Utah

Utah is a  located in the. It was the admitted to the union, on. Approximately 88 percent of Utah's 2,500,000 people, known as "Utahns," live in an urban concentration with as the center, known as the. In contrast, vast expanses of the state are nearly uninhabited, making the population the sixth most urbanized in the U.S. The name "Utah" is derived from the language, meaning "people of the mountains". Utah is known for its geological diversity ranging from snowcapped mountains to well-watered river valleys to rugged, stony deserts. It is also known for being one of the most religiously homogeneous states in the Union, with approximately 62 percent of its inhabitants claiming membership in, which greatly influences Utah culture and daily life.

The state is a center of transportation, information technology and research, government services and mining as well as a major tourist destination for outdoor recreation. was the fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States from 2000-2005 with Utah being the sixth fastest growing state overall in 2006.

Geography
Utah is generally rocky with three distinct geological regions: the, the , and the. Utah is known for its natural diversity and is home to features ranging from arid deserts with s to thriving s in mountain valleys.

Utah is one of the states, and is bordered by  and  in the north; by  in the east; at a single point by  to the southeast (at the ); by  in the south; and by  in the west. It covers an area of 84,899 square miles (219,887 km²).

One of Utah's defining characteristics is the variety of its. Running down the center of the state is the, which rises to heights of about 12,000 (3,650 m) above sea level. Portions of these mountains receive more than 500 es (12.7 m) of each year and are home to world-renowned s, 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, which rise to heights of 13,000 feet (3,950 m) or more. The highest point in the state,, at 13,528 feet (4,123 m), lies within the Uinta Mountains.

At the western base of the Wasatch Range is the, a series of valleys and basins that are home to the most populous parts of the state. The major cities of, , , , , , , and are located within this region, which stretches approximately from  at the north end to  at the south end. Approximately 75 percent 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 topography. Small mountain ranges and rugged terrain punctuate the landscape. The are an exception, being comparatively flat as a result of once forming the bed of. ,, , and  are all remnants of this ancient freshwater lake, which once covered most of the eastern. West of the, stretching to the border, lies the arid.

Much of the scenic southern landscape is, specifically and. The and its tributaries wind their way through the sandstone, creating some of the world's most striking and wild terrain. 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 parks such as, , , , and national parks, , , , and  national monuments,  (site of the popular tourist destination, ),  and  state parks, and  (a popular photographic and filming site).

Southwestern Utah is the lowest and hottest spot in Utah. It is known as Utah's because early settlers were able to grow limited amounts of cotton there. in far southwestern Utah is the lowest point in the state, at 2,000 feet (610 m). The northernmost portion of the 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,.

Eastern Utah is a high-elevation area covered mostly by plateaus and basins. Economies are dominated by, and -drilling, , and. Much of eastern Utah is part of the. The Navajo Nation also extends into southeastern Utah. The most popular destination within eastern Utah is near.

Like most of the and  states, the  owns much of the land in Utah. Over 70 percent of the land is either, , or , , ,  or.

Climate
Most of Utah is arid and high in elevation. Much of eastern and southern Utah receives 12 inches (300 mm) or less of precipitation per year, while many mountain areas receive more than 40 inches (1 m) per year, with some areas receiving up to 60 in (1.5 m). Much of western Utah receives less than 10 inches (25 cm), while 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. Snowfall is common in winter everywhere except the southern border and the Great Salt Lake Desert. 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 from the Great Salt Lake). Many mountain areas receive in excess of 350 inches (9 m) of snow in a year, while portions of the 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 caused by s are common in the valleys and basins during winter, especially the, just south of the. During summer and, most of the precipitation is received from the storms coming from the south and consists of short, sporadic, and intense s that can cause s and s. Most precipitation during the rest of the year is received from the. 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 most of Utah are below freezing. High temperatures average between 25 ° (-4 °) and 50 °F (10 °C) across the state. Days below 0 °F (-18 °C) can be expected in many areas at least once a year, but in most of the populated areas, periods of subzero temperature are usually short in duration and not severe. Some mountain valleys are very cold in winter. The town of Randolph sees an average of about 50 days a year where temperatures drop below 0 °F (-18 °C).

Mountains to the north and east of the state sometimes serve as barriers to air. In the summer, high temperatures average 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. The record high temperature in Utah was 118 °F (47 °C), recorded south of St. George on, , and the record low was -69 °F (-56 °C), recorded at in the  of northern Utah on ,.

