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Salt Lake County, Utah

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Template:UTcounty Salt Lake County is a county located in the state of Utah. As of 2005, the population was estimated at 978,285, up from a 2000 Census figure of 898,387. It was named for the Great Salt Lake nearby. Its county seat and largest city is Salt Lake City6. It occupies a valley, Salt Lake Valley, as well as parts of the surrounding mountains, the Oquirrh Mountains to the west and the Wasatch Range to the east. In addition, the Great Salt Lake is partially within the northwestern section of the county. The county is famous for its ski resorts, and Salt Lake City hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics.

The county was settled in 1847, when Brigham Young led a group of pioneers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) into the valley to escape religious persecution in the East. Brigham Young, upon entering the valley through Emigration Canyon, declared "This is the right place" after seeing the dry, barren valley below him.

History

19th century

Salt Lake County was settled in 1847 when Mormon pioneers, fleeing persecution in the East, discovered Salt Lake Valley after traveling through Emigration Canyon. Brigham Young, the leader of the travellers, declared "This is the right place" after seeing the valley, which was at the time arid, dry, and unpromising. However, they soon developed a flourishing, self-sufficient city, Great Salt Lake City, through extensive irrigation techniques and using the most of the land around them. Thousands of Mormons from around the world followed in the next several decades. Settlements were scattered across the valley and beyond, and the territorial capital was moved to Great Salt Lake City in 1857, when the name was subsequently shortened to Salt Lake City. In 1858, when the Utah Territory was declared in rebellion after governor Brigham Young refused to step down for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' polymagous practices, the government sent troops to install a new governor and keep watch over the place. However, the valley was abandoned and the troops set up Camp Floyd to the south in Utah County. In 1862, Fort Douglas was established on the eastern bench, near the current site of the University of Utah, to make sure that the territory maintained its allegiance during the American Civil War.

Patrick Edward Connor, who was the leader of the garrison stationed at Fort Douglas, was thoroughly anti-Mormon and sent out parties to scout for mineral resources in the nearby mountains to encourage non-Mormons ("Gentiles") to settle there. During the late 19th century, mines were established in the mountains, most notably around Alta. Exploiting the mineral wealth was difficult until the Utah Central Railroad arrived in 1870. The Kennecott Copper Mine, which contains vast deposits of copper and silver, was the most notable of the mines that was established. It was located in Bingham Canyon in the southwest corner of the valley in the Oquirrh Mountains. Thousands of people settled in the canyon to work at what was then the Bingham Canyon Mine. At its peak, the city contained 20,000 residents all crowded along the steep walls of the canyon, and natural disasters were a yearly occurrence. By the early 20th century, most of the mines in the county had closed. However, the Bingham Canyon Mine kept on expanding, and today, now known as the Kennecott Copper Mine, it is the largest open-pit mine in the world.

20th century

File:Saltlakecounty.jpg
Salt Lake County

After the railroad came to the county, the population began to expand more rapidly and non-Mormons began to settle in the city. During the early 20th century, heavy industry began to come to the valley as well, diversifying its economy, and a trolley system was in place in what are now Salt Lake City and South Salt Lake. The trolley system was mostly dismantled by 1945 as cars outpaced public transportation across the country. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the east side of the valley began to be heavily-settled. In 1942, Camp Kearns, a massive military installation created for World War II, was created in what is now Kearns and Taylorsville on the western side of the valley. After the camp was closed in 1946, the land was sold off and rapid settlement of the area began. Other major defensive installations were set up along the Wasatch Front and in the Great Salt Lake Desert during World War II, further encouraging growth and boosting the economy. In the nation-wide suburb boom of the late 1940s, 1950s, and early 1960s, such cities as South Salt Lake, Murray, Midvale, and much of the east side of the valley grew rapidly.

The airport was upgraded to international status in the 1960s and became Salt Lake City International Airport. Like all of the industrialized cities throughout the nation, Salt Lake City faced inner-city decay beginning especially in the 1960s, while the suburbs grew tremendously. Growth in such cities as Sandy, West Jordan, and what would become West Valley City was phenomenal in the 1970s and 1980s. Huge residential tracts were created through the center of the valley, and within ten years, the entire area had been converted from farmland into sprawling bedroom communities to Salt Lake City. West Valley City was created from the merger of the three unincorporated cities of Granger, Hunter, and Chesterfield in 1980. All was not well in every part of the valley, however. Not only was Salt Lake City facing urban decay, but the cities that provided residences for the miners in Bingham Canyon were torn down in the 1960s and 1970s. The city of Bingham Canyon was completely torn down and swallowed up in the mine by 1972, and the dismantling of Lark in 1980 completed the process. The only remaining mining town in the county is Copperton, located southwest of West Jordan, with approximately 800 residents.

