Demographics & Taxes
When
visitors come to Salt Lake they find a population
that is friendly, industrious, young, and healthy. In fact,
Utah’s young and educated workforce is one of its most
attractive features to companies considering relocation—that
and the area’s outstanding cultural and recreational
opportunities. The young workforce will likely continue to
grow. Utah is the eighth fastest-growing state in the nation—mainly
due to the area’s high birth rate.
Population
Utah’s population estimate
is 2,528,926 for 2005. This is an approximate increase of
806,076 people since 1990. The U.S. Census Bureau projects
that Utah’s population will approach 3.5 million residents
by 2030, which places Utah as the fifth fastest growing state.
Utah families giving birth will account for the majority of
this population increase but a steady migration of new residents
will contribute as well. Utah is the youngest state in the
nation and will remain so despite being ranked as the ninth
fastest area for elderly population growth. Utah’s median
age in 2000 was 27.1 years, well below the 2000 national figure
of 35.3 years. The median age in Utah is projected to rise
to 30.4 in 2030 and will still be well below the national
average projected to be at 39 years old.
Like other states in the American Southwest, Utah
is growing more racially and ethnically diverse—especially
in its largest cities. For example, the number of Utahns
claiming Hispanic or Latino ethnicity grew 138 percent in
the last ten years. Nearly one in every ten Utahns is now
Hispanic. Excluding those who identified themselves in the
census only as being from “some other race”
or as being from “two or more races,” the state’s
next largest racial minority was Asian, followed by American
Indians and Alaska Natives, African Americans, and Native
Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
Salt Lake City makes up a relatively
small portion of the Salt Lake Valley. While Salt Lake County
covers approximately 737 square miles, Salt Lake City covers
only 111.1 square miles. Salt Lake City is the largest city
in the state and has a population of 179,894. Salt Lake County’s
population is 924,247 making it the most populous region in
Utah.
Household
Utah is first in the nation in the number of persons per
household at 3.13, compared to the national average of 2.59.
In addition, Utah’s persons per family are 3.57, compared
to the national figure of 3.14.
Demographic
Statistics
All area codes are 801 unless otherwise
noted.
Salt Lake County
Population: 924,247
County Administration: 2001 S. State, 84190, 468-3519
Library: Whitmore Library (main branch), 2197 E. Ft. Union
Blvd., 84121, 943-4636
School Districts: Granite, 340 E. 3545 S., 84115, 263-6100,
just one of the county’s many school districts.
Website: www.slco.org
Salt Lake City
Population: 179,894
City Hall: 451 S. State, 84111, 535-7600
Post Office: 1760 W. 2100 S., 84199, (main branch), 974-2200
Library: 210 E. 400 S. (main branch), 84111, 524-8200
School District: Salt Lake, 440 E. 100 S., 84111, 578-8599
Website: www.slcgov.com
Alta
Population: 370
City Hall: Alta Town Office, P.O. Box 8016, 84092-8016, 363-5105
or 742-3522
Post Office: Alta Contract Post Office, Hwy. 210, Little Cottonwood
Canyon, Alta, 84092
School District: Jordan, 9361 S. 300 E., Sandy, 84070, 567-8100
Website: www.townofalta.com
Bluffdale
Population: 5,672
City Hall: 14175 S. Redwood Rd. 84065, 254-2200
Post Office: (800) 275-8777
School District: Jordan, 9361 S. 300 E., Sandy, 84070, 567-8100
Website: www.bluffdale.com
Draper
Population: 30,376
City Hall: 1020 E. Pioneer Road, Draper, 84020, 576-6500
Post Office: 12180 East @ 3rd, 84020, (800) 275-8777
School District: Jordan, 9361 S. 300 E., Sandy, 84070, 567-8100
Website: www.draper.ut.us
Midvale
Population: 27,166
City Hall: 655 West Center Street, 84047, 567-7200
Post Office: 35 West Center Street, 84047, (800) 275-8777
School District: Jordan, 9361 S. 300 E., Sandy, 84070, 567-8100
Website: www.midvalecity.org
Murray
Population: 43,957
City Hall: 5025 S. State, 84107, 264-2664
Post Office: 4989 South State Street, 84107, (800) 275-8777
School District: Murray, 147 E. 5065 S., 84107, 264-7400
Website: www.murray.utah.gov.
