Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Utah shopping experience:

1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Utah offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Utah at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.

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3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Utah? Wrong! If the Utah is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about Utah then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Utah? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Utah and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Utah wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your Utah then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Utah site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about Utah, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your Utah, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.



{{US state | Name = Utah | Fullname = State of Utah | Flag = Flag of Utah.svg | Flaglink = [Flag of Utah | Seal = Utahstateseal.jpg | Map = Map_of_USA_UT.svg | Nickname = Beehive State| Motto = "Industry" | Capital = [Salt Lake City, Utah | LargestCity = [Salt Lake City, Utah | Governor = [Jon Huntsman, Jr. (R)| Senators = [Orrin Hatch (R)
[Robert Foster Bennett (R) | PostalAbbreviation = UT | OfficialLang = [English language| AreaRank = 13th | TotalAreaUS = 84,889 | TotalArea = 219,887 | LandAreaUS = 82,122 | LandArea = 212,751 | WaterAreaUA = 2,754 | WaterArea = 7,136 | PCWater = 3.25 | PopRank = 34th | 2000Pop = 2,233,169 | DensityRank = 41st | 2000DensityUS = 27.2 | 2000Density = 10.50 | MedianHouseholdIncome = $50,614 | IncomeRank = 11th | AdmittanceOrder = 45th | AdmittanceDate = January 4, [ | TimeZone = [Mountain Standard Time Zone: [UTC-7/[Daylight saving time | Longitude = 109° 3′ W to 114° 3′ W | Latitude = 37° N to 42° N | WidthUS = 270 | Width = 435 | LengthUS = 350 | Length = 565 | HighestPoint = Kings Peak{{cite web [ | url =http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html#Highest| title =Elevations and Distances in the United States| publisher =U.S Geological Survey| accessdate = November 8 | accessyear = 2006--> | HighestElevUS = 13,528 | HighestElev = 4,126 | MeanElevUS = 6,100 | MeanElev = 1,860 | LowestPoint = [Beaver Dam Wash{{cite web | url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,645197370,00.html | accessdate=2007-03-08-->| LowestElevUS = 2,178 | LowestElev = 664 | ISOCode = US-UT | Website = www.utah.gov -->

Utah () is a U.S. state located in the western United States United States. It was the List of U.S. states by date of statehood admitted to the union, on January 4 1896. Approximately 88 percent of Utah's 2,500,000 people, known as "Utahns," live in an urban concentration with Salt Lake City, Utah 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. MSN Encarta The name "Utah" is derived from the Ute tribe language, meaning "people of the mountains". Utah Quick Facts at Utah.gov 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 Mormon portion of Utah population steadily shrinking. Matt Canham, Salt Lake Tribune. 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. St. George, Utah was the fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States from 2000-2005U.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 {{US state symbols | Name = Utah | Animal = [Elk | Bird = [California Gull | Butterfly = | Fish = [Bonneville Cutthroat Trout | Flower = [Calochortus nuttallii | Furbearer = | Grass = [Indian ricegrass | Insect = [Western honey bee | Reptile = | Tree = [Blue Spruce | Wildflower = | Beverage = | Capital = [Salt Lake City, Utah | Colors = | Dance = [Square Dance | Fossil = [Allosaurus | Gemstone = [Topaz | Mineral = [Copper | Motto = "Industry" | MusicalInstrument = | Neckwear = | Nickname = "Beehive State" | StateRock = [Coal | Game = [Chess | Ships = [USS Utah (BB-31) | Song = ''[Utah, This is the Place'' | Soil = Mivida | Tartan = Utah State Tartan | Waltz = | CookingPot = [Dutch Oven | Cookware = Dutch oven | Emblem = [Beehive (beekeeping) | Flag = [Flag of Utah | FolkDance = [Square Dance | Fruit = [Cherry | HistoricVegetable = [Sugar beet | Hymn = [Utah We Love Thee | Seal = [Seal of Utah | Slogan = "Life Elevated" | Snack Food = [green [Jell-O | Star = [Dubhe (Alpha Ursae Majoris) | Vegetable = Spanish [sweet onion -->, 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 dunes to thriving pine tree forests in mountain valleys.

Utah is one of the Four Corners (United States) 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 km²).

