Utah (IPA: /'jut??/) is a U.S. state located in
the western United States. It was the 45th state 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 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.[3] The name
"Utah" is derived from the Ute Indian language, meaning
"people of the mountains".[4] 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
61 percent[5] 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
2000-2005[6] with Utah being the sixth fastest growing state overall
in 2006.[7]
Contents [hide]
1 Geography
1.1 Climate
2 History
2.1 Mormon settlement
2.2 1900s to present
3 Demographics
3.1 Race and ancestry
3.2 Religion
3.3 Age and sex
4 Economy
4.1 Tourism
4.2 Mining
5 Transportation
6 Law and government
6.1 Early suffrage
6.2 Constitution
6.3 Other laws
6.4 Politics
6.5 Important cities and towns
7 Colleges and Universities
8 Sports
9 Miscellaneous
9.1 Famous Utahns
9.2 Branding
9.3 In entertainment
9.3.1 Books
9.3.2 Film
9.3.3 Television
10 See also
11 References
12 External links
[edit] Geography
See also: List of Utah counties
Map of Utah, showing major cities and roadsUtah State Symbols Living
Symbols
-Animal Rocky Mountain Elk
-Bird California Gull
-Butterfly
-Fish Bonneville Cutthroat Trout
-Flower Sego Lily
-Furbearer
-Grass Indian ricegrass
-Insect European Honey Bee
-Reptile
-Tree Blue Spruce
-Wildflower
Beverage
Capital Salt Lake City
Colors
Dance Square Dance
Fossil Allosaurus
Gemstone Topaz
Mineral Copper
Motto "industry"
Musical Instrument
Neckwear
Nickname "Beehive State"
Rock Coal
Game Chess
Ship(s) USS Utah (BB-31)
Song Utah, This is the Place
Soil Mivida
Tartan Utah State Tartan
Waltz
Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah
Double Arch, a close-set pair of arches located in Arches National
Park in Utah
Utah from space. The state is known for its diversity in geology,
climate, and ecosystems.
Joshua Trees, yucca plants, and Jumping Cholla cactus occupy the
far southwest corner of the state in the Mojave Desert.
Logan Canyon in northern Utah.
Mount Timpanogos in the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains.Utah
is generally rocky with three distinct geological regions: the Rocky
Mountains, the Great Basin, and the Colorado Plateau. Utah is known
for its natural diversity and is home to features ranging from arid
deserts with sand dunes to thriving pine forests in mountain valleys.
Utah is one of the Four Corners states, and is bordered by Idaho
in the north, Wyoming in the north and east; 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).
The state is one of only three U.S. states (with Colorado and Wyoming)
that have only lines of latitude and longitude for boundaries.
One of Utah's defining characteristics is the variety of its terrain.
Running down the northern 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 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),[1] 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 basin and range 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 and Little Salt Lake
are all remnants of this ancient freshwater lake,[8] 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 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 state and federal 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).[1] 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.
[edit] Climate
Utah features a dry, mostly desert climate, although its many mountains
feature a large variety of climates, with the highest points in
the Uinta Mountains being above the timberline. The dry weather
results from the state lying mostly in the rain shadow of the Sierra
Nevada in California. The eastern half of the state lies in the
rain shadow of the Wasatch Mountains. The primary source of precipitation
for the state is the Pacific Ocean, with the state usually lying
in the path of large Pacific storms from mid-October through April,
although northern Utah often sees these large storms earlier and
later. In summer, the state, especially southern and eastern Utah,
lies in the path of monsoon moisture from the Gulf of California.
