People have lived in Utah for thousands of years. The first inhabitants are called Old Indians. They then evolved into the Fremont and Anasazi tribes around 500 AD. The Anasazis are also called “cliff-dwellers” because they carved their great cities out of rock walls. Some of these cities can still be seen today. The Anasazi people disappeared from the area around 1300.
Information about Utah State:
| Capital | Salt Lake City |
| Population | 3,380,800 (Source: 2022 U.S. Census) |
| Major Cities | Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Provo, West Jordan, Orem |
| Borders | Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | $248,176.3 million (2022 U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis) |
| Key Industries | Mining including coal, petroleum, gold, and silver Agriculture includes corn, hay, wheat, cattle, and sheep Medical equipment, electronics, steel, and tourism |
Flag of Utah State:
Native Americans
When Europeans arrived in Utah, the land was inhabited by various Native American tribes. One of the largest tribes is the Utah people, who gave the state its name. The Utes lived in temporary shelters called tipis and hunted water buffaloes for food. Other Native American tribes included the Paiutes to the south, the Goshutes to the west, the Shoshone to the north, and the Navajo to the southeast.
Europeans Arrive
The first Europeans arrived in Utah in the 17th century, when the Spanish explorer Juan Antonio de Rivera visited the country in his 1765. He claimed Spanish lands and discovered the Colorado River. In 1776 another expedition arrived in Utah from Mexico. It was headed by a Franciscan priest who was looking for a route to California.
From the late 17th century he was followed by a few more people in the early 19th century. Most of them were fur hunters looking for new hunting grounds. These people included Jim Bridger, who discovered the Great Salt Flats, and Jedediah Smith, who discovered the trail through the Rocky Mountains.
One of the most influential discoverers was the American John C. Fremont. Fremont produced detailed maps and records of the territory, which were very useful to future settlers.
Utah State Symbols
- Utah State Nickname: Beehive State
- Utah State Slogan: Life Elevated; (formerly) Greatest Snow on Earth and Utah! Where Ideas Connect (the former and the ‘Utah!’ part of the latter were both on license plates)
- Utah State Motto: Industry
- Utah State flower: Sego lily
- Utah State bird: California Gull
- Utah State fish: Bonneville cutthroat trout
- Utah State tree: Quaking Aspen
- Utah State mammal: Rocky Mountain elk
- Utah State foods: Sugar Beet, Jell-O
The Mormon Pioneers Arrive
In 1830, Joseph Smith founded a religious organization in New York called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). But the members of this church, commonly known as Mormons, were persecuted wherever they went.
When Joseph Smith was killed by an angry mob in Illinois in 1844, the LDS Church decided it needed a new place to live. They chose Utah because there weren’t many people living there. In 1847, a group of 148 Mormon pioneers led by Brigham Young traveled to Utah. They settled in the Salt Lake Valley and named their settlement Great Salt Lake City.
The following year, another 1,650 Mormons joined. Soon the area grew rapidly, with new settlements such as Ogden, Provo and Farmington emerging. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints called their country Deseret State, and in 1850 over 11,000 Mormons lived in the area.
Becoming a State
In 1848, the United States gained control of Utah from Mexico as a result of the Mexican-American War. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wanted to join the United States as the State of Deseret, but instead the country became the Territory of Utah.
In the years that followed, disagreements between the U.S. government and LDS Church leaders prevented Utah from becoming a state. It was not until January 4, 1896, that Utah was admitted as her 45th state.
The Geography of Utah State:
- Total Size of Utah: 82,144 sq. miles (source: 2003 Census)
- Geographical Low Point of Utah: Beaver Dam Wash at 2,000 feet, located in the county/subdivision of Washington (source: U.S. Geological Survey)
- Geographical High Point of Utah: Kings Peak at 13,528 feet, located in the county/subdivision of Duchesne (source: U.S. Geological Survey)
- Central Point of Utah: Located in Sanpete County approx. 3 miles north of Manti (source: U.S. Geological Survey)
- Counties of Utah: 29 (source: National Association of Counties)
- Bodies of Water of Utah: Great Salt Lake, Utah Lake, Lake Powell, Sevier Lake, San Juan River, Colorado River, Green River
Progress and the 1860s
The 1860s were a time of progress for the state as it became more closely connected with the rest of the country. In 1861, the final connection of the first transcontinental telegraph was made in Salt Lake City. Only eight years later, in 1869, the final tip of the first transcontinental railroad was laid on Mount Promontory in Utah. Well, Utah wasn’t so isolated from the rest of the country.
Famous People of Utah State:
| NAMES | PROFESSIONS |
| Steve Young | Professional football player |
| James Woods | Actor |
| Byron Scott | Professional basketball player and coach |
| Donny and Marie Osmond | Singer/actors |
| Merlin Olen | Professional football player, commentator, and actor |
| J. Willard Marriott | Founder of Marriott hotels |
| Roseanne Barr | Comedian and actress |
| Butch Cassidy | Bank robber and criminal |
| Philo Farnsworth | Inventor of the television |
| Julianne Hough | Dancer and actress |
| Jewel | Singer and songwriter |
Interesting Facts of Utah State:
Utah is named after the Native American tribe “Utes”, which means “mountain people”.
The Great Salt Lake is the largest lake west of the Mississippi River.
Utah hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics.
The mountains near Salt Lake City, Utah average 500 inches of snow annually.
Mormons, a religious group, settled in Utah in 1847. It is called the Beehive State because it was an important Mormon symbol of hard work, thrift, and perseverance.
Utah has the highest literacy rate of any U.S. state.
Utah is one of her Four Corners states. It intersects Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico at one point.
The U.S. Transcontinental Railroad is completed in Promontory, Utah. It was there that the Union Pacific Railroad Company and the Central Pacific Railroad Company met to complete a line that spanned the length of the country.
Salt Lake City was called Great He was Salt Lake City until 1968, when the City of Great was abolished.
Timeline Overview:
500 – Anasazi lived in this area.
1300 – Anasazi disappear.
1600s – Native American tribes such as the Ute and Shoshone live here.
1765 – Spanish explorer Juan Antonio de Rivera visits the area.
1776 – Franciscan priests search the country for a way to California.
1821 – Mexico gains independence from Spain and takes control of Utah.
1824 – Jim Bridger becomes the first European to sight the Great Salt Flats.
1847 – Mormons arrive and discover Salt Lake City.
1848 – Utah becomes part of the United States after the Mexican-American War.
1849 – Mormons establish Deseret County.
1850 – U.S. Congress establishes Utah Territory.
1861 – The first transcontinental telegraph connects to Salt Lake City.
1869 – First transcontinental railroad completed at Mount Promontory.
1896 – Utah is incorporated as the 45th state.
1919 – Zion National Park is established.
1964 – Fire Valley Dam completed.
2002 – The Winter Olympics are held in Salt Lake City.