Beginning especially in the 90's, rapid growth shifted further south and west. Old farmland and pastureland was swallowed up by new residential development. The cities of West Jordan, South Jordan, Riverton, Herriman, and Draper are some of the fastest growing cities in the state. During the 90's, Salt Lake City was able to partially reverse the trend of inner-city decay, and its population grew for the first time in 40 years. As the county's population approaches 1 million, one of the main issues in the county is urbanization. Only a few small rural areas remain in the far west, and in the northwest and southwest corners of the valley. All other natural vegetation, except for the trees growing around streams, has been almost completely replaced with structures and roads. Other issues facing the county today include pollution, transportation, and the influences of the LDS church, Salt Lake County's predominant religion.

Economy

The region's economy used to revolve around LDS services and mining. While both are still important to the economy, they have declined in significance greatly since the 19th century. Since World War II, defense industries in the region have also played a very important role in the economy due to its strategic central location in the Western United States, as well as the largely uninhabited and desolate Great Salt Lake Desert to the west.

Beginning in 1939, with the opening of Alta Ski Area, skiing and other winter sports (as well as summer sports), have become a major force in the economy. In 1995, Salt Lake City won the bid to host the 2002 Winter Olympics. The 2002 Olympics boosted tourism and the economy, and helped to dramatically improve transportation throughout the county. Transportation has been a major focus, as the county continues to rapidly grow in population. It was drastically improved beginning in the late 80s and through the 90s, and continues to this day. Beginning in the 1960s, a more service-oriented economy began to develop, and information technologies began to arrive in the 80s and 90s. Although this business has waned in recent years, information and computer companies, such as Overstock.com, are still a thriving business here.

Law and government

Salt Lake City and County building. A.D. 1923

Salt Lake County is unique in that it has a partisan county mayor. The current county mayor is Peter Corroon, a Democrat. Former county mayors include Nancy Workman and Alan Dayton (Workman's deputy mayor; Sworn in as acting mayor in September 2004 when Nancy Workman was placed on paid administrative leave).

County council

Besides a mayor, Salt Lake County also has a county council. Members include three elected at-large and six elected by district. Council members from districts serve four-year staggered terms in partisan elections while at-large members serve six years.

At-large council members

  • Randy Horiuchi
  • Jenny Wilson
  • Jim Bradley

District council members

  • Joe Hatch — 1st district
  • Michael Jensen — 2nd district (council chairman)
  • David Wilde — 3rd district
  • Mark Crockett — 4th district
  • Cortlund G. Ashton — 5th district
  • Marvin Hendrickson — 6th district

Education

School districts in Salt Lake County include:

High Schools in Salt Lake County
School District Location
Alta High School Jordan Sandy
Bingham High School Jordan South Jordan
Brighton High School Jordan Cottonwood Heights
Copper Hills High School Jordan West Jordan
Cottonwood High School Granite Murray
Cyprus High School Granite Magna
East High School Salt Lake City Salt Lake City
Granger High School Granite West Valley City
Granite High School Granite South Salt Lake
Highland High School Salt Lake City Salt Lake City
Hillcrest High School Jordan Midvale
Hunter High School Granite West Valley City
Jordan High School Jordan Sandy
Kearns High School Granite Kearns
Murray High School Murray Murray
Olympus High School Granite Holladay
Riverton High School Jordan Riverton
Skyline High School Granite East Millcreek
Taylorsville High School Granite Taylorsville
West High School Salt Lake City Salt Lake City
West Jordan High School Jordan West Jordan

In addition, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City operates 7 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 2 high schools, 1 choir school, and 2 preschools in Salt Lake County.

  • Judge Memorial Catholic High School in Salt Lake City. JMCHS is the largest Catholic high school in Utah.
  • Juan Diego Catholic High School in Draper

Geography

Salt Lake County as seen from space.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,092 km² (808 mi²). 1,910 km² (737 mi²) of it is land and 182 km² (70 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 8.72% water.

Perhaps the most dominating physical feature in Salt Lake County are the Wasatch Mountains in the eastern portion of the county, famous for both summer and winter activities. The snow in the region is often coined the "Greatest Snow on Earth" for its soft, powdery texture, and led to Salt Lake City winning the bid for the 2002 Winter Olympics. In Salt Lake County there are four ski resorts; Snowbird, Alta, Solitude, and Brighton. Hiking and camping are especially popular summer activities. Marking the western portion of the county are the Oquirrh Mountains. These two mountain ranges together, along with the much smaller Traverse Mountains to the south of the valley, delimit Salt Lake Valley, which is also flanked on the northwest by the Great Salt Lake.

All of the entrances to the valley are narrow. These include Parley's Canyon leading into Summit County to the northeast, Emigration Canyon leading into Morgan County, also to the northeast, the space between the Wasatch Mountains and the Great Salt Lake leading into Davis County to the north, the "Point of the Mountain" leading to Utah County to the south, and a space between the Oqiurrh Mountains and the Great Salt Lake leading to Tooele County to the northwest. On the north and east benches, the houses sometimes climb as far as halfway up the mountain, and new communities are also being constructed on the steeper southern and western slopes. Rapid residential construction continues in the west-central, southwest, and southern portions of the valley. In the far west, southwest, and northwest, rural areas still exist, but rapid growth threatens what remains of the natural environment in the valley.