Most of the lowland areas receive less than 12 inches (300 mm) of
precipitation annually, although the I-15 corridor, including the
densely-populated Wasatch Front, receive approximately 15 inches
(380 mm). The Great Salt Lake Desert is the driest area of the state,
with less than 5 inches (125 mm). Snowfall is common in all but
the far southern valleys. Although St. George only receives about
3 inches (7.5 cm) per year, Salt Lake City sees about 60 inches
(150 cm), enhanced by the lake-effect snow from the Great Salt Lake,
which increases snowfall totals to the south, southeast, and east
of the lake. Some areas of the Wasatch Range in the path of the
lake-effect see up to 500 inches (1,270 cm) per year, and its dry,
fluffy density leads to Utah's ski resorts adopting the slogan "the
Greatest Snow on Earth". In winter, temperature inversions
are an issue across Utah's low basins and valleys, leading to thick
haze and fog that can sometimes occur weeks at a time, especially
in the Uintah Basin.
Utah's temperatures are extreme, with cold temperatures in winter
due to its elevation, and very hot summers statewide (with the exception
of mountain areas and high mountain valleys). Utah is usually protected
from major blasts of cold air by mountains lying north and east
of the state, although major Arctic blasts can occasionally reach
the state. Average January high temperatures range from around 30
°F (-1 °C) in some northern valleys to almost 55 °F
(13 °C) in St. George. Temperatures dropping below 0 °F
(-18 °C) should be expected on occasion in most areas of the
state most years, although some areas see it often (for example,
the town of Randolph averages about 50 days per year with temperatures
dropping that low). In July, average highs range from about 85 °F
(29 °C) to 100 °F (38 °C). However, the low humidity
and high elevation typically leads to large temperature variations,
leading to cool nights most summer days. The record high temperature
in Utah was 118 °F (47 °C), recorded south of St. George
on July 4, 2007,[9] 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.[10]
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. They are most likely to occur during monsoon season
from about mid-July through mid-September, especially in southern
and eastern Utah. Dry lightning strikes and the general dry summer
weather often spark wildfires in summer, while intense thunderstorms
can lead to flash flooding, especially in the rugged terrain of
southern Utah. Tornadoes are uncommon in Utah, with an average of
two striking the state yearly, rarely higher than F1 intensity.
[11] One exception of note, however, was the strong F2 Salt Lake
City Tornado that sliced across the downtown metro area of Salt
Lake City on August 11, 1999, striking large buildings and causing
approximately $170 million in damage, and one fatality.[12]
[edit] History
Main article: History of Utah
[edit] Mormon settlement
Following the assassination of Joseph Smith, Jr., in Carthage, Illinois,
in 1844, the more than 11,000[13] 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 the leader of the
largest portion. (See Succession crisis.) 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.[14]
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"[15]
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.[16]
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 first three 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."[17]
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
40 miles (60 km) 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.
Bonneville Salt FlatsBecause 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 Utes 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.
Alpine Loop near Sundance in the fall.
[edit] 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.
Utah Population Density MapThe center of population of Utah is located
in Utah County in the city of Lehi.[19] As of July 1, 2007 the Census
Bureau estimated Utah had a population of 2,645,300, an increase
of 65,000.[20] The Utah Population Estimate Committee placed Utah's
population at 2,699,554.[21], an increase of 84,125 people.[22]
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 county boundariesUtah contains 5 metropolitan areas (Logan,
Ogden-Clearfield, Salt Lake City, Provo-Orem, and St. George), and
5 micropolitan areas (Brigham City, Heber, Vernal, Price, and Cedar
City).
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).[23]
[edit] Race and ancestry
Demographics of Utah (csv)
By race White Black AIAN Asian NHPI
AIAN is American Indian or Alaskan Native — NHPI is Native
Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
2000 (total population) 95.20% 1.14% 1.84% 2.20% 0.97%
2000 (Hispanic only) 8.62% 0.16% 0.26% 0.08% 0.05%
2005 (total population) 95.01% 1.32% 1.69% 2.40% 0.95%
2005 (Hispanic only) 10.39% 0.23% 0.26% 0.10% 0.05%
Growth 2000–2005 (total population) 10.37% 28.78% 2.04% 21.00%
8.53%
Growth 2000–2005 (non-Hispanic only) 8.09% 23.37% 0.78% 20.69%
8.43%
Growth 2000–2005 (Hispanic only) 33.30% 61.74% 9.53% 28.88%
10.45%
The largest ancestry groups in the state are:
29.0% English
11.5% German
6.8% American (Mostly British Descent)
6.5% Danish
5.9% Irish
4.4% Scottish
4.3% Swedish
Most Utahns are of Northern European descent.[24]
[edit] Religion
The LDS Salt Lake Temple, the primary attraction in the city's Temple
Square.
