Fun Facts About Utah

Utah is the 45th state of the United States of America, it is a state that is well known for a lot of things especially its religious composition. Utah is one of the 50 states of the United States and it is located in the Mountain West subregion of the Western part of the country. Being one of the last states that were created, there is an incredible history that follows the state of Utah, these history is summarized as Utah fun facts, which would be shared in this article. For the benefit of Utahns, non-Utahn Americans and people from all over the world, this compilation of fun facts about Utah would be well detailed and precise.

Being unusually populated by Mormons(members of Latter Day Saint movement of Restorationist Christianity), the state is usually referred to as The Mormon State. Even though that is what many people know of the state of Utah, there are much more beautiful things to learn about Utah and that is what is in the below list of Utah facts for everyone

Facts About Utah

Why it is called The Mormon State

Utah is called The Mormon State by a lot of people. This is because the first settlers in Utah were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It is the 13th-largest state

With a total area of 84,899 square miles, Utah is the 13th largest state in the United States.

It is larger than Great Britain

Despite being the 13th largest state in the US, if Utah were to be a country, it would be larger than Great Britain, which on its own is the 11th largest country in Europe.

Utah’s neighbors

Utah is bordered by Idaho to the north, Arizona to the south, Colorado to the east, and Nevada to the west.

Utah’s capital

The capital of Utah is Salt Lake City, it is named after the Great Salt Lake, which it sits beside.

Its capital is not part of the 100 largest cities in the US

Of all cities in the US, Salt Lake City comes 122nd on the list for the largest cities with a population of about 200,000.

It is the 45th state

Utah is the 45th state of the US as it was admitted to the union on January 4, 1896.

It is the 30th most populous state

With a population of about 3.1 million, Utah is considered to be the 30th most populous state in the United States.

It is home to some native American tribes

Utah has been home to some native American tribes for thousands of years now. Some of these tribes are the Navajo, Puebloans, and Ute.

It is a landlocked state

Utah is one of the 27 states in the United States that are landlocked.

It is the 11th least densely populated state

With an average of 37 people per square mile, Utah ranks 11th on the list of least densely populated states in the United States.

It is the Beehive State

Utah is also known as the Beehive State, this is said to reflect how each person in the state works together to help and support each other in every venture.

The secret behind “Utah”

Utah’s name is thought to originate from the word “yuttahih” which is an Apache word that means “one that is higher up. However, some people have another theory as some believe the state’s name has origins linked to the native American Ute tribe or “people of the mountains”.

Utah is youthful

Of all 50 states in the US, Utah has the youngest population as more than one-third of the state’s populace is under the age of 18. The mean age for the state is also 31.3.

Utah hosts the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere

The largest saltwater lake in the whole Western Hemisphere is located in Utah, and it is the Great Salt Lake.

It is the site for the United States’ first department store

The first department store in the United States was founded in Utah by Brigham Young, the Mormon leader, and it was named the Zions Cooperative Mercantile Institution.

Secrets behind Utah’s flag

Utah’s flag is quite complex with lots of inscriptions and symbols it has on it. Looking at the flag, you’d see the state seal, a beehive, sego lilies, an eagle, two dates, and a US flag.

The sego lilies are located beside the beehive and it is said to represent peace. The eagle is said to mean protection. The two dates, 1847 and 1896, represent when the state was reestablished and when it joined the union. The US flag shows support for the country.

It is home to the largest ski resort

The largest ski resort in the United States is Park City Ski Resort, it is located in the state of Utah.

It has a cooking pot

The Dutch Oven is said to be the cooking pot of Utah. It is the only state to have one.

Utah has five national parks

Throughout the state of Utah, there are five national parks. They are Zion, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Arches.

Zion is known for its red cliffs and it includes mountains, canyons, buttes, mesas, monoliths, rivers, slot canyons, and natural arches.

Bryce Canyon is a collection of giant natural amphitheaters along the eastern side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, and it is also known for its hoodoos.

Canyonlands is known for its dramatic desert landscape carved by the Colorado River.

Capitol Reef is known for its amazing and beautiful landscapes while Arches is known for its plenty of natural sandstone arches and beautiful sunrises.

It has the 3rd most national parks

Of all 50 states in the United States, Utah with five national parks has the 3rd most amount of national parks.

Utah is very dry

Utah is one of the driest states in the US as it has more than 300 days of sunshine every year. Also, only about 3% of the state’s area is covered with water. In Utah, you get extremely long and hot summers with the winters being short and cold.

It allows death by firing squad

Utah is one of three states in the United States that allows for death by firing squads for inmates that are on death row.

Utah has a forest in every county

Of all the 50 states, Utah is the only one where each county has some part of a national forest. If you love camping or hunting, then Utah might be a place you want to visit.

It is host to the first-ever KFC store

Despite meaning Kentucky Fried Chicken, the location of the first KFC was not in Kentucky, rather, it was in Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah.