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. Tornadoes are uncommon in Utah, with an average of two striking the state yearly, rarely higher than F1 intensity.

Mormon settlement
Following the, in Carthage, Illinois, in 1844, the more than 11,000 Latter-Day Saints remaining in  struggled in conflict with neighbors until , the President of the Council of the Twelve Apostles of , emerged as their new leader. Brigham Young and the first band of came to the  on,. Over the next 22 years, more than 70,000 pioneers crossed the plains and settled in Utah.

For the first few years, and the thousands of early settlers of Salt Lake City struggled to survive. The barren desert land was deemed by the Mormons as desirable only because no one else would want it and they could practice their religion in peace - something they had not been afforded while the church migrated from one state to another, followed by persecution, during the first 20 years since the founding of the church in 1830.

It is not widely known that Utah was the source of many pioneer settlements located elsewhere in the West. From the beginning, Salt Lake City was seen as only the hub of a "far-flung commonwealth" of Mormon settlements. Fed by a constant supply of church converts coming from the East and around the world, Church leaders often assigned groups of church members to establish settlements throughout the West. Beginning with settlements along Utah's Wasatch front (Salt Lake City, then Bountiful and Weber Valley, then Provo and Utah Valley), irrigation enabled the establishment of fairly large pioneer populations in an area that had advised Young would be inhospitable for the cultivation of crops because of frost. Throughout the remainder of the 1800s, Mormon pioneers called by Brigham Young would leave Salt Lake City and establish hundreds of other settlements in Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, California, Canada, and Mexico - including such notable places as Las Vegas, Nevada, Franklin, Idaho (the first white settlement in Idaho), San Bernardino, California, Star Valley, Wyoming, and Carson Valley, Nevada. Prominent settlements in Utah included St. George, Logan, and Manti (where settlers raised the three first temples in Utah, each built many years before the larger and better known temple built in Salt Lake City was completed in 1892), 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. At the time, Young had an expansionist's view of the territory he and the were settling, calling it Deseret - which church founder  Smith had taught meant "honeybee" - hence the beehive which can still be found on the Utah flag, and the state's motto, "Industry."

In 1847 when the first pioneers arrived, Utah was still  territory. As a consequence of the, the land became the territory of the upon the signing of the , ,. The treaty was ratified by the on. In 1850, the was created with the, and  was designated the capital. In 1856, Salt Lake City replaced Fillmore as the territorial capital.

Disputes between the inhabitants and the  intensified due to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' practice of  among its members. The Mormons were pushing for the establishment of the. 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 as territorial governor with. The resulting conflict is known as the.

As troops approached Salt Lake in northern Utah, nervous Mormon settlers and attacked and killed 120 immigrants from  in southern Utah. The attack became known as the. The massacre became a point of contention between LDS leaders and the federal government for decades. Only one person,, was ever convicted of the murders, and he was executed at the massacre site.

Before troops led by entered the territory, Brigham Young ordered all residents of Salt Lake City to evacuate southward to  and sent out a force, known as the, 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 mi away from Salt Lake City, to the southwest.

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



Because of the, federal troops were pulled out of Utah Territory, leaving the territory in LDS hands until arrived with a regiment of California volunteers in 1862. Connor established just three miles (5 km) east of Salt Lake City and encouraged his people to discover mineral deposits to bring more non-Mormons into the state. Minerals were discovered in, and miners began to flock to the territory.

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

On, , the was completed at , north of the. The railroad brought increasing numbers of people into the state, and several influential businesspeople made fortunes in the territory.

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

1900s to present
Beginning in the early 1900s, with the establishment of such national parks as and, 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 and "the Mittens" of  are instantly recognizable to most national residents. During the 1950s, '60s, and '70s, with the construction of the system, accessibility to the southern scenic areas was made easier.

Beginning in 1939, with the establishment of, Utah has become world-renowned for its skiing. The dry, powdery snow of the is considered some of the best skiing in the world. Salt Lake City won the bid for the 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 continue to be used for sporting events. This also spurred the development of the light-rail system in the, known as , 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. was one of the fastest-growing cities in the country at that time. Today, many areas of Utah are seeing phenomenal growth. Northern, southern and western , , eastern , , , and counties are all growing very quickly. and are major issues in politics as development consumes agricultural land and wilderness areas.

Demographics
The of Utah is located in  in the city of. As of 2005, Utah has an estimated population of 2,469,585, which is an increase of 48,877, or 2.0 percent, from the prior year and an increase of 236,387, or 10.6 percent, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 186,411 people (that is 254,433 births minus 68,022 deaths) and an increase due to net of 16,173 people into the state. 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, a metropolitan region that runs north-south with the 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 (, -,, -, and ), and 5 s (, , , , and ).