Cathedral of the Madeline, Salt Lake City.
LDS Temple in Monticello, Utah.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 2007, the
percentage of Utahns that are counted as members of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is 60.7 percent of the state's
population.[5] 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.[5]
The LDS Church has historically had a strong regional influence
and has contributed to the state's restrictive attitude towards
alcohol 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.).[25] 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.[26] The Mormons in Utah tend
to have conservative views when it comes to most political issues
and the majority of Utahns are registered Republicans.
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:
Latter-day Saints - 62 percent
Non-religious - 17 percent
Roman Catholics - 6 percent
Refused to identify - 4 percent
Episcopalians - 3 percent
Other Christians - 3 percent
Other - 3 percent
Baptists - 2 percent
Evangelicals - 1 percent
Presbyterians - 1 percent
Lutherans - 1 percent
Methodists - 1 percent
Muslim - 1 percent
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.
[edit] Age and sex
Due to its high total birth rate (highest of any state in the U.S.),
Utah has the youngest population of any state.
The age distribution in Utah is:
9.4 percent under age 5
32.2 percent under age 18
59.3 percent ages 18 through 64
8.5 percent 65 or older
The gender makeup of Utah is:
49.9 percent female
50.1 percent male
[edit] Economy
Utah Quarter released 2007.
Bryce Canyon National Park is a major tourist attraction
Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon between Orem and Heber City.
Snowbird ski resortAccording 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.[27] 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.
Utah collects personal income tax within 6 income brackets. The
state sales tax has a base rate of 4.65 [28] 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 property taxes and does not impose
an inheritance tax.
[edit] Tourism
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 also hosted 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, and cultural attractions
such as Temple Square, Sundance Film Festival, and the Utah Shakespearean
Festival are among the most visited.
[edit] Mining
Bingham Canyon Mine southwest of Salt Lake City.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.[29]
[edit] Transportation
Further information: List of Utah State Routes and Utah Transit
Authority
Utah state welcome signInterstate 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.
U.S. Highway 6 in Emery County.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 Air Lines. 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.
[edit] Law and government
Further information: List of Utah Governors, List of Utah State
Legislatures, Utah State Senate, and Utah State House of Representatives
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.[30] 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.
[edit] Early suffrage
Utah granted full voting rights to women in 1870, 26 years before
becoming a state. Among all U.S. states, only Wyoming granted suffrage
to women earlier.[31] 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.
[edit] 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.[32]
[edit] 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.
The Utah State Capitol, Salt Lake City.
The Scott Matheson Courthouse is the seat of the Utah Supreme CourtHistorically,
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.[33] These tensions played a large part in
Utah's history, such as (Liberal Party vs. People's Party).
The current governor of Utah is Jon M. Huntsman, Jr.,[34] a member
of the Republican Party. He is a proponent of a flat tax,[35] an
opponent to same-sex marriage, while supporting the creation of
a reciprocal beneficiary status for same-sex couples,[36] and an
opponent to intelligent design being taught in the classroom.[37]
He also receives high approval ratings from across the Utah political
spectrum.[38]
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.
While the church maintains an official policy of neutrality in
regards to political parties and candidates,[39] 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.[40] 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.[41] 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.[42] 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.[43] 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.[44]
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.[45] For example,
the Republican Party of Utah opposes almost all abortions while
Utah Democrats take a more liberal approach, although more conservative
than their national counterparts. On Second Amendment issues, the
state GOP has been at odds with the LDS Church position opposing
concealed firearms in places of worship.
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.[41]
Governor elections results Year Republican Democratic
2004 57% 473,814 42% 350,841
2000 56% 422,357 43% 320,141
1996 75% 500,293 24% 155,294
About 80 percent of Utah's Legislature are members of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,[46] while they account for
61 percent of the population.[5]
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.
