Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City redirects here, for the township see Salt Lake City (Bidhan Nagar), Kolkata, India.

Salt Lake City is the state capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Utah. The population of the city, as of the 2000 Census, was 181,743. By 2005, U.S. Census Bureau estimates placed its population at 178,097. It is the seat of Salt Lake County, which encompasses the Salt Lake Valley and 15 of its suburbs.

The Salt Lake City metropolitan area partially spans two additional counties, Summit and Tooele, and had a total estimated population of 1,034,484 in 2005, while the Salt Lake City-Ogden-Clearfield combined statistical area had 1,521,326 residents. Metropolitan Salt Lake is situated in a greater urban area called the Wasatch Front, home to just over 2 million residents. The 2000 metropolitan population of Salt Lake was the third largest in the interior western U.S., behind only Denver and Phoenix.

The city occupies the north end of the Salt Lake Valley at an elevation of 4,330 feet (1,320 m). The valley is surrounded by mountains that rise dramatically to an elevation of 11,752 feet (3,582 m). Named after the nearby Great Salt Lake—in fact, the original name was "Great Salt Lake City"—the city is separated from the shores of the lake by marshes and mudflats.

Founded in 1847 by a group of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) led by Brigham Young, Salt Lake City is among the oldest cities in the region and is the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mining and railroads initially brought economic growth, and the city became known as the "Crossroads of the West." In the 21st Century the city has developed a strong tourism industry and was host to the 2002 Winter Olympics.

The Salt Lake City metropolitan area is the industrial banking center of the United StatesFDIC Industrial Banks, the center of business along the rapidly-growing Wasatch Front, and the gateway to several resort towns, ski resorts and national parks. These include Park City, Snowbird ski resort, and Bryce Canyon and Zion national parks, among others.

History

Before Western settlement, the Shoshone, Ute, and Paiute had dwelled in the Salt Lake Valley for thousands of years. The first Caucasian Europeans to settle in the valley were the Latter-day Saints on July 24, 1847. They had traveled across the nation seeking an isolated area to practice their religion, away from the persecution they had faced in the East. Upon arrival their religious prophet Brigham Young reportedly stated, "this is the right place," later abbreviated to simply "this is the place," after having apparently seen it in a vision.

Only four days after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young designated the site for the Salt Lake Temple, the main temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Constructed on Temple Square, in the center of the city, the temple took 40 years to complete, being dedicated on April 6, 1893. It is the best-known structure in the city.

Salt Lake City circa 1920

These Mormon Pioneers organized a new state called Deseret and petitioned its recognition in 1849. The United States Congress rebuffed the settlers in 1850 and established the Utah Territory, vastly reducing its size (it formerly encompassed all of Nevada and a great deal of Southern California, pre-California statehood). Great Salt Lake City replaced Fillmore as the territorial capital in 1858, and the name was subsequently abbreviated to Salt Lake City. The city's population swelled with an influx of religious converts, making it one of the most populous cities in the Old American West.

Disputes with the federal government ensued over widespread religious practice of polygamy. A climax occurred in 1857 when President James Buchanan declared the area in rebellion when Brigham Young refused to step down as governor. The conflict called the Utah War began. A division of the United States Army marched through the city and found that it had been evacuated. This division set up Camp Floyd approximately 40 miles (65 km) southwest of the city. Another military installation, Fort Douglas, was established in 1862 to maintain Union allegiance during the American Civil War. Many area leaders were incarcerated at the territorial prison in Sugar House in the 1880s for violation of polygamy laws. The LDS Church conceded in 1890, releasing "The Manifesto," which officially renounced polygamy in the church. This paved the way for statehood in 1896, when Salt Lake City became the state capital.

The First Transcontinental Railroad was completed in 1869 at Promontory Summit on the north side of the Great Salt Lake. A railroad was connected to the city from the Transcontinental Railroad in 1870, making travel less burdensome. Mass migration of different groups followed. They found economic opportunities in the booming mining industries. These groups constructed the Greek Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral in 1905 and the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Madeleine in 1909, the first major churches not of the Latter-day Saint faith. Both cathedrals are historic icons.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, an extensive streetcar system was constructed throughout the city. The first streetcar began service in 1872. Due to speed issues, electrification of the system began in 1889. However, due to the rising American interest in the automobile in the early 20th century, the last tram line was dismantled in 1945. Rail transit was re-introduced when TRAX, a light rail system, opened in 1999.Utah Street Tramways - History of trams in Salt Lake City

The city's population began to stagnate during the 20th century as population growth shifted to suburban areas north and south of the city. Few of these areas were annexed to the city, while nearby towns incorporated and expanded themselves. As a result, the population of the surrounding metropolitan area greatly outnumbers that of Salt Lake City itself. A major concern of recent government officials has been combating inner-city decay. The city lost population from the 1960s through the 1980s, but experienced some recovery in the 1990s.

The city has experienced significant demographic shifts in recent years. Hispanics now account for approximately 19% of residents. The Glendale section is predominantly Spanish-speaking. The Centro Civico Mexicano acts as a community gathering point for the Wasatch Front's estimated 200,000 Latinos. Bosnian, Sudanese, Afghani, Somali, and Russian refugees have settled in the city under government programs. There is also a large Pacific Islander population, mainly made up of Samoans and Tongans. Many of the Pacific Islanders are members of the LDS church.