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 foot (unit of length) (3,650 m) above sea level. Portions of these mountains receive more than 500 inches (12.7 m) of snow each year and are home to world-renowned ski resorts, made popular by the light, fluffy snow, which is considered good for skiing. In the northeastern section of the state, running east to west, are the Uinta Mountains, which rise to heights of 13,000 feet (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, Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, Layton, Utah, West Valley City, Utah, Sandy, Utah, West Jordan, Utah, Orem, Utah, and Provo, Utah are located within this region, which stretches approximately from Brigham City, Utah at the north end to Nephi, Utah 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 Basin and Range Province topography. Small mountain ranges and rugged terrain punctuate the landscape. The Bonneville Salt Flats are an exception, being comparatively flat as a result of once forming the bed of Lake Bonneville. Great Salt Lake, Utah Lake, Sevier Lake, Rush Lake (Utah) and Little Salt Lake are all remnants of this ancient freshwater lake,Morgan, Dale L. (1947). The Great Salt Lake. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press. ISBN 0-87480-478-7 p.22 which once covered most of the eastern Great Basin. 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 Formation and Navajo sandstone. The Colorado River (U.S.) 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 National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and Zion National Park national parks, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Hovenweep National Monument, and Natural Bridges National Monument national monuments, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (site of the popular tourist destination, Lake Powell), Dead Horse Point State Park and Goblin Valley State Park 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 (Utah) 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 Ski Resort.

Eastern Utah is a high-elevation area covered mostly by plateaus and basins. Economies are dominated by mining, Petroleum 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, Utah.

Like most of the The West (U.S.) and Southwest United States states, the Government of the United States owns much of the land in Utah. Over 70 percent of the land is either Bureau of Land Management public 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 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. St. George, Utah 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 snow 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 inversions are common in the valleys and basins during winter, especially the Uinta Basin, just south of the Uinta Mountains.During summer and autumn, most of the precipitation is received from the storms coming from the south and consists of short, sporadic, and intense thunderstorms that can cause wildfires and flash floods. Most precipitation during the rest of the year is received from the Pacific Ocean. Spring is the wettest season across the north, while late summer and early fall are the wettest times in the south, and winter is the wettest season in most of the mountain areas.

Temperatures during the winter across most of Utah are below freezing. High temperatures average between 25 °Fahrenheit (-4 °Celsius) 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 Arctic 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 July 4, 2007, Deseret Morning News - Utahns feeling hot, hot, hot. and the record low was -69 °F (-56 °C), recorded at Peter's Sink 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, rarely higher than F1 intensity. NOAA National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved on October 24, 2006.

History Mormon settlement Following the Death of Joseph Smith, Jr. Joseph Smith, Jr., in Carthage, Illinois, in 1844, the more than 11,000Leonard J. Arrington and Davis Bitton: "The Mormon Experience," page 22. Vintage/Random House, 1979. Latter-Day Saints remaining in Nauvoo, IL 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 Jim Bridger had advised Young would be inhospitable for the cultivation of crops because of frost.William Clayton, edited by George D. Smith: "An Intimate Chronicle: The Journals of William Clayton," p. 300. Signature Books, 1991. 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 Mormon pioneers 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 Mexico 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, Utah was designated the capital. In 1856, Salt Lake City replaced Fillmore as the territorial capital.

Disputes between the Mormon inhabitants and the Government of the United States 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 (governor). 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 Edward Connor arrived with a regiment of California volunteers in 1862. Connor established Fort Douglas (Utah) 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, Utah, 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 Tribes 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 UTA 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, Utah was one of the fastest-growing cities in the country at that time. Today, many areas of Utah are seeing phenomenal growth. Northern Davis County, Utah, southern and western Salt Lake County, Utah, Summit, Utah, eastern Tooele County, Utah, Utah County, Utah, Wasatch County, Utah, and Washington County, Utah counties are all growing very quickly. Transportation and urbanization are major issues in politics as development consumes agricultural land and wilderness areas.