Senator Bennett results Year Republican Democratic
2004 69% 626,640 28% 258,955
1998 64% 33%
Senator Hatch results Year Republican Democratic
2006 NA NA
2000 66% 501,925 32% 241,129
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.[47]
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.
Salt Lake County Mayor Year Republican Democratic
2004 44% 144,928 48% 157,287
2000 52% 158,787 47% 144,011
The state's most Republican areas tend to be Utah County, which
is the home to Brigham Young University and Provo, and nearly all
the rural counties.[48][49] These areas generally hold socially
conservative views in line with that of the national Religious Right.
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,[50] 1980,[51] 1984,[52] 1988,[53] 1996,[54] 2000,[55]
and 2004[56] 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.[57] 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.[58]
[edit] Important cities and towns
Main articles: List of cities in Utah and List of cities in Utah
(by population)
See also: Utah locations by per capita income
Salt Lake City
Ogden
Provo
Sandy
Park City
St. George
LoganUtah'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 Washington (at 86.1 percent;
ranking it 12th). The cities (defined as having at least 9,000 residents
in 2000) that saw the greatest increases between 1990 and 2000 were:
Draper (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).
Utah
Rank City Population
(2006)
within
city limits Land
area Population
density
(/mi²) Population
density
(/km²) County
1 Salt Lake City 178,858 109.1 sq mi (283 km²) 1,666.1 630
Salt Lake
2 West Valley City 118,917 35.4 sq mi (92 km²) 3,076.3 1236
Salt Lake
3 Provo 115,135 39.6 sq mi (103 km²) 2,653.2 1106 Utah
4 West Jordan 101,638 30.9 sq mi (80 km²) 2,211.3 1143 Salt
Lake
5 Sandy 94,203 22.3 sq mi (58 km²) 3,960.5 1551 Salt Lake
6 Orem 92,176 18.4 sq mi (48 km²) 4,572.6 1881 Utah
7 Ogden 78,086 26.6 sq mi (69 km²) 2,899.2 1137 Weber
8 Layton 68,017 20.7 sq mi (54 km²) 2,823.9 1153 Davis
9 St. George 67,614 64.4 sq mi (167 km²) 771.2 385 Washington
10 Taylorsville 60,100 10.7 sq mi (28 km²) 5,376.1 2094 Salt
Lake
Combined statistical area Population
(2004)
Salt Lake City-Ogden-Clearfield
comprised of:
Salt Lake City and Ogden-Clearfield Metropolitan Areas and
Brigham City and Heber Micropolitan Areas (as listed below) 1,559,230
Utah
Rank Metropolitan area Population
(2004) U.S.
Rank Counties
1 Salt Lake City* 1,018,826 50 Salt Lake, Tooele, Summit
2 Ogden-Clearfield* 477,455 101 Weber, Davis, Morgan
3 Provo-Orem 412,361 112 Utah
4 St. George 109,924 318 Washington
5 Logan 109,666 320 Cache, Franklin (Idaho)
Until 2003, the Salt Lake City and Ogden-Clearfield metropolitan
areas were considered as a single metropolitan area.[59]
Utah
Rank Micropolitan area Population
(2004) U.S.
Rank
1 Brigham City 44,810 280
2 Cedar City 36,285 386
3 Vernal 26,671 495
4 Price 19,689 550
5 Heber 18,139 560
[edit] Colleges and Universities
Brigham Young University in Provo
College of Eastern Utah in Price
Dixie State College of Utah (formerly Dixie College) in St. George
Eagle Gate College in Murray and Layton
ITT Technical Institute in Murray
LDS Business College in Salt Lake City
Neumont University in South Jordan
Provo College in Provo
Salt Lake Community College in Taylorsville
Snow College in Ephraim and Richfield
Southern Utah University (formerly Southern Utah State College)
in Cedar City
Stevens-Henager College at various locations statewide
University of Phoenix at various locations statewide
University of Utah in Salt Lake City
Utah College of Massage Therapy in Salt Lake City
Utah State University in Logan (satellite campuses at various state
locations)
Utah Valley State College (Utah Valley University effective July
2008) in Orem
Weber State University in Ogden
Western Governors University an online university, begun by former
Utah Governor, Michael O. Leavitt
Westminster College in Salt Lake City
[edit] Sports
The Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association play in the
EnergySolutions Arena[60] 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.
Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer in Rice-Eccles Stadium in
Salt Lake City (a soccer-specific stadium has been approved for
Sandy, and ground was broken for the new stadium on August 12, 2006)[61]
Salt Lake Bees of the Pacific Coast League in Franklin Covey Field
in Salt Lake City
Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League in Lindquist Field in Ogden
Orem Owlz of the Pioneer League in Brent Brown Ballpark in Orem
Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL in the E Center in West Valley City
Utah Blaze of the Arena Football League at the EnergySolutions Arena
in Salt Lake City
Utah Blitz of the Minor League Football Association at Rice-Eccles
Stadium in Salt Lake City.
Utah Flash of the NBA Development League
[edit] Famous Utahns
Edward Abbey - American author and essayist noted for his advocacy
of environmental issues and criticism of public land policies. Best-known
for his novel The Monkey Wrench Gang.
Ross C. "Rocky" Anderson - Democratic mayor of Salt Lake
City (2000-2008), liberal activist, environmentalist, and former
ACLU attorney.
Hal Ashby - Director; films include "Being There", "The
Last Detail", "Harold and Maude".
Roseanne Barr - Comedian, actress, writer, talk-show host.
Bruce Bastian - Computer programmer, co-founder of the WordPerfect
Software Company, multi-millionaire philanthropist and member of
the board of directors of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the U.S.'s
largest Gay and Lesbian political action committee.
Belladonna - porn star.
Ezra Taft Benson - President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints from 1985 until his death and was United States Secretary
of Agriculture for both of the administrations of U.S. President
Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Robert Foster "Bob" Bennett - Republican United States
Senator from Utah.
Jaime Bergman - Actress, former Playmate, Born in Salt Lake City.
Kurt Bestor - American composer, arranger, and performer.
Shawn Bradley - Former NBA player.
John Moses Browning - Designer of popular firearms like the M2 .50
caliber machine gun and the Colt Model 1911 .45 semi-automatic handgun.
Wilford Brimley - Actor, senior citizen advocate.
Nolan Bushnell - Founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese.
Orson Scott Card - Science fiction author.
Butch Cassidy - Outlaw.
Gary Coleman - Relocated to Utah after the filming of the movie
Church Ball.[71]
Cytherea - Porn star born in Salt Lake City and raised in Taylorsville,
Utah.
Ty Detmer - former American football quarterback who starred at
BYU, he also won the Heisman Trophy in 1990.
Andre Dyson - NFL player.
Kevin Dyson - NFL player.
Marriner Eccles - Banker, economist, and Chairman of the Federal
Reserve during Roosevelt and Truman administrations.
Richard Paul Evans - American author best-known for his novel The
Christmas Box.
Philo Farnsworth - Inventor of the electronic television.
John D. Fitzgerald - Author of The Great Brain series of children's
books.
Harvey Fletcher - Famous American physicist. He was credited with
the invention of the hearing aid and the audiometer. Also know as
"the father of stereophonic sound."
Brandon Flowers - Lead singer of The Killers (although born in Las
Vegas he was raised in Nephi, Utah)
Patrick Fugit - Movie and television actor.
Jake Garn - Former U.S. Senator and one-time astronaut.
John Gilbert - Silent-film actor.
Wilbert L. Gore - Co-inventor of Gore-tex fabrics .
Gordon B. Hinckley - Former president of The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-Day Saints[72]
Orrin Hatch - U.S. Senator from Utah.
Tracy Hickman - Writer, co-creator of the famous D&D campaign
setting Dragonlance and associated novels.
Joe Hill - Socialist, radical labor activist, and member of the
Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) (spent much of his life in
Utah).
