Salt Lake City
In July 1847, a group of Mormon pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley under the leadership of Brigham Young. They sought refuge from persecution in the eastern United States and found an empty semi-arid valley. The settlers immediately began constructing an extensive irrigation network to support their population and future growth. Four days after arrival, Brigham Young designated the building site for the Salt Lake Temple on what is now known as Temple Square. This temple took forty years to complete, with construction starting in 1853 and dedication occurring on the 6th of April 1893. The southeast corner of Temple Square serves as the origin point for all addresses in the Salt Lake Valley. Before the pioneers arrived, the Northwestern Shoshone had dwelt in the valley for thousands of years. Following a measles outbreak in 1847 that devastated the local Shoshone population, residents taught the pioneers how to harvest sego lily bulbs for food. The word 'sego' derives from the Shoshone term 'seego'. A flood-prevention project named the Sego Lily Dam was built in Sugar House Park in 2017 to commemorate this historical interaction.
Tensions between the church and federal government escalated in 1857 when President James Buchanan removed Brigham Young as territorial governor. Young refused to recognize the authority of his replacement, Alfred Cumming, leading to a military standoff known as the Utah War. A division of the United States Army commanded by Albert Sidney Johnston marched through the city only to find it evacuated. They set up Camp Floyd south of the city while another installation called Fort Douglas was established in 1862. Disputes over polygamy continued into the late nineteenth century with many area leaders incarcerated at the territorial prison in Sugar House during the 1880s. The church began abandoning polygamy in 1890 after releasing The Manifesto which suggested members obey the law of the land. This paved the way for statehood in 1896 when Salt Lake City became the state capital. Economic growth arrived with mining booms and the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869 at Promontory Summit. A railroad connected to the city from the Transcontinental Railroad in 1870 making travel less burdensome. Mass migration followed including ethnic Chinese who established Plum Alley housing around 1,800 people during the early twentieth century.
Salt Lake City was selected in 1995 to host the 2002 Winter Olympics though the games were plagued with controversy. A bid scandal surfaced in 1998 alleging bribes had been offered to secure the bid. During the games other scandals erupted over contested judging scores and illegal drug use. While the 2002 Games generated significant financial returns for Olympic operations they prompted major infrastructure investments that did not immediately result in sustained tourism growth. Local freeways were expanded and repaired while a light rail system called TRAX opened in 1999. Downtown revitalization accelerated following the decade with the 2010 opening of City Creek Center. Olympic venues are now used for local national and international sporting events and athlete training. On the 24th of July 2024 Salt Lake City was formally chosen by the International Olympic Committee to host the 2034 Olympic Winter Games. All facilities from the previous Games can be re-used and the bid enjoyed support from both the IOC and the city. The city also hosted the 16th Winter Deaflympic games in 2007 taking place in venues across Salt Lake City and Park City.
The city grid system originates at the southeast corner of Temple Square where Main Street serves as the north-south axis. Addresses are coordinates within this system similar to latitude and longitude with odd numbers on the left when traveling away from the center. Most streets use this numeric system exclusively though some retain traditional names like State Street. The western portion of 300 South is named Adam Galvez Street honoring a local Marine corporal killed in action. Other honorary names appear only on street signs including Rosa Parks Martin Luther King Jr César Chávez Harvey Milk and John Stockton. The Avenues neighborhood features north-south streets given letters of the alphabet while east-west streets are numbered in smaller blocks. Blocks in Salt Lake City became irregular during the late nineteenth century before zoning ordinances were adopted in the 1920s. Original blocks allowed for large garden plots supplied with irrigation water from ditches running approximately where modern curbs would be laid. Downtown Salt Lake City anchors the historic core beginning at the Salt Lake Temple and concluding at the City and County Building. Halfway between these structures stands the Walker Center built in 1912 which was the
tallest building between Chicago and San Francisco upon completion.
Between 1860 and 1950 whites represented about 99% of the city's population but this changed significantly in following decades. At the 2020 census Hispanics accounted for approximately 22% of residents while Pacific Islanders composed roughly 2% of the valley area population. Rose Park and Glendale sections are predominantly Spanish-speaking with Hispanic and Latino Americans accounting for 60% of public school children. The large Pacific Islander population mainly Samoan and Tongan is centered in Rose Park Glendale and Poplar Grove sectors. Most ethnic Pacific Islanders are members of the LDS Church though various congregations exist throughout the area including Samoan Congregational and Tongan Wesleyan Methodist churches. Salt Lake City has a significant LGBT community ranked seventh among metro areas by Gallup Daily tracking in 2015 up from thirty-ninth in 1990. Leaders of the Episcopal Church Diocese of Utah and leaders of Utah's largest Jewish congregation identify themselves as gay. A Bosnian American community of more than 8,000 arrived during the Bosnian War in the 1990s. Newer immigrant communities include Nepalis and refugees of Karen origin from Myanmar.
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Common questions
When did Mormon pioneers enter the Salt Lake Valley under Brigham Young?
Mormon pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley in July 1847. They sought refuge from persecution and found an empty semi-arid valley to settle.
What is the origin point for addresses in Salt Lake City?
The southeast corner of Temple Square serves as the origin point for all addresses in the Salt Lake Valley. This location anchors the city grid system where Main Street acts as the north-south axis.
How long did it take to complete the Salt Lake Temple construction?
Construction of the Salt Lake Temple took forty years starting in 1853. The building was dedicated on the 6th of April 1893 after decades of work.
Why did tensions escalate between the church and federal government in 1857?
Tensions escalated when President James Buchanan removed Brigham Young as territorial governor. Young refused to recognize his replacement Alfred Cumming leading to a military standoff known as the Utah War.
Which year was Salt Lake City selected to host the 2002 Winter Olympics?
Salt Lake City was selected in 1995 to host the 2002 Winter Olympics. A bid scandal surfaced in 1998 alleging bribes were offered to secure the bid.
When was Salt Lake City chosen to host the 2034 Olympic Winter Games?
On the 24th of July 2024 Salt Lake City was formally chosen by the International Olympic Committee to host the 2034 Olympic Winter Games. All facilities from the previous Games can be re-used for this event.