Salt Lake City is the capital and largest city in the U.S. state of Utah. With a population of 200,567 as of the 2020 census, it is also the most populous city in Utah. Salt Lake City is the core city of the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has over 1.2 million residents.
Population
As mentioned above, Salt Lake City proper has a population of about 200,000 residents according to Wikipedia. However, the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which encompasses Salt Lake County as well as parts of other surrounding counties, has a much larger population exceeding 1.2 million people. This makes it the largest metro area in Utah.
Salt Lake City saw rapid population growth in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The construction of the Transcontinental Railroad brought many settlers to the area. The discovery of rich mineral resources also attracted people looking to make their fortunes. From 1890 to 1920, the population of Salt Lake City itself quadrupled from around 45,000 to over 175,000 residents.
While population growth has slowed since then, the Salt Lake City metro area population has continued expanding through the present day. Both natural growth and net migration patterns have contributed to the growing population.
Economy
Salt Lake City has a diverse economy spanning various sectors. While the city was founded on mining and agriculture, today the major industries include government, trade, transportation, utilities, and professional and business services. Here are some of the key aspects of the Salt Lake City economy:
- As the state capital and county seat, government administration is a major employer. The state government and Salt Lake County provide thousands of jobs.
- The city is also home to higher education institutions including the Utah Valley University and University of Utah, which boost economic activity.
- The finance, information, and leisure/hospitality industries are also major contributors. Major banks and financial companies are headquartered in Salt Lake City.
- High tech companies have an increasing presence, especially around Salt Lake’s suburbs such as West Jordan.
- Transportation and utilities provide significant economic value. Salt Lake City International Airport is one of the largest employers.
- Tourism centered around outdoor recreation in nearby mountains and salt lakes also contributes to the economy.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the total GDP for the Salt Lake City metropolitan statistical area was over $82 billion as of 2020, representing nearly 80% of Utah’s total GDP. The metro area GDP per capita was over $67,000.
Major Employers
Here are some of the largest public and private employers headquartered or with major operations in Salt Lake City:
- University of Utah Health – Over 10,000 employees
- Intermountain Healthcare – Over 8,000 employees
- Delta Dental of Utah – Over 1,500 employees
- Nature’s Sunshine – Over 600 employees
- Hub International Insurance Services – Over 600 employees
Other major employers include the State of Utah, Salt Lake County, Granite School District, Western Governors University, and Sinclair Oil Corporation.
Sports Teams
As the largest metro area in the state, Salt Lake City is home to several professional and minor league sports teams. These include:
- Utah Jazz – NBA basketball team
- Real Salt Lake – Major League Soccer team
- Salt Lake Bees – Minor league baseball team
- Utah Grizzlies – ECHL ice hockey team
The Utah Jazz have enjoyed particular success, winning two Western Conference championships in the 1990s with Hall of Famers Karl Malone and John Stockton. The Jazz continue to enjoy strong fan support at their home arena, Vivint Smart Home Arena.
Top Tourist Attractions
Salt Lake City is a great getaway destination for outdoor enthusiasts and people interested in history and culture. Some of the top attractions include:
- Temple Square – Headquarters of the LDS Church and location of the iconic Salt Lake Temple
- Natural History Museum of Utah – Over 200,000 sq ft and thousands of exhibits
- Hogle Zoo – Home to over 800 animals
- Liberty Park – Over 100 acres with lakes, gardens, and an aviary
- Snowbird Ski Resort – Iconic resort less than 30 minutes from downtown
The city also offers many performing arts venues and events, bars and nightlife along Main Street, and unique ethnic eateries and restaurants.
Conclusion
Salt Lake City is a vibrant and growing metropolitan area with strengths in government, education, healthcare, high tech, and tourism. While maintaining its historical ties to mining and the LDS Church, the city has diversified into a center of commerce and culture within the Intermountain West region of the United States.