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For ships of the United States Navy of the same name, see USS Salt Lake City.
| City of Salt Lake City | |||
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| Nickname: Crossroads of the West, SLC | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | United States of America | ||
| State | Utah | ||
| County | Salt Lake | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Ralph Becker | ||
| Area | |||
| - City | 110.4 sq mi (285.9 km²) | ||
| - Land | 109.1 sq mi (282.5 km²) | ||
| - Water | 1.3 sq mi (3.3 km²) | ||
| Elevation | 4,226 ft (1,288 m) | ||
| Population (2000) | |||
| - City | 178,858 | ||
| - Density | 1,666.1/sq mi (643.3/km²) | ||
| - Urban | 887,650 | ||
| - Metro | 1,018,826 | ||
| Time zone | Mountain (UTC-7) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | Mountain (UTC-6) | ||
| Area code(s) | 801/385 | ||
| FIPS code | 49-67000American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1454997US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31. | ||
| Website: http://www.slcgov.com | |||
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake, or its initials, S.L.C. It was originally known as Great Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake City has a population of 178,858 as of 2006.[1]. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-03-06. The Salt Lake City metropolitan area spans Salt Lake, Summit and Tooele counties, and has a total estimated population of 1,018,826. Salt Lake City is further situated in a larger urban area known as the Wasatch Front, and until 2003 the Ogden-Clearfield metro area within it was considered part of the Salt Lake City metropolitan area.Metropolitan Area Definitions. United States Department of Labor - Bureau of Labor Statistics (March 2005). Retrieved on 2007-03-06. The total estimated population of the Wasatch Front is approximately 2,150,000.
The city was founded in 1847 by a group of Mormon pioneers led by their prophet, Brigham Young, who fled hostility and violence in the midwest. The headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the L.D.S. or Mormon Church) is located in the city — and, indeed, "Salt Lake City" is a metonym for this denomination\'s headquarters.
Mining booms and the construction of the first transcontinental railroad initially brought economic growth, and the city became nicknamed the Crossroads of the West. In the 21st century the city has developed a strong outdoor recreation tourism industry (skiing and biking), become the industrial banking center of the U.S,FDIC Industrial Banks. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (2004-06-25). Retrieved on 2007-03-06. and served as host to the 2002 Winter Olympics.
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Before Mormon settlement, the Shoshone, Ute, and Paiute had dwelled in the Salt Lake Valley for thousands of years. However, these tribes dwelt only on a temporary basis near streams emptying from Canyons into the Salt Lake Valley. The first Caucasian in the Salt Lake area is believed to be the explorer Jim Bridger in 1825, although other Caucasians had been in Utah earlier, some as far north as the nearby Utah Valley. U.S. Army officer John C. Frémont surveyed the Great Salt Lake and the Salt Lake Valley in 1843 and 1845.Alexander, Thomas G.. Utah History to Go - Fremont\'s Exploration. Utah State Historical Society. The Donner party, a group of ill-fated pioneers, had traveled through the Great Salt Lake Valley in August 1846.
Panorama from South Temple Street taken in 1912
The first Europeans to settle in the valley were the Latter-day Saints on July 24, 1847. They had traveled beyond the boundaries of the United States seeking an isolated area to practice their religion, away from the hostility they had faced in the East. Upon arrival, President of the Church Brigham Young is recorded as stating, "this is the right place," later abbreviated to simply "this is the place," after reportedly seeing the area in a vision. They found the large valley empty of any human settlement.
Only four days after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young designated the site for the Salt Lake Temple, intended to be the third temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to replace the abandoned Kirtland Temple in Ohio and Nauvoo Temple in Illinois.
Constructed on Temple Square, in the center of the city, the temple took 40 years to complete, being started in 1853 and dedicated on April 6, 1893. These delays meant that temples in St. George, Logan and Manti were completed before the Salt Lake Temple Salt Lake Temple. LDSChurchTemples.com. Retrieved on 2007-03-06. The temple has become iconic of the city and is the centerpiece of the city (in fact, the southeast corner of Temple Square is the reference point for all addresses in the Salt Lake Valley).
Salt Lake City in 1913
The Mormon pioneers organized a new state called Deseret and petitioned for its recognition in 1849. The United States Congress rebuffed the settlers in 1850 and established the Utah Territory, vastly reducing its size. 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 American Old West.
