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hen 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 fifth fastest-growing state in the nation—mainly due to the area’s high birth rate.
Population
Utah’s population estimate was 2,528,926 for 2005. 2010 projections see Utah increasing by 2.3 percent to 2,833,333. This is an approximate increase of 1,110,483 people since 1990. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that Utah’s population will approach just over 4 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 second fastest area for elderly population growth. Utah’s median age in 2005 was 28.5 years, well below the 2005 national figure of 36.2 years. The median age in Utah is projected to rise to 32.5 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 764 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 181,743. Salt Lake County’s population is 898,387making 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 2.62. In addition, Utah’s persons per family are 3.67, compared to the national figure of 3.16.
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: 181,743
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, 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: 6,000
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: 33,042
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: 46,800
City Hall: 5025 S. State, 84107, 264-2600
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: 10,500
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, 402-5261
Website: www.nslcity.cc
Riverton
Population: 29,244
City Hall: 12830 S. Redwood Rd., 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: 93,000
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.utah.gov |
South Jordan
Population: 40,372
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
South Salt Lake
Population: 22,038
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: 61,532
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: 96,000
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: 120,757
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 0.74 percent of market value on residential property to 1.29 percent on non-auto personal property in 2004. 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. The state tax rate is 4.75 percent. 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. The restaurant tax is an additional 1 percent. The motor vehicle rental tax of 2.5 percent is applied statewide with an additional tax of 3 percent in Duchesne, Grand and Uintah counties and 7 percent in Davis, Morgan, Salt Lake, Sevier, Utah, Washington, and Weber counties. Local taxes on room rents, in addition to sales taxes from rents vary from 3 to 4.5 percent. Municipal energy sales and use tax rates, when charged, varies from 1 percent to 6 percent. A general sales tax of up to 1.5 percent is applied in 14 resort communities.
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 $24,000 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 or the Utah Taxpayers Association at www.utahtaxpayers.org. |
