Search results
People also ask
What are some fun facts about Utah?
What is Utah known for?
Why is Utah so popular?
What geographic features does Utah have?
- Utah gets its name from the Native American tribe, Ute. The tribe has lived here for centuries, much before the first Europeans arrived in America. While traditionally the Ute tribe hunted, fished and gathered food, they also traded with other Native American tribes and with the Spanish.
- Archaeological evidence supports the fact that the Utah region has been inhabited by Native Americans for about 12,000 years. The archaeological ruins at Range Creek are an archaeologist and historian’s delight.
- In 1846, after the death of their religious leader and prophet, Latter Day Saints or Mormons began their journey from Illinois to Utah. Today, more than 60% of Utah residents are Mormons.
- Utah’s first Mormon (Latter-Day Saints) settlement was made by Brigham Young when he arrived in Salt Lake Valley with 148 Mormons. On July 24, 1847 when he first saw the Salt Lake valley he said “This is the place.”
- Utah Fun Facts
- Interesting Facts About Utah
- Funny Facts About Utah
- Cool Facts About Utah
- Random Facts About Utah
- Weird Facts About Utah
- In Summary
It was the 45th state
The first of many fun facts on this list about Utah is that it was the 45th state. Though it had been a US territory since 1850, it didn't become an official part of the Union until 1896. The delay in its statehood was due to disputes between the Mormon Church that was headquartered in the area and the government. Statehood was only allowed when the state outlawed polygamy.
Ancient people lived in Zion National Park
Zion National Parkis one of the most historically significant places in the country. It was the ancestral home of the Anasazi, an ancient population. The park is also important because it shows how the country's geography has changed. It's home to ancient riverbeds that have long dried up. You can even find remnants of the ocean that once covered the territory.
Utah has several natural arches at Arches National Park
Arches National Park gets its name from the 2000 natural sandstone arches spread around the park. The most famous is affectionately called "Delicate Arch". Millions of people visit the park every year to admire and hike around these natural landmarks.
Utahns love to read
According to a study conducted by the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, Utah has the highest literacy rate in the country. Self-reports show that 91% of the state's adults know how to read above a 4th-grade level. The national average for adult literacy is just over 85%. Utah's residents love to read and their Salt Lake City library is one of the largest in the world.
There are eight Native American tribes
Utah has been home to indigenous populations for thousands of years. Many of these tribes are descendants of the very first people to cross the Bering Strait. Due to conflicts, relocation, and tribal alliances, the number of tribes has decreased over the years. Currently, the state has eight distinctNative American populations residing within its territory.
The state has a lot of national parks
If you're a nature lover, you should plan a trip to Utah. The state has five national parksthat have been collectively called the "Mighty Five." Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion are all main attractions that draw millions of tourists to the state every year. There are also over 40 Utah state parks.
The Dutch Oven is a symbol
The Dutch Ovenwas invented in 1891 as a cheaper and lighter alternative to cast-iron cookware. Though it was invented in the Netherlands, it's become a symbol in Utah. In 1997, the state's government designated the Dutch Oven the state's official cooking pot. This is because the early settlers relied on this sort of pot to prepare food.
The state is home to a natural stone "rainbow bridge"
Rainbow Bridge National Monumenthas been a national landmark since 1910. Standing 290 feet tall and stretching 275 feet across, it's the largest natural bridge in the world. Until the 1950s, visitors regularly climbed to the top of the bridge. However, to help preserve its structural integrity, visitors are now only permitted to admire it from the ground.
It claims to have the greatest snow
Since 1960, Utah has claimed it has the "greatest snow on earth." With 10 premier ski resorts and multiple other areas for winter sports, it's a claim the state has definitely backed up. The XIX Winter Olympicswere even held in Salt Lake City in 2002. For a while, the phrase was even printed on the state's license places.
Bingham Canyon is the deepest pit in the world
Bingham Canyonhas been unofficially dubbed the deepest pit in the world. This canyon is a copper, gold, molybdenum, and silver mine. It was first opened in 1903, and it still runs efficiently to this day. It's also the deepest open mine pit in the world.
Jello-O is popular
Jell-O might have started in New York, but Utah has embraced the dessert. In 2001, the state's government even named it the official snack of Utah. Some people speculate that the state's large number of families has something to do with the food's popularity. Its family-friendly dessert appeal has resulted in it being highly marketedto Utahns in particular.
