Utah

Utah is a state in the Mountain West region of the United States. It is bordered by Idaho and Wyoming to the north, Colorado to the east, New Mexico at the Four Corners, and Arizona and Nevada to the south and west. The state has a diverse geography that includes portions of the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado Plateau, high desert basins, and the Great Salt Lake. The Wasatch Range runs north–south through the central part of the state, shaping major population centers and outdoor recreation areas. Notable features include the Bonneville Salt Flats and a variety of national and state parks.

Indigenous peoples inhabited the region for thousands of years, notably the Ute and Goshute. In 1847, Mormon pioneers led by Brigham Young settled the Salt Lake Valley. Utah achieved statehood on January 4, 1896. The arrival of the Transcontinental Railroad helped integrate the state with the broader economy.

Population centers along the Wasatch Front, including Salt Lake City (the state capital), Provo, and Ogden, anchor the urban economy. The population is relatively young and has grown rapidly, with a tech sector centered in the area known as Silicon Slopes.

Economy and culture: Utah has a diversified economy with technology, education, healthcare, manufacturing, mining, and outdoor recreation playing major roles. Tourism is driven by the state’s national parks—Arches, Canyonlands, Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Capitol Reef—and by winter sports in the Wasatch Range. The cultural landscape has been strongly influenced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the state hosts events such as the Sundance Film Festival in Park City.

State symbols include the beehive as a symbol of industry and the sego lily as the state flower, with Industry as the state motto.