The city's diversity has also been marked by the elections of an openly gay woman and an openly gay manDeseret News, representing the city in the State House and Senate, respectively. The leader of the Episcopal Church's Diocese of Utah from 1971 to 1986, one of the wealthiest and most liberal diocese in the U.S.Deseret News, revealed that he had married his same-sex partner in 2004Deseret News. Utah's largest Jewish congregation, the Salt Lake Kol Ami, elected a gay woman in 2003 to be their Rabbi.City Weekly

In the past 20 years the skyline has expanded greatly. Pictured 2004.

Salt Lake City was selected as the host to the 2002 Winter Olympics in 1995. The games were plagued with controversy. An Olympic bid scandal surfaced in 1998 centered on accusations of bribery. During the games, other scandals erupted over contested judging scores and illegal drug use. Despite the controversies the games were heralded as a financial success, being one of the few in recent history to profit. In preparation major construction projects were initiated. Local freeways were expanded and repaired, and a light rail system was constructed. Tourism has also increased, and the new Olympic venues are now used for local, national, and international sporting events and Olympic athlete training. Skier-days have significantly increased since the Olympics.Deseret News - Utah ski resorts set a skier-days record

Geography

Salt Lake Valley from space, bounded on the west by the Oquirrh Mountains, the northwest by the Great Salt Lake, and on the east by the Wasatch Mountains. Salt Lake City occupies roughly the northern quarter of the valley.

The Wasatch Range and the east bench of Salt Lake County.

Salt Lake City is located at . The total area is 110.4 square miles (285.9 km²). It sits in the Salt Lake Valley with an average elevation of 4,327 feet (1,320 m) above sea level.

The Wasatch Range rises approximately 11,500 feet (3,500 m) above sea level 5 miles (8 km) to the east of Downtown. These mountains are the namesake of the Wasatch Front. The Oquirrh Mountains, located 7 miles (11 km) west of the city, rise to about 10,000 feet (3,050 m). The Traverse Mountains at the south end of the valley rise to 6,000 feet (1,830 m) above sea level, partially bridging the gap between the Wasatch and Oquirrh ranges. Within the city there is a sharp rise in elevation as one travels north or east from the city center. There is an elevation range of approximately 1,000 feet (300 m), from about 4,220 feet (1,285 m) at various points in the west near the Jordan River and Great Salt Lake to 5,200 feet (1,585 m) in the Upper Avenues and Federal Heights neighborhoods and the upper East Bench.

Three major canyons cut through the Wasatch Range and open into Salt Lake City proper. The northernmost is City Creek Canyon that opens into Downtown, bordered on either side by Capitol Hill and The Avenues. Next is Emigration Canyon, the canyon the Mormons used to initially enter the valley. It opens up on the East Bench just south of the University of Utah, near Hogle Zoo and This Is The Place Heritage Park. Traversed by Interstate 80, Parley's Canyon opens up at the very southeast corner of the city proper near Canyon Rim, an unincorporated residential suburb.

The valley floor consists of the lakebed of ancient Lake Bonneville. This lake once encompassed the entire eastern Great Basin. Its largest remnant is the Great Salt Lake, located 10 miles (12 km) north of the city. The Bonneville Salt Flats west of the city are a product of the dried up lake. Because of its high salinity content, the Great Salt Lake is devoid of most aquatic life. Marshlands and mudflats exist on the border of the Great Salt Lake. Algae buildup and decay commonly result in a phenomenon known as "lake stink," which serves as one of the only reminders to Salt Lakers that they live near a major body of water.

The Jordan River flows through the city from Utah Lake to the Great Salt Lake. Early Latter-day Saint settlers named the river after its counterpart in the Holy Land, noting similarities as a freshwater lake source and an inland salt-sea destination.

The Wasatch Fault is an active fault that runs under the city and is considered overdue for a major earthquake. Concerns have been voiced over possible damage resulting from the liquefaction of the clay and sandbased soil during an earthquake. It is noted that there are more non-reinforced structures just along the Wasatch Front than there are in the entire state of California. It is estimated that an earthquake as large as 7.5 could theoretically occur along the fault, and that an earthquake of at least magnitude 7.3 intensity could cause the Great Salt Lake to permanently flood portions of the city.Desert News - It's 2008, and the "big one" slams Utah

Layout

Plat of Salt Lake City, circa 1870s

The city, as well as the county, are on a grid plan. Most major streets run very nearly north-south and east-west. There is about a fourteen to fifteen minute of arc variation of the grid from true north. Its origin is the southeast corner of Temple Square, the block containing the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Addresses are coordinates within the system. One hundred units are equal to 1/8th of a mile (200 m), the length of blocks in downtown Salt Lake City. Locals often abbreviate the addresses when speaking. For instance, one might speak of the intersection of 700 East and 2100 South as 7th East and 21st South. The streets are known for being wide and spacious, a vision of the original settlers, who wanted them wide enough so that an entire wagon team could turn around without problems. Another feature the streets are known for is the presence of sidewalks on almost every street in the city.

Latter-day Saint founder Joseph Smith planned it in the "Plat of the City of Zion." In his plan the city was to be developed into 135 10-acre lots. However, the blocks became irregular during the late 19th century when the LDS Church lost authority over growth and before zoning ordinances in the 1920s. The original 10-acre blocks allowed for large garden plots, and many were supplied with irrigation water from ditches that ran approximately where modern curb and gutter is laid. The original water supply was from City Creek. Subsequent development of water resources was from successively more southern streams flowing from the mountains to the east of the city. Some of these irrigation ditches are still visible in the eastern suburbs.

