Discover the Largest City in Utah Now and in 2050

Predicting population trends for specific cities over the next quarter century is challenging, as it depends on various factors. However, when it comes to discovering the largest city in Utah now and in 2050, they are the same – Salt Lake City! The trajectory of population growth for Salt Lake and other Utah cities has been broadly studied and discussed. The research concluded that Salt Lake City will continue to hold its #1 rank. However, in this fast-paced, ever-changing world, anything is possible, and outcomes are liable to change drastically. Continue reading to discover why Salt Lake City is projected to be the largest city in Utah in 2050.

Utah: A Concise History

Utah, in the Western United States, was settled by Mormon pioneers, led by Brigham Young, in 1847. It entered the Union as the 45th state on January 4, 1896. The Great Salt Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. It is a feature of the state, as are mountains, deserts, and canyons. Utah is rife with outdoor recreational opportunities. The state is home to several national parks. Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Arches National Park, Capital Reef National Park, and Canyonlands National Park offer amazing opportunities to connect with nature.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is the capital of and the most populous city in Utah. The Salt Lake City metropolitan area is called the Wasatch Front. The Wasatch Front refers to the urban region of Utah that is located along the western side of the Wasatch Mountain Range. The area is a chain of cities and suburbs positioned along the eastern edge of the Great Salt Lake. The area stretches from Brigham City in the north to Nephi in the south. The Wasatch Front includes the major cities of Salt Lake City, Provo, and Ogden, as well as numerous smaller towns and communities. The most populous area in the state has a strong economy, diverse culture, and proximity to nature. The nearby Wasatch Mountains offer opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and mountain biking.

Discover the largest city in Utah now and in 2050: Projected Growth

Salt Lake City experiences steady population growth, driven by economic opportunities, its status as a political hub, access to outdoor amenities, its low crime rate, and a relatively high quality of life. The net population of the Salt Lake City Metropolitan area has been increasing by approximately 1% annually in recent years. According to the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, this trend should continue. The Gardner Institute projects that Salt Lake County will experience a population increase of over 1/2 million people in the coming years.

And though Salt Lake will continue to be Utah’s largest, other counties are projected to have major population increases, including Summit, Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, and Washington. These counties will absorb and support the urban sprawl that follows large population increases. From the current (circa 2023) population of 3.3 million, the total population of Utah will rise to over five million by the year 2050, an increase of 33%.

Discover the Largest City in Utah Now and in 2050: Drivers

Salt Lake City and the broader Wasatch Front region are home to a diverse range of businesses and industries. The business landscape is strong, making the region an attractive hub for tech industries. The Silicon Slopes feature numerous startups and tech firms. The IT crowd that prefers the mountains to the beach is migrating at a steady pace from the former it area, Silicon Valley. Outdoor retail and recreation companies reap the benefits of these transplants and thrive thanks to the region’s abundance of outdoor activities. Healthcare, finance, education, and transportation provide job opportunities across a wide range of skills. The University of Utah and Salt Lake City International Airport are principal employers in the area. So as the clock ticks and the time flies, Salt Lake City will continue to grow well into the 21st century.

Five Fascinating Facts About Utah

• Loftus Novelty, located in Salt Lake City, is the only manufacturer of rubber chickens in the United States.
• Not what you’d expect: Ironically, Salt Lake City supports more plastic surgeons per capita than anywhere in the United States, other than Miami.
• The North Shore Monster is an aquatic monster that supposedly terrorizes the North Shore of the Great Salt Lake. Sporadic sightings that began in 1877 continue today. The monster’s appearance has been variously described as a giant shrimp-like creature, to an alligator with the head of a horse.
• It’s more than hype: Utah bills its snow as the Greatest Snow on Earth and they’re not kidding. The weather patterns that drop snow in Utah’s mountains produce a less dense powder that is ideal for skiing.
• Utah is home to the Sundance Film Festival, the largest independent film festival in the U.S. Fan favorites like Napoleon Dynomite and Little Miss Sunshine debuted at Sundance in Park City, Utah.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Joe Guetzloff/Shutterstock.com