17 Facts About Salt Lake County

1.

Salt Lake County is the 37th most populated county in the United States and is one of four counties in the Rocky Mountains to make it into the top 100.

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2.

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.

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3.

Salt Lake County is the central county of the Salt Lake City metropolitan area.

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4.

Future Salt Lake County area was settled by European Americans in 1847 when Mormon pioneers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fled religious persecution in the East.

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5.

Salt Lake County was officially organized on January 31,1850, with slightly more than 11,000 residents recorded.

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6.

Salt Lake County sent out parties to scout for mineral resources in the nearby mountains, hoping to encourage non-Mormons to settle in the territory.

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7.

Salt Lake Valley is fed by seven streams from the surrounding mountains.

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8.

Western portion of the county descends toward the valley of the lake, but perhaps the most dominating physical feature in Salt Lake County is the Wasatch Mountains in the eastern portion of the county, famous for both summer and winter activities.

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9.

Salt Lake County has four ski resorts: Snowbird and Alta in Little Cottonwood Canyon and Solitude and Brighton in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

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10.

The Salt Lake County government operates several large parks in the valley, including Big Cottonwood Park, Crestwood Park, and an Equestrian Center.

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11.

Salt Lake County was originally governed from the Salt Lake City and County Building in Downtown Salt Lake City, but now is based at the Salt Lake County Government Center at State Street and 2100 South.

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12.

The Salt Lake County Council is composed of 3 seats elected at-large and 6 elected by district.

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13.

Salt Lake County was the first Democratic presidential candidate to win a majority of the county's vote since Johnson.

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14.

Salt Lake County last voted for the Democratic candidate for governor in 2004, and for a Democratic Senate candidate in 1974.

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15.

Salt Lake County has one major research university, the University of Utah.

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16.

Salt Lake County includes five separate public school districts: Salt Lake City, Canyon, Granite, Jordan, and Murray.

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17.

Salt Lake County is traversed by three Interstate Highways and one US Highway, as well as an additional freeway and one major expressway.

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