Utah has the largest Mormon church

The largest Mormon church by floor area is the Salt Lake Utah Temple located on Temple Square near the capitol building in Utah.

More than 50% of Utahans are Mormons

About 55% of the state’s total population are Mormons.

It is the Mormon’s land

Utah is home to more Mormons than any other state in the United States as there are more than 2 million members of the church who live in the state.

It has six national forests

Throughout the state of Utah, there are six national forests so well, you have different places to go camping when you visit the state.

Utah has the most charitable people

Of all 50 states in the US, Utah has the most charitable people. This was confirmed by a study conducted by WalletHub, the state ranked 1st in volunteer rates, median contribution to charity, and percentage of donated income.

It has the second-largest water reservoir in the US

Utah is home to the second largest water reservoir in the US, and it is Lake Powell. It is located on the Colorado River in the state. Over the years the place has been more than a water reservoir as it is now a popular tourist site with more than 2 million people visiting every year.

Polygamy was once practiced in Utah

Polygamy was once a common practice in Utah but it had to be banned as part of the requirements to meet before being admitted to the union, as the 45th state.

It’s the fed land

It is estimated that the US federal government owns about 63% of all the lands in Utah.

Some funny laws in Utah

In Utah, there is a law prohibiting you from hunting down Elephants. While this is a great law to have, the problem is that there are no elephants in the state so the law can never be enforced.

Also, in Provo, a city in Utah, you can technically be arrested if you hit someone with a snowball, stick, or any other object. Across Utah, it is against the law to drive on sidewalks, at least this one can be enforced.

Perfect time to ski

If you love skiing and you happen to be in Utah, make sure to always remember January 13. The date is said to be the best time to ski in the state as data gathered over the years show that on that day there is a very high chance of receiving snowfall.

It is home to the largest open pit mine in the world

The Brigham Canyon Mine located in Utah is the world’s largest man-made excavation as well as the deepest open pit mine in the world.

It produces gilsonite

Of all 50 states in the US, Utah is the only one that produces gilsonite, a pure form of asphalt.

The electric traffic light was invented by one of the state’s police officers

The electric traffic light was invented by Lester Wire, a member of the Salt Lake City police force.

It is home to the city with the highest plastic surgeon per capita

Utah is home to the city with the highest number of plastic surgeons per capita in the United States as Salt Lake City has more than any other in the country.

It is home to the largest raptor to be discovered

The largest raptor to be discovered on the earth was in Utah. It was a 23-foot-long predator with curved claws that were about 24 centimeters long. It was named Utahraptor, which is just the combination of the name of the state and “raptor”.

Butch Cassidy was born in Utah

Butch Cassidy, a notorious Western outlaw was born in Beaver, a town in Utah.

Touched by an Angel was filmed in Utah

Touched by an Angel was a popular TV series that ran from the early 1990s to the early 2000s, and it was filmed in Utah.

It hosts America’s largest independent film festival

The Sundance Film Festival which is held in Park City every January is considered to be the largest independent film festival in the US, and it is even one of the world’s best.

It has one of the snowiest places on Earth

With an annual snowfall of 551 inches, Cottonwood Canyons in Utah is considered to be one of the snowiest places in the world.

The last time US hosted the Olympics, it was in Utah

Utah is the last US state to host the Olympics as Salt Lake City hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 2002.

Frisbee inventor is from Utah

Walter F. Morrison of Utah is the man that invented Frisbee, one of the most popular sports in the United States.

It hosts one of the world’s largest natural bridge

Rainbow Bridge is one of the largest known natural bridges in the world and it is the largest in the United States. The bridge is about 290 feet tall and 270 feet long. Rainbow Bridge is considered sacred by the neighboring American Indian tribes. The bridge gets more than 80,000 visits every year.

It has the highest rate of adult film subscriptions

Of all 50 states in the United States, Utah has the highest rate of online adult film subscriptions.

The artificial heart was invented in Utah

The artificial heart was invented at the University of Utah in the early 1980s by Robert K. Jarvik.

Gambling is illegal in Utah

Utah is one of two states in the US where gambling is against the law. Casinos, horse race betting, lotteries, and poker are all illegal. Gambling is a class B misdemeanor. This law pays off as Utah is one of the states with the fewest gambling addictions.

Utah is the highest consumer of Jell-O

The U.S. state with the highest consumption of Jell-O is Utah. The residents love it so much that it is considered to be Utah’s state snack.

We are at the end of the list of interesting facts about Utah, there are much more facts about Utah we probably missed but expect you to share. In the following section we would be answering popular and frequently asked questions about Utah.

FAQs About Utah Facts

What is Utah known for?

Utah is know for quite a lot of things which are

The Mormon state.
Salt lake city.
The Beehive state.
Salt flats.
National parks

What is Utah’s state nickname?

The state of Utah’s nickname is The Beehive state but it is also unofficially known as the Mormon state.

When was Utah made a state?

Utah was made a state on the 4th of January 1896 making it the 45th state of the United States of America.