Utah ( The Beehive State ) The state gets its name from the Ute, meaning "people of the mountains," an Indian tribe who lived there before the pioneers arrived. The state known as Utah began when Brigham Young led a group of Mormon pilgrims seeking freedom from religious persecution into the Great Salt Lake Valley, where they established a settlement in 1847. Mormons, members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, make up a large percentage of the population of Utah. Utah became the 45th state of the Union in 1896. The golden spike completing the first transcontinental railroad line was driven at Promontory, Utah, in 1869, leading to a further influx of settlers. Utah is well-known for its snow-covered mountains and beautifully colored canyons. The wind and rain have formed rocks into many arches and natural bridges. The Great Salt Lake is the largest natural lake west of the Mississippi River; its waters are saltier than ocean water. The state's forests, mountains, lakes, and rivers are excellent for boating, fishing, hunting, sightseeing, skiing and swimming. One of Utah's most interesting places to visit is Mormon Temple Square in Salt Lake City. Some of the famous celebrities that were born in Utah include: The Flag of Utah Entered the Union in 1896 as the 45th State; flag adopted in 1911, modified in 1913. The beehive symbolizes industry, while the American eagle and flags stand for loyalty to the Nation. The early settlers were saved from starvation by eating the sego lily, now recognized as the State flower.   Largest Cities in the State (2000) Salt Lake City, 181,743; West Valley City, 108,896; Provo, 105,166; Sandy, 88,418; Orem, 84,324; Ogden, 77,226; West Jordan, 68,336; Layton, 58,474; Taylorsville, 57,439; St. George, 49,663   Business and Trade in Utah Agriculture: Cattle, dairy products, hay, turkeys. Industries: Machinery, aerospace, mining, food processing, electric equipment, tourism. State Symbols and Emblems Bird: American Seagull Flower: Sego Lily (calochortus gunnisonii) Tree: Blue Spruce (picea pungens) Song(s): Utah, We Love Thee Motto: Industry Utah Travel - Vacation Destinations & Recreation National parks and historic locations suitable for family vacations or day trips. • Lonesome Beaver Campground - Hanksville • Dead Horse Point State Park - Moab • Pariette Wetlands - Vernal • Currant Creek Reservoir - Provo • San Rafael Bridge Campground - Price

Capital: Salt Lake City     Local Weather  Statehood: 1896-01-04  Population: 2,233,169 (27.2 mi2)   Geographic Area (mi2)     Total 84,898.83     Water 2,755.18     Land 82,143.65     Rank 12th Largest   State Education:     Pub & Prv Schools     College & University     Libraries   Border States: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Wyoming   Health Information:     Illicit Drug Use     Youth Risk Survey   Housing: In Utah, there are 768,594 housing units, averaging to 9.4 per sq mile.   Related Magazines:   Posters and Artwork Man Skiing in Deep Powder at Solitude Mountain Resort, Utah, USA Photographic Print 12" x 16" • Rocks in a River, Big Cottonwood Creek, Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA Photographic Print 24" x 8" • White Rim Trail, Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA Photographic Print 18" x 24" • View into Snow Canyon at Sunrise, Snow Canyon State Park, Utah, USA Photographic Print 16" x 12" • Sandstone Formations, Dugout Ranch, Nature Conservancy, Utah, USA Photographic Print 24" x 18" • Ponderosa Pines and Meadow, Elk Ridge, Manti-LaSal National Forest, Utah, USA Photographic Print 24" x 18"