Demographics {{USCensusPop|1850 = 11380|1860 = 40273|1870 = 86336|1880 = 143963|1890 = 210779|1900 = 276749|1910 = 373351|1920 = 449396|1930 = 507847|1940 = 550310|1950 = 688862|1960 = 890627|1970 = 1059273|1980 = 1461037|1990 = 1722850|2000 = 2233169-->

The center of population of Utah is located in Utah County, Utah in the city of Lehi, Utah. U.S. Census Bureau, Population and Population Centers by State: 2000As 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 Human migration of 16,173 people into the state. Immigration to the United States 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, Utah, Ogden, Utah-Clearfield, Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, Provo, Utah-Orem, Utah, and St. George, Utah), and 5 United States micropolitan areas (Brigham City, Utah, Heber, Utah, Vernal, Utah, Price, Utah, and Cedar City, Utah).

The St. George metropolitan area is currently the second-fastest growing in the country after the Las Vegas metropolitan area, while the Heber micropolitan area is also the second-fastest growing in the country (behind Palm Coast, Florida).Deborah Bulkeley, "St. George growth 2nd fastest in U.S.", Deseret Morning News Rural agricultural areas of Juab County, Utah and Millard County, Utah counties have seen rapid-growth in population as well.

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



Most Utahns are of Northern European descent. Demographics & Statistics. Utah.gov. The state has the largest percentage of residents who claim British American 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, Utah, which has a large Navajo people Native Americans in the United States population. Chinese American form the largest Asian American group followed by other Asian groups (i.e. Japanese-Americans, Korean Americans, Indian American and Pakistani American), and Tongans form the largest Pacific Islander group, the majority are Mormons converted in the south Pacific under LDS missionary work programs. Hispanics in the United States are rapidly growing in the state, especially in Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Orem, Utah/Provo, Utah area from recent immigration from Latin America, mostly from Mexico but some Central American and South American groups. Despite its relatively scarce black population, Utah does have African-Americans 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 Mormons 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 Catholics 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 Baptists, Lutherans and Methodists, 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 County, Utah, as early as 2030..The religion known as Mormonism has historically had a strong regional influence and has contributed to the state's restrictive attitude towards alcoholic beverage and gambling, while also contributing to its high birth rate (25 percent higher than the national average; the highest for a state in the U.S.). Utah holds onto No.1 birth rate Before the 1890 Manifesto, the Church's teachings of plural marriage had led to confrontation with the U.S. federal government in the Utah War. Hinckley, Gordon B. “What Are People Asking about Us?” Ensign, Nov. 1998, 70, Q4 The Mormons in Utah tend to have Conservatism in the United States views when it comes to most political issues and the majority of Utahns are registered Republican Party (United States)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 attractionAccording 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 "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. 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 National Park, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion National Park) and many other attractions. In Moab, Utah 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, Utah, Park City, Utah, Ogden, Utah, Provo, Utah, and Cedar City, Utah (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 taxes are assessed and collected locally. Utah does not charge Intangible assetes 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 National Park, Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park, 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, Utah in Tooele County, Silver Reef in Washington County, Eureka, Utah in Juab County, and Park City, Utah 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, Utah. It serves the primary population centers of the state, running past St. George, Utah and its suburbs (collectively known as Dixie (Utah)) and Cedar City, Utah, and then spans the length of the Wasatch Front north-south, past such major cities as Provo, Utah, Orem, Utah, Sandy, Utah, West Jordan, Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, Layton, Utah, and Ogden, Utah.

Interstate 80 spans the northern portion of the state west-east. It enters from Nevada at Wendover, Utah, traverses Salt Lake City, Utah (briefly merging with I-15 west of Downtown Salt Lake City), then crosses the Wasatch Range, entering Wyoming just before reaching Evanston, Wyoming. Interstate 84 (west) splits from I-80 at Echo, Utah, heading west through the Wasatch Range and joining I-15 southwest of Ogden, Utah. The two interstates stay merged until Tremonton, Utah, where I-84 heads northwest, entering Idaho near Snowville, Utah.

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

A light rail system in the Salt Lake Valley, known as UTA TRAX, consists of two lines, one providing access from Downtown Salt Lake City south to Sandy, Utah, 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, Utah, 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, Utah, St. George, Utah and Cedar City, Utah. The Legacy Highway is a freeway that is currently under construction in southern Davis County, Utah to relieve congestion on I-15 through the area. A commuter rail line, named FrontRunner, is under construction between Salt Lake City, Utah and Pleasant View, Utah, north of Ogden, Utah. Both of these projects are expected to be completed in spring 2008. FrontRunner is expected to eventually span the Wasatch Front from Brigham City, Utah in the north to Payson, Utah 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, Utah), 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, Utah.

