Downtown (also called City Center ) is the oldest district in Salt Lake City , Utah , United States. The grid from which the entire city is laid out originates at Temple Square , the location of the Salt Lake Temple .
129-546: Deseret Book ( / ˌ d ɛ z ə ˈ r ɛ t / ) is an American publishing company headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah , that also operates a chain of bookstores throughout the western United States. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Deseret Management Corporation (DMC), the holding company for business firms owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Church of Jesus Christ). Deseret Book
258-745: A Buddhist temple and Japanese Christian chapel – remain in downtown Salt Lake City. European ethnic groups and East Coast missionary groups constructed St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in 1874, B'nai Israel Temple in 1890, the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Madeleine in 1909 and the Greek Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral in 1923. This time period also saw the creation of Salt Lake City's now defunct red-light district that employed 300 courtesans at its height before being closed in 1911. During
387-544: A corridor of contiguous urban and suburban development stretched along a 120-mile (190 km) segment of the Wasatch Front , comprising a population of 2,746,164 (as of 2021 estimates), making it the 22nd largest in the nation. With a population of 200,133 in 2020, it is the 117th most populous city in the United States . It is also the central core of the larger of only two major urban areas located within
516-401: A damaging windstorm with hurricane-force winds , amidst the wider national George Floyd protests , the global COVID-19 pandemic , and protests against pandemic measures . Salt Lake City has an area of 110.4 square miles (286 km ) and an average elevation of 4,327 feet (1,319 m) above sea level . The lowest point within the boundaries of the city is 4,210 feet (1,280 m) near
645-483: A distance because it stands on higher ground. In 2000, the LDS Conference Center was completed and supplanted the still-existing Salt Lake Tabernacle for conferences of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Downtown took center stage in the 2002 Winter Olympics , hosted by Salt Lake City, and there were efforts to beautify the city and improve transit options for visitors. The Gateway ,
774-475: A fault segment was found at the southern edge of the convention center, and expansion plans were halted until more earthquake fault studies could be completed. The city, as well as the county , is laid out on a grid plan . Most major streets run very north–south and east–west. The grid's origin is the southeast corner of Temple Square, the block containing the Salt Lake Temple; the north–south axis
903-483: A flourishing Chinatown in Salt Lake City nicknamed "Plum Alley", which housed around 1,800 Chinese during the early 20th century. The Chinese businesses and residences were demolished in 1952 although a historical marker has been erected near the parking ramp which has replaced Plum Alley. Immigrants also found economic opportunities in the booming mining industries . Remnants of a once-thriving Japantown – namely
1032-524: A full-service grocery store. In 2016, a new Broadway-style theatre, the 2,468-seat Eccles Theatre , and a connected 24-story office building, 111 Main, were completed one block south. Downtown is now seeing an "unprecedented" level of real estate development, with multiple large towers under construction despite the COVID-19 Pandemic , and has more than 5,000 residential units either planned or under construction as of April 2021. This includes
1161-665: A large outdoor, pedestrian-oriented mall, was built around the historic Union Pacific Depot and hosts the Salt Lake Olympic Plaza. The TRAX light rail system was built in the years leading up to the Olympics and directly connects downtown to the University of Utah, Salt Lake International Airport, and many of the suburbs including South Salt Lake , West Valley City , Murray , and Draper . In 2004, Ensign College , formerly known as LDS Business College, and
1290-571: A maximum difference of 7,099 feet (2164 m) being achieved with the rise of Twin Peaks from the Salt Lake Valley floor. The Salt Lake Valley floor is the ancient lakebed of Lake Bonneville , which existed at the end of the last ice age . Several Lake Bonneville shorelines can be distinctly seen as terraces on the foothills or benches of nearby mountains. Ancient folds of Lake Bonneville shorelines also lie underneath Salt Lake City, amplifying
1419-527: A more urban and suburban pattern, canal water companies were gradually replaced by culinary water systems. Downtown Salt Lake City has been a hub of commerce for the Intermountain West and its architecture reflects this history. Main Street , which was the primary commercial avenue for the city in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, anchors the historic core of the downtown area that begins at
