Utah, the Rocky Mountain state of the West, is bordered by Idaho and Wyoming to the North, Colorado to the East, Arizona to the South, and Nevada to the West. It also touches New Mexico in the South East area at the Four Corners. Area, 84,916 sq mi (219,932 sq km), including 2,577 sq mi (6,674 sq km) of inland water surface.
Pop. (2005) 2,547,389, a 26.7% increase since the 1995 census.
Capital and largest city: Salt Lake City.
Motto: Industry.
State bird: Seagull.
State flower: Sego Lily.
State tree, Blue Spruce.  Cultivated land, including isolated farms in river valleys and considerable dry-farming acreage, is limited to a small percentage of the state's total area. Major crops in Utah are hay, corn, barley, and wheat, but the bulk of income from agriculture comes from livestock and livestock products, including sheep, cattle, dairy, and an expanding poultry industry. Abundant sunshine provides some compensation for inadequate rainfall, and the climate is generally moderate, allowing for substantial fruit production. Record precipitation over the recent years has filled lakes and resevoirs, and has taken Utah away from any drought warnings.
 For many years, high freight rates and the long distances to major markets, together with a religious distrust of industrialization, tended to discourage manufacturing. However, the establishment of defense plants and military installations in Utah during World War II spurred phenomenal industrial growth. The proximity of high-grade iron, coal, and limestone made Provo a steel center. Industrial plants extend from Provo to Brigham City, with the largest concentration in the Salt Lake City area. Utah is now a center for aerospace research and the production of missiles, spacecraft, computer hardware and software, electronic systems, and related items. Other major manufactures are processed foods, machinery, fabricated metals, and petroleum products.
Tourism has become increasingly important to the state's economy. In addition to the five national parks and seven national monuments, ski resorts, particularly in the Wasatch Range, are popular destinations. Biking, boating, hiking, rafting, and a fresh breath of mountain air unique to Utah, has created a tourist magnet, as well as encouraging growth in many areas. Since 1984, Park City has hosted the annual Sundance Film Festival.
*Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, Copyright (c) 2003 |