Mark Hofmann - Forgerer, author of the salamander letter.
Jon Huntsman, Sr. - Businessman, philanthropist.
Jon Huntsman, Jr. - Governor of Utah 2002-present.
Ken Jennings - Jeopardy! champion.
Jewel - Musician, author.
Thomas Kearns- U.S. Senator from Utah (1901-1905), owned both the
Silver King Coalition Mine in Park City, and the Salt Lake Tribune,
Utah's largest newspaper. Also built the Kearns-St.Ann's Orphanage
and the Kearns Building. The Kearns Mansion is now the Utah's Governor's
Mansion, the largest in the United States.
John D. Lee- Early Mormon Church leader. The only man convicted
in the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
The Lafferty Brothers (Ron and Dan) - Fundamentalist Mormons convicted
of double murder and featured in the book Under the Banner of Heaven
by John Krakauer.
Chad Lewis - NFL player.
Maddox - Internet satirist and author of The Best Page In The Universe
and The Alphabet of Manliness.
John Willard Marriott - Founder of worldwide hotel business Marriott
International, Inc..
Kenneth Maryboy - San Juan County Comissioner and former Sports
Announcer for the Phoenix Suns
Mark Maryboy was an American politician for San Juan County, Utah,
and a former Navajo Nation Council Delegate
Bert McCracken - Lead singer of The Used Raised in Utah, moved away
at age 18.
Larry H. Miller - Businessman, philanthropist.
Merlin Olsen - Former National Football League player and actor.
Donny Osmond - Singer, actor, former talk-show host.
Marie Osmond - Singer, actor, businesswoman.
The Osmonds - Show-business family, former pop-music group.
Neil Papiano - Internationally prominent Los Angeles lawyer.
Kim Peek - The world renowned savant that the title character of
"Rain Man" was modeled after.
Utah Phillips - Radical songwriter, labor activist and member of
the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW).
John Wesley Powell - Civil war soldier, geologist, and explorer
of the American West (lived in Utah).
Robert Redford - Actor, director, movie producer, environmentalist,
philanthropist.
Cael Sanderson - Four-time NCAA champion wrestler, 2004 Olympic
Gold Medal winner, and current wrestling coach of his alma-mater
Iowa State. Grew up in Heber City.
Brent Scowcroft - National Security Advisor to presidents Gerald
Ford and George H. W. Bush.
SheDaisy - Country music group. All 3 members born in Utah.
Elizabeth Smart - Kidnapping victim and victims right's advocate.
Branden Steineckert - Drummer of Rancid and ex-drummer of The Used,
was raised in Utah from an early age and currently lives there,
but was born in Idaho.
Wallace Earle Stegner - American historian, novelist, short story
writer, and environmentalist.
LeConte Stewart - American artist primarily known for his landscapes
of rural Utah, later became head of the Art Department at the University
of Utah from 1938 to 1956.
John Stockton - American professional basketball player (retired),
regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the
NBA records for career assists and steals by considerable margins,
spent his entire career (1984–2003) as a point guard for the
Utah Jazz of the NBA.
Kaycee Stroh - Actor who plays Martha Cox on High School Musical
and High School Musical 2.
Charlotte Stokely - porn star Born in Utah.
Mack Swain - Vaudeville performer and silent-film actor.
Supreme Court Justice George Sutherland - English-born U.S. jurist
and political figure raised in Springville, Utah. One of four appointments
to the Supreme Court by President Warren G. Harding, he served as
an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court between 1922 and
1938.
The band The Used was formed in Utah, all current members were born
there.
Mike Weir - Professional golfer.
Terry Tempest Williams - Author, environmentalist.
Scott Wolf - Actor.
James Woods - Born in Vernal, Utah. A well-renowned actor, appearing
in several major motion pictures, including Casino. As well as many
high profile videogames, including Grand Theft Auto San Andreas.
Loretta Young - Actress.
Mahonri Young - Sculptor and artist.