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 Utah State Senate and a Utah State 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 suffrage to women in 1870, 26 years before becoming a state. Among all U.S. states, only Wyoming granted Women's suffrage earlier. National Constitution Center, Map: States grant women the right to vote However, in 1887 the Edmunds-Tucker Act 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 Constitutional amendment 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 {| align="right" border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"|+ Presidential elections results|- bgcolor=lightgrey! Year! Republican Party (United States)! Democratic Party (United States)|-|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|U.S. presidential election, 2004|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|71% 663,742|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|26% 241,199|-|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|U.S. presidential election, 2000|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|67% 512,168|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|26% 201,734|-|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|U.S. presidential election, 1996|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|54% 361,911|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|33% 221,633|-|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|U.S. presidential election, 1992|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|43% 322,632|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|25% 183,429|-|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|U.S. presidential election, 1988|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|66% 428,442|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|32% 207,343|}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 (Utah) vs. People's Party (Utah)).

The current governor of Utah is Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., State of Utah: Office of the Governor a member of the United States Republican Party. He is a proponent of a flat tax, "5% flat tax urged for Utah", Deseret Morning News an opponent to same-sex marriage, while supporting the creation of a Same-sex marriage in the United States for same-sex couples, "Marriage Measure Dividing Utah Race", Deseret Morning News and an opponent to intelligent design 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 United States Senate,

{{US state | Name = Utah | Fullname = State of Utah | Flag = Flag of Utah.svg | Flaglink = [Flag of Utah | Seal = Utahstateseal.jpg | Map = Map_of_USA_UT.svg | Nickname = Beehive State| Motto = "Industry" | Capital = [Salt Lake City, Utah | LargestCity = [Salt Lake City, Utah | Governor = [Jon Huntsman, Jr. (R)| Senators = [Orrin Hatch (R)
[Robert Foster Bennett (R) | PostalAbbreviation = UT | OfficialLang = [English language| AreaRank = 13th | TotalAreaUS = 84,889 | TotalArea = 219,887 | LandAreaUS = 82,122 | LandArea = 212,751 | WaterAreaUA = 2,754 | WaterArea = 7,136 | PCWater = 3.25 | PopRank = 34th | 2000Pop = 2,233,169 | DensityRank = 41st | 2000DensityUS = 27.2 | 2000Density = 10.50 | MedianHouseholdIncome = $50,614 | IncomeRank = 11th | AdmittanceOrder = 45th | AdmittanceDate = January 4, [ | TimeZone = [Mountain Standard Time Zone: [UTC-7/[Daylight saving time | Longitude = 109° 3′ W to 114° 3′ W | Latitude = 37° N to 42° N | WidthUS = 270 | Width = 435 | LengthUS = 350 | Length = 565 | HighestPoint = Kings Peak{{cite web [ | url =http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html#Highest| title =Elevations and Distances in the United States| publisher =U.S Geological Survey| accessdate = November 8 | accessyear = 2006--> | HighestElevUS = 13,528 | HighestElev = 4,126 | MeanElevUS = 6,100 | MeanElev = 1,860 | LowestPoint = [Beaver Dam Wash{{cite web | url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,645197370,00.html | accessdate=2007-03-08-->| LowestElevUS = 2,178 | LowestElev = 664 | ISOCode = US-UT | Website = www.utah.gov -->

