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Salt Lake City, often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC, is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. It is the seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in the state. The city is the core of the Salt Lake City Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which had a population of 1,257,936 at the 2020 census.
- Media in Salt Lake City
The Salt Lake City, Utah, area includes many diverse media...
- Salt Lake County, Utah
Salt Lake County is located in the U.S. state of Utah.As of...
- Sugar House
Sugar House area. Sugar House is a neighborhood in Salt Lake...
- Downtown Salt Lake City
Downtown (also called City Center) is the oldest district in...
- Salt Lake City (Disambiguation)
Salt Lake City is the capital of the U.S. state of Utah, and...
- Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the...
- List of People From Salt Lake City
A person who lives in or comes from Salt Lake City, Utah is...
- Salt Lake City Metropolitan Area
The Salt Lake City metropolitan area is the metropolitan...
- Trax Light Rail System
TRAX is a light rail system in the Salt Lake Valley of Utah,...
- Geography of Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is located in a large valley, the Salt Lake...
- Media in Salt Lake City
Take a hike, find a new favorite restaurant, explore the state’s heritage or enjoy a lively night out. It’s all available to you in Salt Lake City, but just in case you aren’t sure where to start, here are a few of the city’s most popular things to do. Explore Salt Lake City Support Local.
Feb 2, 2023 · Ranking of the top 24 things to do in Salt Lake City. Travelers favorites include #1 Temple Square, #2 Great Salt Lake and more.
Apr 11, 2024 · 1. Liberty Park. Salt Lake City has a beautiful selection of parks and green spaces. This park is the oldest and second largest in the city, spanning 80 acres. It’s the perfect spot for a morning stroll with coffee or somewhere to spend an hour or two in the late afternoon under a tree with a book.
- Overview
- History
- The contemporary city
Salt Lake City, state capital and seat (1849) of Salt Lake county, north-central Utah, U.S., situated on the Jordan River at the southeastern end of Great Salt Lake. The world capital of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), it influences the social, economic, political, and cultural life of the people in a wide area of Utah an...
Ute and Shoshone Indians were early inhabitants of the area. The city was founded in 1847 by Brigham Young and a band of 148 Mormons as a refuge from religious persecution and was known as Great Salt Lake City until 1868. Laid out by Young according to Joseph Smith’s plan for the city of Zion, the city was divided into 10-acre (4-hectare) blocks bounded by wide streets grouped around the Temple Block (now known as Temple Square). Mormon immigrants from the East and Europe flocked to the “New Jerusalem,” the “City of the Saints,” in the Provisional State of Deseret (a Book of Mormon word interpreted as “honeybee”). The California Gold Rush of 1849 contributed to the city’s growth.
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After the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848), Utah passed to U.S. sovereignty and became a territory in 1850. Salt Lake City was the territorial capital from 1856 to 1896, when it became the capital of the new state. Conflicts between Mormons and U.S. officials led to the so-called Utah War of 1857–58, when General Albert Sidney Johnston’s troops marched through the city to establish Camp Floyd west of Utah Lake. Social and religious conflict between Mormons and non-Mormons continued to influence the life of the city for a century.
Mining operations near Salt Lake City produce copper, gold, molybdenum, platinum, selenium, silver, lead, and zinc, and various salts are produced from the lake. The city is a regional trade and transportation centre and has an international airport. Services such as government, education, health care, and financial and business services are a major part of the economy. High-technology industries and telecommunications are also primary factors. Printing and publishing are important, and manufactures include medical products, computer equipment, software, and aerospace products. Tourism contributes greatly to the economy, with more than a dozen ski areas located near the city. It is also a trade, processing, and transportation centre for agricultural products from nearby irrigated farmlands.
Educational institutions include the University of Utah (1850), Westminster College (1875), and Salt Lake Community College (1948). Salt Lake City is a world centre of genealogy research; the Family Search Center and Family History Library contain records of some two billion names. Monuments and buildings include the Mormon Tabernacle (1863–75; famous for its choir), Salt Lake Temple (1853–93), and the Seagull Monument (1913), all within Temple Square. Near the square are Beehive and Lion houses (residences for Brigham Young’s families) and Young’s grave. The State Capitol (1916), built of Utah granite and marble in Corinthian style, has an exhibition hall.
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- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Feb 2, 2024 · Nestled between snowcapped mountains and home to a host of outdoor recreation opportunities, Salt Lake City is a bucket-list destination for anyone craving the adventure of a lifetime!
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Whether you're visiting Salt Lake City for business or taking a vacation, we're here to help you plan the perfect trip. See our guides to hotels, things to do, events, transportation, restaurants and bars. Salt Lake City has all the urban amenities while being close to outdoor recreation and skiing.