The St. George metropolitan area is currently the second-fastest growing in the country after the, while the Heber micropolitan area is also the second-fastest growing in the country (behind ). Rural agricultural areas of and  counties have seen rapid-growth in population as well.

Race and ancestry
The largest ancestry groups in the state are:


 * 29.0%
 * 11.5%
 * 6.8% (Mostly British Descent)
 * 6.5%
 * 5.9%
 * 4.4%
 * 4.3%

Most Utahns are of an descent. The state has the largest percentage of residents who claim and the largest percentage of residents of Danish ancestry in the nation. are the largest group in every county except for, which has a large  population. form the largest group followed by other Asian groups (i.e., ,  and ), and ns form the largest  group, the majority are Mormons converted in the south Pacific under LDS missionary work programs. are rapidly growing in the state, especially in, Ogden, and / area from recent immigration from , mostly from  but some n and n groups. Despite its relatively scarce black population, Utah does have s and a sizable proportion of new Utah residents are blacks, usually made up of middle-class professionals from, while there's a small black community in southern and  near.

Religion
A majority of the state's residents are members of, sometimes called the s or the LDS Church. As of 2004, the percentage of Utahns that are counted as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is 62.4 percent of the state's population, which represent less than 50 percent of the population in urban areas and over 90 percent in rural areas. The only other state in the nation in which a majority of the population belongs to a single religious body is. There is a large and increasing number of s in Utah as a result of immigration from, along with previous waves of Catholics from , , and. Other Christian faiths in the state are mostly made up of Protestants, including s, s and s, which comprise about one-quarter of Utah's population. The  has projected that Latter-day Saints may no longer be a majority in the state, not just the case in, as early as 2030. The LDS Church has historically had a strong regional influence and has contributed to the state's restrictive attitude towards and, while also contributing to its high  (25 percent higher than the national average; the highest for a state in the U.S.). Before the, the Church's teachings of had led to confrontation with the U.S. federal government in the. The Mormons in Utah tend to have views when it comes to most political issues and the majority of Utahns are registered s.

The self identified religious affiliations of adults (note that numbers below do not include children, thus the disparity with the percentage identified above) living in Utah are:
 * - 62 percent
 * - 6 percent
 * - 3 percent
 * - 2 percent
 * Other Christians - 3 percent
 * - 1 percent
 * - 1 percent
 * - 1 percent
 * - 1 percent
 * Non-religious - 17 percent
 * Refused to identify - 4 percent
 * Other - 3 percent
 * - 1 percent

Totals are rounded. ,, , , , , , , , and the each represent less than .5 percent of the population.

Age and sex
Due to its high total birth rate (highest of any state in the U.S.), Utah has the youngest population of any state.

The age distribution in Utah is:
 * 9.4 percent under age 5
 * 32.2 percent under age 18
 * 59.3 percent ages 18 through 64
 * 8.5 percent 65 or older

The gender makeup of Utah is:
 * 49.9 percent female
 * 50.1 percent male

Economy
According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the gross state product of Utah in 2004 was $82.6 billion. The per capita personal income was $26,606 in 2004. 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, determined by "The degree to which state economies are knowledge-based, globalized, entrepreneurial, information technology-driven and innovation-based."

In eastern Utah petroleum production is a major industry. 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.

Tourism is a major industry in Southern Utah, with Utah's five national parks (,, , , and ) and many other attractions. In mountain biking is a popular sport. Research, information technology development, and service based industries are important economic activities along the Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo corridor. Utah is also noted for its ski resorts, near, , , , and (Brian Head).

Utah collects personal within 6 income brackets. The state has a base rate of 5.75 percent, with cities and counties levying additional local sales taxes that vary among the municipalities. es are assessed and collected locally. Utah does not charge es and does not impose an.

Tourism
Utah has a large tourism business and was host to the. The ski resorts in the northern, the , the , the five national parks in the south, such as , and , and cultural attractions such as , , and the  are among the most visited. For more information on Utah parks, outdoor recreation, lodging, and much more, please visit the official site of tourism for the state of Utah at Utah.com.

