"AnnA_NyE"

Mormon religious refugees settled along Great Salt Lake in 1847. Today Mormons make up nearly three-quarters of Utah's population. Family values are strong, and the birthrate far exceeds that of the U.S. as a whole. Although biomedical technology and the manufacturing of aerospace equipment and computer software buoy the economy, growth has slowed. Attracted by five national parks and Salt Lake City—financial, retail, and transportation hub of the western Rockies and site of the 2002 Winter Olympics—17 million visitors a year enjoy Utah's scenic diversity. The U.S. government owns 66 percent of the land; conservationists and developers disagree over its use.