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| − | The forty-fifth state to enter into the union. Approximately 70% of Utah's residents are members of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder-Day Saints]] ([[Mormons]]).{{fact}}
| + | '''Utah''', known as the ''Beehive State'' is the forty-fifth state to enter into the union. Approximately 62% of Utah's residents are members of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints]] ([[Mormons]]), although this number is on the wane. <ref>http://www.sltrib.com/ci_2886596</ref> The state's capital and largest city is Salt Lake City. The Great Salt Lake, located in northern Utah, is the largest saltwater lake in the Western hemisphere. <ref>http://www.utah.com/stateparks/great_salt_lake.htm</ref> |
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| | The state bird is the California Seagull. The state insect is the European Honey Bee. | | The state bird is the California Seagull. The state insect is the European Honey Bee. |
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| | + | ==History== |
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| | + | The first permanent European settlement of Utah came in 1847 when members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, led by [[Brigham Young]], settled there, which ended their long westward trek to escape persecution. Peace would prove illusory, as relations with Native Americans and white non-Mormons would turn sour. The infamous Mountain Meadows Massacre of 1857 led to over 100 deaths. <ref>http://www.cesnur.org/testi/morm_01.htm</ref> Utah was admitted into the Union in 1896 after the Church banned polygamy on the basis that a new revelation from God had commanded this. |
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| | + | ==Notable people from Utah== |
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| | + | [[Orson Scott Card]], science-fiction writer best known for the ''Ender's Game'' series, has lived in Orem. |
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| | + | [[Gordon B. Hinckley]], President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as of 2007, was born in Salt Lake City. |
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| | + | Ken Jennings, who made a record 74 straight appearances on the game show ''Jeopardy'', lives in Utah. |
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| | + | [[Brigham Young]], perhaps the most important person in the history of the founding of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints other than the founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., was part of the aforementioned settling of the state in the 1840s. |
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| | [[Category:US state]] | | [[Category:US state]] |