Disputes with the federal government ensued over the widespread Mormon practice of polygamy. A climax occurred in 1857 when President James Buchanan declared the area in rebellion after Brigham Young refused to step down as governor, beginning the Utah War. A division of the United States Army, commanded by Albert Sidney Johnston, later a general in the army of the Confederate States of America, 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 anti-polygamy laws. The LDS Church abandoned polygamy in 1890, releasing "The Manifesto," which officially renounced the practice 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. This time period also saw the creation of Salt Lake City\'s now defunct Red-light district that employed 300 courtesans at its height before being closed down in 1911.Sillitoe, Linda. A History of Salt Lake County, p. 138.
UTA TRAX Sandy train at the Gallivan Plaza stop in Salt Lake City
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, an extensive streetcar system was constructed throughout the city with the first streetcar running in 1872 and electrification of the system in 1889. As in the rest of the country, the automobile usurped the streetcar and the last trolley ran in 1945. Rail transit was re-introduced when TRAX, a light rail system, opened in 1999.Money, Marti. Utah Street Tramways - History of trams in Salt Lake City. Retrieved on 2007-03-06.
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. A major concern of recent government officials has been combating inner-city commercial decay. The city lost population from the 1960s through the 1980s, but experienced some recovery in the 1990s. Presently, the city is losing population again (though that of the metro area continues to grow), having lost an estimated 2 percent of its population since the year 2000.Population Estimates for Places over 100,000: 2000 to 2005. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-03-06.
The city has experienced significant demographic shifts in recent years.Haya El Nasser. "Immigrants turn Utah into mini-melting pot", USA Today, 2006-09-15. Hispanics now account for approximately 19% of residents and the city has a large gay community."Salt Lake City Has High Gay Population", KUTV.com. Retrieved on 2007-03-06. There is also a large Pacific Islander population, mainly made up of Samoans and Tongans; they compose roughly 1% of the population of the Salt Lake Valley area.Sullivan, Tim. "The Gangs of Zion", 2005-09-08.
Salt Lake City was selected to host the 2002 Winter Olympics in 1995. The games were plagued with controversy. A bid scandal surfaced in 1998 alleging that bribes had been offered to secure the city for the 2000 games location. 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. Olympic venues are now used for local, national, and international sporting events and Olympic athlete training.Lisa Riley Roche. "Big incentive helps lure speed skating group", Deseret Morning News, 2006-10-05. Tourism has increased since the Olympic games,Gorrell, Mike. "Convention numbers best since Olympics; S.L. County conventions post big year", The Salt Lake Tribune, 2006-03-30. [not in citation given] but business did not pick up immediately following them.Mike Gorrell. "Olympic windfall unseen", The Salt Lake Tribune, 2004-02-15.
Salt Lake City hosted the 16th Winter Deaflympic games in 2007, taking place in the venues in Salt Lake City and Park City,2007 Winter Deaflympics - Official Website: About Us. Winter Deaflympics (2007). Retrieved on 2007-03-06. and Rotary International has designated the city as the site of their 2007 convention, which will be the largest single gathering since the 2002 Winter Olympics."SLC to land Rotarians in \'07", The Salt Lake Tribune. The U.S. Volleyball Association convention in 2005 drew 39,500 attendees.
Salt Lake City from space.
Salt Lake City is located at . The total area is 110.4 square miles (285.9 km²) and has an average elevation of 4,327 feet (1,320 m) above sea level. The lowest point within the boundaries of the city is 4,210 feet near the Jordan River and the Great Salt Lake, and the highest is Grandview Peak, at 9,410 foot (2,868 m).Area Information - Frequently Asked Questions. Salt Lake City Corporation. Retrieved on 2006-12-11.
The city is located in the northeast corner of the Salt Lake Valley surrounded by the Great Salt Lake to the northwest and the steep Wasatch and Oquirrh mountain ranges on the eastern and western borders, respectively. Its encircling mountains contain many narrow glacially and volcanically carved canyons. Among them, City Creek, Emigration, Millcreek, and Parley\'s border Salt Lake City proper.
