History of Utah in Timeline
Utah is a landlocked state in the Mountain West region of the United States, part of the Four Corners states. It borders Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Idaho, and Nevada. With a population of just over three million, it ranks as the 13th largest by area and the 30th most populous state. The majority of Utah's population resides in the Wasatch Front, which includes Salt Lake City, while a smaller concentration exists in Washington County. The western part of Utah primarily lies within the Great Basin.
1917: Simon Bamberger Became Governor
In 1917, Simon Bamberger became one of three Governors of Utah who was not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
1918: Establishment of 29 Counties
Since 1918, Utah has been divided into 29 counties.
1921: End of Simon Bamberger's Governorship
In 1921, Simon Bamberger's term as Governor of Utah ended. He was one of three Governors of Utah who was not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
1925: George Dern Became Governor
In 1925, George Dern became one of three Governors of Utah who was not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
December 12, 1932: Record Low for Inhabited Location
On December 12, 1932, Woodruff, Utah recorded a temperature of −49 °F (−45 °C), marking the record low for an inhabited location in Utah.
1933: End of George Dern's Governorship
In 1933, George Dern's term as Governor of Utah ended. He was one of three Governors of Utah who was not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
1939: Establishment of Alta Ski Area
In 1939, the Alta Ski Area was established, marking the beginning of Utah's world-renowned skiing industry.
1943: Completion of the Alaska Highway
In 1970, the 103 mi (166 km) stretch of I-70 from Salina to Green River was completed. At the time, it was the country's longest stretch of interstate without services and the longest stretch of entirely new highway constructed in the U.S. since the Alaska Highway was completed in 1943.
1949: J. Bracken Lee Became Governor
In 1949, J. Bracken Lee became one of three Governors of Utah who was not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
1957: End of J. Bracken Lee's Governorship
In 1957, J. Bracken Lee's term as Governor of Utah ended. He was one of three Governors of Utah who was not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
1957: Utah State Parks Commission Created
In 1957, the Utah State Parks Commission was created with four parks, marking the beginning of the state's management of its natural recreational areas.
1962: Unofficial Use of "The Greatest Snow on Earth" Slogan
As early as 1962, the slogan "The Greatest Snow on Earth" was in unofficial use in Utah.
1964: No Democratic Presidential Victory
Since 1964, Utah has consistently voted for Republican presidential candidates, marking a long-standing trend in the state's political history.
1970: Completion of Salina to Green River Stretch of I-70
In 1970, the 103 mi (166 km) stretch of I-70 from Salina to Green River was completed. At the time, it was the country's longest stretch of interstate without services and the longest stretch of entirely new highway constructed in the U.S. since the Alaska Highway was completed in 1943.
1970: Utah Stars in ABA
In 1970, the Utah Stars began competing in the ABA.
1972: National Moratorium on Capital Punishment
In 1972, a national moratorium on capital punishment started, ending in 1976 with Gregg v. Georgia. Utah was the first state to resume executions after the moratorium.
1975: "The Greatest Snow on Earth" Becomes Official Slogan
In 1975, "The Greatest Snow on Earth" became the official state slogan of Utah, although it was in unofficial use as early as 1962.
1976: Utah's Republican Leaning
From 1976 to 2004, Utah was the single most Republican-leaning state in the country in every presidential election, measured by the percentage point margin between the Republican and Democratic candidates.
1976: National Moratorium on Capital Punishment
In 1972, a national moratorium on capital punishment started, ending in 1976 with Gregg v. Georgia. Utah was the first state to resume executions after the moratorium.
1976: Republicans' Best State
In 1976, Utah was the Republicans' best state in the presidential elections.
1976: Utah Stars End ABA Run
In 1976, the Utah Stars ended their run in the ABA.
1977: Gary Gilmore Executed by Firing Squad
In 1977, Utah was the first state to resume executions after the 1972-1976 national moratorium on capital punishment ended. Gary Gilmore was executed by firing squad.
1978: Sundance Film Festival Founded
In 1978, the Sundance Film Festival was founded and takes place every January in Park City, becoming the largest independent film festival in the United States.
1979: Jazz Move to Salt Lake City
In 1979, the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association moved to Salt Lake City from New Orleans.
1980: Republicans' Best State
In 1980, Utah was the Republicans' best state in the presidential elections.
1984: Republicans' Best State
In 1984, Utah was the Republicans' best state in the presidential elections.
February 1, 1985: Record Low Temperature
On February 1, 1985, the record low temperature in Utah was recorded at Peter Sinks in the Bear River Mountains of northern Utah at −69 °F (−56 °C).
