The US state of Utah was colonized by the Mormons in a creative way. Now a surprise is looming in the elections. An overview of the background to the history, founding and economy of the region
- Utah was built by Mormon Christian supporters.
- The US state has a variety of impressive natural landscapes.
- As a Republican stronghold, the elections seem to have a clear tendency here, but in 2020 the tide could surprisingly turn.
Salt Lake City – The US state of Utah takes its name from the Ute Indian tribe who still live in this area today. A popular nickname of this state is “Beehive State” (= beehive state). It refers to the bee-like industry of the Mormons that characterizes this Christian denomination.
- ABBREVIATIONFINDER.ORG: Overview of state Utah, including major cities and most commonly used abbreviations of Utah.
Utah – the story of the founding of the 45th US state
The history of settlement in Utah begins in the 18th century when explorers and fur hunters explored the region. Settlers arrived in large numbers in the 19th century. Here are the key data of this era at a glance:
- In 1847, the first followers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as Mormons, came to Utah with the aim of building a state of their own.
- In 1850 the Perpetual Emigrating Fund or PEF (= Permanent Immigration Fund) was created, with the means of which new converts were to be brought to Utah from the east coast of the USA and Europe.
- In the mid-1850s, PEF ran out of money, so the pioneers were transported in handcarts from Iowa City to Salt Lake City, Utah.
- From 1857 to 1858 the Utah War raged between the Mormons and the US government, as the then US President James Buchanan wanted to abolish polygamy and prevent the establishment of an independent Mormon state.
- From 1861 the US government downsized the Utah Territory, divided it up in several steps and assigned some regions of it to Nevada, Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming.
- On January 4, 1896, Utah joined the United States in its current size as the 45th state.
Utah geography and location facts
Utah is located in the southwestern United States. Its neighboring states are Idaho and Wyoming to the north, Colorado to the east, Arizona to the south, and Nevada to the west. It has an area of around 219, 887 square kilometers.
The state has extensive desert landscapes, a large salt lake and the Wasatch Mountains. Utah is also home to the “Mighty 5”, five of the most impressive national parks in the USA. This includes:
- Arches
- Bryce Canyon
- Canyonlands
- Capitol Reef
- Zion
Utah: Major Cities in Mormon State
The capital Salt Lake City is also the most populous metropolis in Utah with approx. 186, 440 inhabitants. According to COUNTRYAAH.COM, there are also other large cities in this US state such as:
- West Valley City with 129, 480 residents
- Provo with 112, 488 inhabitants
- West Jordan with 103, 712 inhabitants
Utah and its people
Utah has approximately 3, 101, 833 residents, which is 13 people per square kilometer. The population consists of the following groups:
- 1 percent white
- 9 percent black and African American
- 9 percent Asian
- 1 percent Indians
- 7 percent Hawaiians
- 5 percent of other parentage
- 8 percent belong to two or more groups
Utah economy facts and figures
Major sectors of Utah’s economy are mining, the aviation industry, and tourism. Agriculture and animal husbandry are also represented near the mountains.
Utah: This is how the people vote
Utah is a “red state” due to its rural structures and the high regard it holds for traditional values such as family and church. The Republicans have won every presidential election here since 1960. The exception is 1964, when the US state voted for the Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson with a majority.
The tide could turn again in the 2020 elections, as Mormons in Utah largely reject Donald Trump. The favorite this year is the independent candidate Evan McMullin.
Natural Bridges National Monument
The Natural Bridges National Monument is located in the Four Corners area, on the border of the four American states of Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. It is a relatively small and not very well-known corner of the country where three canyons meet. The ancient rivers that flowed here created huge rock bridges at their confluences, which are today the biggest attraction and after which this park is also named. The Natural Bridges area is about 30 miles west of Blanding and south of Canyonlands National Park.
Three elegant natural bridges span the narrow gaps of Armstrong and White Canyons. White Canyon stretches all the way to Lake Powell. The largest of the bridges is Sipapu Bridge which is 60 meters high and 80 meters wide, the second is Kachina Bridge and the third is Owachomo, which is the oldest and most fragile. A short path leads to each of them, but none of the walks takes more than an hour. Unfortunately, these monuments show the effect of ongoing erosion, which cuts away layer after layer from the unique arches. A typical example of the effect of erosion is the Owachomu Bridge, which is only two and a half meters wide and is constantly getting thinner. In 1992, a rock avalanche weighing 4,000 tons broke out of the Kachina Bridge. According to experts, it is only a matter of time before these unique stone bridges collapse completely.
A beautiful 13 km long hiking trail runs through the bottom of the canyon, which is easy to walk, yet has a rather adventurous feel. Another advantage of this area is that you don’t have to meet a single person during your stay here – you just don’t get lucky in other parts of the American West. Another positive of this park is the beautiful campsite, which offers accommodation to heat-weary tourists. Plus, Natural Bridges is said to be one of the places with the least light smog in the United States, so you can enjoy unobstructed views of the beautiful starry sky.