Salt Lake County borders Davis County to the north, Morgan County to the northeast, Summit County to the east, Tooele County to the west, Wasatch County to the southeast, and Utah County to the south.

Climate

The Salt Lake Valley receives, on average, approximately 15 in (380 mm) of precipitation annually, usually with more on the east side and less on the west side, as most storms come from the Pacific Ocean. This leaves much of the west side in the rain shadow of the Oquirrh Mountains. Up to 20 in (500 mm) is received on the benches. Most of this precipitation is received in spring. The summer is dry, with the majority of precipitation arriving from the monsoon that rises from the south. Short, localized, and dry thunderstorms are usually associated with the monsoon. Flash floods and wildfires may be experienced during these thunderstorms as well. Precipitation is heaviest in spring and late fall, while summer is the driest season.

The valley receives 55 in (140 cm) or more of snow in a year, with up to 100 in (250 cm) received on the benches. Most of the snow falls from mid-November through March, although snow has late recorded as early as late September and as late as mid-May. The mountains receive up to 500 in (1,270 cm) of light, dry, fluffy snow and up to 55 in (1400 mm) of precipitation annually. The dry snow is often considered good for skiing, contributing to the four ski resorts in the county. Snow usually falls from early October through May. The mountains are snowcapped year-round except from mid-July until early October. The heavy snow totals can be attributed to the lake-effect, where precipitation is intensified by the warm, unfrozen waters of the Great Salt Lake. The dry snow is attributed to the low humidity of the region.

During winter, temperature inversions are a common problem. The valley will experience fog, haze, smog, and cool temperatures while the surrounding mountains enjoy warmer temperatures and sunshine. This can cause some melting snow in the mountains and unhealthy air quality and low visibility in the valley. This weather event lasts from a few days to over a month in extreme cases, and is caused by a very strong high pressure positioned over the Great Basin. Only a strong storm can force out the high pressure that causes this inversion, so inversions are often followed by large storms.

Transportation

U.S. 89 runs most of the length of the county, splitting off from I-15 near the border with Davis County to the north, and running southward to the 10600 South I-15 exit in Sandy, mostly as State Street. I-15 comes in from Davis County in the north and continues nearly straight south before entering Utah County at the "Point of the Mountain." I-80 enters from Tooele County to the west and, after passing Salt Lake City International Airport, briefly merges with I-15 before splitting east again and entering Summit County through Parley's Canyon. Emerging from the southern I-80/I-15 split is Utah State Route 201, also known locally as the 21st South Freeway. It runs west from the interchange, marking the border between West Valley City and Salt Lake City before being downgraded to an expressway and passing through Magna, eventually terminating at I-80 near Tooele County. This provides an alternative to I-80 when needed. I-215 enters from Davis County paralleling I-15 and intersecting I-80 before curving east in the center of the county, intersecting I-15 in Murray, curving north, and paralleling the Wasatch Range before terminating at I-80 at the entrance to Parley's Canyon. This provides an alternate route to I-15 and I-80. Utah State Route 154, known locally as Bangerter Highway, is an expressway that begins at the airport and runs down the west side of the valley, ending at I-15 in Riverton.

There is also a light rail system, known as TRAX. It is operated by the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) and runs from the Delta Center in downtown Salt Lake City south to 10000 South in Sandy. There is also a line that runs east to the University of Utah. Several expansions to the suburbs and the airport are planned in the near future. A commuter rail began construction in August 2005 to run between Salt Lake City and Pleasant View, a northern suburb of Ogden. UTA also operates bus routes to nearly every location in the valley and routes to the ski resorts in winter. The Legacy Highway is eventually planned to intersect with I-215 in the north of the county. The Mountain View Corridor is a freeway planned to be constructed at approximately 5600 West through the far west side of the valley. It is part of the Legacy Highway project.

There is also a private effort to restore a heritage style trolley to connect the TRAX station at 2100 South to the Sugar House Business District two miles east. The same group is also proposing a trolley connection from the TRAX station in Sandy to Draper and eventually south to Lehi, American Fork, and Pleasant Grove in Utah County.[1]

Demographics

As of the census2 of 2000, there are 898,387 people, 295,141 households, and 213,977 families residing in the county. The population density is 470/km² (1,218/mi²). There are 310,988 housing units at an average density of 163/km² (422/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 86.34% White, 1.06% Black or African American, 0.88% Native American, 2.56% Asian, 1.23% Pacific Islander, 5.36% from other races, and 2.57% from two or more races. 11.89% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 295,141 households out of which 40.10% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% are married couples living together, 10.40% have a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% are non-families. 20.80% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.20% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.00 and the average family size is 3.53.

In the county, the population is spread out with 30.50% under the age of 18, 12.90% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 18.00% from 45 to 64, and 8.10% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 29 years. For every 100 females there are 101.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 99.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county is $48,373, and the median income for a family is $54,470. Males have a median income of $36,953 versus $26,105 for females. The per capita income for the county is $20,190. 8.00% of the population and 5.70% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 9.00% of those under the age of 18 and 5.50% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Cities and towns

Unincorporated communities

Reference

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