Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is the state capital and the most populated city in Utah. The population of the city in 2000 was 181,743. By 2005 its population was estimated to have gone down to 178,097.

The city occupies the north end of the Salt Lake Valley at an elevation of 4,330 feet (1,320 m). The valley is surrounded by mountains that rise dramatically to an elevation of 11,752 feet (3,582 m). Named after the nearby Great Salt Lake, the city is separated from the shores of the lake by marshes and mudflats.

Salt Lake City is home to the following sites:

Postsecondary Education

University of Utah 801-581-7200 201 South Presidents Circle                            Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 http://www.utah.edu/ Westminster College 801-484-7651 1840 South 1300 East Salt Lake City, Utah 84105 http://www.westminstercollege.edu/

Salt Lake Community College 801-957-4111 4600 South Redwood Road Salt Lake City, Utah 84123 http://www.slcc.edu/  LDS Business College 801-524-8100 95 North 300 West Salt Lake City, Utah 84101 http://www.ldsbc.edu/

Trade and Technical Schools

Utah College of Massage Therapy

801-521-3330 Toll Free: 1-800-617-3302

25 South 300 East

Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

Salt Lake City's History

Founded in 1847 by a group of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) led by Brigham Young, Salt Lake City is among the oldest cities in the region and is the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Mining and railroads initially brought economic growth, and the city became known as the "Crossroads of the West." In the 21st Century the city has developed a strong tourism industry and was host to the 2002 Winter Olympics.

The Salt Lake City metropolitan area is the industrial banking center of the United States, the center of business along the rapidly-growing Wasatch Front, and the gateway to several resort towns, ski resorts and national parks. These include Park City, Snowbird ski resort, and Bryce Canyon and Zion national parks, among others.

The valley floor consists of the lakebed of ancient Lake Bonneville.  This lake once encompassed the entire eastern Great Basin. Its largest remnant is the Great Salt Lake, located 10 miles north of the city. The Jordan River flows through the city west of downtown from Utah Lake to the Great Salt Lake.

Mountains and Canyons

The Wasatch Range rises approximately 11,500 feet above sea level 5 miles to the east of downtown. These mountains are the namesake of the Wasatch Front.  The Oquirrh Mountains, located 7 miles west of the city, rise to about 10,000 feet. The Traverse Mountains at the south end of the valley rise to 6,000 feet above sea level, partially bridging the gap between the Wasatch and Oquirrh ranges.

Three major canyons cut through the Wasatch Range and open into Salt Lake City proper. The northernmost is City Creek Canyon, it opens into Downtown.  It is bordered on either side by Capitol Hill and The Avenues. Further to the east is Emigration Canyon, the canyon the Mormons used to initially enter the valley. It opens up on the East Bench just south of the University of Utah, near Hogle Zoo and This Is The Place Heritage Park.  Traversed by Interstate 80, Parley's Canyon opens up at the very southeast corner of the city.