Utah General Information

 

Abbreviation: UT

Population: 2,900,872

Land Area: 82,144
(sq. mi.)

Utah (/ˈjuːtɔː/ or ⁱ/ˈjuːtɑː/; Arapaho: Wo’tééneihí ^[7]) is a state in the United States. It became the 45th state admitted to the Union on January 4, 1896. Utah is the 13th-largest, the 33rd-most populous, and the 10th-least-densely populated of the 50 United States. Utah has a population of about 2.9 million, approximately 80% of whom live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City, leaving vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited.^[8] Utah is bordered by Colorado to the east, Wyoming to the northeast, Idaho to the north, Arizona to the south, and Nevada to the west. It also touches a corner of New Mexico in the southeast.

Utah is the most religiously homogeneous state in the Union. Approximately 62% of Utahns are reported to be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or LDS (Mormons), which greatly influences Utah culture and daily life.^[9] The world headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is located in Utah’s state capital, Salt Lake City.^[10][11]

The state is a center of transportation, education, information technology and research, government services, mining, and a major tourist destination for outdoor recreation. According to U.S. Census Bureau population estimates, Utah is the second fastest-growing state in the United States as of 2013.^[12] St. George was the fastest–growing metropolitan area in the United States from 2000 to 2005.^[13] A 2012 Gallup national survey found Utah overall to be the “best state to live in” based on 13 forward-looking measurements including various economic, lifestyle, and health-related outlook metrics.^[14]