Mining
Beginning in the late 19th century with the state's mining boom (including the, among the world's largest open pit mines), companies attracted large numbers of immigrants (of diverse faiths) with job opportunities. Since the days of the mining has played a major role in Utah's economy. Historical mining towns include in Tooele County, Silver Reef in Washington County,  in Juab County, and  in Summit County were characteristic of the boom and bust cycle that dominated mining towns of the American West. During the early part of the 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 include coal, petroleum, and natural gas.

Transportation
is the main interstate highway in the state, entering from and spanning the state north-south, entering  near. It serves the primary population centers of the state, running past and its suburbs (collectively known as ) and, and then spans the length of the  north-south, past such major cities as , , , , , , and.

spans the northern portion of the state west-east. It enters from at, traverses  (briefly merging with I-15 west of ), then crosses the , entering  just before reaching. splits from I-80 at, heading west through the and joining I-15 southwest of. The two interstates stay merged until, where I-84 heads northwest, entering Idaho near.

splits from I-15 at, heading east through the mountains, past , and then east into west of , traversing desolate desert terrain and serving the various national parks and national monuments of southern Utah. The stretch of I-70 between and  is the longest stretch of interstate in the country without any services.

A light rail system in the, known as , consists of two lines, one providing access from south to , and the other heading east to the. The (UTA), which operates TRAX, also operates a bus system that stretches across the Wasatch Front and into, and also provides winter service to the ski resorts east of Salt Lake City. Several bus companies provide access to the ski resorts in winter, and local bus companies also serve, and. The is a freeway that is currently under construction in southern  to relieve congestion on I-15 through the area. A commuter rail line, named, is under construction between and , north of. Both of these projects are expected to be completed in spring 2008. FrontRunner is expected to eventually span the Wasatch Front from in the north to  in the south.

is the only international airport in the state and serves as a hub of. In 2005 it was ranked 1st in on-time departures and 2nd in on-time arrivals in the country, and consistently ranks in the top 10 for customer service. (near ),, , and all provide limited commercial air service to various regional destinations, as well (Vernal-Uintah County is only served by Salt Lake International). Ground has recently been broken on creating a new, larger regional airport for St. George, due to the rapidly-growing population and the lack of room for expansion for the current airport. Completion is expected in 2010. Airlines is also based in.

Law and government
Utah government, like most U.S. states, is divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The current governor of Utah is The governor is elected for a four year term. The consists of a  and a. State senators serve four year terms and representatives two year terms. The Utah Legislature meets each year in January for an annual forty-five day session. The 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. Trial level courts are the district courts and justice courts. All justices and judges, like those on the Utah Supreme Court, are subject to after appointment.

Early suffrage
Utah granted full to women in 1870, 26 years before becoming a state. Among all U.S. states, only granted  earlier. However, in 1887 the was passed by Congress in an effort to curtail excessive Mormon influence in the territorial government. One of the provisions of the Act was the repeal of suffrage; full suffrage was not returned until Utah was admitted to the Union in 1896.

Constitution
The of Utah was enacted in 1895. Notably, the constitution outlawed and reestablished the territorial practice of women's. Utah's Constitution has been many times since its inception.

Other laws
Utah is also one of only two states in the United States to outlaw all forms of ; the other is. Utah is an. The 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.

Politics
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. These tensions played a large part in Utah's history, such as ( vs. ).

The current governor of Utah is, a member of the. He is a proponent of a, an opponent to same-sex marriage, while supporting the creation of a for same-sex couples, and an opponent to  being taught in the classroom. He also receives high approval ratings from across the Utah political spectrum.

Both of Utah's, and , are Republican. Two more Republicans, and, as well as one member of the , , represent Utah in the.

is the religion of the majority of Utahns, and the majority of politicians in Utah from both political parties are LDS. 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 is controversial.

In the 1970s, then- was quoted by the  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&mdash;including LDS Democrats&mdash;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 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, 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 almost all abortions while Utah Democrats take a more liberal approach, although more conservative than their national counterparts. On issues, 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 '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 Marlin Jensen to promote LDS bipartisanship.

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, Utah politics have a more moralistic and less libertarian character according to David Magleby.

The state's leadership is run by the Republican Party. State governors are usually 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.

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. About 80 percent of Utah's Legislature are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, while they account for 62 percent 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. Prayers are commonplace in Utah politics, and lawmakers of both parties, whether or, speak of their relationship with God or their  in ordinary conversation.

Utah's liberal areas include, , , and. 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 supports same-sex marriage and the Kyoto Treaty, while the county mayor  is a relative of  and shares similar views. 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 while being, particularly with gay rights and less so with abortion.