1988: Republicans' Best State
In 1988, Utah was the Republicans' best state in the presidential elections.
1990: English Spoken at Home
In 1990, 92.2% of all state residents five years of age or older spoke only English at home. By 2000, that number decreased to 87.5%.
1992: Bill Clinton's Finish in Utah
In 1992, Utah was the only state where Democratic candidate Bill Clinton finished behind both Republican candidate George H.W. Bush and Independent candidate Ross Perot.
1992: Last time the Republican presidential candidate won Utah with only a plurality
In the 2016 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump carried Utah (marking the thirteenth consecutive win by the Republican presidential candidate) with only a plurality, the first time this happened since 1992.
August 11, 1993: F3 Tornado in Uinta Mountains
On August 11, 1993, an F3 tornado struck the Uinta Mountains. It was the strongest tornado in the state.
1994: No Democrat Has Won in Utah County Since 1994
Even though Utah Democratic candidates are predominantly LDS, socially conservative, and pro-life, no Democrat has won in Utah County since 1994.
1996: Republicans' Best State
In 1996, Utah was the Republicans' best state in the presidential elections. The Republican candidate received 54% of the vote, while the Democrat earned 34%.
1997: Utah Starzz in WNBA
In 1997, the Utah Starzz began competing in the WNBA.
1998: Church Promotes Bipartisanship
In 1998, the church expressed concern that Utahns perceived the Republican Party as an LDS institution and authorized lifelong Democrat and Seventy Marlin Jensen to promote LDS bipartisanship.
August 11, 1999: Salt Lake City Tornado
On August 11, 1999, an unprecedented F2 tornado moved directly across downtown Salt Lake City, killing one person, injuring 60 others, and causing approximately $170 million in damage.
2000: English Spoken at Home
In 2000, 87.5% of all state residents five years of age or older spoke only English at home, a decrease from 92.2% in 1990.
2000: Republicans' Best State
In 2000, Utah was the Republicans' best state in the presidential elections.
2000: Fastest Growing State Since 2000
Since 2000, Utah has been one of the fastest-growing states in the U.S., and St. George was the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the nation from 2000 to 2005.
2000: Start of Growth Period
The period between 2000 and 2010 marked a significant growth phase for Utah, as highlighted by the 2010 census, which identified Utah as the second-fastest-growing state.
2000: Start of Population Boom
The period between 2000 and 2010 saw substantial population increases in several Utah counties and cities, including significant percentage growth and overall population gains.
2001: Utah Adopts "Utah! Where Ideas Connect" Slogan
In 2001, Utah Governor Mike Leavitt approved a new state slogan, "Utah! Where Ideas Connect".
2002: Antidepressant Prescription Study
A 2002 national prescription drug study determined that antidepressant drugs were "prescribed in Utah more often than in any other state, at a rate nearly twice the national average".
2002: Salt Lake City Winter Olympics
In 2002, Salt Lake City hosted the Winter Olympics, which became a financial and marketing success despite early struggles, earning a $100 million profit and being watched by over two billion viewers.
2002: Increase in Tourism After Winter Olympics
Since the 2002 Winter Olympics, Utah has experienced an increase in tourism.
2003: Utah's Anti-Sodomy Law Invalidated
In 2003, Utah's anti-sodomy law was invalidated by Lawrence v. Texas.
2003: Utah Starzz Leave WNBA
In 2003, the Utah Starzz ended their run in the WNBA.
2004: Utah's Republican Leaning
From 1976 to 2004, Utah was the single most Republican-leaning state in the country in every presidential election, measured by the percentage point margin between the Republican and Democratic candidates.
2004: Bush Received Utahn Votes
George W. Bush received 70.9% in the 2004 United States presidential election.
2004: George W. Bush's Victory
In 2004, George W. Bush won every county in Utah and secured his largest margin of victory in any state, winning the state's electoral votes by 46 percentage points with 71.5% of the vote.
2005: St. George, Fastest Growing Metropolitan Area
From 2000 to 2005, St. George was the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the United States.
2005: Real Salt Lake Founded
In 2005, Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer was founded and began playing their home matches at America First Field in Sandy.
March 10, 2006: "Life Elevated" Becomes New State Slogan
On March 10, 2006, the Utah Travel Council and the office of Governor Jon Huntsman announced that "Life Elevated" would be the new state slogan.
