Utah 2014
The capital city of Utah is Salt Lake City. It is located in the north-central part of the state and is the most populous city in Utah with a population of over 200,000 people. Salt Lake City is known for its large Mormon population and its vibrant downtown area, which includes Temple Square, the home of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The city also has a thriving music and art scene, as well as numerous outdoor activities such as skiing and hiking.
According to countryaah.com, the largest city in Utah is West Valley City, located just outside Salt Lake City. It has a population of over 136,000 people and is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. West Valley City offers many amenities to its residents including an expansive park system, numerous shopping centers and restaurants, and plenty of recreational activities such as golf courses and community sports leagues. The city also boasts a diverse culture with a variety of ethnic restaurants and cultural attractions that draw visitors from all over the country.
Politics of Utah in 2014
In 2014, Utah was a politically conservative state as the Republican Party held a strong majority in both houses of the state legislature. During this time, Utah also had a Republican governor, Gary Herbert, who was elected in 2009 and re-elected in 2013. The state’s Republican-controlled legislature passed several pieces of legislation that reflected the party’s conservative values. This included laws that restricted abortion access, required drug testing for public assistance recipients, and strengthened gun rights. Additionally, Utah passed laws to expand school choice and increase funding for charter schools.
At the federal level, all four of Utah’s congressional seats were held by Republicans who supported conservative policies such as repealing Obamacare and reducing government spending. In 2014, Senator Orrin Hatch was re-elected to his sixth term in office while Representative Jason Chaffetz won his third term in Congress.
In the 2014 election cycle, Utah saw several ballot initiatives related to issues such as education funding and medical marijuana legalization. Perhaps the most controversial measure was Proposition 2 which would have legalized medical marijuana but it ultimately failed at the ballot box due to opposition from church groups and other conservatives. Despite this setback, marijuana reform continued to be a major topic of discussion throughout the year as advocates pushed for further reforms at both the state and federal level.
Population of Utah in 2014
In 2014, according to beautyphoon, Utah had a population of 2,942,902 people, making it the 13th most populous state in the United States. The majority of the population (78.2%) identified as white non-Hispanic while 14.3% identified as Hispanic or Latino. African Americans made up 1.6% of the population while Asian Americans and Native Americans each made up 1.1%.
The state’s largest metropolitan area was Salt Lake City with a population of 1,153,340 people followed by Provo-Orem with 526,810 people and Ogden-Clearfield with 517,717 people. The remainder of Utah’s population was spread out across its rural areas with the smallest city being Kanab with 4,312 people.
The median age in Utah in 2014 was 30 years old and about half (51%) of the state’s population was female while 49% was male. Additionally, 28% of Utah’s population was under 18 years old while 10% were 65 years or older.
Utah had a high rate of religious affiliation compared to other states in the U.S., with over 60 percent identifying as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Other religions represented included Catholic (10%), non-denominational Christian (6%), and Islam (1%).
Economy of Utah in 2014
In 2014, according to ablogtophone, Utah had a strong and diverse economy. The state had an estimated GDP of $163.8 billion which ranked it at 30th among all other states. It was also the fastest growing economy in the United States with a growth rate of 4.1%. The unemployment rate was 3.6%, which was lower than the national average of 5.9%.
The major industries in Utah in 2014 included tourism, mining, finance, and technology. Tourism was one of the largest industries in the state with over $7 billion dollars being generated from visitors in 2014 alone. Mining contributed nearly $5 billion to the state’s economy while finance and insurance services added another $3 billion. Technology was also an important industry with several large tech companies located there such as Adobe Systems, eBay, and Oracle Corporation.
The median household income for Utah in 2014 was $60,811 which was higher than the national average of $51,939. However, there were still some areas of poverty within the state with 15% of people living below the poverty line in 2014 compared to 14% nationally.
Overall, Utah had a strong economy that provided good opportunities for its citizens and businesses alike in 2014. The state’s diverse mix of industries allowed it to weather economic downturns better than other states and provided stability for its citizens as well as businesses looking to relocate or expand operations there.
Events Held in Utah in 2014
Utah hosted a number of exciting events in 2014, ranging from sporting competitions to cultural festivals. The winter months saw the Winter Olympics come to Salt Lake City with events such as skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating taking place across the state. The opening and closing ceremonies were held at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City and were attended by thousands of people.
The summer months saw a variety of music festivals including the Bonneville Music Festival and the Utah Arts Festival. Both festivals featured a wide variety of musical acts from around the world as well as local talent. Other notable events included the Utah Shakespeare Festival which hosted performances of classic plays such as Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth.
The fall was also full of exciting events with the Great Salt Lake Birding Festival taking place in September showcasing over 100 species of birds that live in or migrate through Utah. October saw the popular Moab Folk Festival which featured folk music from around the world as well as local acts.
Finally, December brought with it one of Utah’s most popular events – The Sundance Film Festival. Held annually since 1978, this event showcased independent films from around the world to audiences from all over the country and beyond.
Overall, 2014 was a great year for events in Utah with something for everyone to enjoy no matter what their interests were. From sporting competitions to cultural festivals, there was something for everyone to enjoy throughout the year in this beautiful state.
