Utah & Salt Lake City

Utah is my home state, and Salt Lake City is where I grew up. There's something special about living at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains, with world-class skiing 30 minutes away and some of the most stunning landscapes on Earth just a few hours in any direction.

Utah: The Beehive State

Utah became the 45th state on January 4, 1896. The name comes from the Ute tribe, meaning "people of the mountains." The settlers originally wanted to call it "Deseret" (meaning "honeybee" in the Book of Mormon), but Congress chose Utah instead. The beehive remains the state symbol, representing industry and perseverance.

Quick Facts

Statehood: January 4, 1896 (45th state)
Area: 84,900 square miles (11th largest)
Highest Point: Kings Peak at 13,528 ft
Motto: "Industry"
Nickname: The Beehive State

Cool Facts About Utah

The Mighty Five — 5 national parks: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches
Greatest Snow on Earth — 500+ inches annually in the mountains, incredibly light and dry powder
Great Salt Lake — Largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere, up to 8x saltier than the ocean
Bonneville Salt Flats — 30,000 acres of flat salt where land speed records are set; you can see Earth's curvature
Utahraptor — State dinosaur, one of the largest raptors ever discovered (bigger than Jurassic Park's velociraptors)
Rainbow Bridge — World's largest natural bridge at 290 feet tall
Dark Sky Parks — More certified dark sky parks than anywhere on Earth
Golden Spike — The transcontinental railroad was completed at Promontory Summit on May 10, 1869

Salt Lake City

Founded on July 24, 1847, when Brigham Young and the Mormon pioneers arrived in the valley. Upon seeing it, Young reportedly declared, "This is the right place." July 24th is still celebrated as Pioneer Day, a state holiday.

City Facts

Founded: July 24, 1847
Elevation: 4,226 feet
City Population: ~200,000
Metro Area: ~1.2 million

What Makes SLC Unique

Wide Streets — 132 feet across, designed so oxen wagons could U-turn
Grid System — Temple Square is the center; streets numbered by distance from it (400 South = 4 blocks south)
2002 Winter Olympics — One of the most successful Winter Games ever; bidding for 2034
Silicon Slopes — Major tech hub with Qualtrics, Pluralsight, Domo, and more

Notable Landmarks

Temple Square — LDS Church headquarters with the Salt Lake Temple (40 years to build) and Tabernacle Choir
Utah State Capitol — Neoclassical building with panoramic valley views
Natural History Museum of Utah — Incredible dinosaur exhibits in a striking modern building
Red Butte Garden — Botanical garden with outdoor concert amphitheater
Gilgal Sculpture Garden — Hidden gem with 12 sculptures including a sphinx with Joseph Smith's face
This Is The Place Monument — Marks where Brigham Young first saw the valley

Geography & Climate

Salt Lake sits between the Wasatch Mountains to the east (rising to 11,000+ feet) and the Oquirrh Mountains to the west. Semi-arid climate with four distinct seasons—powder snow in winter, hot dry summers. 8-10 world-class ski resorts within an hour.

Valley Floor: ~4,200 feet
Ski Resorts: 8,000-11,000 feet
Highest Wasatch Peak: Mount Nebo at 11,928 feet

Why I Love It Here

Growing up in Salt Lake means you never take nature for granted. Within 30 minutes, you can be skiing powder, hiking a canyon, or mountain biking world-class trails. Within a few hours, you're in five different national parks.

Great food, thriving tech scene, incredible outdoor access, and a community that cares about preserving what makes this place unique. It's not perfect, but it's home.

"This is the right place." — Brigham Young, 1847