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Utah (''. of its inhabitants claiming membership in The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints , 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. 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 U.S. Census Bureau , "State and Metropolitan Area Data Book: 2006", Appendix E. - Ranking Tables with Utah being the sixth fastest growing state overall in 2006.U.S. Census Bureau News, "Louisiana Loses Population; Arizona Edges Nevada as Fastest-Growing State" , Press Release CB06-187, 22 December, 2006 GEOGRAPHY See Also: List of Utah counties
, Utah]] .]] 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 Dune s to thriving Pine Forest s in mountain valleys. 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. It covers an area of 84,899 square miles (219,887 km&2). 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 (3,650 m) above sea level. Portions of these mountains receive more than 500 Inch es (12.7 m) of Snow each year and are home to world-renowned Ski Resort 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 Uinta Mountains , which rise to heights of 13,000 feet (3,950 m) or more. The highest point in the state, Kings Peak , at 13,528 feet (4,123 m), 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 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 . West of the Great Salt Lake , stretching to the Nevada border, lies the arid Great Salt Lake Desert . Much of the scenic southern landscape is Sandstone , specifically Kayenta Sandstone and Navajo Sandstone . The Colorado River 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 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 (site of the popular tourist destination, Lake Powell ), 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 Utah's 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 2,000 feet (610 m). 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 near Vernal . Like most of the Western and Southwestern states, the Federal Government owns much of the land in Utah. Over 70 percent of the land is either BLM Land , Utah State Trustland , or U.S. National Forest , U.S. National Park , U.S. National Monument , National Recreation Area or U.S. Wilderness Area . Climate Most of Utah is arid and high in elevation. Much of eastern and southern Utah receive 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. St. George 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 Lake Effect 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 Wasatch Range 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 Temperature Inversion s 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 Thunderstorm s that can cause Wildfire s and Flash Flood s. 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 most of Utah are below freezing. High temperatures average between 25 ° F (-4 ° C ) 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 in the Bear River Mountains of northern Utah on February 1 , 1985 . Utah Cold Weather Facts - Snow and Winter Storms . ''KSL.com.'' 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. NOAA National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved on October 24, 2006. {Link without Title} HISTORY See Also: History of Utah Mormon settlement Following the struggled in conflict with neighbors until Brigham Young , the President of the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints , emerged as their new leader. Brigham Young and the first band of Mormon Pioneers came to the Salt Lake Valley on July 24 , 1847 . Over the next 22 years, more than 70,000 pioneers crossed the plains and settled in Utah.William W. Slaughter and Michael Landon: "Trail of Hope - The Story of the Mormon Trail." Shadow Mountain, 1997. For the first few years, Brigham Young 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"Arrington and Bitton, p. 118 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 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."Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: "Church History in the Fullness of Times." 1989. In 1847 when the first pioneers arrived, 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 person, 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 away from Salt Lake City, to the southwest. Salt Lake City was the last link of the First 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 (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 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 Ute s led by Antonga 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 businesspeople 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 . 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 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
The Center Of Population of Utah is located in Utah County in the city of Lehi . U.S. Census Bureau, Population and Population Centers by State: 2000 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 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 ( Logan , Ogden - Clearfield , Salt Lake City , Provo - Orem , and St. George ), and 5 Micropolitan Area s ( Brigham City , Heber , Vernal , Price , and Cedar City ). The St. George metropolitan area is currently the second-fastest growing in the country after the and Millard counties have seen rapid-growth in population as well. Race and ancestry The largest ancestry groups in the state are:
Most Utahns are of 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 followed by other Asian groups (i.e. Japanese-Americans , Koreans , Indians and Pakistanis ), and Tonga ns form the largest Pacific Islander group, the majority are Mormons converted in the south Pacific under LDS missionary work programs. Hispanics are rapidly growing in the state, especially in Salt Lake City , Ogden, and Orem / Provo area from recent immigration from Latin America , mostly from Mexico but some Central America n and South America n groups. Despite its relatively scarce black population, Utah does have African-American s and a sizable proportion of new Utah residents are blacks, usually made up of middle-class professionals from California , while there's a small black community in southern Salt Lake City and Ogden near Hill Air Force Base . Religion A majority of the state's residents are members of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints , sometimes called the Mormon 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 Rhode Island . There is a large and increasing number of Catholic s in Utah as a result of immigration from Mexico , along with previous waves of Catholics from Italy , Austria , Germany and Ireland . Other Christian faiths in the state are mostly made up of Protestants, including Baptist s, Lutheran s and Methodist s, which comprise about one-quarter of Utah's population. The '' Salt Lake Tribune '' has projected that Latter-day Saints may no longer be a majority in the state, not just the case in Salt Lake City , as early as 2030. The religion known as views when it comes to most political issues and the majority of Utahns are registered Republican 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:
Totals are rounded. Pentecostal , Judaism , Church Of Christ , Non-denominational , United Church Of Christ , Jehovah's Witness , Assemblies Of God , Buddhist , Church Of God , and the Seventh-day Adventist Church 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:
The gender makeup of Utah is:
ECONOMY is a major tourist attraction]] 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 Economic Dynamism , determined by
In eastern Utah petroleum production is a major industry. Utah oil & gas production (map) as found at Utah.gov 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. 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 Salt Lake City , Park City , Ogden , Provo , and Cedar City (Brian Head). Utah collects personal Income Tax within 6 income brackets. The state Sales Tax has a base rate of 5.75 percent, with cities and counties levying additional local sales taxes that vary among the municipalities. Property Tax es are assessed and collected locally. Utah does not charge Intangible Property Tax es and does not impose an Inheritance Tax . TOURISM Utah 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. 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 Bingham Canyon Mine , 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 Utah Territory mining has played a major role in Utah's economy. Historical mining towns include Mercur in Tooele County, Silver Reef in Washington County, Eureka in Juab County, and Park City 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 Cold War 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.Utah Department of Community and Culture, Mining Heritage Alliance, Highlights as found at Utah.gov TRANSPORTATION Interstate 15 is the main interstate highway in the state, entering from Arizona and spanning the state north-south, entering Idaho near Portage . It serves the primary population centers of the state, running past St. George and its suburbs (collectively known as Dixie ) and Cedar City , and then spans the length of the Wasatch Front north-south, past such major cities as Provo , Orem , Sandy , West Jordan , Salt Lake City , Layton , and Ogden . Interstate 80 spans the northern portion of the state west-east. It enters from Nevada at Wendover , traverses Salt Lake City (briefly merging with I-15 west of Downtown ), then crosses the Wasatch Range , entering Wyoming just before reaching Evanston . Interstate 84 splits from I-80 at Echo , heading west through the Wasatch Range and joining I-15 southwest of Ogden . The two interstates stay merged until Tremonton , where I-84 heads northwest, entering Idaho near Snowville . Interstate 70 splits from I-15 at Cove Fort , heading east through the mountains, past Richfield , and then east into Colorado west of Grand Junction , traversing desolate desert terrain and serving the various national parks and national monuments of southern Utah. The stretch of I-70 between Salina and Green River is the longest stretch of interstate in the country without any services. A light rail system in the Salt Lake Valley , known as TRAX , consists of two lines, one providing access from Downtown Salt Lake City south to Sandy , and the other heading east to the University Of Utah . The Utah Transit Authority (UTA), which operates TRAX, also operates a bus system that stretches across the Wasatch Front and into Tooele , 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 Logan , St. George and Cedar City . The Legacy Highway is a freeway that is currently under construction in southern Davis County to relieve congestion on I-15 through the area. A commuter rail line, named FrontRunner , is under construction between Salt Lake City and Pleasant View , north of Ogden . Both of these projects are expected to be completed in spring 2008. FrontRunner is expected to eventually span the Wasatch Front from Brigham City in the north to Payson in the south. Salt Lake City International Airport is the only international airport in the state and serves as a hub of Delta Airlines . 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. Canyonlands Field (near Moab ), Cedar City Regional Airport , St. George Municipal Airport , and Vernal-Uintah County Airport 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. SkyWest Airlines is also based in St. George . 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 Jon Huntsman, Jr. The governor is elected for a four year term. The Utah State Legislature consists of a Senate and a House Of Representatives . 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 Utah Supreme Court 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.Utah State Courts, Utah Court of Appeals Trial level courts are the district courts and justice courts. All justices and judges, like those on the Utah Supreme Court, are subject to retention election after appointment. Early suffrage Utah granted full 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 Constitution of Utah was enacted in 1895. Notably, the constitution outlawed Polygamy and reestablished the territorial practice of women's Suffrage . Utah's Constitution has been Amended many times since its inception. Constitutional Amendments, Initiatives & Referendums . ''State of Utah Elections Office.'' Other laws Utah is also one of only two states in the United States to outlaw all forms of Gambling ; the other is Hawaii . Utah is an Alcoholic Beverage Control State . The Utah Department Of Alcoholic Beverage Control 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.James B. Allen, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" , ''Utah History Encyclopedia'', University of Utah, 1994 These tensions played a large part in Utah's history, such as ( Liberal Party vs. People's Party ). The current governor of Utah is being taught in the classroom. "Huntsman opposes 'design' as science" , ''Deseret Morning News'' He also receives high approval ratings from across the Utah political spectrum. Hunstman approval 3/17/2006 Both of Utah's U.S. Senators , Orrin Hatch and Robert Foster Bennett , are Republican. Two more Republicans, Rob Bishop and Chris Cannon , as well as one member of the Democratic Party , Jim Matheson , represent Utah in the United States House Of Representatives . The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints 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,3 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.4; see also 5 The connection between the LDS Church and the Republican Party Of Utah is controversial. In the 1970s, then- Apostle Ezra Taft Benson was quoted by the Associated Press that it would be difficult for a faithful Latter-day Saint to be a liberal Democrat.6 Although the LDS Church has officially repudiated such statements on many occasions, Democratic candidates—including LDS Democrats—believe that Republicans capitalize on the perception that the Republican Party is doctrinally superior.7 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.8 The Republican Party in heavily Mormon Utah County 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 1994.9 David Magleby, dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Brigham Young University , 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.10 For example, the Republican Party of Utah opposes all abortions while the LDS Church and Utah Democrats allow exceptions for rape, incest, and to save the life of the mother. Similarly, 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 Mitt Romney 's prospective presidential run.11 In 1998 the Church expressed concern that Utahns perceived the Republican Party as an LDS institution and authorized lifelong Democrat and Seventy 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 Wyoming , Utah politics have a more moralistic and less libertarian character according to David Magleby.12 The state's leadership is run by the Republican Party. State governors are usually Centrist 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,13 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 Liberal or Conservative , speak of their relationship with God or their Religious Beliefs in ordinary conversation. Utah's liberal areas include Carbon County , Grand County , Salt Lake County , and Summit County . 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 Rocky Anderson is supports same-sex marriage and the Kyoto Treaty, while the county mayor Peter Corroon is a relative of Howard Dean 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 Free Trade while being Socially Liberal , particularly with gay rights and less so with abortion. Carbon County's Democrats are generally made up of members of the large Greek , Italian ,and Southeastern European 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 Labor Politics , particularly of the New Deal Era.Allan Kent Powell, "United Mine Workers of America" , ''Utah History Encyclopedia'', University of Utah, 1994 Grand County's politics are heavy on Environmentalism and being socially liberal. The county has a large Hippie community situated in the popular tourist destination, Moab , in red rock country between Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park . The Democrats of Summit County are the by-product of the migration of wealthy families from California in the 1990s to the ski resort town of Park City ; 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 . 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 1976,1976 Presidential Election Data - National by State 1980,1980 Presidential Election Data - National by State [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1980&datatype=national&def=1&f=1&off=0&elect=0 1984,1984 Presidential Election Data - National by State 1988,1988 Presidential Election Data - National by State [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1988&datatype=national&def=1&f=1&off=0&elect=0 1996,1996 Presidential Election Data - National by State 2000,2000 Presidential Election Data - National by State [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=2000&datatype=national&def=1&f=1&off=0&elect=0 and 20042004 Presidential Election Data - National by State 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 Ross Perot .1992 Presidential Election Data - National by State [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1992&datatype=national&def=1&f=1&off=0&elect=0 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. President Elect - 1996 Important cities and towns See Also: List of cities in Utah List of cities in Utah (by population) See Also: Utah locations by per capita income Utah's population is concentrated in two areas, the Wasatch Front in the north-central part of the state, with a population of approximately 2 million; and southwestern Utah, locally known as " Dixie ", 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. St. George , in the southwest, is the second-fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States, trailing Greeley, Colorado . The state's two fastest growing counties are: Summit (at 91.6 percent; ranking it 8th in the country) and (248 percent), South Jordan (141 percent), Lehi (125 percent), Riverton (122 percent), and Syracuse (102 percent). Between 1990 and 2000 the five fastest-growing cities of any size were Cedar Hills (302 percent), Draper (248 percent), Woodland Hills (213 percent), Ivins (173 percent), and South Jordan (141 percent). According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the five fastest-growing cities of any size between 2000 and 2005 were Herriman (637 percent), Saratoga Springs (548 percent), Eagle Mountain (380 percent), Cedar Hills (152 percent), and Syracuse (91 percent).
EDUCATION Utah has recently enacted a universal school voucher program. Colleges and universities
SPORTS The , 2006-11-22 . Last accessed 2006-11-22 . in Salt Lake City . Utah is the least populous U.S. state to have a Major Professional Sports League franchise, although the District Of Columbia has fewer people. Other teams include the Utah Blaze of the Arena Football League .
''See also List Of Professional Sports Teams In Utah '' MISCELLANEOUS
Famous Utahns
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 Mike Leavitt approved a new state slogan, "Utah! Where Ideas Connect," which lasted until March 10 , 2006 , when the Utah Travel Council and the office of Governor Jon Huntsman announced that "Life Elevated" would be the new state slogan.As found at utah.travel , official site of the Utah Office of Tourism At Dream Theater 's Salt Lake City show, Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. signed a proclamation making July 30 , 2007 "Dream Theater Day" in the state of Utah. In entertainment Utah is the setting of or the filming location for many books, films,Internet Movie Database ( IMBd ), Filming Locations in Utah and television series. A selective list of each appears below. Books
Film See also:
Television
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REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS
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