There are three distinct street patterns in Salt Lake City, the first of which are the initial square blocks crisscrossed by later small streets. The second distinct pattern are the 2.5 acre (10,100 m²) blocks in the Avenues. The final section is the rectangular blocks south from 900 South.

Neighborhoods

Map of modern Salt Lake City and its suburbs.

Salt Lake City has many informal neighborhoods. The eastern portion of the city has higher property values than its western counterpart. This is a result of the railroad being built in the western half as well as scenic views from inclined grounds in the eastern portion. Immigrants find housing more affordable on the west side, which results in demographic differences. Interstate 15 further solidified these divisions.

Salt Lake City is divided into distinct east and west sides. The west side of the city has historically been poorer and more crime-ridden, but recently the demographics have evened themselves out somewhat. For example, the small, increasingly trendy Marmalade District on the west side of Capitol Hill, once considered seedy as few as 5–10 years ago, has experienced a magnificent recovery to become an eclectic and desirable location. During the 1980s, Sugar House, the upbeat and youthful neighborhood located near and along 2100 South in the southeast portion of the city, was poor and downtrodden, and much of the crime was centered in the western neighborhoods of Rose Park, Poplar Grove, and Glendale. Recently, however, both of these areas have made amazing recoveries while other areas of town, such as the Central City, have come to be known as the poorer areas of town, despite the more balanced demographics.

Just northeast of Downtown is The Avenues, a neighborhood outside of the regular grid system on much smaller blocks. This area is nearly entirely residential, and contains much of the young student-aged population. The Avenues lies along the southern slope of the Wasatch Range, however, and the further one climbs the mountains, the more elegant the residences become. The Upper Avenues, along with Federal Heights, just to the east and north of the University of Utah, and the East Bench, south of the University, contain gated communities, large, elegant, multi-million dollar houses, and fantastic views of the valley.

Climate

An F2 tornado rips through downtown Salt Lake City on August 11, 1999 (orange fireball is substation exploding)

The flood of City Creek in 1983 occurred from snowmelt after record snow fell in nearby mountains the previous winter.

The climate of Salt Lake City is characterized by four distinct seasons. Both summer and winter are long, with hot, dry summers and cold, wet winters, with spring and fall serving as brief but comfortable transition periods. Spring is the wettest season. The city's yearly average temperature is 52.0°F (11.1°C). Snow occurs on average from November 6 to April 18, producing a total average of 62.7 in (159 cm),NWS Salt Lake City - Average snowfall while the city's watersheds in nearby mountains accumulate averages as high as 500 in (1,270 cm). In terms of precipitation, the city receives 16.50 in (419mm) annually.NWS Salt Lake City - Average precipitation The period without freezing temperatures usually lasts an average of 167 days, from April 30 to October 15.NWS Salt Lake City - Freeze data

During the winter months cold fronts typically originate in the Gulf of Alaska and move southeastward into the area. Lake-effect snow occurs often from mid-fall through mid-winter, and can lead to localized excessive snowfalls. During mid-winter, strong areas of high pressure often situate themselves over the Great Basin, leading to strong temperature inversions. This causes air stagnation in the valley for several days to weeks at a time and can also lead to health issues. Salt Lake City averages 26 days with high temperatures below 32°F (0°C) and 3 days with low temperatures below 0°F (-18°C)NWS Salt Lake City - Days below 0. The record low temperature is -30°F (-34°C), which occurred on February 9, 1933.NWS Salt Lake City - Extreme low temperatures

In the spring, most of the storms originate in the Pacific Ocean from the Pineapple Express, bringing in the most moisture of the entire year. Larger and cooler storms in the spring can lead to heavy overnight snowfall. Rain usually becomes the dominant precipitation by the beginning of March. Snow still, however, has occurred as late as mid-May.NWS Salt Lake City - Earliest and latest measurable snowfall

The summers of the city are marked by hot weather and are mostly dry. The monsoon rises from the Gulf of California from approximately mid-July into September, producing intense localized afternoon thunderstorms. Due to the low daytime humidity, dry lightning combined with high winds can lead to wildfire problems. During active monsoon periods, widespread thunderstorms, occasional tornadoes, excessive precipitation, and flash flooding can occur. In any given year one can expect 5 days of at least 100°F (38°C), 23 days of at least 95°F (35°C), and 56 days of at least 90°F (32°C).NWS Salt Lake City - Number of days 90, 95, and 100+ The record high temperature is 107°F (41°C), which occurred first on July 26, 1960 and again on July 13, 2002.NWS Salt Lake City - Extreme maximum temperatures

In the summertime many city residents escape to the mountain resort towns located 30 miles (48km) east of the city where temperatures can reach 20°F (6°C) cooler. Conversely, suburban Salt Lake City, which is situated further away from the Great Salt Lake, averages approximately 5°F (2°C) warmerSalt Lake City averages, with a record high temperature of 111°F (44°C) in West Jordan.West Jordan record.

During October, the Pacific Ocean once again becomes active, bringing in more precipitation, occasionally in the form of the remnants of tropical cyclones. The remnants of Hurricane Olivia helped bring the record monthly precipitation of 7.04 in (179mm) in September 1982.Remnants of Hurricane OliviaNWS Salt Lake City - Record high and low precipitation for each month The first snowfall usually occurs in early November, but has occurred as early as mid-September. Snow becomes the dominant precipitation by December. Autumn experiences the most rapid temperature changes of the year, with a 50°F (10°C) average high temperature drop being experienced within three months.

		Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Extreme Daily Maximum	°F	63	69	78	86	99	104	107	106	100	89	75	69
Average Daily Maximum	°F	37	43	53	61	71	82	91	89	78	64	49	38
Average Daily Minimum	°F	21	26	33	39	47	56	63	62	52	41	30	22
Extreme Daily Minimum	°F	-22	-30	2	14	25	35	40	37	27	16	-14	-21
Data is for Salt Lake International Airport

		Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Record Precipitation	in.	3.23	4.89	3.97	4.90	4.76	3.84	2.57	3.66	7.04	3.91	3.34	4.37
Average Precipitation	in.	1.37	1.33	1.91	2.02	2.09	0.77	0.72	0.76	1.33	1.57	1.40	1.23
Average Snowfall	in.	13.6	9.9	9.1	4.9	0.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	1.3	7.0	12.0
Record Snowfall	in.	50.3	32.1	41.9	26.4	7.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	4.0	20.4	33.3	35.2
Data is for Salt Lake International Airport

Demographics

Salt Lake City is more racially diverse than the state of Utah as a whole. For example, a comparison of the racial make up of Utah versus Salt Lake City:
Utah	Salt Lake City	Ethnicity
85.3%	79.20%	White
0.8%	1.89%	Black
1.3%	1.34%	Native American
1.7%	3.62%	Asian
0.7%	1.89%	Pacific Islander
N/A	8.52%	other
2.1%	3.54%	mixed
9.0%	18.85%	Hispanic

As of the census of 2000, there are 181,743 people (up from 159,936 in 1990), 71,461 households, and 39,803 families residing in the city. This amounts to 8.1% of Utah's population, 20.2% of Salt Lake County's population, and 13.6% of the Salt Lake metropolitan population. Salt Lake City proper covers 14.2% of Salt Lake County. Salt Lake City is more densely populated than the surrounding metro area with a population density of 643.3/km² (1,666.1/mi²). There are 77,054 housing units at an average density of 272.7/km² (706.4/mi²).

The Salt Lake City-Ogden metropolitan area, which included Salt Lake, Davis, and Weber counties, had a population of 1,333,914 in 2000, a 24.4% increase over the 1990 figure of 1,072,227. Since the 2000 Census, the Census Bureau added Summit and Tooele counties to the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, but removed Davis and Weber counties and designated them as the separate Ogden-Clearfield metropolitan area. Together with the Provo-Orem metropolitan area, which lies to the south, a roughly continuous urban corridor along the Wasatch Front is formed, which has a combined population of just over 2 million.

There are 71,461 households, out of which 27.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% are married couples living together, 10.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 44.3% are nonfamilies. Of the 71,461 households, 3,904 were reported to be unmarried partner households: 3,047 heterosexual, 458 same-sex male, and 399 same-sex female. 33.2% of all households are made up of individuals, and 9.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.48, and the average family size is 3.24.

Historical Population
Year	Population
1880	20,768
1890	44,843
1900	53,531
1910	92,777
1920	116,110
1930	140,267
1940	149,934
1950	182,121
1960	189,454
1970	175,885
1980	163,034
1990	159,936
2000	181,743
2005	178,097

In the city the population is spread out with:
*23.6% under the age of 18
*15.2% from 18 to 24
*33.4% from 25 to 44
*16.7% from 45 to 64
*11.0% who are 65 years of age or older

The median age is 30 years. For every 100 females there are 102.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 101.2 males.The median income for a household in the city is $36,944, and the median income for a family is $45,140. Males have a median income of $31,511 versus $26,403 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,752. 15.3% of the population and 10.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 18.7% of those under the age of 18 and 8.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Large family sizes and low housing vacancy rates, which have inflated housing costs along the Wasatch Front, have led to one out of every six residents living below the poverty line.

About 50% of Salt Lake City's current residents are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This rises to about 80% for the state's more rural municipalities, averaging about 60% for Utah as a whole.

Economy

Part of Downtown Salt Lake 2005

The modern economy of Salt Lake City is service-oriented. In the past, steel, mining and railroad operations provided a strong source of income with Geneva Steel, Kennecott Copper Mine, and oil refineries. Today the city's major industries are government, trade, transportation, utilities, and professional and business services. The city is known as the "Crossroads of the West" for its central geography in the western United States. As a result, Interstate 15 is a major corridor for freight traffic and the area is host to many regional distribution centers.

Local, state, and federal governments have their largest presence in the city proper itself, and trade, transportation, and utilities also take up a significant portion of employment, with the major employer being the western North America Delta Air Lines hub at Salt Lake City International Airport. Equally significant are the professional and business services, while health services and health educational services also serve as significant areas of employment. Other major employers include the University of Utah, Sinclair Oil Corporation, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Besides its central offices, the Church owns and operates a profit division, Deseret Management Corporation and its subsidiaries, which are headquartered in the city. Another notable firms headquartered in the city include Smith's Food and Drug (owned by national grocer Kroger). Notable firms based in the metropolitan area include Arctic Circle Restaurants, Franklin-Covey, and Overstock.com. Metropolitan Salt Lake was also once the headquarters of Kentucky Fried Chicken (the first ever KFC is located in South Salt Lake), American Stores, the Skaggs Companies, and ZCMI, one of the first-ever department stores; it is currently owned by Federated Department Stores. Former ZCMI stores now operate under the Meier & Frank label and will soon be switched to Macy's. Suburban Salt Lake was also the first location for Sears Grand (at the Jordan Landing shopping center in West Jordan).

