Utah-can you tell me about it?

bridget · #1 02/19/12, 11:05 AM

I'm trying to decide whether or not I'd like to live there. Anybody from there? What's it like?

Smalltowngirl · #2 02/19/12, 11:35 AM

When I've visited I noticed the people are very welcoming & friendly. The landscape is mostly desert like except in areas around the bigger cities but it is beautiful in it's own right. To me, it reminded me of the old West but with modern conveniences.

My friends say it helps to find friends & employment if you are LDS since much of life revolves around the LDS family activities but there's still plenty of non-LDS in the areas I've visited; Salt Lake City, St. George and Provo.
Good luck making your decision.

CIW · #3 02/19/12, 04:08 PM

I've lived here 30+ years.
Of course the LDS religion is a dominant force. Thats not a bad thing though.
This place seems to be one of the most balanced places that you will come across. Change doesn't come here without being done in a calculated manor. In that, sucess has a greater potential than many other places. Both on a public and personal level.
Since the winter olympics were held here on 2002 ther is alot more outside influence. But it still maintains a consertive aire.
The public heatlh is at a higher level than most places in the world. They have a high amount of health care facilities available. Also Utah is on the cutting edge of most technologies and the instigator of some.
A majority of its people have a education higher than highschool. Surely due to the availability of educational facilities per capita.
One other thing is the fact that many international companies use Utah as their US headquarters because of the large # of people who speak multiple languages.
If you like sports, there is a large diversity here. At certain times of the year you can water ski and snow ski in the same day. You can hunt, fish, trap and camp. All within a few minutes of most metropolitan areas.
I can go from the high alpine mountain (13,000 ft. asl) to the lower arid desert (1,500 ft. asl) and everything in between. There are even areas of sub-tropical flora. This diversity promotes an active life year around. Utah recieves between 7 and 32 inches of water annually.
Because of Utah's diverse enviroment, it has the ability to produce everything it needs if the world went to feathers. Ie; mineral reserves, timber, hydro-electric, wind, solar, geothermal and agriculture. Its about 73% government owned.
I think Utah has more National Parks and National Monuments than any other state. Not for sure though. You can't see it all in a lifetime. You could go on a your vacations for the rest of your life and never leave the State.
Unemployment and cost of living levels are consistantly lower than the rest of the US. With annual salaries being higher than the national average. We work less hours, to sustain ourselves, than the rest of the US. In general, that is one reason we have larger amounts of discretionary time. The governmental entities are, as a hole, maintained in the black.
If you are looking for things like wind and solar energy qualities, there is a town in central Utah that has more hours of sun per year, than any other place in the world. We also produce alot of wind originated power. Geothermal is slow but is there for certain. Water is precious. So if you are looking for land you will need to pay for water also. In gereral its a pretty green place without being overbearing.
What I've found is that if you are a contributor to society, you can do that here. But if you are a rider on societies back, you won't feel comfortable here for very long. (Not inferring one way or the other.)
You don't say where you are at. Or anything about you. That can also be a contributor to your sucess here. As it would help give greater detail as to how Utah may apply to you. (Shoot, I may even be able to help you find employment or a place to live. Ha.)
To sum it up. People live a very diversified promoting lifestyle. And, in general, will give you a chance. Try to screw with them, and they will shut you off like a faucet.

Madame · #4 02/19/12, 04:17 PM

I lived in Provo1980-81. It was VERY conservative. Lovely state, nice people.

bluemoonluck · #5 02/19/12, 05:20 PM

I lived just north of Ogden for 2 years (2009-2011).

I totally loved Utah, would have been happy to live there the rest of my life.

Grocery prices are very good - lots of stock-up sales, lots of options.

The LDS are (for the most part) very nice and helpful people. When I had my shoulder surgery I had lots of help from my LDS neighbors; they wouldn't accept $$ or anything. Even thou I'm not LDS they helped me out because that's what neighbors DO.

Very gun-friendly place - there were always signs for conceal/carry classes posted at the local feed store.

I will warn you that lots of stores are closed on Sundays. Not the big chains (WalMart and Target, etc) but the feed stores, local eateries, etc tend to be shut down on Sunday.

It was an EXTREMELY family-friendly place to live. Lots of low-cost places to take the kids (children's museum, local water park, etc).

The thrift stores were plentiful and had good quality items, plus they are organized well and very clean. I bought reallly nice full interview suits for less than $20, all my kids' clothes were from the DI (LDS-run thrift stores), great selection of books/toys/etc.

Veggie gardens are the norm, nobody looks at you funny when you buy cases of cans, you can buy #10 cans and water storage containers right in WalMart, etc. They're very "prepper-minded" as a general rule.

Yes the LDS run things. Honestly, I didn't have any trouble with that...and I'm not even Christian! I had way more trouble with the "militant" Christians that seemed to abound in NC than I ever had with the LDS in Utah.

Trixie · #6 02/21/12, 05:26 AM

We have been here in Utah on an extended visit now for about 7 months and we have been very impressed with many things. The price of groceries and medical care is much less than it is in Texas. The stores have 'case lot' sales sometimes and you can stock up at good prices.

Utilities and property taxes are much less than ours in Texas.

I don't know a lot about the water issues here, I know there are water rights laws, etc., but irrigation water is available to some for a small fee, but I don't know the details of that.

Yes, the LDS church does have a great influence on things here, but it seems to me it is a positive influence.

It has been a little cold for us old folks, but we are old and just not accustomed to more than a few days at a time being cold. Actually, I think most people would consider this a mild winter.

And the Deseret Industry thrift stores are just great. They are clean, and constantly have different things.

Pauline · #7 02/21/12, 07:19 AM

yes it is a mild winter this year and ciw and bluemoonluck have given a great description of the state the only places i really wouldn't want to live are very small areas in west valley city due to gangs coming into them

Coloneldad5 · #8 03/02/12, 06:49 AM

I live in Northern Utah and it is home for me. I've spent most of my life here with a few stints outside of the state for military purposes, but keep coming back "home".

I think it's a great place to live and has many opportunities. Outdoor potential is awesome. Depending upon what you plan on working/doing you can find a fair amount of potential in Utah. The economy generally does as well or better than most other places in the US. For Preppers/Homesteaders there are lots of opportunity. Utah is a very friendly place for those who are into food storage and the like. Gun laws are also some of the friendliest of the nation. If you want to live on the Wasatch Front (Provo-Salt Lake-Ogden) you can expect it to be fairly urban/suburban and does not look much like a desert. Further north or south of that region and you'll get a lot more rural. Probably 75% of the states population lives in that region. The northern part can be somewhat cool (for me, cold for some others) in the winter and the southern parts (St. George) very mild in the winter and quite hot in the summer.

If you can define better what you are looking for and why you might move to Utah I could make some recommendations of areas or locations to suit your needs/desires/wants. Utah can be a very diverse state.

Yes there are those who take issue with the LDS majority (both LDS and non-LDS) but for the most part they are very friendly and supportive. There will be some who try hard to push the LDS faith on you (assuming you are not LDS) but I would recommend just ignoring them unless you want to listen to them, there will be plenty of others who will be willing to discuss it with you on your terms/speed if you so desire or just let you be as you wish. While the state is not "run" by the LDS, it is a fairly heavy influence (go figure, just as much of the south is influenced by Baptist beliefs).

Utah does have the lowest crime rates in comparison to the same size population centers from other states in the nation.

msemanuel · #9 03/02/12, 06:42 PM

I am going to stick by the old saying if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all.