2006: Legislation Aimed at Banning Joint Custody
In 2006, the legislature passed legislation aimed at banning joint custody for a non-biological parent of a child. The custody measure passed the legislature and was vetoed by the governor, a reciprocal benefits supporter.
July 4, 2007: Record High Temperature
On July 4, 2007, Utah recorded its record high temperature of 118 °F (48 °C) south of St. George.
2007: Deer Valley Park City Ranked Top Ski Resort
Between 2007 and 2011 Deer Valley Park City, has been ranked the top ski resort in North America in a survey organized by Ski Magazine.
2007: Utah Ranks Top State in Economic Dynamism
In 2007, according to the State New Economy Index, Utah was ranked the top state in the nation for Economic Dynamism, which is determined by the degree to which state economies are knowledge-based, globalized, entrepreneurial, information technology-driven, and innovation-based.
2008: Volunteerism Statistics
Between 2008 and 2010, Utah had an average of 884,000 volunteers, each of whom contributed 89.2 hours per volunteer. This figure equates to $3.8 billion of service contributed, ranking Utah number one for volunteerism in the nation.
2008: Real Salt Lake Women Begin Play
In 2008, Real Salt Lake Women began play in the Women's Premier Soccer League.
2008: Utah Ranked Third-Most Republican State
In 2008, Utah was only the third-most Republican state (after Wyoming and Oklahoma).
2008: "Forever Strong" Movie Inspiration
In 2008, the movie "Forever Strong" inspired the growth of Rugby in Utah.
2008: McCain Received Utahn Votes
John McCain polled 62.5% in the 2008 United States presidential election.
2008: Start of Income Tax Rate Decrease
Since 2008, Utah's income tax rate has been steadily decreasing by 0.05% points yearly.
February 2009: Africanized Honeybees Found
In February 2009, Africanized honeybees were found in southern Utah.
August 11, 2009: Gary Herbert Sworn in as Governor
After Jon Huntsman Jr. resigned to serve as U.S. Ambassador to China in 2009, Gary Herbert was sworn in as governor on August 11, 2009.
2009: BYU Rugby National Champions
In 2009, BYU won the National Championship in college rugby.
2009: RSL Wins MLS Cup
In 2009, Real Salt Lake won the MLS Cup, marking the only national championship for a major league sports team in Utah.
2009: Ski Magazine Reader Survey Results
The 2009 Ski Magazine reader survey concluded that six of the top ten resorts deemed most "accessible", and six of the top ten with the best snow conditions, were located in Utah.
November 2010: Newsweek Article Calls Utah "The New Economic Zion"
In November 2010, a Newsweek magazine article highlighted Utah and particularly the Salt Lake City area's economic outlook, calling it "the new economic Zion", and examined how the area has been able to bring in high-paying jobs and attract high-tech corporations to the area during a recession.
2010: LDS Church Membership Statistics
According to results from the 2010 U.S. census, combined with official LDS Church membership statistics, church members represented 62.1% of Utah's total population.
2010: Utah's Population Growth
According to the 2010 census, Utah was the second-fastest-growing state in the United States between 2000 and 2010, with a growth rate of 23.8 percent.
2010: Population Growth Statistics
Between 2000 and 2010, Wasatch, Washington, and Tooele Counties were the fastest-growing in Utah, while Utah County added the most people overall.
2010: Volunteerism Statistics
Between 2008 and 2010, Utah had an average of 884,000 volunteers, each of whom contributed 89.2 hours per volunteer. This figure equates to $3.8 billion of service contributed, ranking Utah number one for volunteerism in the nation.
2010: Gary Herbert Elected in Special Election
Gary Herbert was elected to serve out the remainder of the term in a special election in 2010, defeating Democratic nominee Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon with 64% of the vote.
2010: Religion Data Archives Report
In 2010 the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA) reported that the three largest denominational groups in Utah are the LDS Church with 1,910,504 adherents; the Catholic Church with 160,125 adherents, and the Southern Baptist Convention with 12,593 adherents.
2010: Fastest Population Growth Since 2010
The 2020 U.S. census confirmed Utah had the fastest population growth in the nation since 2010.
2010: Population Increase Since 2010
The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that the population of Utah was 3,205,958 on July 1, 2019, a 16.00% increase since the 2010 U.S. census.
January 12, 2011: New Regional Airport Opens in St. George
On January 12, 2011, a new regional airport at St. George opened.
2011: Deer Valley Park City Ranked Top Ski Resort
Between 2007 and 2011 Deer Valley Park City, has been ranked the top ski resort in North America in a survey organized by Ski Magazine.
