Utah Information and Facts

Official Website: http://www.utah.gov/

Income

The population of Utah in 2002 was 2,318,789. Its rank was 34th in the nation. (The District of Columbia is included for ranking purposes.)

Per Capita Personal Income

In 2002 Utah had a per capita personal income of $24,639. This per capita personal income ranked 48th in the United States and was 80 percent of the national average, $30,906. The 2002 per capita personal income reflected an increase of 1.0 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.2 percent. In 1992 the per capita personal income of Utah was $16,115 and ranked 49th in the United States. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of per capita personal income was 4.3 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 4.0 percent.

Total Personal Income

In 2002 Utah had a total personal income of $57,133,565. This total personal income ranked 35th in the United States. In 1992 the total personal income of Utah was $29,600,697 and ranked 36th in the United States. The 2002 total personal income reflected an increase of 2.8 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 2.3 percent. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of total personal income was 6.8 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.2 percent.

Components of Personal Income

Total personal income includes net earnings by place of residence; dividends, interest, and rent; and total personal current transfer receipts received by the residents of Utah. In 2002 net earnings accounted for 72.4 percent of total personal income (compared with 71.5 in 1992); dividends, interest, and rent were 16.0 percent (compared with 16.9 in 1992); and personal current transfer receipts were 11.6 percent (compared with 11.6 in 1992). From 2001 to 2002 net earnings increased 2.0 percent; dividends, interest, and rent increased 0.6 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased 11.3 percent. From 1992 to 2002 net earnings increased on average 6.9 percent each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 6.2 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased on average 6.9 percent.

Employment Earnings

Earnings of persons employed in Utah increased from $45,570,562 in 2001 to $46,510,553 in 2002, an increase of 2.1 percent. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.5 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1992 estimate of $23,883,095 to the 2002 estimate was 6.9 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.3 percent.

Area - Utah ranks 13th in size among the states and has an area of 219,900 sq km (84,904 sq mi), including 7086 sq km (2736 sq mi) of inland water. The state has an overall distance from north to south of 555 km (345 mi) and a maximum extent from east to west of 446 km (277 mi). The approximate mean elevation is 1900 m (6100 ft).

Climate - In the valleys and plateaus of Utah the summers are hot and dry and the winters, also dry, range from mild in the south to cold in the north. In the mountains of northeastern Utah the temperatures throughout the year are lower than elsewhere in the state and precipitation is more abundant. Temperatures decrease from the south to the north in the state. In the mountains the average temperature drops about 0.5° C (about 1° F) for every about 300 m (about 1000 ft) rise in elevation. Average July temperatures range from less than 16° C (60° F) in the mountains to more than 27° C (80° F) in a few locations in southern Utah. At Salt Lake City the average July temperature is 26° C (78° F). There is a great variation between daytime and nighttime temperatures, and although daytime highs are often in the lower 30°s C (lower 90°s F), summer nights are usually quite cool. Average January temperatures range from more than 2° C (35° F) in southwestern Utah to less than -7° C (20° F) in mountainous northeastern Utah. The average January temperature at Salt Lake City is -2° C (29° F). In most of Utah the annual precipitation is between about 200 and 400 mm (about 8 and 16 in), but in the Great Salt Lake Desert it is less than 130 mm (5 in) annually. In the highest parts of the mountains the precipitation averages more than 1000 mm (40 in) per year, mostly in the form of heavy winter snow. Winter precipitation is mostly in the form of storms that originate over the Pacific Ocean. They bring large amounts of rain and snow to the southern and western slopes of the mountains but leave the leeward slopes and valleys relatively dry. Winter snows are particularly heavy in the Wasatch Mountains where single storms can bring several feet of snow and annual snowfall can reach 9 m (30 ft). Most rain in summer occurs as local thunderstorms, which drop large quantities of rain on small areas, often creating flash floods.

State Flag

State Flower - Sego Lily

State Capitol - Salt Lake City
Utah's constitution became effective in 1896, at the time of statehood. Amendments to the constitution may be proposed by two-thirds of the membership of each house or by a constitutional convention. To be adopted, proposed amendments must be approved by a majority of the voters in a general election.

Famous People

Anthony Geary actor, Coalville
Avard Fairbanks sculptor, Provo
Barney Clark heart patient, Provo
Bernard De Voto writer, Ogden
Brigham Young territory governor, religious leader, Whitingham, VT
Butch Cassidy outlaw, Circleville
David M. Kennedy government official, Randolph
Donny Osmond, Marie Osmond singers, Ogden
Frank Borzage film director, producer, Salt Lake City
Howard A. Jarvis social reformer, Magna
Ivy Baker Priest U.S. treasurer, Kimberley
J. Willard Marriott restaurant, hotel chain founder, Marriot
James Woods actor, Vernal
John Gilbert actor, Logan
John M. Browning inventor, Ogden
Joseph Smith religious leader, Sharon, VT
Laraine Day actress, Roosevelt
Lee Greene Richards painter, Salt Lake City
Loretta Young actress, Salt Lake City
Mack Swain actor, Salt Lake City
Marie Windsor actress, Marysville
Maude Adams actress, Salt Lake City
Merlin Olsen football player, Logan
Peter Skene Ogden fur trader, trapper
Philo Farnsworth television pioneer, Beaver
Reed Smoot first Mormon elected to U.S. Senate, Salt Lake City
Robert Walker actor, Salt Lake City
Roseanne Barr actress, Salt Lake City
Virginia Sorensen author, Provo