Welcome to Utah

Your life in the Beehive State begins

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Welcome to Utah

Most people who have never spent time in Utah probably know little about the state, except for its association with Mormons — the religious and cultural group that originated in upstate New York before relocating to the pre-statehood Utah Territory. Mormon culture is a significant part of the state’s history, exemplified by the Salt Lake Temple in the center of downtown Salt Lake. But, rich history is throughout the state, and Utah has become an epicenter for outdoor sports, such as hiking, rock climbing, skiing, and mountain biking.

Utah Self-Storage Facts

The Utah self-storage industry is expanding as part of a nationwide increase in self-storage construction. Utah in particular is benefitting thanks to the desire from self-storage developers to target high growth areas. The Utah population has grown more than 16 percent since 2010, giving self-storage developers plenty of opportunity to develop new sites and convert vacant big box stores in need of revitalization. Retirees, seasonal residents and tourists also benefit the Utah self-storage industry. Utah is also home to Salt Lake City-based Extra Space Storage, one of the largest self-storage operators in the country.

Here are some more facts about the Utah self-storage industry you should know:

Below are some statistics that provide an overview of the self-storage industry in Utah:

574

Utah is home to more than 574 self-storage facilities

25,500,000

Utah facilities offer more than 25.5 million square feet of storage space combined.

8.71

Utah has 8.71 square feet of storage space for every man, woman, and child. That's greater than the national average of 5.4 square feet per person.

Reasons to Move to Utah

If you're thinking about making the move, but aren't sure if Utah is the right place for you, consider the following:

1

Utah has five National Parks. Visitors and residents have many choices for outdoor exploration, thanks to five large and notable National Parks, including Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef. The surreal landscapes in these parks are otherworldly, with jagged red cliffs, water-worn massive boulders, and vast canyons.

2

It’s the Beehive State, but not because of bees. Utah’s nickname has nothing to do with honeybees, but rather is a reference to the hardworking nature of early residents. Beehive imagery is all over the state.

3

You can find the largest open-pit mine in Utah. The Bingham Copper Mine, also known as the Kennecott Mine, southwest of South Lake City in the Oquirrh Mountains, is 0.6 miles deep and 2.5 miles wide, covering an area of three square miles.

4

Utah has a lot of familiar Wild West settings. Other than Hollywood, more Western movies and television shows have been filmed in Utah. Next time you watch a cowboy flick, take a good look — you are most likely viewing the natural scenery of Utah. And, the film industry in Utah is not limited to Westerns. The state has its own film tour, which features filming locations for “Back to the Future III,” “Independence Day,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and two installments of the “Halloween” franchise.

5

Sundance is an international film showcase. When it comes to movies, Utah is probably most famous for its Sundance Film Festival, held at the end of January each year in Park City and Salt Lake City. Actor Robert Redford’s film production company began the festival in 1978. At first, it was an initiative to spotlight American filmmaking, and encourage filming in Utah, but has grown to be a showcase for international film.

6

Utah food is rich, diverse, and unique. For those unfamiliar with the state, Utah probably doesn’t jump to mind as a culinary destination. But, it’s thick shakes, funeral potatoes (sort of like mega-sized super flavorful tater tots) Navajo tacos (like the Tex-Mex classic, but with fry-bread instead of a tortilla.) make Utah a unique culinary environment worth exploring. Also, Jello is popular to the point of parody.

7

Crown Burger. Many regions in the United States have their favorite burger joints, and in the Salt Lake City area, the king of ground beef on a bun is Crown Burger. These aren’t just your regular hamburgers, with a famed pastrami burger and a menu full of Greek food alongside classic American fare.

8

Winter sports abound. Even with vast deserts, the mountain areas of Utah are famed for skiing, with annual snowfall reaching ridiculous levels. During the 2018-2019 skiing season, Alta Ski Area alone received 626 inches of snow, with fresh powder on 91 separate days. Winter sports are so popular in the state that it hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics.

9

Utah sports. While outdoor sports such as hiking and skiing are popular state-wide, so too are the Utah Jazz basketball and Utes college football. Other popular sports include minor teams such as Grizzlies hockey and the Salt Lake Bees baseball teams.

10

The Great Salt Lake. Of course, Utah is also well-known for the Great Salt Lake, the largest lake west of the Mississippi, and the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. While lake dimension change due to water flows and evaporation, the lake is typically larger than Rhode Island and Delaware. However, the lake is not especially deep, with an average depth of 14 feet.

Moving to Utah

Utah is the 11th largest state by size, covering approximately 85,000 square miles. It is around 350 miles by 270 miles. The population is relatively small, with just 3.2 million residents. Utah is spacious, but it also provides more than just open areas.

Utah has shown a significant 16 percent population increase over the decade since 2010. It is one of the fastest growing states, but it has some catching up to do as the 30th most populous state in the country.

Utah Economic Outlook

Utah has a growing economy. Its gross domestic product (GDP) grew 4.3% — the second most of all states in 2018. This follows an overall trend of growth for the past few years, boosted by strong professional, scientific, technical, information, and retail sectors. Utah has a long history as a software development center, and its growth in this area has ramped up again in recent years. Some of the tech companies in Utah include Adobe, eBay, IM Flash Technologies, EMC Corporation, and others.

The unemployment rate in the state has been the lowest in recent history, at only 2.7% as of September 2019, a figure less than the nationwide average of 3.5%. Unemployment is even lower in some metropolitan areas: 2.7% in Provo-Orem and 2.5% in Logan.

Who are Utah's Largest Employers?

EMPLOYER
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
Brigham Young University
Vivint Solar
Utah Valley University and Hospital
Alpine School District
Intermountain Healthcare
Walmart
Zions Bank Management Services
L3 Communications Corporation
Delta Airlines
Convergys

Places to live in Utah

Most Utahns — yes, that’s the official name for residents of Utah — live in the Salt Lake City area. The state’s three largest cities are all within 45 miles of each other in a small belt south of the Great Salt Lake.

Here’s a quick look at the state’s three largest cities:

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City boasts a population of 200,000, which is pretty small for the largest city in a state. It is the 127th largest city in the United States. The Salt Lake City-Ogden metro area has a population of 1.34 million. Significant employers include Intermountain Healthcare Medical Center, Salt Lake County, University of Utah, L3 Communications, and ARUP Laboratories.

Cost of living
6% lower than the national average
Median home price
$415,000
Average rent
$1,233
Average apartment size
828 square feet

West Valley City

Right next to Salt Lake City, West Valley City has a population of approximately 138,000. It is not known for hosting large employers, as most of the larger businesses in the area are located in SLC. Some of the notable employers in West Valley City include Harmons, Backcountry, Discover Financial Services, and Intermountain Healthcare.

Cost of living
$327,400
Median home price
$1,100
Average rent
872 square feet

Provo

Further south from Salt Lake City is Provo. The area is combined as the Provo-Orem region and sprawls across the eastern shore of Utah Lake, a smaller, freshwater lake. There are approximately 122,000 residents in Provo, and major employers include Brigham Young University, Utah Valley University, and Vivint. Here are some housing figures for Provo:

Cost of living
2% higher than the national average
Median home price
$310,900
Average rent
$1,383
Average apartment size
924 square feet

Moving to Utah Resources

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