Utah () is a U.S. state located in the western United States United States. It was the List of U.S. states by date of statehood admitted to the union, on January 4 1896. Approximately 88 percent of Utah's 2,500,000 people, known as "Utahns," live in an urban concentration with Salt Lake City, Utah 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. MSN Encarta The name "Utah" is derived from the Ute tribe language, meaning "people of the mountains". Utah Quick Facts at Utah.gov 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 Mormon portion of Utah population steadily shrinking. Matt Canham, Salt Lake Tribune. 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. St. George, Utah was the fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States from 2000-2005U.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 {{US state symbols | Name = Utah | Animal = [Elk | Bird = [California Gull | Butterfly = | Fish = [Bonneville Cutthroat Trout | Flower = [Calochortus nuttallii | Furbearer = | Grass = [Indian ricegrass | Insect = [Western honey bee | Reptile = | Tree = [Blue Spruce | Wildflower = | Beverage = | Capital = [Salt Lake City, Utah | Colors = | Dance = [Square Dance | Fossil = [Allosaurus | Gemstone = [Topaz | Mineral = [Copper | Motto = "Industry" | MusicalInstrument = | Neckwear = | Nickname = "Beehive State" | StateRock = [Coal | Game = [Chess | Ships = [USS Utah (BB-31) | Song = ''[Utah, This is the Place'' | Soil = Mivida | Tartan = Utah State Tartan | Waltz = | CookingPot = [Dutch Oven | Cookware = Dutch oven | Emblem = [Beehive (beekeeping) | Flag = [Flag of Utah | FolkDance = [Square Dance | Fruit = [Cherry | HistoricVegetable = [Sugar beet | Hymn = [Utah We Love Thee | Seal = [Seal of Utah | Slogan = "Life Elevated" | Snack Food = [green [Jell-O | Star = [Dubhe (Alpha Ursae Majoris) | Vegetable = Spanish [sweet onion -->, 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 dunes to thriving pine tree forests in mountain valleys.

Utah is one of the Four Corners (United States) 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 km²).

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 foot (unit of length) (3,650 m) above sea level. Portions of these mountains receive more than 500 inches (12.7 m) of snow each year and are home to world-renowned ski resorts, made popular by the light, fluffy snow, which is considered good for skiing. In the northeastern section of the state, running east to west, are the Uinta Mountains, which rise to heights of 13,000 feet (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, Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, Layton, Utah, West Valley City, Utah, Sandy, Utah, West Jordan, Utah, Orem, Utah, and Provo, Utah are located within this region, which stretches approximately from Brigham City, Utah at the north end to Nephi, Utah 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 Basin and Range Province topography. Small mountain ranges and rugged terrain punctuate the landscape. The Bonneville Salt Flats are an exception, being comparatively flat as a result of once forming the bed of Lake Bonneville. Great Salt Lake, Utah Lake, Sevier Lake, Rush Lake (Utah) and Little Salt Lake are all remnants of this ancient freshwater lake,Morgan, Dale L. (1947). The Great Salt Lake. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press. ISBN 0-87480-478-7 p.22 which once covered most of the eastern Great Basin. 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 Formation and Navajo sandstone. The Colorado River (U.S.) 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 National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and Zion National Park national parks, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Hovenweep National Monument, and Natural Bridges National Monument national monuments, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (site of the popular tourist destination, Lake Powell), Dead Horse Point State Park and Goblin Valley State Park 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 (Utah) 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 Ski Resort.

Eastern Utah is a high-elevation area covered mostly by plateaus and basins. Economies are dominated by mining, Petroleum 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, Utah.

Like most of the The West (U.S.) and Southwest United States states, the Government of the United States owns much of the land in Utah. Over 70 percent of the land is either Bureau of Land Management public 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 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. St. George, Utah 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 snow 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 inversions are common in the valleys and basins during winter, especially the Uinta Basin, just south of the Uinta Mountains.During summer and autumn, most of the precipitation is received from the storms coming from the south and consists of short, sporadic, and intense thunderstorms that can cause wildfires and flash floods. Most precipitation during the rest of the year is received from the Pacific Ocean. Spring is the wettest season across the north, while late summer and early fall are the wettest times in the south, and winter is the wettest season in most of the mountain areas.

Temperatures during the winter across most of Utah are below freezing. High temperatures average between 25 °Fahrenheit (-4 °Celsius) 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 Arctic 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 July 4, 2007, Deseret Morning News - Utahns feeling hot, hot, hot. and the record low was -69 °F (-56 °C), recorded at Peter's Sink 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, rarely higher than F1 intensity. NOAA National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved on October 24, 2006.

History Mormon settlement Following the Death of Joseph Smith, Jr. Joseph Smith, Jr., in Carthage, Illinois, in 1844, the more than 11,000Leonard J. Arrington and Davis Bitton: "The Mormon Experience," page 22. Vintage/Random House, 1979. Latter-Day Saints remaining in Nauvoo, IL 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 Jim Bridger had advised Young would be inhospitable for the cultivation of crops because of frost.William Clayton, edited by George D. Smith: "An Intimate Chronicle: The Journals of William Clayton," p. 300. Signature Books, 1991. 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 Mormon pioneers 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 Mexico 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, Utah was designated the capital. In 1856, Salt Lake City replaced Fillmore as the territorial capital.