Since Utah is one of seven states that allow the establishment of commercially-owned industrial banks, the vast majority of industrial banks in the U.S. have established their headquarters in the Salt Lake City area. High-tech firms with a large presence in the suburbs include e-Bay, Unisys, Siebel, Iomega and 3M.

Other economic activities include tourism, conventions, and major suburban call centers. Tourism was stimulated by the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Many hotels and restaurants were built for the Olympics. The convention industry has blossomed in the city since the construction of the Salt Palace convention center in the late 1990s, which hosts the annual Outdoor Retailers meeting, among other conventions.

In 2006 the largest potato producer in Idaho, the United Potato Growers of America, announced that it would re-locate its headquarters to Salt Lake City, citing its need for a large international airport, being that Salt Lake City International is the 18th busiest in the world in terms of combined freight and passengers. The announcement led some members of the Idaho legislature to propose legislation changing the state license plate, which currently reads "Famous Potatoes".Idaho Statesman

In 2005, it was found that the city, especially downtown, was experiencing increased population growth. The number of residential units in the central business district has increased by 80% since 1995, and is forecasted to nearly double in the next decade. Office vacancy rates are also low in the downtown region. In response, two new large buildings are being constructed. The first is eight stories and located in the Gateway DistrictDeseret News Office space hard to find. Vacancy rate for premium sites in downtown S.L. falls below 2%, while the second will be 22 stories high and is currently under construction on Main StreetHamilton Partners. Construction of the Gateway District, light rail, and planned commuter rail service have supported the revival of downtown.

Law and government

City and County Building, seat of city government since 1894.

Since 1979 Salt Lake City has had a nonpartisan mayor-council form of government. The mayor and the seven councilors are elected to four-year terms. Mayoral elections are held the same year as three of the councilors. The other four councilors are staggered two years from the mayoral. Council seats are defined by geographic population boundaries. Each councilor represents approximately 26,000 citizens. Officials are not subject to term limits. The most recent election was held in 2005.

The city has elected Democratic Party mayoral candidates since the 1970s. Councilors are elected under specific issues and are usually well-known. Labor politics play no significant role. The separation of church and state is the most controversial topic with an ongoing Bridging the Religious Divide campaign.

This campaign was initiated when some city residents complained that the Utah political establishment was unfair in its dealings with non-LDS residents by giving the LDS Church preferential treatment, while LDS residents perceived a growing anti-LDS bias in city politics.

Party platforms are centered on education, economic development, and transportation. The city's political demographics are liberal and Democratic. This stands in stark contrast to the majority of Utah where Republican and conservative views generally dominate.

Elected officials of Salt Lake City as of 2004
Official	Position	Term ends
Rocky Anderson (D)	Mayor	2007
City Council members
Carlton Christensen	1st district	2009
Van Blair Turner	2nd district	2007
Eric Jergensen	3rd district	2009
Nancy Saxton	4th district	2007
Jill Remington Love	5th district	2009
David Buhler	6th district	2007
Søren Simonsen	7th district	2009

The current mayor is Rocky Anderson, who gained international attention for actively organizing a protest against President George W. Bush during his visit to Salt Lake City for the 2005 Veterans of Foreign Wars convention. He is also well known for his strong support of gay rights, the Kyoto Treaty, transit-oriented urban planning, alternative energy sources, and the relaxation of Utah state liquor laws. However, he has also been accused of unfair working conditions and for careless spending of money, accusations he has denied. He also worked with environmentalists to block construction of the Legacy Highway, accusing UDOT of an incomplete environmental impact statement. The issue was settled in late 2005 and construction on the highway resumed in 2006.

The city is also home to several non-governmental think-tanks and advocacy groups such as the conservative Sutherland Institute, the gay-rights group Equality Utah, and the quality-growth advocates Envision Utah. The city also hosted many foreign dignitaries during the 2002 Winter Olympics and in 2006 the President of Mexico began his U.S. tour in the city and Israel's ambassador to the United States opened a cultural center. President George W. Bush visited in 2005 and will again in 2006 for a convention of veterans and other political leaders such as Howard Dean and Harry Reid have given speeches in the city in 2005. Many cultural icons also visit the city for the annual Sundance Film Festival, including Paris Hilton and Britney Spears and in 2006, Real Madrid, and many of the nation's best cyclist had engagements.

Education

The Salt Lake City Public Library. The American Library Association called it the best in the U.S. in 2006.

In 1847 pioneer Jane Dillworth held the first classes in her tent for the children of the first LDS families. In the last part of the 1800s, there was much controversy over how children in the area should be educated. LDS and non-LDS could not agree on the level of religious influence in schools. Today, many LDS youths in grades 9 through 12 attend some form of religious instruction, referred to as seminary.

Because of high birth rates and large classrooms, Utah spends less per student than any other state yet simultaneously spends more per capita than any state with the exception of Alaska. Money is always a challenge, and many businesses donate to support schools. Several districts have set up foundations to raise money. Recently, money was approved for the reconstruction of more than half of the elementary schools and one of the middle schools in the Salt Lake City School District, which serves most of Salt Lake City proper. There are twenty-three elementary schools, five middle schools, three high schools (Highland, East, and West), and an alternative high school (Horizonte) located within the school district. In addition, Highland has recently been selected as the site for the Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts (SPA), while Salt Lake City proper also holds many Catholic schools, including Judge High School.