2011: Ethnic Minorities Under Age One
In 2011, 28.6% of Utah's population younger than the age of one were ethnic minorities, meaning they had at least one parent who was of a race other than non-Hispanic white.
2011: Bilingual Workforce
In 2011, one-third of Utah's workforce was reported to be bilingual, developed through a program of acquisition of second languages beginning in elementary school.
2012: Study on Snowfall Decline
A 2012 study found a nine percent decrease in the proportion of winter precipitation falling as snow over the last half-century, attributed to increased rainfall and decreased snowfall, along with observed decreases in snow depth and snow cover across Utah.
2012: Well-Being Ranking
According to the Gallup-Healthways Global Well-Being Index as of 2012, Utahns ranked fourth in overall well-being in the United States.
2012: Gary Herbert Won election to a full four-year term
Gary Herbert won election to a full four-year term in 2012, defeating the Democrat Peter Cooke with 68% of the vote.
2012: BYU Rugby National Champions
In 2012, BYU won the National Championship in college rugby.
2012: Republicans' Best State
In 2012, Utah was the Republicans' best state in the presidential elections.
2012: Per Capita Personal Income
In 2012, the per capita personal income in Utah was $45,700.
2012: Utah Returns to Most Republican State
In 2012, with Mormon Mitt Romney atop the Republican ticket, Utah returned to its position as the most Republican state.
2012: Romney Received Utahn Votes
Mitt Romney received 72.8% of the Utahn votes in 2012.
December 20, 2013: Same-Sex Marriage Legalized in Utah
On December 20, 2013, same-sex marriage became legal in Utah when U.S. District Court Judge Robert J. Shelby issued a ruling in Kitchen v. Herbert.
2013: Rugby Growth in Utah
As of 2013, rugby in Utah had grown to 70 teams with more than 3,000 players, inspired in part by the 2008 movie Forever Strong.
January 6, 2014: Stay of Same-Sex Marriage Ruling
On January 6, 2014, the Utah Attorney General's office was granted a stay of the ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, while the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals considered the case of legalizing same-sex marriage.
September 2014: Utah Ranked Number One in Forbes' List of "Best States For Business"
In September 2014, Utah was ranked number one in Forbes' list of "Best States For Business". Also in 2014, Utah emerged as number one in terms of "small business friendliness", based on a study drawing upon data from more than 12,000 small business owners and the state's unemployment rate was 3.5%.
October 6, 2014: Same-Sex Marriages Commence Again in Utah
On October 6, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court declined a writ of certiorari, and the 10th Circuit Court issued their mandate later that day, lifting their stay. Same-sex marriages commenced again in Utah that day.
2014: BYU Rugby National Champions
In 2014, BYU won the National Championship in college rugby.
2014: Anti-discrimination Laws Enacted
Since 2014, protective laws have been increasingly enacted in Utah, covering sexual orientation and gender identity in employment and housing.
2015: Gallup Poll on Religiousness
According to a Gallup poll, Utah had the third-highest number of people reporting as "Very Religious" in 2015, at 55%.
2015: BYU Rugby National Champions
In 2015, BYU won the National Championship in college rugby.
2015: Real Monarchs Begin Play
In 2015, Real Monarchs, the official reserve side for RSL, began playing in the third-tier MLS Next Pro at Rio Tinto Stadium.
2016: Real Salt Lake Women Move to UWS
In 2016, Real Salt Lake Women moved to United Women's Soccer.
2016: Salt Lake City Stars Move
In 2016, the Salt Lake City Stars, the G League affiliate of the Utah Jazz, relocated from Idaho to Utah.
2016: Trump Wins Utah with Plurality
In the 2016 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump carried Utah (marking the thirteenth consecutive win by the Republican presidential candidate) with only a plurality, the first time this happened since 1992.
May 2017: Honeybees Spread in Utah
By May 2017, Africanized honeybees had spread into eight counties in Utah, as far north as Grand and Emery counties.
2017: LDS Church Members
In 2017, 62.8% of Utahns were members of the LDS Church.
2017: Utah Warriors Formed
In 2017, the Utah Warriors, a Major League Rugby team, were formed and based in Salt Lake City.
2017: Vegas Golden Knights Join NHL
In 2017, the Vegas Golden Knights joining the National Hockey League made Utah the second-least populous U.S. state with a major professional sports league franchise.