North Salt Lake
Population: 8,749
City Hall: 20 S. US Hwy. 89, 84054, 936-3877
Post Office: 345 North US Highway 89, 84010, (800) 275-8777
School District: Davis County, 45 E. State St., Farmington,
84025, 402-5267
Website: www.nslcity.cc
Riverton
Population: 29,244
City Hall: 12765 S. 1400 W., Riverton, 84065, 254-0704
Post Office: 1849 West 12600 South, 84065, (800) 275-8777
School District: Jordan, 9361 S. 300 E., Sandy, 84070, 567-8100
Website: www.rivertoncity.com
Sandy
Population: 89,319
City Hall: 10000 Centennial Parkway, 84070, 568-7100
Post Office: 8850 South 700 East, 84070, (800) 275-8777
School District: Jordan, 9361 S. 300 E., Sandy, 84070, 567-8100
Website: www.sandy-city.net
South Jordan
Population: 33,589
City Hall: 1600 W. Town Center Drive, 84095, 254-3742
Post Office: 10102 South Redwood Rd., 84095, 254-0322
School District: Jordan, 9361 S. 300 E., Sandy, 84070, 567-8100
Website: www.ci.south-jordan.ut.us
Salt Lake
Population: 22,021
City Hall: 220 East Morris Avenue, 84115, 483-6000
Post Office: 3161 S. W. Temple, 84115, (800) 275-8777
School District: Granite, 340 E. 3545 S., 84115-4697, 263-6100
Website: www.southsaltlakecity.com
Taylorsville
Population: 58,757
City Hall: 2600 W. Taylorsville Blvd., 84118, 963-5400
Post Office: 5495 S. 4015 W., 84118, (800) 275-8777
School District: Granite, 340 E. 3545 S., 84115-4697, 263-6100
Website: www.ci.taylorsville.ut.us
West Jordan
Population: 84,701
City Hall: 8000 S. Redwood Rd., 84084, 569-5000
Post Office: 7901 S. 3200 W., 84088, (800) 275.8777
School District: Jordan, 9361 S. 300 E., Sandy, 84070, 567-8100
Website: www.wjordan.com
West Valley City
Population: 111,687
City Hall: 3600 S. Constitution Blvd., 84119, 966-3600
Post Office: 3490 S. 4400 W., 84120, (800) 275-8777
School District: Granite, 340 E. 3545 S., 84111-4697, 263-6100
Website: www.ci.west-valley.ut.us
For more information on
Utah demographics, go to www.governor.utah.gov/dea.
Tax Structure
General Property Tax:
Property taxes are levied at the state and local level, based
on assessed valuations established by elected county assessors
and, in the case of certain properties, by the State Tax Commission’s
Property Tax Division. The amount of taxes paid is based on
the tax rate applied against the taxable value of the property.
Tax rates are set by local entities (counties and towns, school
districts, and special taxing districts) and approved by the
Property Tax Division. Effective tax rates ranged from 0.72
percent of market value on residential property to 1.5 percent
on non-auto personal property in 2003. Taxpayers pay a fee-in-lieu
of property tax on light trucks and automobiles based on age
of the vehicle and ranging from $10 for a twelve year old
vehicle to $150 on a vehicle less than three years old.
State Income Tax: This tax is based on
federal taxable income after deducting one-half of federal
tax and adding back 25 percent of personal exemption amounts.
Utah has a graduated tax rate up to a 7 percent rate on
taxable incomes greater than $8,626.
Sales and Use Tax:
Utah levies a sales and use tax on the retail sales of tangible
personal property and select services such as admissions to
places of amusement, intrastate transportation service, hotel
and motel accommodations, and certain other goods and services.
Rates for sales on most goods within each municipality vary
between 5.75 percent and 8.1 percent of purchase price. In
Salt Lake City, the sales tax rate for most goods is 6.6 percent.
Additional local sales taxes for specific goods also exist.
Corporate Franchise
Tax: The state of Utah taxes all corporations’
net income, which has been determined by law to be allocable
to the state. Utah has the three factors sales, payroll and
property to equally apportion federal taxable income. A recent
law by the legislature allows the taxpayer to elect to double-weight
any of those two factors. The corporate franchise tax rate
is 5 percent of net taxable income. Minimum tax for state
banks and corporations is $100.
Unemployment Compensation: Employers must
pay on the first $22,500 of wages paid to each employee
during the calendar year. Unemployment tax rates vary from
0.1 percent to 8.1 percent of taxable payroll, depending
on unemployment experience and type of industry.
Tax Considerations
and Exemptions: Utah’s free port law is among
the most liberal inventory tax laws in the country. Goods
used by retailers, wholesalers, or manufacturers for processing
and sale in Utah are exempt from ad valorem taxes.
Salt Lake, a customs port city, offers a foreign trade
zone. The service allows duties to be deferred or reduced.
For more information on Utah tax rates,
go to the Utah State Tax Commission website at tax.utah.gov.
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