The state rock is coal
While it's no longer a sustainable source of power throughout the world, coal is still widely used in Utahfor power. Millions of pounds of coal production annually in the state led to it being designated as the state rock in 1991.
It has the highest married population
Marriage rates around the US have dropped, but a state of Utah fact is that they still beat the national average. Utah has 8.4 marriages per 1000residents, while the national average is 5.1. However, Utah doesn't have the most marriages in the country. That honor goes to Nevada with 21 weddings per 1000 residents. That number is higher because it also includes the infamous Las Vegas weddings.
The population is young
Utah might not have the largest population, but it has one of the youngest populations. The national average age of people in the US is 38.1. The average age of Utah residents is 31.1. This age has gone up since the 2016 census, however, it's still the youngest statein the country. The reason is that Utah has one of the highest birth rates in the US.
Thank Utah for the Frisbee
A fun Utah fact is that it indirectly gave us the Frisbee. The popular flying disc brand was invented in 1948 by Walter Frederick Morrison, originally from Richfield, Utah. It wouldn't be until 1957 that the Frisbee gained popularity and started being produced on a large scale for commercial sale.
There are a lot of plastic surgeons
According to an informal report, there are more plastic surgeons per capita in Salt Lake City than anywhere else in the country. There are around six plastic surgeons for every thousand residents in the city. No one knows for sure why this is. It's speculated that the practice is much more accepted here than in other parts of the country.
It's not densely populated
Utah has its fair share of busy cities, but the state itself isn't very densely populated. The average population density is 37.2 peopleper square mile. The national average is 93.8. The state's total population is only 3.3 million as of 2021. However, that number is increasing, and therefore likely that the population density will also increase.
Hill Air Force Base employs many Utahns
Hill Air Force Base is a major military base located near Ogden, Utah. It's been open since 1940, but its size has grown exponentially over the years. It currently has a million acres of land. The base employs over 22 thousand Utah residents. While it might not be the largest employer in the state by company, it's the largest single-site employer.
Did you find this list interesting? Which fact surprised you most? Learning that some parts of the state get over 500 inches of annual snow was probably a shock! Hopefully, this has inspired you to learn more about one of the most underrated states in the country. That way, you'll be completely prepared for a trip to the "Beehive State." Plus, you'...
Aug 20, 2016 · 10 Interesting Facts about Utah. What do you think of when you hear the word "Utah"? Do you conjure images of Mormons? The red rocks of beautiful Moab? Or the best skiing on earth? Find out what Utah is famous for and more. The snow density in Utah's famous Cottonwood Canyons is 8.5%, which is the perfect "body" for a perfect ski powder day. [18]
- Utah’s Great Salt Lake is the largest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. With the three main rivers draining into it depositing around 1.1 million tons of minerals into the lake each year, it is actually 9 times saltier than all the world’s oceans since it does not have an outlet, at almost 2,100 fluctuating square miles, 34 feet deep, and with around 4.9 billion tons of salt!
- Monsters in the Great Salt Lake! Dubbed the “North Shore Monster”, the Great Salt Lake in Salt Lake City also supposedly has one or two monsters that were seen in 1877, described to have a head like a horse with a crocodile body!
- Utah has the youngest population in the nation. The highest percentage of its total population is under the age of 5, 32% of residents under the age of 18, and the mean age is 30.2 years old.
- Utah is famous for its skiing, and Park City Ski Resort is the largest ski resort in the U.S. Though Utah is the second-driest state in the U.S. after Nevada, and on average, has about 300 sunny days per year, still every year an average of nearly 500 inches of snowfall occurs in the mountains.
Utah has several natural arches at Arches National Park. Arches National Park gets its name from the 2000 natural sandstone arches spread around the... See all Facts.
Oct 25, 2023 · 4. It Is Home Some Of The Most Visited National Parks. Zion, the second-most visited national park in the US, contributes to the interesting facts about Utah due to its rich 229 square-mile landscape of red cliffs towering up to 2,000 feet above the sweeping canyons – which feature in the Godfather movies and The Musketeers.
Jun 3, 2023 · Capital: Salt Lake City. Population: 3.338 million (30th Populous State in the U.S) Land Area: 84,899 mi² / 219,890 km² (11th Largest in the U.S) Nickname: Beehive State. Abbreviation: UT. Statehood: January 4, 1896 (45th U.S State) State Bird: California Gull. State Flower: Sego Lily. Historical Facts About Utah.
