Logan, Utah

Logan is a city in Cache County, Utah. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, its population was about 42,670. By 2009, its population is estimated to have increased to about 49,534. Logan is the county seat of Cache County, and the principal city of the Logan, UT-ID Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cache County and Franklin County, Idaho. The Logan metropolitan area contains an estimated 127,945 residents. In 2005 and 2007 Morgan Quitno declared the Logan metropolitan area the safest in the United States.

Logan is the location of the main campus of Utah State University.

History
The town of Logan was founded in 1859 by Mormon settlers sent by Brigham Young to survey for the site of a fort near the banks of the Logan River. . They named their new community Logan for Ephraim Logan, who had been one of the early fur trappers who lived in the area. Logan was incorporated on 17 January 1866. Work for a Latter-day Saint tabernacle and a temple began shortly thereafter, with the Logan Utah Temple being dedicated in 1884, and the Logan Tabernacle in 1891. Brigham Young College was founded here in 1878 (but later closed) and Utah State University - then called the Agricultural College of Utah - was founded in 1888.

Logan had a rather slow and steady growth in population until recent decades, when the population has increased at a significantly higher rate. Logan grew to about 15,000 in the mid-1960s, and by 2010, its population topped 50,000.

Geography
Logan is located in northern Utah, well north of Ogden, Utah, on the Logan River. It is about 82 miles (130 km) north of Salt Lake City. Its location is at 41.73788°N, -111.83085°W (41.737878, -111.830846).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.0 square miles (44.2 km2), of which, 16.5 square miles (42.8 km2) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.4 km2) of it (3.17%) is water.

This city lies near the eastern edge of Cache Valley on the western slopes of the Bear River Mountains, the northernmost branch of the Wasatch Range. Mount Logan rises 9,710 feet (2,960 m) immediately to the east. The eastern portions of the city are constructed on top of shelf-like "benches," late Pleistocene sedimentary deposits that were created by the glacially fed Logan River feeding into the northern stretches of Lake Bonneville, building a 'Gilbert-type' river delta over several thousand years. The Logan River later cut down through these sedimentary deposits following the draining of Lake Bonneville approximately 14,500 years ago. This created a low-lying area with very steep slopes that reach into the rest of town and to the Logan River bottomlands. To the west of Logan lie flatlands that contain both farmland and marshes. To the north and south of Logan are rapidly growing residential suburbs. Logan also lies at the western end of Logan Canyon.

Layout of the City
Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 (e.g. 100 North, 100 East), though some streets have non-numeric names. This street grid is typical of many towns and cities that were founded by Latter-day Saints in the Mormon Corridor. Most of Logan's commercial businesses are located along Main Street, which spans the entire city.

Logan's downtown area is located in the center of the city and is noted for its many historic buildings and landmarks. Among them are the Logan Tabernacle and Logan Utah Temple, which was constructed on the highest hill in the valley so as to be seen for miles in all directions. Both buildings are owned and operated by the LDS Church. Along Center Street, which intersects Logan's Historic District, are a number of stately houses on the National Register of Historic Places, including the three-story French chateauesque home at 250 West Center Street built in 1907 by the Scottish immigrant, industrialist, and LDS polygamist David Eccles for his second wife, Ellen Stoddard. The downtown area also houses retail and cultural outlets, as well as the municipal and county buildings and courthouses.

The eastern portion of Logan includes the Cliffside and Island neighborhoods, as well as the University district. Utah State University (USU), with its many educational, cultural, agricultural, and athletic programs, was established in 1888. Campus stands on the eastern side of the city, near to the mountains. USU is the city's largest employer, and it has an enrollment of about 17,000 students in Logan. Logan Canyon begins in the foothills close to campus.

Logan's southern portion is a mixture of commercial and residential, and contains portions of the Logan River as well as the fairgrounds and aquatic center. The northern area of Logan serves partly as a retail district with numerous shops and restaurants, including the Cache Valley Mall. Logan is the location of the region's largest and most comprehensive hospital, Logan Regional Hospital, and it is also the location of many newer residential apartments and townhouses. The western portion of Logan is set aside as a center for light industry, especially along the area of 1000 West Street, but it also contains some residential communities.



