Why So Few Americans Live In Most Of Utah

Today's video is sponsored by War Thunder. Utah is home to about 3.4 million people in total

making it one of the smaller states in the country by population. But within the state

about 80% of all people live within the pretty small region around Salt Lake City

leaving the rest of the state feeling pretty empty. So why don't more people live outside

of the Salt Lake region? And what happens to those that do if the Great Salt Lake ever dries up

Welcome to Geography by Jeff. Today, we're off to the Beehive State to explore its unique

population distribution and looming issue with a shrinking Great Salt Lake. And I think one of

the biggest takeaways from today's video is that Utah is very different in almost every way from

all other states. But first, today's podcast is all about the national parks of the United States

Utah itself is home to five of them, but they're spread throughout the country

and how one gets placed comes with some fascinating geographic questions. You can listen to that episode right now, right here on YouTube

or whatever app you use to listen to podcasts. All links are in the description below

Utah has perhaps one of the most interesting histories of any states within the United States

While most states were founded under the ideals of Manifest Destiny and expansionism under the auspices of the United States federal government

the state of Utah would begin as something completely different. But as usual, long before the European settlers and pioneers set foot in Utah

a diverse array of indigenous peoples had thrived in the region for thousands of years

Among them were the ancestral Puebloans, also known as the Anasazi, who left behind a legacy of intricate cliff dwellings and sophisticated agricultural techniques

But the Fremont people, known for their unique rock art and pit houses, were also very prominent

in this region. These early inhabitants developed complex societies deeply connected with the rugged

landscapes of the Great Basin and the Colorado Plateau, and eventually would form the modern

tribes of the Shoshone, Paiute, and Ute peoples. The arrival of Spanish explorers in the 1500s, however, marked the beginning of the colonial

era in the region. But due to the region's harsh terrain, it was not until the early 1800s that the European

presence became significantly felt, primarily through the activities of fur trappers and traders

The Spanish and later Mexican territories included the land that would become Utah, but their

hold on it was tenuous at best, primarily focused on other parts of their North American territories

The pivotal moment in Utah's history came with the arrival of the Mormons, also known

as the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Fleeing persecution in the eastern United States, the first group of Mormon pioneers

led by Brigham Young, entered the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847

Viewing the valley as their promised land, they immediately set to work establishing a settlement

that would eventually become Salt Lake City. This first group of settlers brought three

enslaved African peoples with them, making Utah the only place in the western United States to

have African slavery. The Mormon settlers' initial years were fraught with challenges

including conflicts with the indigenous peoples, whose lands they were stealing, and tensions with both the Mexican and US governments, who were at war at the time

and neither of which sanctioned the settlement. But following the war, the Utah territory would

officially be established in 1850, with Brigham Young as its first governor. But Utah would

continue to remain outside the Union as a full state for almost half a century, partly due to

the Mormon's practice of polygamy, which was at odds with American laws and societal norms

The path to statehood was a long and arduous one requiring the Mormons to renounce polygamy and make significant concessions to align with the United States social and legal frameworks Utah incorporation into the United States as the 45th state on January 4 1896 marked

the culmination of this journey, opening a new chapter in its history

Today, Utah stands as one of the most beautiful states in the country, bound by a geography

that is truly incredible to behold. But before we dive into the physical geography of Utah, if you're enjoying this video

hit that subscribe button. More fun geography videos are just a single click away

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this is the game for you. Utah's physical geography is truly a spectacle to behold. The state is filled with natural wonders

that would make much larger states blush. Among these are the Great Salt Lake, the Rocky Mountains

the Colorado Plateau, and the abundance of national parks. Each plays a pivotal role in

Utah's environmental and cultural significance. At the heart of Utah's physical geography are the

Rocky Mountains extending into the northeastern part of the state. These mountains, part of a

larger range that stretches across North America, are characterized by high peaks, deep canyons

and diverse ecosystems. The Uintah Mountains, unique for running east to west

house Utah's highest point, Kings Peak, which soars to 13,528 feet above sea level

These mountainous areas are not just significant for their elevation and beauty, but also for their role in water provision, acting as crucial watersheds for the region

To the west of the Rockies, Utah transitions into the Great Basin, a vast expanse of arid land that

encompasses much of the western third of the United States. Unlike other areas where rivers

flow towards the ocean, the Great Basin's waterways have no outlet to the sea, leading to the creation

of saline lakes like the Great Salt Lake. Speaking of which, the Great Salt Lake is the largest salt

water lake in the western hemisphere and is a remnant of ancient Lake Bonneville, which once

covered much of western Utah. Its current size and salinity are the result of millennia of evaporation

and the lake's lack of an outlet to the sea. This isolation has created a unique ecosystem for

millions of migratory birds, brine shrimp, and several species of algae that thrive in its

saline environment. Moving to the southeast, Utah is dominated by the Colorado Plateau

a high, dissected plateau known for its stunning landscapes. It's this plateau that houses Utah's

abundance of national parks, collectively known as the Mighty Five These parks Arches Bryce Canyon Canyonlands Capitol Reef and Zion each offer unique geologic features that are both awe and very accessible

Arches National Park, for example, is renowned for its over 2,000 natural sandstone arches

while Bryce Canyon is famous for its hoodoos, spire-shaped rock formations created by frost weathering

and stream erosion. Canyonlands is a vast wilderness of canyons and mesas

carved by the Colorado River, and Capitol Reef is known for its colorful canyons, ridges, buttes, and monoliths

