100 Dumb US Laws (With Proof They Exist)
Utah (UT) lies in the western United States, known for its stunning landscapes and many national parks. Utah is home to Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and the Navajo reservation of Monument Valley. The state economy relies on mineral mining, technology, oil production, and agriculture. Interestingly, about 50% of residents identify with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).
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Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name Utah Abbreviation UT Capital Salt Lake City Largest city Salt Lake City (Population: 209 593) Current time 17:06 Time zone MST (UTC-7), the state observes daylight saving time MDT (UTC-6) Population 3,271,614 (#30 most populous US state) Area 84,898 sqmi (#13 largest US state) Admitted to the Union January 4, 1896 (#45 state to join) ⭐ Capital of Utah
The capital of Utah is Salt Lake City, founded on July 24, 1847 on the shore of the Great Salt Lake, from which it takes its name. In 1856 it became the capital of the Utah Territory, and it remained the capital after the state entered the Union in 1896.
🏙️ Largest City in Utah
The largest city in Utah is Salt Lake City, which had 209,593 residents in 2023. The second largest is West Valley City with a population of 134,470, and third is West Jordan with 114,908 residents.
🕒 Time in Utah
The current time in Utah is 17:06. The entire state observes Mountain Standard Time (MST, UTC-7), with Daylight Saving Time MDT (UTC-6) in effect from March through November.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of Utah
According to 2023 data, Utah had a permanent population of 3,271,614, ranking 30th among the most populous U.S. states.
📍 Area of Utah
Utah’s total area is 84,898 sqmi, of which 82,147 sqmi is land and 2,755 sqmi is water. Utah is the 13th largest state in the USA.
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Fun Facts About Utah
🧩 Which States Border Utah
Utah borders five U.S. states. To the west is Nevada, to the north Idaho, to the northeast Wyoming, to the east Colorado, and to the south Arizona.
📅 Date of Utah Statehood
Utah was admitted to the Union on January 4, 1896 as the 45th state, preceded by the Utah Territory.
📛 Utah State Nickname
Utah’s official nickname is “The Beehive State.” The name does not refer to beehives as such, it points to the industriousness of the people and the tight-knit communities typical of Utah. The beehive was chosen as a symbol by the Latter-day Saints who began settling Utah in the mid-19th century.
Related to this is the nickname “The Mormon State,” which reflects the fact that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is headquartered in Utah. Although “Mormon” is not entirely precise, the term is commonly used for church members. By estimates, just under half of Utah’s residents identify with this faith.
⛰️ Highest Mountain in Utah
The highest mountain in Utah is Kings Peak at 13,534 ft, part of the Uinta Mountains in the northeast near the Wyoming border. The peak was named after explorer Clarence King, the first director of the United States Geological Survey.
🏞️ Rivers in Utah
The longest river in Utah is the Colorado River, with a total length of 1,448 mi. It is followed by the Green River (727 mi), the San Juan River (383 mi), the Sevier River (383 mi), and the Bear River (348 mi).
🎓 Universities in Utah
The largest university in the state is Utah Valley University with approximately 45,000 students. It opened in 1941 in Orem as Central Utah Vocational School, and became a university in 2008 after several name changes.
The second largest is the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, founded in 1850, which today enrolls around 35,000 students.
Third is Weber State University in Ogden, attended by over 30,000 students. Its traditions date back to 1889.
✉️ ZIP Codes in Utah
Utah is assigned ZIP codes in the range 840xx–847xx, and you can search them by address on the USPS website. Learn more about how the system works in the article ZIP Codes in the USA.
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Weather in Utah
The best time to visit Utah is the turn of summer into fall, when temperatures are pleasant for exploring national parks. Winter is ideal for visitors who want to ski or snowboard.
Spring in Utah is cool, especially in the mountains, with March temperatures holding around 41 °F to 50 °F. Conditions can change quickly, and higher elevations often keep a snowpack. Travel becomes easier in May, when temperatures typically range from 55 °F to 68 °F.
Summer in Utah is dry and hot. In lower elevations around Salt Lake City, temperatures sometimes exceed 86 °F. In higher elevations, for example around the Wasatch Range, temperatures stay near 68 °F even in summer. Rain is minimal from June through August, which makes for great conditions for outdoor activities.