Postsecondary educational options in Salt Lake City include the University of Utah, Westminster College, Salt Lake Community College, BYU Salt Lake Center, and LDS Business College. There are also many trade and technical schools such as the Utah College of Massage Therapy.

See also: Salt Lake County - Education

Culture

Arts

Gateway District, where the Clark Planetarium is located.

The Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Utah Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Church History and Art are some of the museums located in Salt Lake City. Other museums include the Utah State Historical Society, Daughters of Utah Pioneer Memorial Museum, Fort Douglas Military Museum, and the Social Hall Heritage Museum. Clark Planetarium at the Gateway Mall houses an IMAX theater.

Salt Lake City provides many venues for both professional and amateur theatre. The city attracts many traveling Broadway and off-Broadway performances. Local professional acting companies include the Pioneer Theatre Company, Salt Lake Acting Company, and Plan-B Theatre Company.

Salt Lake City is the home of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, founded in 1847. The Choir's weekly program, called Music and the Spoken Word, is the longest-running continuous network broadcast in the world. Salt Lake City is also the home to the Utah Symphony Orchestra, which was founded in 1940 by Maurice Abravanel and has become widely renowned. The orchestra's original home was the Salt Lake Tabernacle, but since the 1990s has performed at Abravanel Hall in the western downtown area.

The city also has a local music scene featuring blues, rock and roll, punk, and emo groups. There are also many clubs which offer musical venues. Popular groups or persons who started in the Wasatch Front area or were raised and influenced by it include The Used, Shedaisy, and the lead singer of The Killers, Brandon Flowers. In 2004 over 200 bands submitted tracks for a compilation by a local music zine, SLUG ("Salt Lake Underground"). The 15-year-old free monthly zine trimmed the submissions to 59 selections featuring diverse music types such as hip-hop, jazz, jazz-rock, punk, and a variety of rock and roll.

The University of Utah is home to two highly-ranked dance departments, the Ballet Department and the Department of Modern Dance. Professional dance companies in Salt Lake City include Ballet West, Rire Woodbury, and Repertory Dance Theatre.

Many films, music videos, commercials, and sitcoms have been recorded in the Salt Lake metropolitan area; they include, Touched By An Angel, Everwood, Big Love, Dawn of the Dead, Drive Me Crazy, Dumb and Dumber, Independence Day, Poolhall Junkies,The Brown Bunny, The World's Fastest Indian, Carnival of Souls, and The Postal Service's "Such Great Heights". In 2006 it was revealed that Dan Brown, the author of The DaVinci Code, was in the city studying the symbols on the Salt Lake LDS Temple and the Masonic Temple, among other historical buildings, for inclusion in an upcoming book.

Events

Although the city is often stereotyped as a predominantly LDS city, it is culturally and religiously diverse. The city is the location of many cultural activitiesGreater Salt Lake City Annual Events (2005). EventGuide.network., Mormon and otherwise. A major state holiday is Pioneer Day, July 24, the anniversary of the LDS Pioneers' entry into the valley. It is celebrated each year with a week's worth of activities, including a children's parade, a horse parade, the featured Days of '47 parade (one of the largest parades in the United States), a rodeo, and a large fireworks show at Liberty Park.

The second-largest parade in the city is part of the Utah Pride Festival, which occurs every June. It celebrates the city's diversity as well as the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered community. Despite the city's Mormon reputation, Salt Lake City has a significant gay population.

First Night, a New Year's Eve celebration emphasizing family-friendly entertainment and activities held at Rice-Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah, culminates with a fireworks display at midnight.

The Greek Festival, held the weekend after Labor Day, celebrates Utah's Greek heritage and is located at the downtown Greek Orthodox Church. The 3-day event includes Greek music, dance groups, Cathedral tours, booths and a large buffet. Attendance ranges from 35,000 - 50,000.

The Utah Arts Festival has been held annually since 1977 with an average attendance of 80,000. About 130 booths are available for visual artists and there are five performance venues for musicians. Utah Arts Festival

Beginning in 2004, Salt Lake City has been the host of the international Salt Lake City Marathon. Salt Lake City also hosts portions of the Sundance Film Festival; however, the main location of the event is in Park City.

Media

The popular Salt Lake City Weekly publication.

As the capital and largest city in Utah, Salt Lake City has many diverse media outlets. Most of the major television and radio stations are based in or near the city. The Salt Lake City metropolitan area is ranked as the 31st largest radioRadio Stations - Arbitron Radio Market Rankings (2005). Arbitron. Retrieved January 1, 2005 and 36th largest televisionNielsen Media Research Local Universe Estimates (US). Nielsen Media Research. Retrieved December 29, 2004. market in the United States.

Print media include newspapers, such as the one-time rivals The Salt Lake Tribune, and the Deseret Morning News (both major daily newspapers), as well as a relatively new alternative weekly, Salt Lake City Weekly. Other more specialized publications include Nuestro Mundo of the Spanish-speaking community and Salt Lake Metro, QSaltLake and The Pillar for the LBGT community. There are many local magazines, such as Salt Lake Magazine (a bimonthly lifestyle magazine) and Salt Lake Underground (SLUG), http://www.slugmag.com/, an alternative underground music magazine.