People
As of the census of 2000, there were 42,670 people, 13,902 households, and 9,175 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,583.2 people per square mile (997.3/km2). There were 14,692 housing units at an average density of 889.4/sq mi (343.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 88.93% White, 0.64% African American, 0.85% Native American, 3.60% Asian, 0.29% Pacific Islander, 4.08% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.22% of the population.

Age
There were 13,902 households counted in Logan, out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the city the population was spread out with
 * 23.4% under the age of 18
 * 34.3% from 18 to 24
 * 25.5% from 25 to 44
 * 9.7% from 45 to 64
 * 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older.

The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.

Income
The median income for a household in the city was $30,778, and the median income for a family was $33,784. Males had a median income of $27,304 versus $19,687 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,765. About 12.6% of families and 22.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Mayor Randy Watts took office on January 3, 2006, and was re-elected to another 4-year term beginning 2010. Logan City Council Members include: Holly Daines, Dean Quayle, Laraine Swenson, Jay A. Monson, and Herm Olsen. Logan City does not use districts for voting and election purposes, as the mayor and council members are elected by an overall vote of the entire city population.

Education


According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 12.3% of adults 25 years and older have graduate or professional degrees, 22.2% have bachelor's degrees, 8.4% have associate's degrees, and 27.7% have some college but no degree. This may be an influence of the high percentage of Utah State University faculty and staff residing in the city.

Average ACT scores in the Logan School District in 2005 were 21.5 for English, 21.3 for math, 22.7 for reading, 22.1 for science and 22 composite score. Average ACT scores in the Cache County School District, which surrounds Logan city, in 2005 were 20.9 in English, 20.8 in math, 22.5 in reading, 21.5 in science and 21.5 composite score. Two-hundred-fifty Logan High students took the ACT in 2005 and 593 Mountain Crest/Sky View/Cache High students (in Cache County School District) took the test in 2005.

Approximately $4,146 is spent per pupil in the Logan School District. In October 2005, there were 2,600 kindergarten through fifth-grade students, 1,252 sixth- through eighth-grade students and 1,702 high school students. Those numbers report about a 100-student decrease from the previous year. Drop-out rate was 2.3%. 11% of students speak English as a second language.

During the 2004-2005 school year, there were 321 professional teachers, resulting in a pupil/teacher ratio of 25.9. The average contract salary for teachers was $38,639.

There are six elementary schools (K-5), 1 middle school, (6-8), and 1 high school (9-12), with two campuses, in Logan. There is also a charter high school in Logan and one alternative high school in Logan for the Cache County School District. The Cache District has two regular high schools outside Logan in other cities.

Edith Bowen Laboratory School, on the campus of Utah State University, provides residents an alternative educational opportunity for their children.

Thomas Edison Charter School, which has campuses in North Logan and Nibley, is a public school for grades K-8 offering an academic stimulated curriculum. There are also a number of small private schools in Logan.

InTech Collegiate High School, currently located in the Innovation Campus of Utah State University, is a public-charter school offering a personalized education focused on Math, Science, and Engineering for grades 9-12.

Bridgerland Applied Technology College provides opportunities for students to learn life skills in business, dental technology, design and construction, fashion and hospitality, health science, information technology, manufacturing, nutrition and food, public safety, and transportation.

Logan is also the home of Utah State University, a Land-Grant University that is classified by Carnegie Foundation as a Doctoral/Research University Extensive, offering bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees in a wide variety of fields.

Logan was also the home of a former Brigham Young College, an antique college formerly run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It was open from 1878 through 1926. Its library and its papers were all given to the Utah State University then.

Arts & Culture
Logan has a rich tradition for various arts, entertainment, and festivals. Logan is the home of the Utah Festival Opera, which hosts a number of performances through the year. The Ellen Eccles Theatre shows concerts, community theater, ballet, and classic movies, and it also hosts national touring companies. The Alliance for the Varied Arts hosts numerous "Gallery Walk" events throughout the year in which participating businesses in historic downtown Logan feature different art, music, and food throughout their space. Summerfest Arts Faire held annually at the Logan Tabernacle grounds on Father's Day Weekend, celebrates the arts through a fine art/fine craft festival with music, food and children's activities.

