Encyclopedia
Utah is a
U.S. state located in the
western United States. It was the
45th state admitted to the union on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,500,000 people live in an urban concentration with
Salt Lake City as the center, known as the
Wasatch Front. In contrast, vast expanses of the state are nearly uninhabited, making the population the sixth most urbanized in the U.S.
The state is generally rocky with three distinct geological regions: the
Rocky Mountains, the
Great Basin, and the
Colorado Plateau. 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 has a large tourism business and was host to the
2002 Winter Olympics. The ski resorts in the northern
Wasatch Range, the
Bonneville Salt Flats, the
Great Salt Lake, the five national parks in the south, such as
Arches,
Zion and
Bryce Canyon, and cultural attractions such as
Temple Square,
Sundance Film Festival, and the
Utah Shakespearean Festival are among the most visited.
A little under 60% of state residents are members of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , with lower percentages in urban areas and greater percentages in rural areas. The religion has historically had a strong regional influence and has contributed to the state's restrictive attitude towards
alcohol and
gambling, while also contributing to its high
birth rate . 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.
Beginning in the late
19th century with the state's mining boom, including what is now the
world's largest open pit mine, companies attracted large numbers of immigrants with job opportunities. The new immigrants often found themselves at odds with the state's LDS population. As a result, these tensions have played a large part in Utah's history and continue to do so as the state further diversifies.
Geography
Utah is one of the Four Corners states, and is bordered by
Idaho and
Wyoming in the north; 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 square miles .
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 above sea level. Portions of these mountains receive more than 500
inches 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 or more. The highest point in the state, Kings Peak, at an elevation of 13,526 feet , 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. The major cities of
Ogden,
Salt Lake City,
Layton,
West Valley City,
Sandy,
West Jordan,
Orem, and
Provo are located within this region, which stretches approximately from
Brigham City at the north end to Nephi at the south end. Approximately 75% of the population of the state lies in this corridor, and urban sprawl continues to expand along the edges of these valleys.
Western Utah is mostly arid desert with a
basin and range geology. Small mountain ranges and rugged terrain punctuate the landscape. However, the
Bonneville Salt Flats are an exception, being comparatively flat. Most of western Utah was once covered in
Lake Bonneville. The
Great Salt Lake and
Utah Lake are the only two significant remains 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 area in Utah.
Much of the scenic southern landscape is
sandstone, more specifically Kayenta sandstone and
Navajo sandstone. The
Colorado River and its tributaries wind their way through the sandstone, creating some of the most striking and wild terrain in the world. 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 accentuated 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 ,
Dead Horse Point and
Goblin Valley state parks, and
Monument Valley, a popular photographic and filming site.
Southwestern Utah is the lowest and hottest spot in Utah. It is known as
Dixie because early settlers were able to grow limited amounts of cotton there. Beaverdam Wash in far southwestern Utah is the lowest point in the state, at an elevation of 2,000 feet . 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. Just north of Dixie is the state's highest ski resort, Brian Head.
Eastern Utah is a high elevation area covered mostly by plateaus and basins. Economies are dominated by
mining,
oil and
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 much of the land in Utah. Over seventy percent of the land is either
BLM land 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. Most of eastern and southern Utah receive 12 inches or less of precipitation per year, while many mountain areas receive more than 40 inches per year, with some areas receiving up to 60 in . Much of western Utah receives less than 10 inches , while the Wasatch Front receives approximately 15 inches . The Great Salt Lake Desert is especially dry, receiving less than 5 inches annually. Snowfall is common in
winter everywhere except the southern border and the Great Salt Lake Desert.
St. George averages about 3 inches of snow per year, while Salt Lake City receives almost 60 inches annually . Many mountain areas receive in excess of 350 inches of snow in a year, while portions of the
Wasatch Range receive up to 500 inches . Snowfall is common from late November through March 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 is received from the storms coming from the south and consists of short, sporadic, and intense
thunderstorms that can cause
wildfires and
flash floods. Most precipitation during the rest of the year is received 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 and winter is the wettest season in most of the mountain areas.
Temperatures during the winter across much of Utah are below freezing. High temperatures average between 25 °F and 50 °F across the state. Days below 0 °F can be expected in many areas at least once a year, but they are usually short in duration and not terribly severe. Mountains to the north and east of the state serve as barriers to
Arctic air. In the summer, high temperatures average between 85 °F and 100 °F . Days over 100 °F can be expected in most areas below 5,000 feet at least once per year and are the norm in the southern valleys. The record high temperature in Utah was 117 °F , recorded at St. George on July 5, 1985, and the record low was -69 °F , recorded at Peter's Sink in the Bear River Mountains of northern Utah on February 1, 1985.
History
Early history
Native Americans have lived in what is now Utah for several thousand years; most
archeological evidence dates such habitation about 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. Some left
petroglyphs and
pictographs which exist throughout the state.
Francisco Vásquez de Coronado may have crossed into what is now southern Utah in 1540, when he was seeking the legendary Cíbola.
