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Utah is located in the western United States. It was the
45th state admitted to the union, on January 4 1896. Approximately 88% 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.
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 (at the Four Corners Monument); by Arizona in the
south; and by Nevada in the west. Utah 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.
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. 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 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. 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. 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.
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.
Utah has a long tradition of resourcefulness and hard work,
as reflected in its state motto, Industry. St. George, Utah was the fastest
growing metropolitan area in the United States from 2000-2005 with Utah being
the sixth fastest growing state overall in 2006.
According to the 2007 State New Economy Index, Utah is
ranked the top state in the nation for Economic Dynamism, 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 (Arches,
Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion) and many other attractions.
In Moab mountain biking is a popular sport. Utah is also noted for its ski
resorts, near Salt Lake City, Park City, Ogden, Provo, and Cedar City. Major
industries of Utah include: mining, cattle ranching, salt production, and
government services.
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Fast Facts
Population 2005 est. - 2,469,585
Capital - Salt Lake City
Largest cities
Salt Lake City
Provo
West Valley City
Area - 84,876 sq mi (13th)
Elevation
Highest point - Kings Peak 13,528 ft
Lowest point - Beaver Dam Wash 2,000 ft
Median income - $50,614 (11th)
State sales tax - 5.75%
Time zone - Mountain UTC-7
Daylight Savings - Yes
Web site - www.utah.gov
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