Editing Utah (section)

==Economy==

{{Main|Economy of Utah}}
{{See also|Utah locations by per capita income|List of Utah companies}}
[[File:City Creek Center - Richards Street south entrance - 12 September 2012.JPG|thumb|upright|The [[Wasatch Front]] region has seen large growth and development despite the economic downturn. Shown is the [[City Creek Center]] project, a development in downtown Salt Lake City with a price tag of $1.5–2.5&nbsp;billion.]]
[[File:IM Flash exterior-11.jpg|thumb|One out of every 14 flash memory chips in the world is produced in [[Lehi, Utah]].<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765620136/Salt-Lake-metro-becoming-tech-hub.html |title= Salt Lake metro becoming tech hub |newspaper= Deseret News |first= Jasen |last= Lee |date= January 13, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141104182202/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765620136/Salt-Lake-metro-becoming-tech-hub.html |archive-date= November 4, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>]]
[[File:Zion angels landing view.jpg|thumb|[[Zion National Park]] in southern Utah is one of five national parks in the state.]]
[[File:Utah Horses.jpg|thumb|Farms and ranches]]

According to the [[Bureau of Economic Analysis]], the gross state product of Utah in 2012 was {{US$|130.5&nbsp;billion|link=yes}}, or 0.87% of the total United States GDP of {{US$|14.991&nbsp;trillion}} for the same year.<ref>{{cite web |title= GDP by State |url= https://www.bea.gov/iTable/iTable.cfm?reqid=70&step=1&isuri=1&acrdn=1#reqid=70&step=1&isuri=1 |publisher= Bureau of Economic Analysis |access-date= July 14, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130413130847/http://bea.gov/iTable/iTable.cfm?ReqID=70&step=1&isuri=1&acrdn=1#reqid=70&step=1&isuri=1 |archive-date= April 13, 2013 |url-status= live }}</ref> The [[Per capita personal income in the United States|per capita personal income]] was $45,700 in 2012. Major industries of Utah include mining, cattle ranching, salt production, and government services.

According to the 2007 State New Economy Index, Utah has ranked the top state in the nation for Economic Dynamism, determined by "the degree to which state economies are knowledge-based, globalized, entrepreneurial, information technology-driven and innovation-based". In 2014, Utah was ranked number one in [[Forbes]]' list of "Best States For Business".<ref>{{Cite journal |first= Kurt |last= Badenhausen |date= October 13, 2010 |url= https://www.forbes.com/2010/10/13/best-states-for-business-business-beltway-best-states.html |journal= [[Forbes]] |title= The Best States For Business And Careers |access-date= September 17, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171004190923/https://www.forbes.com/2010/10/13/best-states-for-business-business-beltway-best-states.html |archive-date= October 4, 2017 |url-status= live }}</ref> A November 2010 article in ''[[Newsweek]]'' magazine highlighted Utah and particularly the Salt Lake City area's economic outlook, calling it "the new economic Zion", and examined how the area has been able to bring in high-paying jobs and attract high-tech corporations to the area during a recession.<ref>{{Cite journal | date = November 8, 2010 | url = http://www.newsweek.com/how-utah-became-economic-zion-69901 | journal = [[Newsweek]] | title = How Utah Became an Economic Zion | first = Tony | last = Dokoupil | access-date = November 4, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141105002104/http://www.newsweek.com/how-utah-became-economic-zion-69901 | archive-date = November 5, 2014 | url-status = live }}</ref> {{As of|September 2014}}, the state's unemployment rate was 3.5%.<ref>{{citation |url= http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.ut.htm |title= Economy at a Glance: Utah |publisher= [[Bureau of Labor Statistics]], [[United States Department of Labor]] |access-date= November 4, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141104155111/http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.ut.htm |archive-date= November 4, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> In terms of "small business friendliness", in 2014 Utah emerged as number one, based on a study drawing upon data from more than 12,000 small business owners.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.thumbtack.com/survey#/2014/1/states |title= United States Small Business Friendliness: 2014 |website= Thumbtack.com |publisher= [[Thumbtack (website)|Thumbtack]] and the [[Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation]] |access-date= November 4, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141104155739/http://www.thumbtack.com/survey |archive-date= November 4, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In eastern Utah petroleum production is a major industry.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20051114165622/http://www.ogm.utah.gov/oilgas/MAP_SEARCH/Utah_map.htm Utah oil & gas production]}} (map) as found at Utah.gov</ref> Near Salt Lake City, petroleum refining is done by several oil companies. In central Utah, coal production accounts for much of the mining activity.

