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Capital:
Salt Lake City
Governor:
Michael O. Leavitt, R (to Jan. 2005)
Lieut.
Governor: Olene Walker, R (to Jan. 2005)
Senators:
Robert F. Bennett, R (to Jan. 2005); Orrin G. Hatch, R (to Jan.
2007)
Treasurer:
Edward T. Alter, R. (Jan. 2005)
Auditor:
Auston G. Johnson, R (Jan. 2005)
Atty.
General: Mark Shurtleff, R (to Jan. 2005)
Organized
as territory: Sept. 9, 1850
Entered
Union (rank): Jan. 4, 1896 (45)
Present
constitution adopted: 1896
Motto:
Industry
State Symbols:
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flower
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sego lily (1911) |
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tree
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blue spruce (1933) |
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bird
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California gull (1955) |
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emblem
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beehive (1959) |
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song
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"Utah, We Love Thee" (1953) |
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gem
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topaz |
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animal
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Rocky Mountain elk (1971) |
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insect
|
honeybee (1983) |
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grass
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Indian rice grass (1990) |
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fossil
|
allosaurus (1988) |
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cooking pot
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dutch oven (1997) |
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fish
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Bonneville cutthroat trout (1997) |
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fruit
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cherry (1997) |
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mineral
|
copper |
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rock
|
coal (1991) |
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The region was first explored for Spain by Franciscan friars
Escalante and Dominguez in 1776. In 1824 the famous American
frontiersman Jim Bridger discovered the Great Salt Lake.
Fleeing
religious persecution in the East and Midwest, the Mormons arrived
in 1847 and began to build Salt Lake City. The U.S. acquired the
Utah region in the treaty ending the Mexican War in 1848, and the
first transcontinental railroad was completed with the driving of a
golden spike at Promontory Summit in 1869.
Mormon
difficulties with the federal government about polygamy did not end
until the Mormon Church renounced the practice in 1890, six years
before Utah became a state.
Rich in
natural resources, Utah has long been a leading producer of copper,
gold, silver, lead, zinc, and molybdenum. Oil has also become a
major product. Utah shares rich oil shale deposits with Colorado and
Wyoming. Utah also has large deposits of low sulphur coal.
Ranked fifth
among the states in number of sheep in 1998, Utah also produces
large crops of alfalfa, winter wheat, and beans.
Utah's
traditional industries of agriculture and mining are complemented by
increased tourism and growing aerospace, biomedical, and
computer-related businesses.
Utah is a
great vacationland with 11,000 miles of fishing streams and 147,000
acres of lakes and reservoirs. Among the many tourist attractions
are Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion
National Parks; Cedar Breaks, Dinosaur, Hovenweep, Natural Bridges,
Rainbow Bridge, Timpanogos Cave, and Grand Staircase (Escalante)
National Monuments; the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City; and
Monument Valley. Salt Lake City will be the site of the 2002 Winter
Olympics.
Nickname: Beehive State
Origin of name: From the Ute tribe,
meaning "people of the mountains"
10 largest cities (1999 est.):
Salt Lake City, 171,151; Provo, 110,690; West Valley City, 102,718;
Sandy, 101,853; Orem, 82,965; Ogden, 68,210; West Jordan, 65,139;
Layton, 56,469; Taylorsville, 55,939; St. George, 47,994
Land area:
82,168 sq mi. (212,816 sq km)
Geographic center: In Sanpete Co.,
3 mi. N. of Manti
Number of counties:
29
Largest county by population and area:
Salt Lake, 850,243 (1999 est.); San Juan, 7,821 sq mi.
National parks: 5
National monuments: 7
State parks/forests:
45 (64,097 ac.):
Residents: Utahan, Utahn
1999 resident population est.:
2,129,836
1990 resident census population (rank):
1,722,850 (35). Male: 855,759;
Female: 867,091.
White: 1,615,845 (93.8%);
Black: 11,576 (0.7%);
American Indian: 24,283 (1.4%);
Asian: 33,371 (1.9%); Other
race: 37,775 (2.2%); Hispanic:
84,597 (4.9%). 1990 percent population
under 18: 36.4; 65 and over:
8.7; median age: 26.2. |