March 2018: Utah Passes "Free-Range Parenting" Bill
In March 2018, Utah passed the United States' first "free-range parenting" bill, which states that parents who allow their children to engage in certain activities without supervision are not considered neglectful. The bill was signed into law by Republican Governor Gary Herbert.
2018: Plant Species in Utah
As of 2018, there are 3,930 species of plants in Utah, with 3,128 of those being indigenous and 792 being introduced.
2018: Real Monarchs Move to Zions Bank Stadium
In 2018, Real Monarchs moved to Zions Bank Stadium, located at RSL's training center in Herriman.
2018: Decline in LDS Church Membership
In 2018, the percentage of Utahns who were members of the LDS Church declined to 61.2%.
July 1, 2019: Population Estimate
On July 1, 2019, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of Utah to be 3,205,958.
2019: End of Ben McAdams' Term
Ben McAdams represented Utah in Congress, representing the 4th congressional district, based in Salt Lake City, from 2019 to 2021.
2019: LDS Church Membership Statistics
In 2019, 60.7% of Utahns were members of the LDS Church.
2019: Utah's Anti-Sodomy Law Fully Repealed
In 2019, Utah's anti-sodomy law was fully repealed by the state legislature.
January 2020: Official Bird List in Utah
As of January 2020, there were 466 species included in the official list managed by the Utah Bird Records Committee (UBRC).
March 18, 2020: Earthquake Near Salt Lake City
On March 18, 2020, Utah experienced a 5.7 magnitude earthquake originating near Magna, close to Salt Lake City.
2020: Brown Recluse Not Confirmed in Utah
As of summer 2020, the brown recluse spider has not been officially confirmed in Utah.
2020: Utah Population at 2020 Census
At the 2020 U.S. census, Utah's population was 3,271,616.
2020: Royals Shuttered After Season
Due to controversies surrounding RSL's ownership, RSL shuttered the Royals after the 2020 season, selling its player-related assets to a new Kansas City franchise.
2020: Burgess Owens Defeats Ben McAdams
In 2020, Burgess Owens, a Republican, defeated Ben McAdams in the election for Utah's 4th congressional district.
2020: Federal Government Owns Majority of Utah Land
In 2020, it was reported that 63.1% of the land in Utah was owned by the federal government.
2020: Utah's Political Culture Profiled
In 2020, the Associated Press profiled Utah's political culture during the presidential election, noting a bipartisan environment and conservative support for liberal causes despite Republican dominance.
2020: Population Growth Confirmed by Census
In 2020, the U.S. census confirmed that Utah had the fastest population growth in the nation since 2010.
2020: Utah Ranked 3rd Easiest State to Vote In
In a 2020 study, Utah was ranked as the 3rd easiest state for citizens to vote in.
January 4, 2021: Spencer Cox Sworn in as Governor
On January 4, 2021, Spencer Cox was sworn in as the current governor of Utah.
2021: End of Ben McAdams' Term
Ben McAdams represented Utah in Congress, representing the 4th congressional district, based in Salt Lake City, from 2019 to 2021.
2022: Homeless Population
According to HUD's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 3,557 homeless people in Utah.
2022: Births to Unmarried Women
In 2022, Utah had the lowest percent of births to unmarried women of any US state, at 20.3 percent.
2023: Paper Challenging Mormon Perception
A 2023 paper challenged the perception that Utah is majority Mormon, claiming only 42% of Utahns are Mormons.
2024: Gross State Product
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Utah's gross state product in 2024 was $300.9 billion, ranking 28th largest in the nation.
2024: Governors of Utah who were not a member of the LDS Church
As of 2024, J. Bracken Lee (1949–1957) was the most recent of three Governors of Utah who was not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the other two being Simon Bamberger (1917–1921) and George Dern (1925–1933).
2024: Utah Income Tax Rate
For the tax year 2024, the Utah personal income tax is a flat 4.55% for all taxpayers.
2024: Utah Moves to Big 12
In 2024, Utah is moving from the Pac-12 Conference to the Big 12 Conference.
2024: Utah Mammoth Established
In 2024, the Utah Mammoth was established, set to begin play during the 2024–25 National Hockey League season, using the existing roster, staff, and draft picks of the Arizona Coyotes.
2024: Utah Royals Return to NWSL
In 2024, the Utah Royals returned to the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
2025: Bees to Move to Daybreak Field
In 2025, the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees are set to move to Daybreak Field at America First Square.
2030: Projected Completion of Blue Castle Nuclear Power Plant
The Blue Castle Project is working toward building Utah's first nuclear power plant near Green River, Utah, originally projected to be completed in 2030.
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