Fall in Utah is brief, since winter usually arrives quickly in November. In September and October, temperatures hover around 55 °F to 66 °F. The number of rainy days in fall is low.
Winters in Utah are cold. Around Salt Lake City, temperatures range from 27 °F to 37 °F, and mountain areas are far below freezing. Snowfall in those locations is frequent and heavy, which creates excellent conditions for winter sports.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in Utah
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What to See in Utah
1️⃣ Zion National Park
Zion National Park sits in the south near the Arizona border, famous for sheer red cliffs and deep canyons. Visitors can choose from many trails of varying difficulty. The best known is Angel’s Landing, 5.4 mi long with an elevation gain of 1,488 ft, which climbs to the summit of the namesake rock with a gorgeous view. Free shuttle buses operate throughout the park.
2️⃣ Monument Valley
Monument Valley is a landscape of red sandstone formations and spires set in a flat valley, one of the great symbols of the American West. The area on the Arizona border is a traditional home of the Navajo Nation, so visitors can tour unique places with guides who are descendants of the original inhabitants. A quicker overview is possible from your car along the 17.0 mi loop road.
3️⃣ Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park lies in the south of the state, known for its sharp, otherworldly rock formations called hoodoos. The most beautiful views often come at sunrise or sunset. The park has 15 hiking trails of varying difficulty. The shortest take about 20 minutes, while the longest can take up to 7 hours.
A winter visit is a unique experience, when red hoodoos are covered with snow and the trails can be traveled on skis or snowshoes.
4️⃣ Bonneville Salt Flats
The Bonneville Salt Flats in northwestern Utah look like a giant mirror that reflects the blue sky. The flats, 12.0 mi long and 5.0 mi wide, are remnants of an ancient lake. Today the area is popular as a venue for vehicle land speed records. For example, in 2018 Danny Thompson reached 448.757 mph in his rocket-powered Challenger II.
The salt flats are open to the public, where visitors can enjoy striking optical illusions, although the natural environment must be respected.
5️⃣ Arches National Park
Arches National Park sits in eastern Utah, famous for deep orange sandstone arches, of which there are more than two thousand. The most iconic is Delicate Arch, 52.0 ft tall, considered the best known symbol of Utah.
The park offers a wide range of hiking routes of varying difficulty that lead to arches, rock towers, and viewpoints. Arches is open year-round, with spring and fall offering the most comfortable weather.
6️⃣ Park City Ski Resort
Park City, east of Salt Lake City, ranks among Utah’s best winter sports destinations. It includes several ski areas with dozens of lifts and hundreds of runs, from beginner slopes to expert terrain. Some events of the 2002 Winter Olympics were held here.
There is also a wide range of activities in summer, including excellent conditions for mountain biking and hiking. Every January, the popular Sundance Film Festival takes place in Park City.
7️⃣ Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef is one of the less visited national parks in the USA. Highlights include sandstone cliffs and domes set in a desert landscape, unusually complemented by historic orchards.
In the Fruita orchards, visitors can pick pears, apples, peaches, or apricots straight from the trees. The park has many hiking trails and good camping options, which makes it perfect for stargazing.
8️⃣ Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere, located a few kilometers northwest of Salt Lake City. The lake’s salinity is roughly three times higher than the ocean, which makes it easy for visitors to float.
Several hiking trails provide access to the lake, and you can sometimes spot herds of bison. Birders love the area, since it is an important site for observing migrating birds.
9️⃣ Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park is filled with vast orange-brown canyons carved by the Colorado and Green rivers. The park is divided into The Needles, The Maze, and Island in the Sky, each with unique views and hiking options. Mesa Arch is a popular spot for sunrise.
🔟 Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Grand Staircase-Escalante is a protected area in southern Utah known for its canyons, sandstone cliffs, and distinctive rock formations. Visitors can choose from several hiking trails, including the scenic route to Calf Creek Falls with a natural pool.
Long ago, 25 different species of dinosaurs lived around Grand Staircase-Escalante. You can see their fossils at the visitor center.