According to [[Internal Revenue Service]] tax returns, Utahns rank first among all U.S. states in the proportion of [[Charity (practice)|income given to charity]] by the wealthy. This is due to the standard [[Tithing in Mormonism|ten percent of all earnings that Mormons give to the LDS Church]].<ref name="ldsdemss"/> According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, Utah had an average of 884,000 volunteers between 2008 and 2010, each of whom contributed 89.2 hours per volunteer. This figure equates to $3.8&nbsp;billion of service contributed, ranking Utah number one for volunteerism in the nation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.VolunteeringInAmerica.gov/state.cfm?state=UT |title=Volunteering in Utah—Volunteering in America |publisher=Volunteeringinamerica.gov |date=August 9, 2011 |access-date=November 15, 2011}}</ref>

===Taxation===

Utah collects personal [[income tax]]; for tax year {{YEAR|2024}} the tax is a is a flat {{Percentage | 455 | 10000 | 2}} for all taxpayers. This rate has been steadily decreasing by {{Percentage | 5 | 10000 | 2}} points yearly since {{YEAR|2008}}, when it was at {{Percentage | 5 | 100 | 0}}.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= |title=Utah Income Tax - Tax Rates |url=https://incometax.utah.gov/paying/tax-rates |website=utah.gov (Utah state official website) |access-date=2025-04-14}}</ref>
The state [[sales tax]] has a base rate of 6.45 percent,<ref>[http://www.tax.utah.gov/sales/rates.html Utah Sales and Use Tax Rates] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016192429/http://www.tax.utah.gov/sales/rates.html |date=October 16, 2007 }}, from utah.gov (the State of Utah's official website). Retrieved March 20, 2008.</ref> with cities and counties levying additional local sales taxes that vary among the municipalities. [[Property tax]]es are assessed and collected locally. Utah does not charge [[Intangible asset|intangible property taxes]] and does not impose an [[inheritance tax]].

===Tourism===

Tourism is a major industry in Utah. With five [[national parks]] (Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion), Utah has the third most national parks of any state after [[Alaska]] and California. In addition, Utah features nine [[National monument (United States)|national monuments]] ([[Cedar Breaks National Monument|Cedar Breaks]], [[Dinosaur National Monument|Dinosaur]], [[Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument|Grand Staircase–Escalante]], [[Hovenweep National Monument|Hovenweep]], [[Natural Bridges National Monument|Natural Bridges]], [[Bears Ears National Monument|Bears Ears]], [[Rainbow Bridge National Monument|Rainbow Bridge]], [[Timpanogos Cave National Monument|Timpanogos Cave]]), and [[Jurassic National Monument|Jurassic]], two [[national recreation area]]s ([[Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area|Flaming Gorge]] and [[Glen Canyon National Recreation Area|Glen Canyon]]), seven [[United States National Forest|national forests]] ([[Ashley National Forest|Ashley]], [[Caribou-Targhee National Forest|Caribou-Targhee]], [[Dixie National Forest|Dixie]], [[Fishlake National Forest|Fishlake]], [[Manti-La Sal National Forest|Manti-La Sal]], [[Sawtooth National Forest|Sawtooth]], and [[Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest|Uinta-Wasatch-Cache]]), and numerous [[Utah State Parks|state parks]] and monuments.

The [[Moab, Utah|Moab]] area, in the southeastern part of the state, is known for its challenging mountain biking trails, including [[Slickrock Trail|Slickrock]]. Moab also hosts the famous [[Moab Jeep Safari]] semiannually.

Utah has seen an increase in tourism since the [[2002 Winter Olympics]]. [[Park City, Utah|Park City]] is home to the [[United States Ski Team]]. Utah's ski resorts are primarily located in northern Utah near Salt Lake City, Park City, Ogden, and [[Provo, Utah|Provo]]. Between 2007 and 2011 [[Deer Valley]] Park City, has been ranked the top ski resort in North America in a survey organized by ''Ski Magazine''.<ref>{{cite news |last= Gorrell |first= Mike |date= October 5, 2010 |title= Deer Valley maintains Ski ranking through downturn |url= http://www.sltrib.com/50411844-79/valley-deer-resort-colo.html |newspaper= The Salt Lake Tribune |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141104171414/http://www.sltrib.com/50411844-79/valley-deer-resort-colo.html |archive-date= November 4, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Utah has many significant ski resorts. The 2009 Ski Magazine reader survey concluded that six of the top ten resorts deemed most "accessible", and six of the top ten with the best snow conditions, were located in Utah.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skinet.com/ski/node/101558/list |title=&#124; SKI Magazine |access-date=September 17, 2009 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924172212/http://www.skinet.com/ski/node/101558/list |archive-date=September 24, 2011  }} "Ski Magazine top 10 list: Reader Resort Survey</ref> In Southern Utah, [[Brian Head Ski Resort]] is located in the mountains near [[Cedar City, Utah|Cedar City]]. Former Olympic venues including [[Utah Olympic Park]] and [[Utah Olympic Oval]] are still in operation for training and competition and allow the public to participate in numerous activities including [[ski jumping]], [[bobsleigh]], and [[speed skating]].