Utah State University also hosts many artistic and cultural events, including traveling art galleries, symphony performances, plays, public lectures, and more.

Logan hosts a farmer's market every Saturday between the warmer months of May and October. Known as the "Cache Valley Gardeners' Market", and located at Merlin Olsen Park, the market is known as a gathering place for the sale of fresh produce, coffee, arts & crafts, and also for occasional concerts. A fresh produce market is also held every Wednesday by the Logan Historic Courthouse.

Parks & Recreation
Logan's Parks and Recreation department runs the Logan River Golf Course, the Logan/Cache County Fairgrounds, and the Willow Park Zoo.

Logan Canyon has numerous hiking and camping areas, and its scenic First, Second, and Third Dams provide popular gathering spots for picnics, fishing, and other activities. Tony Grove Lake is about 25 miles east, at 8,050 feet elevation, with fishing, canoeing, camping and high-elevation hiking. Logan Canyon is also known as a place for rock-climbing, snowmobiling, hunting, and skiing.

The Willow Park Zoo is a small zoo located in Logan's Willow Park, boasting a small collection of wild animals including monkeys, coyotes, bobcats, bald eagles, and an assortment of land birds and ducks.

Logan is the home of two full-length golf courses, including Logan River Golf Course and the Logan Golf and Country Club. Numerous other courses exist around the Cache Valley Area.

The Logan/Cache County Fairgrounds host numerous events including fairs, rodeos, and demolition derbies. Nearby, the city of Logan runs an aquatic center and a skate park. During the winter season, the city operates an outdoor ice skating rink at Merlin Olsen Park (Central Park).

Media
Given its distance from the Salt Lake City media market, Logan features a variety of media outlets that cater to residents of the Cache Valley.

It is home to The Herald Journal, a daily newspaper, and Cache Valley Daily, a news site operated by 610 KVNU and the Cache Valley Radio Group. Both news outlets cover the Logan and Cache Valley area. Many Logan residents also subscribe to the Salt Lake City-based Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News, both of which cover Cache Valley happenings to some degree.

The Valley Channel is a local television station which provides community-oriented programs, news talk shows, and coverage of local high school sporting events and Utah State University hockey. For primary television network affiliates, Logan is considered part of the Salt Lake City media market.

The Cache Valley Radio Group produces a variety of radio stations, including 610 AM KVNU with news and sports, 92.9 FM KBLQ with soft rock, 94.5 FM KVFX with Top 40, 95.9 FM KLZX with classic rock, and 96.7 FM KKEX with country. Utah State University also runs its own radio station, which is an affiliate of National Public Radio. Utah Public Radio is broadcast to many rural areas of the state, and is heard in Cache County on 89.5 FM and 91.5 FM. It features a state-issues talk show each weekday morning called "Access Utah". Logan can also receive some radio stations from the Salt Lake City market.

Economy
Logan has a wide diversity of economic sectors with a focus on education, manufacturing and processing, medical services, agriculture, and retail businesses. The city's largest employer is Utah State University, with other major employers including Icon Health & Fitness, Cache County School District, Logan Regional Hospital, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Gossner Foods, and Schreiber Foods.