Disputes between the Mormon inhabitants and the Government of the United States 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 (governor). 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 Edward Connor arrived with a regiment of California volunteers in 1862. Connor established Fort Douglas (Utah) 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, Utah, 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 Tribes 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 UTA 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, Utah was one of the fastest-growing cities in the country at that time. Today, many areas of Utah are seeing phenomenal growth. Northern Davis County, Utah, southern and western Salt Lake County, Utah, Summit, Utah, eastern Tooele County, Utah, Utah County, Utah, Wasatch County, Utah, and Washington County, Utah counties are all growing very quickly. Transportation and urbanization are major issues in politics as development consumes agricultural land and wilderness areas.

Demographics {{USCensusPop|1850 = 11380|1860 = 40273|1870 = 86336|1880 = 143963|1890 = 210779|1900 = 276749|1910 = 373351|1920 = 449396|1930 = 507847|1940 = 550310|1950 = 688862|1960 = 890627|1970 = 1059273|1980 = 1461037|1990 = 1722850|2000 = 2233169-->

The center of population of Utah is located in Utah County, Utah in the city of Lehi, Utah. U.S. Census Bureau, Population and Population Centers by State: 2000As 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 Human migration of 16,173 people into the state. Immigration to the United States 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, Utah, Ogden, Utah-Clearfield, Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, Provo, Utah-Orem, Utah, and St. George, Utah), and 5 United States micropolitan areas (Brigham City, Utah, Heber, Utah, Vernal, Utah, Price, Utah, and Cedar City, Utah).

The St. George metropolitan area is currently the second-fastest growing in the country after the Las Vegas metropolitan area, while the Heber micropolitan area is also the second-fastest growing in the country (behind Palm Coast, Florida).Deborah Bulkeley, "St. George growth 2nd fastest in U.S.", Deseret Morning News Rural agricultural areas of Juab County, Utah and Millard County, Utah counties have seen rapid-growth in population as well.

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



Most Utahns are of Northern European descent. Demographics & Statistics. Utah.gov. The state has the largest percentage of residents who claim British American 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, Utah, which has a large Navajo people Native Americans in the United States population. Chinese American form the largest Asian American group followed by other Asian groups (i.e. Japanese-Americans, Korean Americans, Indian American and Pakistani American), and Tongans form the largest Pacific Islander group, the majority are Mormons converted in the south Pacific under LDS missionary work programs. Hispanics in the United States are rapidly growing in the state, especially in Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Orem, Utah/Provo, Utah area from recent immigration from Latin America, mostly from Mexico but some Central American and South American groups. Despite its relatively scarce black population, Utah does have African-Americans 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 Mormons 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 Catholics 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 Baptists, Lutherans and Methodists, 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 County, Utah, as early as 2030..The religion known as Mormonism has historically had a strong regional influence and has contributed to the state's restrictive attitude towards alcoholic beverage and gambling, while also contributing to its high birth rate (25 percent higher than the national average; the highest for a state in the U.S.). Utah holds onto No.1 birth rate Before the 1890 Manifesto, the Church's teachings of plural marriage had led to confrontation with the U.S. federal government in the Utah War. Hinckley, Gordon B. “What Are People Asking about Us?” Ensign, Nov. 1998, 70, Q4 The Mormons in Utah tend to have Conservatism in the United States views when it comes to most political issues and the majority of Utahns are registered Republican Party (United States)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 attractionAccording 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 "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. 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 National Park, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion National Park) and many other attractions. In Moab, Utah 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, Utah, Park City, Utah, Ogden, Utah, Provo, Utah, and Cedar City, Utah (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 taxes are assessed and collected locally. Utah does not charge Intangible assetes 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 National Park, Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park, 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, Utah in Tooele County, Silver Reef in Washington County, Eureka, Utah in Juab County, and Park City, Utah 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, Utah. It serves the primary population centers of the state, running past St. George, Utah and its suburbs (collectively known as Dixie (Utah)) and Cedar City, Utah, and then spans the length of the Wasatch Front north-south, past such major cities as Provo, Utah, Orem, Utah, Sandy, Utah, West Jordan, Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, Layton, Utah, and Ogden, Utah.