Steve Young - Hall of Fame quarterback for San Francisco 49ers,
won NFL's Most Valuable Player award 1992 and 1994, direct descendant
of Brigham Young.
David Zabriskie cyclist, stage winner in all three grand tours,yellow
jersey holder, national time trial champion.
Julianne Hough Dancing with the Stars professional Dancer
Quinn Allman guitarrist from the band The Used
[edit] 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.[73]
[edit] In entertainment
Utah is the setting of or the filming location for many books, films,[74]
and television series.[74] A selective list of each appears below.
[edit] Books
Harry Turtledove's Timeline-191, which is set in a North America
where the South won the Civil War, mentions Utah several times.
The state's Mormon population rebels against the United States in
an attempt to create the Nation of Deseret throughout the series,
which results in battles in and around Salt Lake City, Provo, and
other locations.
In Around the World in Eighty Days, the characters pass through
Utah by train.
The children's series The Great Brain is set in a fictional town
that is based on Price, Utah.
Edward Abbey's The Monkey Wrench Gang is set in Southern Utah and
Northern Arizona. The characters' ultimate goal is the destruction
of the Glen Canyon Dam.
Much of Walter M. Miller, Jr.'s post-apocalyptic novel A Canticle
for Leibowitz is set near or directly within Utah. The "hero"
of the first part of the novel, the novice Brother Francis Gerard,
is from Utah.
In the second of four books based on the video game Doom much of
the story takes place in Salt Lake City
[edit] Film
See also: Category:Films shot in Utah
SLC Punk! takes place in Salt Lake City.
Broken Arrow was filmed in Moab.
Some scenes in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade were filmed in
Moab.
Scenes from Dumb and Dumber were filmed in Utah.
High School Musical was shot at East High School.
High School Musical 2 was filmed in Salt Lake City and St. George
Scenes of "The Charlotte" from National Treasure were
filmed at Strawberry Reservoir
Footloose was shot in Payson and Lehi
Three O'Clock High was shot at Ogden High School
Independence Day
Con Air
Drive Me Crazy was shot at Ogden High School
Carnival of Souls
The Cheyenne Social Club
Harry in Your Pocket
Halloween 2 was filmed in Midvale
Head, (The Monkees)
The World's Fastest Indian
Jeremiah Johnson
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
The Eiger Sanction
The Electric Horseman
The Car
A Life Less Ordinary
Airport 1975
2001: A Space Odyssey
Easy Rider
Electra Glide in Blue
How the West Was Won
Stagecoach
The Trial of Billy Jack
Windtalkers
Fletch
National Lampoon's Vacation
Rio Grande, (John Wayne, John Ford)
Mission: Impossible
Octopussy
Thelma & Louise filmed in Moab, near Arches National Park and
Dead Horse Point State Park
The Sandlot was filmed in Ogden
Galaxy Quest
Some parts of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Pirates
of the Caribbean: At World's End were shot at the Salt Flats
Driven through and mentioned in Anywhere but Here
Mobsters and Mormons
The Big J's Burger scenes in Napoleon Dynamite were filmed in Richmond,
Utah
The Butter Cream Gang was filmed in Draper, Utah
"Joy Ride (film)" Filmed in Utah though not in Salt Lake
City according to the movie
[edit] Television
In the Doctor Who episode "Dalek," Utah was the base of
operations for the fictional character Henry van Statten.
In Prison Break, D.B. Cooper buried his money under a silo in the
Utah desert, somewhere near Tooele. Much of the first half of the
second season involves the characters attempting to reach Utah and
recovering the money.
In the series The Visitor, the main character's spaceship was shot
down and crash-landed in the mountains east of Salt Lake City.
Everwood was filmed in Ogden and South Salt Lake.
Regular production for Touched by an Angel was based in Salt Lake
City.
The CBS series "Promised Land" was filmed in a closed
set in Salt Lake City.
Big Love, an HBO television drama about a polygamous family, is
set in Utah.
In an episode of The Simpsons, Bart and his girlfriend drive to
Utah to get married, because of the marriage laws.
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