Utah features many cultural attractions such as [[Temple Square]], the [[Sundance Film Festival]], the [[Red Rock Film Festival]], the [[DOCUTAH Film Festival]], the [[Utah Data Center]], and the [[Utah Shakespearean Festival|Utah Shakespeare Festival]]. Temple Square is ranked as the 16th most visited tourist attraction in the United States by ''Forbes'' magazine, with more than five million annual visitors.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.deseret.com/2009/3/12/20306598/temple-square-ranks-16th-in-visitors/ |title= Temple Square ranks 16th in visitors |newspaper= Deseret News |first= Aaron |last= Falk |date= March 12, 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141104172240/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705290247/Temple-Square-ranks-16th-in-visitors.html |archive-date= November 4, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Other attractions include [[Monument Valley]], the Great Salt Lake, the [[Bonneville Salt Flats]], and [[Lake Powell]].
[[File:2005-12-27 GK USA BryceCanyon.jpg|thumb|center|upright=3.65| [[Bryce Canyon National Park]] Amphitheater (winter view)]]

====Branding====

The state of Utah relies heavily on income from tourists and travelers visiting the state's parks and ski resorts, and thus the need to "brand" Utah and create an impression of the state throughout the world has led to several state slogans, the most famous of which is "The Greatest Snow on Earth", which has been in use in Utah officially since 1975 (although the slogan was in unofficial use as early as 1962) and now adorns nearly 50 percent of the state's license plates. In 2001, Utah Governor [[Mike Leavitt]] approved a new state slogan, "Utah! Where Ideas Connect", which lasted until March 10, 2006, when the Utah Travel Council and the office of [[Jon Huntsman Jr.|Governor Jon Huntsman]] announced that "Life Elevated" would be the new state slogan.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.visitutah.com/ | title = Visit Utah |website= Office of Tourism | access-date = November 7, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151107011407/http://www.visitutah.com/ | archive-date = November 7, 2015 | url-status = live }}</ref>

===Mining===

[[File:BinghamCanyon.jpg|thumb|Mining has been a large industry in Utah since it was first settled. The [[Bingham Canyon Mine]] in Salt Lake County is one of the largest open pit mines in the world.]]

Beginning in the late 19th century with the state's mining boom (including the [[Bingham Canyon Mine]], among the world's largest open pit mines), companies attracted large numbers of [[immigrants]] with job opportunities. Since the days of the Utah Territory mining has played a major role in Utah's economy. Historical mining towns include [[Mercur, Utah|Mercur]] in Tooele County, [[Silver Reef, Utah|Silver Reef]] in Washington County, [[Eureka, Utah|Eureka]] in Juab County, [[Park City, Utah|Park City]] in Summit County and numerous coal mining camps throughout Carbon County such as Castle Gate, Spring Canyon, and Hiawatha.<ref name="Highlights">Utah Department of Community and Culture, Mining Heritage Alliance, [http://history.utah.gov/mining_heritage_alliance/highlights.html Highlights] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117095118/http://history.utah.gov/mining_heritage_alliance/highlights.html |date=January 17, 2013 }} http://finance.utah.gov/highlights.html        as found at Utah.gov http://finance.utah.gov/highlights.html </ref>

These settlements were characteristic of the boom and bust cycle that dominated mining towns of the American West. Park City, Utah, and Alta, Utah were boom towns in the early twentieth century. Rich silver mines in the mountains adjacent to the towns led to many people flocking to the towns in search of wealth. During the early part of the [[Cold War]] era, uranium was mined in eastern Utah. Today mining activity still plays a major role in the state's economy. Minerals mined in Utah include copper, gold, silver, molybdenum, zinc, lead, and beryllium. Fossil fuels including coal, petroleum, and natural gas continue to play a large role in Utah's economy, especially in the eastern part of the state in counties such as Carbon, Emery, Grand, and Uintah.<ref name="Highlights"/>

===Energy===
{{See also|List of power stations in Utah}}

Utah extracts more coal and generates more electricity than it consumes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eia.gov/state/analysis.php?sid=UT |title=Utah - State Energy Profile - Analysis |publisher=[[U.S. Energy Information Administration]] |access-date=February 28, 2021}}</ref>  The state has the potential to generate 31.6 TWh/year from 13.1 GW of wind power, and 10,290 TWh/year from [[Solar power in Utah|solar power]] using 4,048 GW of photovoltaic (PV), including 5.6 GW of rooftop photovoltaic, and 1,638 GW of [[concentrated solar power]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nrel.gov/gis/re_potential.html |title=Renewable Energy Technical Potential |publisher=Nrel.gov |date=October 17, 2013 |access-date=December 31, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915115931/http://www.nrel.gov/gis/re_potential.html |archive-date=September 15, 2012  }}</ref> The [[Blue Castle Project]] is working toward building the state's first nuclear power plant near [[Green River, Utah]], originally projected to be completed in 2030.<ref name="emery county progress 20170124">{{cite web |url=http://www.ecprogress.com/index.php?tier=1&article_id=19985 |title=Update on the Nuclear Power Plant for Green River |first=Patsy |last=Stoddard |date=January 24, 2017 |work=Emery County Progress |location=[[Castle Dale, Utah]] |access-date=February 9, 2017 |archive-date=February 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211075715/http://www.ecprogress.com/index.php?tier=1&article_id=19985 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems]] (UAMPS) is a subdivision of the [[Government of Utah|State of Utah]], providing non-profit wholesale electricity, transmission, and other energy services to community-owned power systems in the [[Intermountain West]] geographical area.<ref name=uamps-about>{{cite web |url=https://www.uamps.com/About-us |title=About UAMPS |website=Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems |access-date=12 November 2023}}</ref>