Salt Lake City Skyline

About Salt Lake County, Utah

With over one million inhabitants, the Salt Lake County is one of the most important counties in the state of Utah. The capital, Salt Lake City is found in the county. The history of the county is a fascinating one. Some of the very first settlers in the area that is now the county were Mormon pioneers who set up a permanent settlement in the area in the 19th century after the proclamation of their leader, Brigham Young. Although the area was arid, the new inhabitants soon developed the region by making use of irrigation.

In the 20th century, the county underwent a metamorphosis as a result of the advent of the railroad which also ensured that the population of the budding county swelled up. During the Second World War, the county was a site for defense installations and these helped in boosting the local economy. With time, the state of Utah became one of the most important military centers in the United States, even long after the war had ended.

In the 1960s, the county had its first international airport (Salt Lake City International Airport), and just around a decade later, the county witnessed an unprecedented boom in the real estate industry. A similar boom was to be experienced with the hosting of the Olympic Games in 2002.

Some of the most important issues facing the county today is urbanization, transportation and pollution, especially in the light of the increase in population. During the early years of the county, mining was a major economic activity. But in the 21st century, that has been replaced with a number of other industries. These include sporting activities, information and communication technology, computer manufacturing. The county is also a leading light as far as education is concerned. The county has tens of public high schools. In total, the county has fifteen cities and a single town.

 


Other Topics of Interest



NOTE: Information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Dozens of writers have contributed articles, images and other information. Some content is compiled from 3rd party sources. If you are aware of incorrect or outdated information, feel free to contact us and if appropriate, we'll take action to correct the issue.