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Facts about Utah

History | Symbols | Interesting Facts | Famous People

Demographics
Statehood:  Jan. 4, 1896, the 45th State

Capital:  Salt Lake City

Total Area:  13th among states 219,887 sq km (84,899 sq mi)

Water Area:  7,086 sq km (2,736 sq mi)

Elevation: 
Highest - King's Peak, 13,528 ft (4,123 m) above sea level
Lowest - Beaverdam Creek in Washington County, 2,000 ft (610 m) above sea level  

Total Population:  34th among states
2010 census -  2,763,885

Population Density in 2010:  33.6 people per sq mi

Distribution in 2000:  86.8% Urban, 13.2% Rural

Economy:  
Gross State Product - $116.9 billion (2010)
Personal income per Capita -  $30,875 (2009)

Largest cities in 2010:  
Salt Lake City:  186,440
West Valley City:  129,480
Provo:  112,488

  • Of the 50 states, Utah has one of the largest concentrations of computer software firms; one of the four larger concentrations of biomedical firms; the youngest population; one of the highest birth rates; the second lowest death rate; the healthiest population; the highest literacy rate; the highest percentage of high school graduates; and the highest number of people with a college education.
     

  • The Sundance Film Festival is an internationally recognized celebration of independent motion pictures, held annually at the Sundance Ski Resort and nearby cities.
     

  • Utah is the site of the nations first department store.  Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution (ZCMI) was established in the late 1800's. ZCMI was sold to Meier and Frank company in December 1999, which was bought by Macy's in 2006.
     

  • Pioneer Day, July 24, commemorates the first permanent settlement of Utah on July 24, 1847, by Brigham Young and his Mormon pioneers.
     

  • The world's first transcontinental railroad was completed at Promontory where the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads met on May 10, 1869. The location is now known as Golden Spike National Historic Site .

  • 65% of Utah's land is owned by the Federal Government.

  • The 1998 Scarborough Research Corporation stated that Salt Lake City had more personal computers per household than any other city in the United States.

  • The Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City took 40 years to complete.

  • Rainbow Bridge is the world's largest natural bridge.  The bridge rises 290 feet above the floor of Bridge Canyon and is 270 feet long.

  • The people of Salt Lake City consume more Jell-O per capita than any other city in the United States.

  • In 1996, President Bill Clinton designated a new national monument in southern Utah. Nearly three times the size of the state of Rhode Island, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is the nation's largest.

  • The name "Utah" comes from the Native American "Ute" tribe and means people of the mountains.

  • Utah peaks, on average, are the tallest in the country. The average elevation of the tallest peaks in each of Utah's counties is 11,222 ft.-higher than the same average in any other state.

  • The Uinta mountain range, named after the Ute Indians who lived in the basin, is the only East-West axis mountains in North America.

 

Great Salt Lake Facts   Salt Lake City Facts
  • The largest U.S. lake west of the Mississippi River.
     
  • The 4th largest terminal lake (no outlet) in the world.  
     
  • A remnant of Lake Bonneville, a prehistoric freshwater lake that was 10 times larger than the Great Salt Lake. 
     
  • About 75 miles long, and 28 miles wide, and covers 1,700 square miles.  
     
  • Has a maximum depth of about 35 feet.  
     
  • Typically 3 to 5 times saltier than the ocean. 
     
  • Fish free, the largest aquatic critters are brine shrimp. 
     
  • One of the largest migratory bird magnets in Western North America. 
     
  • The salt industries extract about 2.5 million tons of sodium chloride and other salts and elements from the lake annually.

  • The Wasatch Mountains to the east are 11,500 feet high; the Oquirrh Mountains to the west are 9,500 feet high.
     

  • Salt Lake’s elevation is 4,330 feet above sea level at the valley floor and 5,200 feet in the foothills.
     

  • The Salt Lake Valley extends about 22 miles from east to west and 25 miles from north to south.
     

  • Nine major ski resorts, three cross country ski areas and the nation’s only recreational ski jumping complex are less than an hour’s drive from downtown.
     

  • Sixty percent of skiers at Salt Lake area ski resorts are out-of-state and international visitors.
     

  • Seven million people visit the Salt Lake area each year.
     

  • Salt Lake International Airport is closer to the heart of the city it serves than nearly any other U.S. airport.
     

  • As the "Crossroads of the West" at least half of America’s population is located within a 2½ hour flight from Salt Lake City.
     

  • Eleven national parks are less than a day’s drive from Salt Lake City. Five of those are located in Utah.
     

  • Salt Lake City is the largest city ever to host winter Olympic games.
     

  • Salt Lake City is the largest city between Denver and the Pacific Coast.
     

  • In October 1993, Salt Lake City tied with Indianapolis, Indiana, as the eighth best place to live in North America.
     

  • In 1994, CFO Magazine ranked Salt Lake City as one of the best environments for business.
     

  • In 1995, Life Magazine ranked Salt Lake as one of the top vacation getaways.