The Great Salt Lake is separated from Salt Lake City by extensive marshlands and mudflats. The metabolic activities of bacteria in Willard Bay (the freshwater portion of the lake) results in a phenomenon known as "lake stink", a scent reminiscent of foul poultry eggs, two to three times per year for a few hours.Utah’s Infamous “Lake Stink”. Utah Department of Environmental Quality. Retrieved on 2007-03-11. The Jordan River flows through the city and is a drainage of Utah Lake that empties into the Great Salt Lake.
The highest mountaintop visible from Salt Lake City is Twin Peaks, which reaches 11,489 feet (3502 m).Arave, Lynn. "Mountains High: Utah abounds with high peaks in all counties", Deseret Morning News, 2005-03-31. Retrieved on 2007-03-11. Twin Peaks is located southeast of Salt Lake in the Wasatch Range. The Wasatch Fault is found along the western base of the Wasatch and is considered overdue for an earthquake as large as 7.5. Catastrophic damage is predicted in the event of an earthquake with major damage resulting from the liquefaction of the clay- and sand-based soil and the possible permanent flooding of portions of the city by the Great Salt Lake.Davidson, Lee. "It\'s 2008 — and \'the big one\' slams Utah", Deseret Morning News, 2006-04-16. Retrieved on 2007-03-11.
The second-highest mountain range is the Oquirrhs, reaching a maximum height of 10,620 feet (3,237 m) at Flat Top. The Traverse Mountains to the south extend to 6,000 feet (1,830 m), nearly connecting the Wasatch and Oquirrh Mountains. The mountains near Salt Lake City are easily visible from the city and have sharp vertical relief caused by massive ancient earthquakes, with a maximum difference of 7,099 feet (2164 m) being achieved with the rise of Twin Peaks from the Salt Lake Valley floor.
The Salt Lake Valley floor is the ancient lakebed of Lake Bonneville which existed at the end of the last Ice Age. Several Lake Bonneville shorelines can be distinctly seen on the foothills or benches of nearby mountains .
The city, as well as the county, is laid out on a grid plan;Husarik, Theresa. Navigating Utah\'s Streets. About.com. Retrieved on 2007-03-11. 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.[citation needed] The grid\'s 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 (similarly to latitude and longitude). One hundred units are equal to 1/8th of a mile (200 m), the length of blocks in downtown Salt Lake City.[citation needed] The streets are relatively wide, at the direction of Brigham Young, who wanted them wide enough that a wagon team could turn around without "resorting to profanity." William E. Hill (1996). The Mormon Trail: yesterday and today. Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press. ISBN 0-87421-202-2 p. 26 These wide streets and grid pattern are typical of other Mormon towns of the pioneer era throughout the West.
Though the nomenclature may initially confuse new arrivals and visitors, many consider the grid system an aid to navigation. Some streets have names, such as State Street, which would otherwise be known as 100 East. Other streets have honorary names, such as the western portion of 300 South, named "Adam Galvez Street" (in honor of a local Marine corporal killed in action) or others honoring Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., and César Chávez. These honorary names appear only on street signs and cannot be used in postal addresses.
In The Avenues neighborhood, north-south streets are given letters of the alphabet, and east-west streets are numbered in 2.5 acre (10,100 m²) blocks, smaller than those in the rest of the city.
Joseph Smith, founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, planned the layout in the "Plat of the City of Zion" (intended as a template for Mormon towns wherever they might be built). In his plan the city was to be developed into 135 10-acre lots. However, the blocks in Salt Lake City became irregular during the late 19th century when the LDS Church lost authority over growth and before the adoption of 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 curbs and gutters would be 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 the old irrigation ditches are still visible in the eastern suburbs, or are still marked on maps, years after they were gone.
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. Housing is more affordable on the west side, which results in demographic differences. Interstate 15 was also built in a north-south line, further dividing east and west sides of the city.
The west side of the city has historically been a working-class neighborhood, but recently the more affordable nature of the area has enticed many professionals to the neighborhood. 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, was heavily gentrified and is now thought of as an eclectic and desirable location. During the 1980s, gang activity was also centered in the western neighborhoods of Rose Park, Poplar Grove, and Glendale.