Zion, perhaps the most famous of Utah's national parks, dazzles with its steep red cliffs, narrow canyons, and diverse plant and animal life

Utah has an incredible geography that few other places in the world can match

but if you've been keeping track, you'll also note that it's very rugged, and this plays into why so few Utahns live outside of the Salt Lake City region

The concentration of Utah's population around Salt Lake City is not merely a matter of chance

or convenience, but the result of historic, geographic, and religious reasons. And central to this story is the arrival and settlement of the Mormons in the Salt Lake

Valley and their enduring impact on the state. The origins of this demographic pattern can be traced back to July 24, 1847, when Brigham

Young, the second president of the Mormon Church, led the first group of Mormon pioneers into

the Salt Lake Valley. Seeking a sanctuary where they could practice their religion free from

persecution, the Mormons viewed the valley as their promised land. Brigham Young famously declared

this is the right place, upon viewing the area. The isolation of the Salt Lake Valley

surrounded by deserts and mountains, offered the Mormons a degree of protection and the opportunity

to establish a community according to their religious beliefs and social structures

These early Mormon settlers embarked on an ambitious project to make the desert valley

habitable. They constructed an extensive irrigation system, channeling water from the nearby mountains to the arid valley floor, transforming it into fertile farmland. This

ability to make the desert blossom as a rose was key to their survival and success in the region

The initial settlement quickly grew as more Mormons migrated to the area, drawn by reports

of a safe haven where they could live in accordance with their faith. Because of this, Salt Lake City

became the spiritual, cultural, and economic center of the Mormon settlement in the west

The construction of the Salt Lake Temple, which took 40 years to complete

symbolized the permanence of the Mormon presence in the valley. As the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Salt Lake City attracted Mormons from around the world. This centralization of the Church's activities and its followers in and around the city

laid the groundwork for the population distribution seen in Utah today. The impact of the Mormons in Utah extends far beyond this demographic concentration around Salt Lake City

They established a strong sense of identity, which has influenced the state's culture, politics, and economy

The church's emphasis on community welfare, education, and family has shaped the social fabric of Utah

Moreover, the church's historic practice of encouraging large families initially contributed to Utah's high birth rates

further concentrating the population around areas where the church's influence was strongest

But for all the power and influence the Mormon Church has had on developing the Salt Lake Valley

their abilities are still limited by the ever-present and intimidating geography of Utah as a whole

The fact of the matter is that, despite its natural beauty, it's incredibly hard to develop large urban centers in Utah due to the lack of water

and agriculture, a historic reason for many initial settlements to exist, suffers from this same problem

Though it's worth highlighting that, despite these obstacles, Utah has about 17 square miles of agricultural land or about 20 of the entire state Finally in addition to the state being relatively dry and barren the state climate is also pretty harsh

According to the Coppin method of determining climate across geographies, outside of the Salt

Lake Valley and a few other places, which can still get quite hot, the rest of the state is

classified as semi-arid or desert, neither of which typically draw large populations. Today

Utah would be led by the overwhelmingly dominant Salt Lake City metropolitan area

with 1.3 million people. This would be followed by the nearby metro regions of Provo and Ogden

with about 700,000 people each. All three are located within the greater Salt Lake region

and make up about 2.7 million people, or about 80% of the state's entire population

Outside of this area, the largest metro region would be St. George with about 200,000 people

and Logan with 133,000 people. Aside from those, there are no urban centers with more than 100,000 people

And this poses an interesting problem for Utah because its largest lake, the Great Salt Lake, is drying up at a rapid pace

The Great Salt Lake, the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere

is facing an existential crisis. Its waters have been receding at an alarming rate

a trend that poses significant environmental, economic, and social challenges for the state

and its inhabitants. At the core of this lake's decline is the reduced inflow of freshwater from

its tributaries. The rivers and streams that feed into the Great Salt Lake have been increasingly

diverted for agricultural, industrial, and municipal use, a practice that has grown alongside Utah's

booming population. Agriculture in particular accounts for a significant portion of the water

use of the state, consuming over 80% of Utah's water resources. As these demands on freshwater

sources have increased, less water has reached the lake, leading to a decrease in its overall volume

and surface area. The impact of climate change further exacerbates this situation. Utah, like

much of the American West, has experienced periods of intense drought over the last few decades

a pattern that scientists predict will become more frequent and severe due to global warming

These drought conditions reduce the amount of snowpack in the surrounding mountains

further decreasing the flow of water into the lake. The combination of human water usage and

climate-induced drought has resulted in a dramatic drop in the lake's level, threatening its ecological

balance and the benefits it provides to the region. The consequences of the Great Salt Lake's

shrinkage are far-reaching from environmental to economic, but perhaps most alarming is that the

shrinking of the lake exposes more of its lakebed, which can lead to air quality issues for nearby

communities. Windblown dust from the dry lakebed, laden with heavy metals and other toxins

poses health risks to the population of the greater Salt Lake region, including respiratory

problems and other health concerns. The ongoing shrinkage of the Great Salt Lake calls for urgent

and concerted efforts to address its root causes. Water conservation measures, more efficient water

use in agriculture and industry, and policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions are

critical to mitigating the impacts of climate change and human consumption on the lake

Otherwise, the Salt Lake Valley and its 2.7 million people could face an existential crisis

Utah is an incredible state. Its natural beauty is truly a sight to behold

But the state also has some very unique and unfortunate problems. And while the vast majority of Utah's population is within the Salt Lake region

the shrinking Great Salt Lake could pose livability problems in the near future

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