Carbon County's Democrats are generally made up of members of the large, ,and 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, particularly of the Era.

Grand County's politics are heavy on and being socially liberal. The county has a large community situated in the popular tourist destination,, in red rock country between  and.

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

The state's most Republican areas tend to be, which is the home to and , and nearly all the rural counties. These areas generally hold socially conservative views in line with that of the national.

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. 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 percent of the vote. In the 1996 Presidential elections the Republican candidate received a smaller 54 percent of the vote while the Democrat earned 34 percent.

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

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

The state's two fastest growing counties are: Summit (at 91.6 percent; ranking it 8th in the country) and (at 86.1 percent; 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: (248 percent),  (141 percent),  (125 percent),  (122 percent), and  (102 percent). Between 1990 and 2000 the five fastest-growing cities of any size were (302 percent),  (248 percent),  (213 percent),  (173 percent), and  (141 percent). According to estimates, the five fastest-growing cities of any size between 2000 and 2005 were  (637 percent),  (548 percent),  (380 percent),  (152 percent), and  (91 percent).


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

Sports
The of the  play in the  in. Utah is the least populous U.S. state to have a franchise, although the  has fewer people. Other teams include the of the.
 * of in  in Salt Lake City (a  has been approved for, and ground was broken for the new stadium on , )
 * of the in  in Salt Lake City
 * of the in  in Ogden
 * of the in Brent Brown Ballpark in
 * of the in the  in
 * of the at the  in Salt Lake City

See also 

Miscellaneous

 * Popular recreational destinations within the mountains besides the ski resorts include, , , and , , , , and reservoirs. The mountains are popular , , , , and  destinations.
 * The was named in honor of this state.
 * The is built and serviced by the  division of, 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 and   use, and was in the top three for prescriptions for  medications, s and .  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  (although at least some of these are married teenagers, which is not uncommon in the state), last in percentage of, last in number of s 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  requirements.  Utah has the lowest  rate in the country, despite its young demographics.
 * According to tax returns, Utahns rank first among all U.S. states in the proportion of  by the wealthy.
 * is the official snack food of Utah, giving rise to the term the.
 * Mexican President visited Salt Lake City, Utah, on, , 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. The LDS Church also has a large presence in Mexico, with 1,043,718 members as of , , although only about 200,000 profess to be LDS.
 * The popular subculture,, is an anti-drug/anti-alcohol scene which had its origins in Washington D.C., including large numbers of Utahns, in Salt Lake City and Provo in the 1990s.

Famous Utahns

 * - and essayist noted for his advocacy of environmental issues and criticism of public land policies. Best-known for his novel.
 * - Democratic mayor of (2000-2008), liberal activist, environmentalist, and former  attorney.
 * - Director; films include "Being There", "The Last Detail", "Harold and Maude"
 * - Comedian, actress, writer, talk-show host.
 * - Computer programmer, co-founder of the  Software Company, multi-millionaire philanthropist and member of the board of directors of the  (HRC), the U.S.'s largest Gay and Lesbian political action committee.
 * - President of from 1985 until his death and was  for both of the administrations of U.S. President.
 * - Republican United States Senator from Utah.
 * - American composer, arranger, and performer.
 * - Former player.
 * - Designer of popular s like the and the.
 * - Actor, senior citizen advocate.
 * - Founder of and.
 * - Science fiction author.
 * - Outlaw.
 * - Relocated to Utah after the filming of the movie.
 * - Physician famous for implanting the world's first permanent artificial heart, the, at the.
 * - player
 * - NFL player
 * - Banker, economist, and during  and  administrations.
 * - American author best-known for his novel The Christmas Box.
 * - Inventor of the electronic.
 * - Author of series of children's books.
 * - Famous American physicist. He was credited with the invention of the and the .  Also know as "the father of stereophonic sound."
 * - Lead singer of (although born in Las Vegas he was raised in )
 * - Movie and television actor.
 * - Former U.S. Senator and one-time.
 * - Silent-film actor.
 * - Co-inventor of fabrics
 * - Current president of
 * - U.S. Senator (Utah)1901-1905, owner of Silver King Coalition Mine in Park City, owner of The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah's largest newspaper, built the Kearns-St.Ann's Orphanage and the Kearns Building. The Kearns Mansion is now the Utah's Governor's Mansion, the largest in the United States.
 * - Early Church leader. The only man convicted in the.
 * - U.S. Senator from Utah.
 * - Forgerer, author of the.
 * - Businessman, philanthropist.
 * - Governor of Utah 2002-present.
 * - champion.
 * - Musician, author.
 * The Lafferty Brothers (Ron and Dan) - Fundamentalist Mormons convicted of double and featured in the book  by.
 * - NFL player
 * - Internet satirist and author of and.
 * - Founder of worldwide hotel business.
 * - Lead singer of Raised in Utah, moved away at age 18.
 * - Businessman, philanthropist.
 * - Former player and actor.
 * - Singer, actor, former talk-show host.
 * - Singer, actor, businesswoman.
 * - Show-business family, former pop-music group.
 * - Internationally prominent Los Angeles lawyer
 * - The world renowned that the title character of "" was modeled after.
 * - Actor, director, movie producer, environmentalist, philanthropist
 * - 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.
 * - to presidents  and.
 * - Country music group. All 3 members born in Utah.
 * - Kidnapping victim and victims right's advocate.
 * - Drummer of and ex-drummer of, was raised in Utah from an early age and currently lives there, but was born in.
 * - American historian, novelist, short story writer, and environmentalist.
 * - American artist primarily known for his landscapes of rural Utah, later became head of the Art Department at the from 1938 to 1956.
 * - American professional basketball player (retired), regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for career assists and steals by considerable margins, spent his entire career (1984–2003) as a point guard for the of the.
 * - Actor who plays Martha Cox on and.
 * - performer and silent-film actor.
 * - -born U.S. jurist and political figure raised in, . One of four appointments to the by President , he served as an  of the  between 1922 and 1938.
 * The band was formed in Utah, all current members were born there.
 * - Professional golfer.
 * - Author, environmentalist
 * - Actor.
 * - Born in . A well renowned actor, appearing in several major motion pictures, including .  As well as many high profile videogames, including.
 * - Actress
 * - Sculptor and artist.
 * - Hall of Fame quarterback for, won NFL's award 1992 and 1994, direct descendant of.
 * cyclist, stage winner in all three grand tours,yellow jersey holder, national TT champion
 * Born in Salt Lake City and raised in