Sugar House, in southeastern Salt Lake City, has a reputation as a liberal neighborhood and until recently possessed a district of locally-owned specialty and niche shops on the corner of 2100 South and 1100 East.Jeniffer K. Nii. Sugar House shops forced out. Deseret Morning News, March 7, 2007. The stores that once occupied the street have recently moved to new locations to make way for a condominium and office complex, although the developers have stated that they wish to maintain the character of the area, and retail shops will be allowed at street-level once the complex is completed.Jeniffer K. Nii. \'Granite Block\' plan touted. Deseret Morning News, March 13, 2007.Josh Loftin. Developer aims to keep Sugar House character. Deseret Morning News, September 7, 2007. Despite these assurances, residents have been very vocal in their concerns that the neighborhood will lose its unique eclectic appeal and have panned what they call the destruction of one of the few locally-owned business districts in the valley.Doug Smeath. Redevelopment worries Sugar House. Deseret Morning News. March 29, 2007.
Just northeast of Downtown is The Avenues, a neighborhood outside of the regular grid system on much smaller blocks. This area is a Historical District that is nearly entirely residential, and contains many historical Victorian era homes. The Avenues are situated on the upward-sloping bench in the foothills of the Wasatch Range, with the earlier built homes in the lower elevation. The 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, multi-million dollar houses, and fantastic views of the valley. Many consider this some of the most desirable real estate in the valley.
In addition to larger centers like Sugar House and Downtown, Salt Lake City contains several smaller neighborhoods, each named after the closest major intersection. Two examples are the 9th and 9th (located at the intersection of 900 East and 900 South Streets) and 15th & 15th (located at the intersection of 1500 East and 1500 South Streets) neighborhoods. These areas are home to foot-traffic friendly, amenities-based businesses such as art galleries, clothing retail, salons, restaurants and coffee shops. During the summer of 2007, 9th and 9th saw sidewalk and street improvements as well as an art installation inspired by the 9 Muses of Greek myth, thanks in part to the 9th and 9th Merchants Association.
Many of the homes in the valley date from pre-World War II times, and only a select few areas, such as Federal Heights and the East Bench, as well as the far west side, including parts of Rose Park and Glendale, have seen new home construction since the 1970s.
A rare F2 tornado forms in downtown Salt Lake City on August 11, 1999 (orange fireball is substation exploding).The Disaster Center Ranking of Tornado Risk by State. The Disaster Center. Retrieved on 2007-03-11.
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 as a semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen Bsk), with four distinct seasons. Both summer and winter are long, with hot, dry summers and cold, snowy winters, and with spring and fall serving as brief but comfortable transition periods. The city receives 16.50 in (419 mm) of precipitation annually.NWS Salt Lake City - Average precipitation. National Weather Service. Retrieved on 2007-03-11. Spring is the wettest season, and another "rainy season" occurs in fall. 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. National Weather Service. Retrieved on 2007-03-11. while the city\'s watersheds in nearby mountains accumulate averages as high as 500 in (1,270 cm). The period without freezing temperatures usually lasts an average of 167 days, from April 30 to October 15.NWS Salt Lake eCity - Freeze data. National Weather Service. Retrieved on 2007-03-11.
During the winter months cold fronts typically originate in the Gulf of Alaska and move southeastward into the area. The nearby Great Salt Lake produces lake-effect snow approximately 6 to 8 times per year, some of which can drop excessive snowfalls. The lake-effect also contributes to some rain storms, and it is estimated that about 10% of the annual precipitation in the city can be attributed to the lake effect.Bauman, Joe. "Lake has great impact on storms, weather", Deseret Morning News, 1999-08-05. Retrieved on 2007-03-11. During mid-winter, strong areas of high pressure often situate themselves over the Great Basin, leading to strong temperature inversions. This causes air stagnation and thick smog in the valley for several days to weeks at a time and can result in the worst air-pollution levels in the U.S. reducing air quality to unhealthy levels.Fahys, Judy. "Winter\'s bad air still choking Utah", The Salt Lake Tribune, 2007-03-07. Retrieved on 2007-03-11.Olympic Air. ACFnewsource (2002-01-28). Retrieved on 2007-03-11. The city has an average of three days annually with low temperatures below 0 °F, with an all-time record low temperature of -30 °F (-34 °C), which occurred on February 9, 1933.NWS Salt Lake City - Extreme low temperatures. National Weather Service. Retrieved on 2007-03-11.
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. Measurable snow has occurred as late as May 18.NWS Salt Lake City - Earliest and latest measurable snowfall. National Weather Service. Retrieved on 2007-03-11.