KSL-TV is one of Utah's oldest television stations. KSL has downtown studios at "Broadcast House" in the Triad Center office complex. Most other television stations had until recently moved out of the downtown core and relocated in the suburbs. However, KUTV was recently given a Redevelopment Agency (RDA) grant, and moved its studios to Main Street. Its news desk overlooks the street, with a large window behind the anchor desk.

Because television and radio stations serve a larger area (usually the entire state of Utah, as well as parts of western Wyoming, southern Idaho, parts of Montana, and eastern Nevada), ratings returns tend to be higher than those in similar-sized cities. Some Salt Lake radio stations are carried on broadcast translator networks throughout the state.

Salt Lake City has become a case of market saturation on the FM dial; one cannot go through more than about two frequencies on an FM radio tuner before encountering another broadcasting station. A variety of companies, most notably Millcreek Broadcasting and Simmons Media, have constructed broadcast towers on Humpy Peak in the Uinta Mountains to the east. These towers allow frequencies allocated to nearby mountain communities to be boosted by smaller, low-powered FM transmitters along the Wasatch Front.

Sites of interest

The LDS Church Office Building and Salt Lake Temple

Salt Lake City's downtown core houses a collection of old and new structures, with many twenty-plus-story steel and glass towers adjacent to late 19th-century brick and mortar. The tallest building in the city is the Wells Fargo Center, at 24 stories and 422 feet (128 m), although the LDS Church Office Building actually appears higher as it stands on slightly higher ground and has 28 stories. The third highest Salt Lake skyscraper is One Utah Center, which has a pyramid for its top and is situated adjacent to the Wells Fargo Center.

As the headquarters for the LDS Church, several top tourist draws exist in and around downtown Temple Square, including the Salt Lake Temple, the historic Mormon Tabernacle (recently closed for earthquake-resistance renovation, scheduled to reopen in early 2007), and the LDS Conference Center, which seats about 20,000 and features rooftop gardens representing the Wasatch Range and Utah meadows. The LDS Genealogical Library, just west of Temple Square, ranks among Utah's most popular tourist destinations.

The Salt Lake City Public Library was named the best in the nation by the American Libray AssociationDeseret News - Salt Lake City system is named Library of the Year and features a distinctive, unique architectural style. The roof of the building serves as a viewpoint for the Salt Lake Valley. The Utah State Capitol Building offers marble floors and a dome similar to that of the building that houses the U.S. Congress. Other historical buildings with unusual appearances are the City and County Building, being built in 1894, and the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Madeleine, built in 1909.

Liberty Park during the fall.

Near the mouth of Emigration Canyon lies This Is The Place Heritage Park, which re-creates typical 19th-century LDS pioneer life. Hogle Zoo is located across the street from the park. The city's largest public park, at over 100 acres, Liberty Park features a lake with an island in the middle and the Tracy Aviary. The park is home to a large numbers of birds both wild and in the aviary. The collection of the aviary includes a Bald Eagle, and the park is a popular jogging destination for city residents.

Salt Lake City is also home to a few major shopping centers. Trolley Square is an indoor and outdoor mall with many independent art boutiques, restaurants, and national retailers. The buildings housing the shops are renovated trolley barns with cobblestone streets. The Gateway District is the city's newest major center and has many national restaurants, clothing retailers, a movie theater, the Clark Planetarium, a music venue called The Depot, and a 2002 Olympic Park. There are two major malls across from each other on Main Street: the ZCMI Center Mall and Crossroads Mall. Both will soon be undergoing renovation, where they will be modernized and connected by a skyway. Sugar House is known as a posh neighborhood with its small town main street shopping area and numerous old parks. Sugar House Park is the second largest park in the city, and is host to frequent outdoor events and the Fourth of July fireworks in the city.

Other attractions within proximity of Salt Lake City include the Golden Spike National Historic Site (where the world's First transcontinental railroad was joined), the Lagoon Amusement Park, the Great Salt Lake, the Bonneville Salt Flats, Gardner Historic Village, ski resorts such as Snowbird, resort towns such as Park City, one of the largest dinosaur museums in the U.S. at Thanksgiving Point, the world's largest man-made excavation at Kennecott Copper Mine, and rock climbing and recreation trails in the Wasatch Range, where past volcanic and glacial flows have created unique landscapes.

Sports and recreation

Logo of the Utah Jazz

Logo of Real Salt Lake

Winter sports, such as skiing and snowboarding, are popular activities in the Wasatch Mountains east of Salt Lake City. Eight ski resorts lie within 50 miles (80 km) of the city. Alta, Brighton, Solitude, and Snowbird are located in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons to the southeast, Deer Valley, The Canyons, and Park City Resort are located to the east, near the city of Park City in Summit County, and Sundance is located to the southeast in Utah County. The ski resorts see frequent storms that deposit light, dry snow due to a phenomenon known as the lake effect, where storms amplified by the warm waters of the Great Salt Lake precipitate in the Wasatch Mountains. The ski resorts in Utah are promoted as having the "Greatest Snow on Earth." Alta and Deer Valley only allow skiing, while the others allow both skiing and snowboarding. The popularity of the ski resorts has seen tremendous growth since the 2002 Winter Olympics.Deseret News - Utah ski resorts set a skier-days record

Most of the ski resorts also offer summer activities. The mountains surrounding Salt Lake City are very popular for hiking, camping, rock climbing, mountain biking, and other related outdoor activities. In addition, the many small reservoirs and rivers in the Wasatch Mountains are popular for boating, fishing, and other water-related activities. Salt Lake City is the primary jumping-off point for exploring the national parks and monuments and rugged terrain of the southern half of the state, as it contains the only international airport in the state.

