Salt Lake County, Utah
| Salt Lake County, Utah | |
|---|---|
| County | |
| Salt Lake County | |
 Location in the U.S. state of Utah |
|
 Utah's location in the U.S. |
|
| Founded | 1850 |
| Named for | Great Salt Lake |
| Seat | Salt Lake City |
| Largest city | Salt Lake City |
| Area | |
| • Total | 807 sq mi (2,090 km2) |
| • Land | 742 sq mi (1,922 km2) |
| • Water | 65 sq mi (168 km2), 8.1% |
| Population | |
| • Total | 1,107,314 |
| • Density | 1,396/sq mi (539/km²) |
| Congressional districts | 2nd, 3rd, 4th |
| Time zone | Mountain: UTC-7/-6 |
| Website | www |
Salt Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,029,655, making it the most populous county in Utah. Its county seat and largest city is Salt Lake City, the state capital. The county was created in 1850.
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 (essentially the entire watershed of the Jordan River north of the Traverse Mountains). In addition, the northwestern section of the county includes part of the Great Salt Lake. The county is noted for its ski resorts; Salt Lake City won the bid to host the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Salt Lake County is the central county of the Salt Lake City, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area.
This area was occupied for thousands of years by cultures of indigenous peoples.
The area that was to become Salt Lake County was settled by European Americans in 1847 when Mormon pioneers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) fled religious persecution in the East. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley of the Utah Territory after traveling what settlers later called Emigration Canyon. Brigham Young, their leader, declared "This is the place" after seeing the valley. Compared to eastern regions, it seemed arid and unpromising to some of the migrants. Settlers used extensive irrigation to develop agriculture and the flourishing, self-sufficient city, Great Salt Lake City. Thousands of Mormons joined them in the next several decades. The county was officially organized on January 31, 1850, with slightly more than 11,000 residents recorded.
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