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 localized severe afternoon thunderstorms. Due to the low daytime humidity, virga, lightning, and microbursts can lead to wildfire problems. During active monsoon periods, widespread thunderstorms carrying excessive precipitation are common. High temperatures of at least 100 °F (38 °C) occur on average five times a year, but always on days with low humidity. The record high temperature is 107 °F (42 °C), which occurred first on July 26, 1960 and again on July 13, 2002.NWS Salt Lake City - Extreme maximum temperatures. National Weather Service. Retrieved on 2007-03-11.
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 (179 mm) in September 1982.Remnants of Hurricane Olivia - September 23-28, 1982. Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Retrieved on 2007-03-11.NWS Salt Lake City - Record high and low precipitation for each month. National Weather Service. Retrieved on 2007-03-11. The first measurable snowfall has occurred as early as September 17.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record Daily High | °F (°C) | 63 (17) | 69 (21) | 78 (26) | 89 (32) | 99 (37) | 104 (40) | 107 (42) | 106 (41) | 100 (38) | 89 (32) | 75 (24) | 69 (21) |
| Average Daily High | °F (°C) | 37 (3) | 43 (6) | 53 (12) | 61 (16) | 71 (22) | 82 (28) | 91 (33) | 89 (32) | 78 (26) | 64 (18) | 49 (9) | 38 (3) |
| Average Daily Low | °F (°C) | 21 (-6) | 26 (-3) | 33 (1) | 39 (4) | 47 (8) | 56 (13) | 63 (17) | 62 (17) | 52 (11) | 41 (5) | 30 (-1) | 22 (-6) |
| Record Daily Low | °F (°C) | -22 (-30) | -30 (-34) | 2 (-17) | 14 (-10) | 25 (-4) | 35 (2) | 40 (4) | 37 (3) | 27 (-3) | 16 (-9) | -14 (-26) | -21 (-29) |
| 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 | |||||||||||||
| Salt Lake City\'s racial demographics against those of Utah: | ||
| 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 race |
| 2.1% | 3.54% | Two or more races |
| 9.0% | 18.85% | Hispanic |
As of the censusAmerican FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 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/sq mi). There are 77,054 housing units at an average density of 706.4/sq mi (272.7/km²).
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 has 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 well 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.
In the city the population is spread out with:
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.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 8,236 | ||
| 1870 | 12,854 | 56.1% | |
| 1880 | 20,768 | 61.6% | |
| 1890 | 44,843 | 115.9% | |
| 1900 | 53,531 | 19.4% | |
| 1910 | 92,777 | 73.3% | |
| 1920 | 116,110 | 25.1% | |
| 1930 | 140,267 | 20.8% | |
| 1940 | 149,934 | 6.9% | |
| 1950 | 182,121 | 21.5% | |
| 1960 | 189,454 | 4.0% | |
| 1970 | 175,885 | -7.2% | |
| 1980 | 163,034 | -7.3% | |
| 1990 | 159,936 | -1.9% | |
| 2000 | 181,743 | 13.6% | |
| Est. 2006 | 178,858 | -1.6% | |
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.
Less than 50% of Salt Lake City\'s residents are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is a much lower proportion than in Utah\'s more rural municipalities; altogether, LDS members make up about 62% of Utah\'s population.Matt Canham. "Mormon portion of Utah population steadily shrinking", Salt Lake Tribune, 2005-06-22.
The Rose Park and Glendale sections are predominantly Spanish-speaking with Latinos accounting for 60% of public school-children."School ranks thinned by \'Day Without Immigrants\' ", The Salt Lake Tribune, 2006-05-01. The Centro Civico Mexicano acts as a community gathering point for the Wasatch Front\'s estimated 300,000 Latinos,"Latinos eye Utah for 2009 meeting", The Salt Lake Tribune, 2006-07-31. Mexican President Vicente Fox began his U.S. tour in the city in 2006, and the largest supermarket chain of Mexico, Supermercados Gigante, is planning a location, the first in the U.S. outside of California."Latino shops wary of Gigante", The Salt Lake Tribune, 2006-03-27, p. A1. Bosnian, Sudanese, Afghani, Somali, and Russian refugees have settled in the city under government programs.Sullivan, Tim. Somali Bantu refugees started arriving in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved on 2007-03-21. 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.Lattin, Don. "New Mormon Melting Pot, Church transcends its racist history", San Francisco Chronicle, 1996-04-10. Retrieved on 2007-03-21.