A group led by two
Catholic priests—sometimes called the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition—left
Santa Fe in 1776, hoping to find a route to the
California coast. The expedition traveled as far north as
Utah Lake and encountered the native residents.
Fur trappers—including
Jim Bridger—explored some regions of Utah in the early 1800s. The city of
Provo was named for one such man, Étienne Provost, a Frenchman operating out of Santa Fe under Mexican license, who visited the area in 1825.
Mormon settlement
Mormon pioneers first came to the
Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. At the time, Utah was still
Mexican territory. As a consequence of the
Mexican-American War, the land became the territory of the
United States upon the signing of the
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, February 2, 1848. The treaty was ratified by the
United States Senate on March 10. In 1850, the
Utah Territory was created with the
Compromise of 1850, and
Fillmore was designated the capital. In 1856, Salt Lake City replaced Fillmore as the territorial capital.
Disputes between the
Mormon inhabitants and the
US Government intensified due to
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' practice of plural marriage among its members. The Mormons were pushing for the establishment of the
State of Deseret. The U.S. Government, which was reluctant to admit a state the size of the proposed Deseret into the union, opposed the polygamous practices of the Mormons.
After news of their polygamous practices spread, the members of the LDS Church were quickly viewed as un-American and rebellious. In 1857, after news of a false rebellion spread, the government sent troops on the "Utah expedition" to quell the supposed rebellion and to replace
Brigham Young as territorial governor with Alfred Cumming. The resulting conflict is known as the
Utah War.
As troops approached Salt Lake in northern Utah, nervous Mormon settlers and
Paiutes attacked and killed 120 immigrants from
Arkansas in southern Utah. The attack became known as the
Mountain Meadows Massacre. The massacre became a point of contention between LDS leaders and the federal government for decades. Only one man, John D. Lee, was ever convicted of the murders, and he was executed at the massacre site.
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, 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 unresponsiveness of their supposed territorial government. By agreement with Young, Johnston established Fort Floyd 40 miles away from Salt Lake City, to the southwest.
Salt Lake City was the last link of the transcontinental telegraph, completed in October of 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, leaving the territory in LDS hands until
Patrick E. Connor arrived with a regiment of California volunteers in 1862. Connor established Fort Douglas just three miles east of Salt Lake City and encouraged his men to discover mineral deposits to bring more non-Mormons into the state. 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 Antonguer Black Hawk exploited by 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 into the state, and several influential businessmen made fortunes in the territory.
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.
20th century
Beginning in the early 1900s, with the establishment of such national parks as
Bryce Canyon National Park and
Zion National Park, Utah began to become 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, with the establishment of Alta Ski Area, Utah has become world-renowned for its skiing. The dry, powdery snow of the
Wasatch Range is considered some of the best skiing in the world. Salt Lake City won the bid for the
2002 Winter Olympics in 1995, and this has served as a great boost to the economy. The ski resorts have increased in popularity, and many of the Olympic venues scattered across the
Wasatch Front continue to be used for sporting events. This also 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.
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 seeing phenomenal growth. Northern Davis, southern and western
Salt Lake, Summit, eastern
Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, and Washington counties are all growing very quickly.
Transportation and
urbanization are major issues in politics as development consumes agricultural land and wilderness areas.
Demographics
| Historical populations |
|---|
Census
year | Population |
|---|
|
| 1850 | 11,380 |
| 1860 | 40,273 |
| 1870 | 86,336 |
| 1880 | 143,963 |
| 1890 | 210,779 |
| 1900 | 276,749 |
| 1910 | 373,351 |
| 1920 | 449,396 |
| 1930 | 507,847 |
| 1940 | 550,310 |
| 1950 | 688,862 |
| 1960 | 890,627 |
| 1970 | 1,059,273 |
| 1980 | 1,461,037 |
| 1990 | 1,722,850 |
| 2000 | 2,233,169 |
As of 2005, Utah has an estimated population of 2,469,585, which is an increase of 48,877, or 2.0%, from the prior year and an increase of 236,387, or 10.6%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 186,411 people and an increase due to net migration of 16,173 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 49,995 people, and migration within the country produced 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. Utah has a higher percentage of people sharing a single religious denomination than any other state.
Utah contains 5
metropolitan areas , and 5 micropolitan areas . The
St. George metropolitan area is currently the second-fastest growing in the country , while the Heber micropolitan area is also the second-fastest growing in the country .
Race and ancestry
The five largest ancestry groups in the state are:
...
Most Utahns are of
Northern European descent. The state has the largest percentage of residents who claim British ancestry and the largest percentage of residents of Danish ancestry in the nation . Anglo-Utahns are the largest group in every county except for
San Juan County, which has a large Navajo Indian population. Chinese form the largest Asian group and Tongans form the largest Pacific Islander group.
Religion
Utah is well-known for being a heavily
Mormon state. This means that a majority of the state's residents are affiliated with
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or one of its schisms, such as the significantly smaller and polygamous
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 
