Difference between revisions of "Utah"
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==History== | ==History== | ||
| − | 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 | + | 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 American]]s and white non-Mormons would turn sour. The infamous [[Mountain Meadows Massacre]] of 1857 led to over 100 deaths. <ref>[http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=1c234dc029133110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&locale=0 The Mountain Meadows Massacre]</ref> <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. |
==Politics== | ==Politics== | ||
| − | Utah was the first state to to allow women to vote, granting them suffrage in 1875 in local elections. | + | Utah was the first state to to allow women to vote, granting them [[suffrage]] in 1875 in local elections. |
| − | Utah is among the reddest of red states, having elected President Bush by some of the highest margins of any state in both 2000 and 2004. Salt Lake City is generally the only exception, having a mayor, Rocky Anderson, who is very liberal. <ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17154193/</ref> Both of the state's Senators ([[Orrin Hatch]] and Bob Bennett) are | + | Utah is among the reddest of red states, having elected [[President Bush]] by some of the highest margins of any state in both 2000 and 2004 and supporting [[John McCain]] in 2008. [[Salt Lake City]] is generally the only exception, having a mayor, Rocky Anderson, who is very liberal. <ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17154193/</ref> Both of the state's Senators ([[Orrin Hatch]] and Bob Bennett) are [[Republican]]s, and two out of the state's three Representatives are Republicans. <ref>http://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd?state=UT</ref> |
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| + | ==Out of wedlock births== | ||
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| + | Utah has the lowest rate in the nation of out of wedlock births at 18%. The highest is Mississippi with 53%.<ref>San Diego Union-Tribune Newspaper, Nov. 9th, 2008</ref> | ||
==Notable people from Utah== | ==Notable people from Utah== | ||
Revision as of 17:20, November 10, 2008
| Capital | Salt Lake City |
|---|---|
| Nickname | The Beehive State |
| Official Language | English |
| Governor | Jon Huntsman, Jr., R |
| Senator | Bob Bennett, R {{{s1phone}}} [{{{s1email}}}] |
| Senator | Orrin Hatch, R {{{s2phone}}} [{{{s2email }}}] |
| Ratification of Constitution/or statehood | January 4, 1896 (45th) |
| Flag of Utah | Motto: "Industry" |
Utah, known as the Beehive State, is the forty-fifth state to enter into the union, achieving statehood on Jan. 4, 1896. 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. [1]
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. [2]
The state bird is the California Seagull. The state insect is the European Honey Bee.
Contents
History
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. [3] [4] 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.
Politics
Utah was the first state to to allow women to vote, granting them suffrage in 1875 in local elections.
Utah is among the reddest of red states, having elected President Bush by some of the highest margins of any state in both 2000 and 2004 and supporting John McCain in 2008. Salt Lake City is generally the only exception, having a mayor, Rocky Anderson, who is very liberal. [5] Both of the state's Senators (Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett) are Republicans, and two out of the state's three Representatives are Republicans. [6]
Out of wedlock births
Utah has the lowest rate in the nation of out of wedlock births at 18%. The highest is Mississippi with 53%.[7]
Notable people from Utah
- Orson Scott Card, science-fiction writer best known for the Ender's Game series, has lived in Orem.
- Orrin Hatch - Republican U.S. Senator from Utah, serving since 1977.
- Gordon B. Hinckley, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as of 2007, was born in Salt Lake City.
- Ken Jennings, who made a record 74 straight appearances on the game show Jeopardy, lives in Utah.
- Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond - singers and actors; both were born in Ogden.
- 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.
- Steve Young - Hall of Fame quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. Steve is a direct descendant of Brigham Young.
- Mario Capecchi - Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for "Discoveries for introducing specific gene modifications in mice by the use of embryonic stem cells."
References
- ↑ http://www.sltrib.com/ci_2886596
- ↑ http://www.utah.com/stateparks/great_salt_lake.htm
- ↑ The Mountain Meadows Massacre
- ↑ http://www.cesnur.org/testi/morm_01.htm
- ↑ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17154193/
- ↑ http://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd?state=UT
- ↑ San Diego Union-Tribune Newspaper, Nov. 9th, 2008
See Also
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