Salt Lake City has been considered one of the top 51 "gay-friendly places to live" in the U.S.Stewart, Erin. "Travel book to highlight Salt Lake as \'gay-friendly place to live\'", Deseret Morning News, 2005-11-09. Retrieved on 2007-03-21. The city is home to a large, business savvy, organized, and politically supported gay community. Leaders of the Episcopal Church\'s Diocese of Utah,Perkins, Nancy. "Utah Episcopalians support gay bishop", Deseret Morning News, 2003-10-26. Retrieved on 2007-03-21."Bishop explains ousting of gay Episcopal bishop", Deseret News, 2004-05-22. Retrieved on 2007-03-21. Utah\'s largest Jewish congregation, the Salt Lake Kol Ami,Davis, Kristy. "Eye on the Rabbi", Salt Lake City Weekly, 2003-11-27. Retrieved on 2007-03-11. and three elected representatives of the city, two members of the state house and one in the senate, all identify as gay. These developments have attracted controversy from socially conservative officials representing other regions of the state. State Senator Chris Buttars of West Jordan publicly denounced Mayor Rocky Anderson for having "attracted the entire gay community to come and live in Salt Lake County" after a Dan Jones poll indicated strong support for allowing domestic partnerships. In the 2004 election, 63% of the city population voted against banning same-sex marriage, in agreement with Mayor Anderson."The Thumb", The Salt Lake Tribune, 2005-10-23.
The modern economy of Salt Lake City is service-oriented. In the past, nearby steel, mining and railroad operations provided a strong source of income with Silver King Coalition Mines, Geneva Steel, Bingham Canyon 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.[citation needed]
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 LDS Church owns and operates a profit division, Deseret Management Corporation and its subsidiaries, which are headquartered in the city. Other notable firms headquartered in the city include AlphaGraphics, Sinclair Oil Corporation, Zions Bancorporation, Merrill Lynch Bank USA, UBS Bank USA, American Express Centurion Bank, GMAC Automotive Bank, Morgan Stanley Bank, 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 Macy\'s label. 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, Micron, L-3 Communications and 3M.
Other economic activities include tourism, conventions, and major suburban call centers. Tourism has increased since the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, and many hotels and restaurants were built for the events. The convention industry has expanded since the construction of the Salt Palace convention center in the late 1990s, which hosts trade shows and conventions, including the annual Outdoor Retailers meeting and Novell\'s annual BrainShare convention.
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"."Potato growers group leave Idaho for Utah", Deseret News, 2006-03-24. Retrieved on 2007-03-23.
In 2005, it was found the downtown area was experiencing rapid population growth."Population Is Up Downtown", Salt Lake Tribune, October 21, 2002. 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. The City Creek development of the LDS Church will be adding 300 units in its first phase including the 415 ft. tall City Creek condominium tower,City Creek housing data. Downtown Rising (2006). Retrieved on 2007-03-23. Allen Millo Associates currently has two projects under construction and two more planned,Allen Millo housing. Allen Millo Associates (2005). Retrieved on 2007-03-23. all 200 units have been sold before construction of a seven-story condominium planned by Wood Property,Metro Condominiums. Wood Property Development, LC (2006). Retrieved on 2007-03-23. a residential tower is planned for Trolley Square, and this is after the recent completion of the Northgate Apartments and 12-story condominiums at Gateway with two more buildings finished nearby and the Liberty Metro apartments near Library Square.
Office vacancy rates are low in the downtown region. In response, two new large buildings are being constructed. The first is eight stories and located in the Gateway District,Anderton, Dave. "Office space hard to find", Deseret Morning News, 2006-06-29. Retrieved on 2007-03-23. while the second will be 22 stories high and is currently under construction on Main Street.Hamilton Partners: Location Overview Hamilton Partners (2007). Retrieved on 2007-03-23. In addition, the historic Walker Bank Building is currently undergoing major renovations that will enable it to achieve Class A office space status.Projects: Walker Tower Downtown Rising (2006). Retrieved on 2007-03-23. Downtown Rising Web Site Construction of the Gateway District, light rail, and planned commuter rail service have supported the revival of downtown.