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Largest Cities in Utah
The table lists the ten largest cities in Utah in 2023. The data source is the federal agency United States Census Bureau, whose primary task is the population census.
City County Population 1 Salt Lake City Salt Lake 209,593 Map of Salt Lake City 2 West Valley City Salt Lake 134,470 Map of West Valley City 3 West Jordan Salt Lake 114,908 Map of West Jordan 4 Provo Utah 113,343 Map of Provo 5 St. George Washington 104,578 Map of St. George 6 Orem Utah 95,519 Map of Orem 7 Sandy Salt Lake 91,943 Map of Sandy 8 Lehi Utah 90,227 Map of Lehi 9 Ogden Weber 87,267 Map of Ogden 10 South Jordan Salt Lake 84,528 Map of South Jordan -
Sports Teams in Utah
🏒 Hockey (NHL)
The NHL features a single club, the Utah Mammoth, placed in the Central Division of the Western Conference. The team entered the NHL in the 2024/2025 season under the interim name Utah Hockey Club. Utah Mammoth plays its home games at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, and the uniforms use black, white, and blue.
🏈 American Football (NFL)
There is no NFL team from Utah.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
The state’s only representative in the NBA since the 1974 season is the Utah Jazz of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference. All home games are played at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, and the team colors are yellow, black, gray, and white.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
No team from Utah plays in MLB.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
Utah is represented in Major League Soccer by Real Salt Lake, which played its first season in the Western Conference in 2005. The club’s home stadium is America First Field in Sandy, and the team colors are burgundy red, cobalt blue, and gold.
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Utah State Symbols
Utah has several official symbols enacted by law and several unofficial ones. Only some of them are listed here.
Utah State Flag
Utah began using the current flag, featuring a beehive motif, on March 9, 2024. The flag consists of three horizontal stripes: top blue, middle white, and bottom red. The white stripe is shaped to evoke mountains, and inside it is a hexagon with a beehive.
The previous flag was used from 1913 to 2024, consisting of the state seal on a dark blue field. After the change in 2024, it was designated the historical flag.
Great Seal of Utah
The Great Seal of the State of Utah has been used since April 3, 1896 to authenticate documents issued by the government. Its central figure is the bald eagle, symbolizing protection and sovereignty, clutching a shield. The shield contains a beehive, representing industry and hard work. Two crossed American flags stand for devotion and loyalty to the nation. The date 1896 marks the year Utah entered the Union.
State Song
The official state song since 2003 has been Utah…This Is the Place, created for the state’s centennial in 1996. The song was adopted at the urging of fourth-grade students from a school in Syracuse, who found the original anthem, Utah, We Love Thee, not very engaging.
State Insect
In 1983 the honeybee (Apis mellifera) was chosen as the official state insect, long a symbol of Utah. The bee represents hard work, productivity, and community building, qualities considered typical of Utah’s residents. The beehive appears on both the flag and the state seal.
State Reptile
The state reptile, designated in 2019, is the Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum). One of the few venomous lizards in the world, it is native to the United States and found in southern Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. Gila monsters are not usually aggressive, and attacks on people are very rare.
State Animal
One of Utah’s symbols since 1971 is the Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni), a large mammal found in the state’s mountain regions. Elk symbolize strength, pride, and Utah’s natural wealth, and their antlers are prized trophies.
State Tree
Since 2014, the state tree has been the quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides). The law was promoted by elementary school students who wanted to raise awareness of this species. The quaking aspen was chosen for its ability to share a common root system across a colony, which is seen as representing unity and cooperation among Utah’s residents.
State Gemstone
Topaz was named the state gemstone in 1969 to highlight its importance to the state’s economy. Utah topaz is known for its golden to amber color and is found at several locations across the state. The best known sites are in the Thomas Range in western Utah.
State Fruit
The cherry became an official state symbol in 1997. It is one of Utah’s major fruit crops.
State Rock
Coal was added to the list of symbols in 1991. It has historically played an important role in the state’s economy. Utah has some of the largest coal reserves in the United States, and mines in Carbon and Emery counties were operating as early as around 1881.
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