Interstate 80 spans the northern portion of the state west-east. It enters from Nevada at Wendover, Utah, traverses Salt Lake City, Utah (briefly merging with I-15 west of Downtown Salt Lake City), then crosses the Wasatch Range, entering Wyoming just before reaching Evanston, Wyoming. Interstate 84 (west) splits from I-80 at Echo, Utah, heading west through the Wasatch Range and joining I-15 southwest of Ogden, Utah. The two interstates stay merged until Tremonton, Utah, where I-84 heads northwest, entering Idaho near Snowville, Utah.

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

A light rail system in the Salt Lake Valley, known as UTA TRAX, consists of two lines, one providing access from Downtown Salt Lake City south to Sandy, Utah, 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, Utah, 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, Utah, St. George, Utah and Cedar City, Utah. The Legacy Highway is a freeway that is currently under construction in southern Davis County, Utah to relieve congestion on I-15 through the area. A commuter rail line, named FrontRunner, is under construction between Salt Lake City, Utah and Pleasant View, Utah, north of Ogden, Utah. Both of these projects are expected to be completed in spring 2008. FrontRunner is expected to eventually span the Wasatch Front from Brigham City, Utah in the north to Payson, Utah 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, Utah), 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, Utah.

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 Utah State Senate and a Utah State 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 suffrage to women in 1870, 26 years before becoming a state. Among all U.S. states, only Wyoming granted Women's suffrage earlier. National Constitution Center, Map: States grant women the right to vote However, in 1887 the Edmunds-Tucker Act 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 Constitutional amendment 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 {| align="right" border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"|+ Presidential elections results|- bgcolor=lightgrey! Year! Republican Party (United States)! Democratic Party (United States)|-|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|U.S. presidential election, 2004|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|71% 663,742|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|26% 241,199|-|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|U.S. presidential election, 2000|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|67% 512,168|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|26% 201,734|-|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|U.S. presidential election, 1996|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|54% 361,911|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|33% 221,633|-|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|U.S. presidential election, 1992|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|43% 322,632|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|25% 183,429|-|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|U.S. presidential election, 1988|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|66% 428,442|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|32% 207,343|}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 (Utah) vs. People's Party (Utah)).

The current governor of Utah is Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., State of Utah: Office of the Governor a member of the United States Republican Party. He is a proponent of a flat tax, "5% flat tax urged for Utah", Deseret Morning News an opponent to same-sex marriage, while supporting the creation of a Same-sex marriage in the United States for same-sex couples, "Marriage Measure Dividing Utah Race", Deseret Morning News and an opponent to intelligent design 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 United States Senate,

The University of Utah
Located in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah.

Utah Travel Industry Website | Utah.com
The official web site of the Utah Travel Council with information on attractions and activities throughout the state.

Ski | Utah.com
Complete ski information about 'The Greatest Snow on Earth,' including Utah's 13 ski resorts, trip packages, weather, and more.

Utah.gov - The Official Website of the State of Utah
The official website for Utah State Government. Links to various government information sites and departments.

UMFA: Utah Museum of Fine Arts
At the University of Utah it is the only general art museum in Salt Lake City, Utah, where it is a major and unique public institution.

University of Utah Department of Mathematics Home Page
155 South 1400 East, Room 233, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0090, T:+1 801 581 6851, F:+1 801 581 4148

Utah Digital Newspapers - Home Page
Utah Digital Newspapers historical collection ... Funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Library Services and Technology Act

Utah - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The State of Utah (IPA: /ˈjuːtɔː/ or /ˈjuːtɑː/) is a western state of the United States of America. It was the 45th state admitted to the Union on January 4, 1896.

Utah Museum of Natural History
Descriptions of this University of Utah museum's exhibits, collections, research, and programs.

Recent Earthquakes in the Intermountain West - Index Map
Recent Earthquakes in the Intermountain West Utah and Yellowstone Region. Click on an earthquake on the map above for a zoomed-in view. (Clicking on an earthquake on the zoomed-in ...

 

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