Editing Utah (section)

===20th century to present===

[[File:Children reading 1940.jpg|thumb|Children reading in [[Santa Clara, Utah]], in 1940]]

Beginning in the early 20th century, with the establishment of such national parks as [[Bryce Canyon National Park]] and [[Zion National Park]], Utah became known for its natural beauty. Southern Utah became a popular filming spot for arid, rugged scenes featured in the popular mid-century western film genre. From such films, most US residents recognize such natural landmarks as [[Delicate Arch]] and "the Mittens" of [[Monument Valley]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mountainproject.com/v/monument-valley/105964237|title=Rock Climbing Monument Valley in Northern Arizona|website=Mountain Project|access-date=November 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029035231/http://www.mountainproject.com/v/monument-valley/105964237|archive-date=October 29, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> During the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, with the construction of the [[Interstate highway]] system, accessibility to the southern scenic areas was made easier.

Since the establishment of [[Alta Ski Area]] in 1939 and the subsequent [[Development of Skiing in Utah|development of several ski resorts]] in the state's mountains, Utah's skiing has become world-renowned. The dry, powdery snow of the [[Wasatch Range]] is considered some of the best skiing in the world (the state license plate once claimed "the Greatest Snow on Earth").<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090210021223/http://www.skinet.com/travel/2008-09/ski-magazines-top-30-resorts-2008-09 SKI Magazine's Top 30 Resorts for 2008–09]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/ski/2008-10-20-outside-best-ski-resorts_N.htm |title='Outside' magazine ranks the top ski resorts |website=USA Today |date=October 17, 2008 |access-date=July 31, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526174205/http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/ski/2008-10-20-outside-best-ski-resorts_N.htm |archive-date=May 26, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Salt Lake City won the bid for the [[2002 Winter Olympic Games]], and this served as a great boost to the economy. The ski resorts have increased in popularity, and many of the Olympic venues built along the [[Wasatch Front]] continue to be used for sporting events. Preparation for the Olympics spurred the development of the light-rail system in the [[Salt Lake Valley]], known as [[UTA TRAX|TRAX]], and the reconstruction of the freeway system around the city.

In 1957, Utah created the Utah State Parks Commission with four parks. Today, [[Utah State Parks]] manages 43 parks and several undeveloped areas totaling over {{convert|95000|acre|km2}} of land and more than {{convert|1000000|acre|km2}} of water. Utah's state parks are scattered throughout Utah, from [[Bear Lake State Park (Utah)|Bear Lake State Park]] at the Utah/Idaho border to [[Edge of the Cedars State Park]] Museum deep in the [[Four Corners]] region and everywhere in between. Utah State Parks is also home to the state's [[off highway vehicle]] office, state boating office, and the trails program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stateparks.utah.gov/about/|title=Official Utah State Parks website|publisher=Stateparks.utah.gov|access-date=November 7, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407044150/http://www.stateparks.utah.gov/about|archive-date=April 7, 2013}}</ref>
[[File:Flag of the Utah Territory.svg|thumb|Flag of the Utah Territory]]
During the late 20th century, the state grew quickly. In the 1970s growth was phenomenal in the suburbs of the Wasatch Front. [[Sandy, Utah|Sandy]] was one of the fastest-growing cities in the country at that time. Today, many areas of Utah continue to see boom-time growth. Northern [[Davis County, Utah|Davis]], southern and western [[Salt Lake County, Utah|Salt Lake]], [[Summit County, Utah|Summit]], eastern [[Tooele County, Utah|Tooele]], [[Utah County, Utah|Utah]], [[Wasatch County, Utah|Wasatch]], and [[Washington County, Utah|Washington]] counties are all growing very quickly. Management of transportation and urbanization are major issues in politics, as development consumes agricultural land and wilderness areas and transportation is a major reason for poor [[air quality in Utah]].

On March 18, 2020, Utah [[2020 Salt Lake City earthquake|suffered a 5.7 magnitude earthquake]] originating {{cvt|3.7|mi|km}} northeast of Magna, near Salt Lake City.<ref name="ANSS">{{Cite anss|Magna|2020|https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/uu60363602/executive|access-date=March 18, 2020|mode=cs2}}</ref>

{{anchor|Geography}}