Capital | Salt Lake City |
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Nickname | The Beehive State |
Official Language | English |
Governor | Spencer Cox, R |
Senator | Mitt Romney, R (202) 224-5251 Contact |
Senator | Mike Lee, R (202) 224-5444 Contact |
Population | 3,250,000 (2020) |
Ratification of Constitution/or statehood | January 4, 1896 (45th) |
Motto: "Industry" |
Utah, known as the Beehive State, is the forty-fifth state to enter into the union, achieving statehood on Jan. 4, 1896. Approximately 62% of Utah's residents are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons), although this number is on the wane.[1] Nearly all Utah elected officials are Mormon, but divided between pro-Trump and anti-Trump.
The state's capital and largest city is Salt Lake City, where Temple Square includes the headquarters of the global Mormon church, which has a predominantly foreign membership. The Great Salt Lake, located in northern Utah, is the largest saltwater lake in the Western hemisphere,[2] and is likely a remnant of the Great Flood.
The state bird is the California Seagull. The state insect is the European Honey Bee.
The state Constitution of Utah, like all of the other 50 states, acknowledges God or our Creator or the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe. It says:
The first permanent European settlement of Utah came in 1847 when members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, led by Brigham Young, settled there, which ended their long westward trek to escape persecution. Peace would prove illusory, as relations with Native Americans and white non-Mormons would turn sour. The infamous Mountain Meadows Massacre of 1857 led to over 100 deaths.[3][4] Utah was admitted into the Union in 1896, after the Church banned polygamy on the basis that a new revelation from God had commanded this.
Utah is among the reddest of red states, having elected President Bush by some of the highest margins of any state in both 2000 and 2004 and supporting John McCain in 2008. Salt Lake City is generally the only exception, having a mayor, Rocky Anderson, who is very liberal.[5] Both of the state's Senators (Mitt Romney and Mike Lee) are Republicans, and all four of the state's Representatives are Republicans.[6]
Utah has the lowest rate in the nation of out of wedlock births at 18%. The highest is Mississippi with 53%.[7]
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Categories: [Utah] [Red States]