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Official City Website
Official County Website
Salt Lake County occupies the Salt Lake Valley, as well as parts of the surrounding mountains, the Oquirrh Mountains to the west and the Wasatch Range to the east (essentially the entire Jordan River watershed north of the Traverse Mountains). In addition, the northwestern section of the county includes part of the Great Salt Lake. The county is noted for its ski resorts; Salt Lake City won the bid to host the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah, as well as the seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in Utah. With a population of 199,723 in 2020, the city is the core of the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a population of 1,257,936 (as of the 2020 census). Salt Lake City is further situated within a larger metropolis known as the Salt Lake City–Ogden–Provo Combined Statistical Area, a corridor of contiguous urban and suburban development stretched along a 120-mile segment of the Wasatch Front, comprising a population of 2,606,548 (as of 2018 estimates), making it the 22nd largest in the nation. It is also the central core of the larger of only two major urban areas located within the Great Basin (the other being Reno, Nevada).
Salt Lake City was founded in 1847 by early pioneer settlers, led by Brigham Young, who were seeking to escape persecution they had experienced while living farther east. The Mormon pioneers, as they would come to be known, entered a semi-arid valley and immediately began planning and building an extensive irrigation network which could feed the population and foster future growth. Salt Lake City's street grid system is based on a standard compass grid plan, with the southeast corner of Temple Square (the area containing the Salt Lake Temple in downtown Salt Lake City) serving as the origin of the Salt Lake meridian. Owing to its proximity to the Great Salt Lake, the city was originally named Great Salt Lake City. In 1868, the word "Great" was dropped from the city's name.
Immigration of international members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, mining booms, and the construction of the first transcontinental railroad initially brought economic growth, and the city was nicknamed "The Crossroads of the West". It was traversed by the Lincoln Highway, the first transcontinental highway, in 1913. Two major cross-country freeways, I-15 and I-80, now intersect in the city. The city also has a belt route, I-215.
Salt Lake City has developed a strong tourist industry based primarily on skiing and outdoor recreation. It hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics. It is known for its politically liberal and diverse culture, which stands at contrast with the rest of the state's conservative leanings. It is home to a significant LGBT community and hosts the annual Utah Pride Festival. It is the industrial banking center of the United States. Salt Lake City and the surrounding area are also the location of several institutions of higher education including the state's flagship research school, the University of Utah.
Neighborhoods
- 9th and 9th, area near 900 East and 900 South, running from 800 East to 1100 East and from 800 South to 1300 South
- The Avenues, which extend north from South Temple to the city limits, running east from State Street to Virginia Street
- Ballpark, running south from 900 South to 2100 South, and west from State Street to Interstate 15. Named for Smith's Ballpark.
- Buena Vista, north of California Avenue, west of Glendale; adjacent to Salt Lake International Airport
- Capitol Hill, extending north from South Temple to the city limits, bounded between State Street on the east and 500 West on the west
- Central City, between State Street and 700 East, from South Temple south to 700 South
- Central City West, running west from 300 West to Interstate 15, going south from South Temple to 1300 South
- Downtown, extending south from South Temple to 700 South, between State Street and 300 West
- East Central, extending east from 700 East to 1300 East, south from South Temple to 1300 South
- Fairpark, running west from 500 West to 1460 West, running north from North Temple to 600 North
- Federal Heights, running east from Virginia Street to the University of Utah, bounded on the south by 100 South and on the north by Federal Heights Drive
- Foothill and East Bench, running east from 1300 East to the city limits, running south from 500 South to Interstate 80
- Glendale, west of Interstate 15 and running west to the city limits, bounded between 950 South on the north and 2100 South on the south
- Jordan Meadows, extending west from 1460 West to city limits, north from North Temple to 700 North
- Liberty Wells, going east from State Street to 700 East, going south from 900 South to 2100 South
- Marmalade District, bounded between 300 North on the south to 500 North on the north, and bounded on the west by Quince Street and on the east by Center Street
- Poplar Grove, also west of Interstate 15, running to the city limits, bounded by North Temple on the north and 950 South on the south
- Rose Park, extending west from Interstate 15 to Redwood Road, running north from 600 North to city limits
- Sugar House, running east from 700 East to Foothill Drive, running south from 1700 South to the city limits
- University, running east from 1100 East to University St., and south from South Temple to 500 South
- Westpointe, extending west from Redwood Road to city limits, running north from 700 North to city limits
- Yalecrest, between 1300 East and 1500 East, between Sunnyside Avenue (800 South) and 1300 South
Adjacent Counties
Other Cities
- Bluffdale
- Cottonwood Heights
- Draper
- Herriman
- Holladay
- Midvale
- Millcreek
- Murray
- Riverton
- Sandy
- South Jordan
- South Salt Lake
- Taylorsville
- West Jordan
- West Valley City
Townships, Towns & Communities
Alta | Arthur | Bacchus | Big Cottonwood Canyon | Bingham Canyon | Brighton | Copperton | Emigration Canyon | Forest Dale | Garfield | Granite | Kearns | Lark | Magna | Mountain Dell | Parley's Canyon | Riter | Sandy Hills | Southwest | Welby | Willow Canyon
Cemeteries
Links
National Register of Historic Places
Trolley Square Shooting of 2007
History of the USS Salt Lake City
History of the Mormons in Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Family History Library