Salt Lake City is home to the NBA team Utah Jazz, Real Salt Lake, a new Major League Soccer franchise that began play in 2005 and currently plays at Rice-Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah, and the Utah Blaze, an Arena Football League team that began play in 2006. Real Salt Lake attempted to gain approval for a soccer-specific stadium in the suburb of Sandy, but the deal was struck down twice by the Salt Lake County Council.Deseret News - Real done playing with Salt Lake County? A recent proposal to move the team to Utah County has gained support.Deseret News - Utah County developers offer a deal for Real Salt Lake It is also the home of the Salt Lake Bees minor league baseball team, a Los Angeles Angels Triple A affiliate that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Salt Lake City received an Arena Football League team known as the Utah Blaze in 2006, who were popular in their first season in Utah, recording the highest average attendance in the league.Blaze burn bright with optimism Nearby West Valley City has the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL and had also received an expansion team from the revived American Basketball Association, known as the Utah Snowbears, in the 2005 season. That team folded after going 25–1 in the regular season and being well on their way to a championship. A new ABA team known as the Salt Lake Dream will begin play for the 2006-07 season. The Utah Starzz of the WNBA were once located within the city, but moved to San Antonio and became the Silver Stars.

Because Utah lacks a professional football team of its own, college football is very popular in the state. The University of Utah and Brigham Young University both maintain large and faithful followings in the city, and rivalries are intense during the annual game between the two universities, which is sometimes referred to as the Holy War, despite the fact that the University of Utah is a secular institution.

Transportation

Roads

TRAX on Main Street. The light rail system connects the city to its southern suburbs.

Utah State Capitol Building. State Street begins at the structure.

There are four major freeways located within Salt Lake City. Interstate 15 runs north-south just west of downtown, while Interstate 80 enters near the airport and briefly merges with I-15 west of downtown before heading east through residential neighborhoods into Parley's Canyon. Utah State Route 201 (the 2100 South freeway) runs east-west along the border with West Valley City; and Interstate 215, a beltway, traverses the city's northwest and west neighborhoods and encircles the city's southern suburbs. SR-201, I-15, and I-80 bisect one another at the "spaghetti bowl" just south of the city in neighboring South Salt Lake.

An additional freeway, known as the Mountain View Corridor, which is part of the Legacy Highway system, is proposed to reduce growing congestion and accommodate rapidly-growing population along the west side of the Salt Lake Valley, with construction set to begin as early as 2008 and completion after 2015. The first portion of the Legacy Highway system, known as Legacy Parkway, has begun construction as of March 2006 and will connect into I-215 just north of the city borders by 2008. This highway is expected to significantly reduce congestion on I-15 into Davis County. Utah State Route 154 (Bangerter Highway) is an expressway that provides access to the rapidly growing western and southern cities of the Salt Lake Valley, beginning at Salt Lake City International Airport. U.S. Highway 89 enters from Davis County parallel to I-15 before heading southeast into downtown. In downtown, U.S. 89 becomes State Street and extends south as the main surface street through the center of the city. Both S.R. 154 and U.S. 89 connect to I-15 at the far south end of the valley.

Public transportation

Salt Lake City's mass transit service is operated by the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) and includes light rail and bus routes (with the addition of commuter rail in 2008). The light rail system, called TRAX, consists of two lines originating downtown. Both lines begin at the Delta Center near the western edge of downtown and head east to Temple Square. From there they turn south; near the courthouse, the University Line heads east to the University of Utah. The Sandy Line continues south to Sandy, and has a total of 18 stations. The University Line heads east to the University of Utah and ends at the University Medical Center. The line has a total of seven stations. TRAX began service on December 4, 1999, and the University Line opened in 2001 and was extended in 2003 to its current terminus at the University Medical Center. The Mid-Jordan Line to the Daybreak Community in South Jordan has been approved as well. An additional two stations were recently approved west of the Delta Center through the Gateway District and will end at the Intermodal Hub located on 600 West between 200 South and 300 South. Plans to extend TRAX service to several other suburbs and the airport will be voted on in November.Deseret News - TRAX tax is voters' decision A commuter rail line, FrontRunner, running north from Salt Lake City into Davis and Weber Counties, is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in the spring of 2008.

In addition, a non-UTA, non-profit vintage rail trolley system is being planned for the Sugar House neighborhood.Sugar House trolley

UTA also operates an extensive bus system that extends throughout the Wasatch Front from Brigham City in the north to Santaquin in the south and as far west as Grantsville. UTA also operates routes to the ski resorts in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons during the ski season (typically November to April).

Amtrak passenger trains also serve the city. The California Zephyr departs Salt Lake City every morning, connecting the city with the San Francisco Bay Area to the west and Denver and Chicago to the east. Greyhound Bus Lines serves Salt Lake City as well, providing access north-to-south through Utah along the I-15 corridor. Salt Lake City International Airport is located 7 mi (11 km) west of downtown. Delta Air Lines has hub operations at the airport and is currently expanding its Salt Lake City service. Ute Cab, City Cab, and Yellow Cab are the major taxi services.