Headquartered in Logan

 * Utah State University - Doctoral land-grant university with high research activity.
 * Harris Research Inc. - Muilt-Brand Franchisor: Chem-Dry (carpet cleaning), N-Hance (wood renewal). Franchising in over 45 countries.
 * ICON Health & Fitness - Touted as the world's largest developer, manufacturer, and marketer of fitness equipment. 9th largest private company in Utah.
 * Campbell Scientific - scientific instrumentation.
 * L.W. Miller Transportation Inc. - Transportation. 55th largest private employer in Utah.
 * Cache Valley Electric - 48th largest private company in Utah.
 * ConService - a utility billing company. Part of Fortune's 2009 INC 5000.
 * New Dawn Technologies- Software Development Company. Part of Fortune's 2009 INC 5000.
 * Caffe Ibis - a coffee roasting company founded in and headquartered in Logan.
 * Hogi Yogi - a fast-food restaurant chain. Founded in Logan.
 * S&S Power - an amusement park ride manufacturer.
 * Gossner Foods - Dairy product manufacturer and producer.
 * Sun Remarketing - actually located in Smithfield, Utah near Logan. Some of the press has erroneously stated such things as "Sun Remarketing in Logan, Utah...".
 * Utah Festival Opera - founded and headquartered in Logan.
 * Cache Valley Brewing Company
 * Wasatch Property Management - a real estate and property management company with assets and developments around the Mountain West
 * Apogee Instruments, Inc.- Scientific instrumentation for measuring global climate change, improving sustainable food production, and developing renewable energy resources.

Other Notable

 * Thermo Fisher Scientific - Formerly HyClone. Sera, Nutrients and Single-Use Bioprocessing Products and Services.
 * RR Donnelley - Formerly Moore Wallace. Mass printing and manufacturing services.

Transportation
U.S. Highways US-89 and US-91 enter Logan from the southwest as one highway, and then separate in downtown Logan. US-91 goes due northward into Idaho through Cache Valley, whereas US-89 goes northeast into Logan Canyon, and thence to Bear Lake, a large lake in the area.

Logan is served by a local sales-tax-funded zero-fare bus system called the Cache Valley Transit District (CVTD), which incorporated the Logan Transit District (LTD) in 2007. The system began in 1992 with six routes, with service outside of Logan added in 2000. The system consists of 11 routes that serve Logan itself, North Logan, and River Heights (the former LTD). There is also a northern route that reaches north to Richmond, and a southern route that serves the southern suburbs and Hyrum (the original CVTD). There is also a four-time daily connection to Lewiston and Preston, Idaho.

There is a public general aviation airport at Logan, the Logan-Cache Airport (with IATA code LGU), but it has no scheduled airline services. However, Logan is within ready driving distance or shuttle ride of Salt Lake City International Airport.

Special Events
Logan hosts the annual "Cache Valley Cruise-In", which is considered to be Utah's largest automotive event, with an exhibit of special cars and vehicles, concerts, and other activities spanning three days. Events conclude with a parade of the cars cruising down portions of Main Street.

Recognition

 * CNN Money magazine ranked Logan third on its list of Best Places to Retire Young in 2007.


 * In 2006 Forbes listed Logan 10th on their list of Best Small Places For Business & Careers


 * The Monday Report listed Logan as the most walkable community in Utah in a 2009 study

Notable people from Logan

 * Neil L. Andersen - LDS Church apostle (born in Logan; raised in Pocatello, Idaho)
 * Rocky Anderson - Mayor of Salt Lake City, 2000-08
 * Michael Ballam - noted opera singer, founder of Utah Festival Opera Company
 * Clay Brown - NASCAR driver
 * Charles Bullen, Utah politician
 * Ron Carlson - published fiction writer
 * Chris Cooley - Pro-Bowl tight end for the Washington Redskins
 * Quentin L. Cook - LDS Church apostle
 * Kevin Dyson - former NFL pro football player
 * Marriner Eccles - former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank
 * Christina England - opera singer
 * Hal Garner - linebacker for the Buffalo Bills, 1985-91
 * John Gilbert - silent film star
 * Kent James - singer-songwriter
 * Morris R. Jeppson - Weapons Test Officer, Enola Gay
 * Chase Nielsen - member of the Doolittle Raid on Japan in mid-1942
 * Merlin Olsen - former defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams, member of both the college football and pro football Halls of Fame, and actor and TV personality
 * L. Tom Perry - LDS Church apostle
 * May Swenson - famed poet
 * Kip Thorne - noted astronomer and physicist
 * John W. Welch - law and religion scholar
 * Evelyn Wood - noted teacher of speed-reading for many years, entrepreneur in speed-reading courses