 * It is worth noting that the band are not from the state at all but from,.

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 percent of the state's license plates. In 2001, Utah Governor approved a new state slogan, "Utah! Where Ideas Connect," which lasted until, , when the Utah Travel Council and the office of  announced that "Life Elevated" would be the new state slogan.

At 's show, Governor  signed a proclamation making, 2007 "Dream Theater Day" in the state of Utah.

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

 * 's , which is set in a North America where the South won the, 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 , , and other locations.
 * In , the characters pass through Utah by train.
 * The children's series is set in a fictional town that is based on.
 * 's  is set in Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. The characters' ultimate goal is the destruction of the.
 * Much of 's post-apocalyptic novel  is set near or directly within Utah.  The "hero" of the first part of the novel, the novice Brother Francis Gerard, is from Utah.

Film

 * See also: Category:Films shot in Utah


 *  takes place in.
 *  was filmed in.
 * Some scenes in  were filmed in.
 * Scenes from  were filmed in Utah.
 *  was shot at.
 *  was filmed in Salt Lake City and St. George
 * Scenes of "The Charlotte" from  were filmed at Strawberry Reservoir
 *  was shot in and
 *  was shot at
 *  was shot at
 *  was shot at
 *  was shot at


 * 2001: A Space Odyssey
 * Mission: Impossible
 *  filmed in Moab, near and
 *  was filmed in
 * 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
 * Driven through and mentioned in 
 * The Big J's Burger scenes in  were filmed in
 * '' was filmed in
 * Mission: Impossible
 *  filmed in Moab, near and
 *  was filmed in
 * 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
 * Driven through and mentioned in 
 * The Big J's Burger scenes in  were filmed in
 * '' was filmed in
 * 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
 * Driven through and mentioned in 
 * The Big J's Burger scenes in  were filmed in
 * '' was filmed in
 * The Big J's Burger scenes in  were filmed in
 * '' was filmed in


 * "" Filmed in Utah though not in Salt Lake City according to the movie

Television

 * In the  episode "," Utah was the base of operations for the fictional character.
 * In , buried his money under a silo in the Utah desert, somewhere near . Much of the first half of the second season involves the characters attempting to reach Utah and recovering the money.
 * In the series , the main character's spaceship was shot down and crash-landed in the mountains east of.
 *  was filmed in and.
 * Regular production for  was based in.
 * The CBS series "Promised Land" was filmed in a closed set in Salt Lake City.
 * , an television drama about a  family, is set in Utah.