Utah

Utah Capital  | Salt Lake City

|

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:

Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we, the people of Utah, in order to secure and perpetuate the principles of free government, do ordain and establish this CONSTITUTION.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Politics
* 3 Elected Officials
* 3.1 Federal
* 3.2 Statewide
* 4 Out of wedlock births
* 5 Notable people from Utah
* 6 References
* 7 External links
* 8 See also

## History[edit]

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.

## Politics[edit]

Great Salt Lake

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]

## Elected Officials[edit]

### Federal[edit]

* Sen. Mitt Romney (R)
* Sen. Mike Lee (R)
* Rep. Blake Moore [R, UT–01]
* Rep. Chris Stewart [R, UT–02]
* Rep. John Curtis [R, UT–03]
* Rep. Burgess Owens [R, UT–04]

### Statewide[edit]

* Governor Spencer Cox (R)
* Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson (R)

## Out of wedlock births[edit]

Utah has the lowest rate in the nation of out of wedlock births at 18%. The highest is Mississippi with 53%.[7]

## Notable people from Utah[edit]

* Mario Capecchi \- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for "Discoveries for introducing specific gene modifications in mice by the use of embryonic stem cells."
* Orson Scott Card, science-fiction writer best known for the Ender's Game series, has lived in Orem.
* Orrin Hatch \- Republican U.S. Senator from Utah, serving since 1977.
* Jon Huntsman, Jr., 2012 presidential candidate, current U.S. ambassador to Russia
* Thomas S. Monson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from February 3rd 2008 to January 2nd 2018, was born in Salt Lake City.
* Ken Jennings, who made a record 74 straight appearances on the game show Jeopardy, lives in Utah.
* Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond \- singers and actors; both were born in Ogden.
* Grant Speed, weatern sculptor
* Brigham Young, perhaps the most important person in the history of the founding of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints other than the founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., was part of the aforementioned settling of the state in the 1840s.
* Steve Young \- Hall of Fame quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. Steve is a direct descendant of Brigham Young.

## References[edit]

1. ↑ http://www.sltrib.com/ci_2886596
2. ↑ http://www.utah.com/stateparks/great_salt_lake.htm
3. ↑ The Mountain Meadows Massacre
4. ↑ http://www.cesnur.org/testi/morm_01.htm
5. ↑ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17154193/
6. ↑ https://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd?state=UT
7. ↑ San Diego Union-Tribune Newspaper, Nov. 9th, 2008

## External links[edit]

* Utah Cities on City-data.com

## See also[edit]

* Bountiful Utah Temple
* Logan Utah Temple
* Manti Utah Temple
* Monticello Utah Temple

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