City and County Building, seat of city government since 1894. It also served as Utah\'s first statehouse from 1896 until the current Utah State Capitol was dedicated on October 9, 1916.Official Utah State Capitol history page
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.[citation needed] Labor politics play no significant role. The city has two elected openly gay women and an openly gay man, representing the city in the State House and Senate, respectively.Roche, Lisa Riley. "State\'s first gay senator is sworn in", Deseret Morning News, 2005-02-08. Retrieved on 2007-03-23.
The separation of church and state was the most heated topic in the days of the Liberal Party and People\'s Party of Utah, when many candidates would be LDS Bishops and Mark Twain referred to Brigham Young as "the only monarch in America." This tension is still reflected today with the Bridging the Religious Divide campaign.Stack, Peggy Fletcher. "Mormons, non-Mormons clear the air", The Salt Lake Tribune. 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-Mormon bias in city politics.
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 2008 | ||
| Official | Position | Term ends |
| Ralph Becker (D) | Mayor | 2011 |
| City Council members | ||
| Carlton Christensen | 1st district | 2009 |
| Van Blair Turner | 2nd district | 2011 |
| Eric Jergensen | 3rd district | 2009 |
| Luke Garrott | 4th district | 2011 |
| Jill Remington Love | 5th district | 2009 |
| JT Martin | 6th district | 2011 |
| Søren Simonsen | 7th district | 2009 |
The city is 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. Salt Lake 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.Matt Canham. "Let\'s be partners, Israel\'s ambassador urges governor", The Salt Lake Tribune, 2006-05-19. President George W. Bush visited in 2005 and again in 2006 for national veterans\' conventions, both visits of which were protested by former Mayor Rocky Anderson. Other political leaders such as Howard Dean and Harry Reid gave speeches in the city in 2005.
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, with the former South High being converted to the South City campus of the Salt Lake Community College), and an alternative high school (Horizonte) located within the school district. In addition, Highland has recently been selected as the site for the charter school Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts (SPA), while Salt Lake City proper also holds many Catholic schools, including Judge Memorial High School. Rowland Hall-St. Mark\'s School is the area\'s premier independent school.
The Salt Lake City Public Library system consists of the main library downtown, and five branches in various neighborhoods. The main library, designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie, opened in 2003. In 2006, the Salt Lake City Public Library was named "Library of the Year" by the American Library Associationhttp://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6341871.html Library Journal article: Library of the Year.
Postsecondary educational options in Salt Lake City include the University of Utah, Westminster College, Salt Lake Community College, BYU Salt Lake Center, Eagle Gate College, and LDS Business College. There are also many trade and technical schools such as the Utah College of Massage Therapy.
Gateway District, where the Clark Planetarium is located.
Salt Lake is home to several museums. Near Temple Square is the Museum of Church History and Art. Operated by the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the museum contains collections of artifacts, documents, art, photographs, tools, clothing and furniture from the history of the LDS Church, which spans nearly two centuries.
The University of Utah campus is home to the Utah Museum of Fine Arts as well as the Utah Museum of Natural History. West of the university, located at the Gateway District near downtown, is the Clark Planetarium, which also houses an IMAX theater. Also in the Gateway District is the Discovery Gateway, a children\'s museum.
Other museums include the Utah State Historical Society, Daughters of Utah Pioneer Memorial Museum, Fort Douglas Military Museum, and the Social Hall Heritage Museum.
On December 5, 2007, the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance announced that a two-block section of downtown south of the planned City Creek Center is planned to become a new arts hub. This will include renovations to two theaters already located in the area, as well as a new theater with a seating capacity of 2,400 and increased space for galleries and artists. The opening of the new facilities are anticipated to coincide with the opening of the City Creek Center in 2011.Page, Jared. 2 Salt Lake City blocks may become arts hub. Deseret Morning News, December 6, 2007.
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. The Off Broadway Theatre, located in Salt Lake\'s historic Clift Building, features comedy plays and Utah\'s longest running improv comedy troupe, Laughing Stock.
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.Music & the Spoken Word — Choir History 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. Its current director is Keith Lockhart. The orchestra\'s original home was the Salt Lake Tabernacle, but since the 1990s has performed at Abravanel Hall in the western downtown area. Salt Lake City area is also home to the award winning choir, The Salt Lake Children\'s Choir. The Choir was established in 1979 and is directed by Ralph B. Woodward.
The University of Utah is home to two highly-ranked dance departments, the Ballet Department and the
