actress
• Mahonri Young - Sculptor and artist.
• Steve Young - Hall of Fame quarterback for San Francisco 49ers, won NFL's Most Valuable Player award 1992 and 1994, direct descendant of Brigham Young.
• David Zabriskie cyclist, stage winner in all three grand tours,yellow jersey holder, national TT champion

• It is worth noting that the band Utah Saints are not from the state at all but from Leeds, England.

Branding

The state of Utah relies heavily on income from tourists and travelers taking advantage of the state's ski resorts and natural beauty, 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% 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.

In entertainment

Utah is the setting of or the filming location for many books, films, and television series. A selective list of each appears below.

Books

• Harry Turtledove's Timeline-191, 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, Utah.
• 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.

Film

• SLC Punk! takes place in Salt Lake City.
• Broken Arrow was filmed in Moab.
• Some scenes in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade were filmed in Moab.
• Scenes from Dumb and Dumber were filmed in Utah.
• High School Musical was shot at East High School.
• Footloose was shot in Payson and Lehi.
• Three O'Clock High was shot at Ogden High School.
• Con Air
• Drive Me Crazywas shot at Ogden High School.
• Carnival of Souls
• The Cheyenne Social Club
• Harry in Your Pocket
• Head,(The Monkees)
• The World's Fastest Indian
• Jeremiah Johnson
• Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
• The Eiger Sanction
• The Electric Horseman
• The Car
• The House of Seven Corpses
• Airport 1975
• 2001: A Space Odyssey
• Easy Rider
• Electra Glide in Blue
• How the West Was Won
• Stagecoach (film)
• The Trial of Billy Jack
• Windtalkers
• National Lampoon's Vacation
• Rio Grande,(John Wayne, John Ford)
• Mission: Impossible
• Octopussy
• Thelma & Louise filmed in Moab, near Arches National Park and Dead Horse Point Park
• The Sandlot was filmed in Ogden.
• Galaxy Quest
• Some parts of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End were shot at the Salt Flats
• The scenes involving the Charlotte in National Treasure were shot in Utah.
• Driven through and mentioned in "Anywhere but Here"
• Mobsters and Mormons

Television

• In the Doctor Who episode "Dalek," Utah was the base of operations for the fictional character Henry van Statten.
• In Prison Break, D.B. Cooper buried his money under a silo in the Utah desert, somewhere near Tooele. Much of the first half of the second season involves the characters attempting to reach Utah and recovering the money.
• In the series The Visitor, the main character's spaceship was shot down and crash-landed in the mountains east of Salt Lake City.
• Everwood was filmed in Ogden and South Salt Lake.
• Regular production for Touched by an Angel was based in Salt Lake City.
• Big Love, an HBO television drama about a polygamous family, is set in Utah.

See also

Utah Portal

Utah Portal

• Moab Jeep Safari
• Mormon Corridor
• Mormon Miracle Pageant
• Mormon Tabernacle Choir
• Mountain peaks of the Rocky Mountains
• Music of Utah
• Scouting in Utah
• Sundance Film Festival
• Utah Highway Patrol
• Utah Jazz
• Utah Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City
• Utah Symphony Orchestra, which performs in Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City

External links

• Utah History to go
• Utah History for kids
• State of Utah official Web site
• Beehive Report - Utah news sources.
• Utah Office of Tourism
• Wilderness Utah- Hiking and Backpacking in Utah
• Utah State Chamber of Commerce
• USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Utah
• Utah QuickFacts from the U.S. Census Bureau
• Mountain Bike Trails in Utah
• Full text of the Utah state constitution
• Utah State Facts
• Utah Ski and Snowboard Areas on SnowGuide.org
• Envision Ogden — Northern Utah Outdoor Recreation guide
• UtahSearch - Links to Utah official sites

	State of Utah Salt Lake City (capital)
Topics	Cities | Counties | Flag | Flower | Governors | Portal | Song
Regions	Cache Valley | Colorado Plateau | Dixie | Great Basin | Great Salt Lake | Great Salt Lake Desert | Mojave Desert | Monument Valley | San Rafael Swell | Uinta Mountains | Wasatch Back | Wasatch Front | Wasatch Range
Largest Cities	American Fork | Bountiful | Cedar City | Clearfield | Cottonwood Heights | Draper | Holladay | Kaysville | Layton | Lehi | Logan | Midvale | Murray | Ogden | Orem | Pleasant Grove | Provo | Riverton | Roy | St. George | Salt Lake City | Sandy | South Jordan | South Salt Lake | Spanish Fork | Springville | Taylorsville | Tooele | West Jordan | West Valley City
Counties	Beaver | Box Elder | Cache | Carbon | Daggett | Davis | Duchesne | Emery | Garfield | Grand | Iron | Juab | Kane | Millard | Morgan | Piute | Rich | Salt Lake | San Juan | Sanpete | Sevier | Summit | Tooele | Uintah | Utah | Wasatch | Washington | Wayne | Weber
Attractions	Arches National Park | Bonneville Salt Flats | Bryce Canyon National Park | Canyonlands National Park | Capitol Reef National Park | Great Salt Lake | Ski Areas | Sundance Film Festival | Temple Square | Utah Shakespearean Festival | Zion National Park

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