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#17327795226081548-757: A national audience. A decade later, the only imprints that remained in use were Deseret Book and Shadow Mountain. In 2012, the Ensign Peak imprint was created for Latter-day Saint religious writings for a national audience. After acquiring Covenant Communications in 2006, Deseret Book Company did not make it an additional imprint, but continued its independent operations as a publisher alongside Deseret Book Publishing. The Shadow Mountain Records label, owned by Deseret Books, releases music aimed at Latter-day Saint audiences and reflecting Latter-day Saint themes. Releases by Shadow Mountain Records have ranked in top spots on
1677-527: A result, the population of the surrounding metropolitan area greatly outnumbers Salt Lake City. A major concern of recent government officials has been combating inner-city commercial decay. The city lost population from the 1960s through the 1980s, but experienced some recovery in the 1990s. Presently, the city has gained an estimated 5 percent of its population since the year 2000. The city has experienced significant demographic shifts in recent years. Hispanics now account for approximately 22% of residents and
1806-873: A role in the summer months, causing tropospheric ozone to peak in July & August, but in 2015 it started at the beginning of June. In 2016 Salt Lake's air quality was ranked 6th worst in the nation by the American Lung Association. It received an F grade for both ozone and particulate matter. Particulate pollution is considered especially dangerous, as the tiny pollutants can lodge deep in lung tissue. Both ozone and particulate pollution are associated with increased rates of strokes, heart attacks, respiratory disease, cancer and premature death. Outdoor air particulates have been associated with low and very low birth weight, premature birth, congenital defects, and death. Severe drought and water diversions have shrunk
1935-592: A single new Deseret Book Company building was constructed in downtown Salt Lake City at site of the former ZCMI Center Mall . Ownership of Deseret Book was split between the Deseret News (70%) and the Deseret Sunday School Union (30%). However, the Union would manage the bookstore until 1932 when Deseret Book was incorporated for- profit as the "Utah Company". The Deseret News bought out
2064-454: A six-year period. Intended for rental to wards , the conference talks are the first motion pictures of the church's conferences. In the 1950s, Brigham Young University (BYU) established a motion picture department which attracted Frank Wise. Deseret Film Productions was gradually disbanded. Soon, KSL-TV began covering general conferences. Deseret Book's downtown location remained the only store until 1959 when site for an Ogden, Utah branch
2193-481: A tendency to acquire or trade for these water rights. These can then be traded for culinary water rights to water imported into the valley. At its peak, irrigation in the valley comprised over one hundred distinct canal systems, many originating at the Jordan Narrows at the south end of the valley. Water and water rights were important in the 19th and early 20th centuries. As heavy agricultural usage changed into
2322-443: A total average of 60 inches (152 cm), although measurable snow has fallen as early as September 17 and as late as May 28. The snowiest season was 1951–52, with 117.3 inches (298 cm), while the least snowy season was 16.6 inches (42 cm) in 1933–34. The snowiest month on record was January 1993, in which 50.3 inches (128 cm) were recorded. The nearby Great Salt Lake is a significant contributor to precipitation in
2451-406: Is Main Street; and the east–west axis is South Temple Street. Addresses are coordinates within the system (similar to latitude and longitude ). Odd and even address numbering depends on the quadrant of the grid in which an address is located. The rule is: When traveling away from the grid center (Temple Square) or its axes (Main Street, South Temple Street), odd numbers will be on the left side of
2580-601: Is a for-profit corporation registered in Utah . Deseret Book publishes under four imprints with media ranging from works explaining the Latter-day Saint's theology and doctrine, Latter-day Saint-related fiction , electronic resources, and sound recordings such as The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square albums. The Deseret Book Company was created in 1919 from a merger of the Deseret News Bookstore and
2709-519: Is an LDS lifestyle magazine in print and online. Deseret Book Direct sells publications through catalogs, e-mail, and the DeseretBook.com website. From 2000 to 2009 it also operated an auctions website for Latter-day Saint books. Crafts and other handmade items are sold under the name of Mormon Handicraft (a brand purchased from the Church of Jesus Christ's Relief Society in 1986) and food is sold through The Lion House Pantry brand. It also provides
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#17327795226082838-521: Is home to a significant LGBT community and hosts the annual Utah Pride Festival . It is the industrial banking center of the United States. Salt Lake City and the surrounding area are also the location of several institutions of higher education including the state's flagship research school, the University of Utah . Sustained drought in Utah has strained Salt Lake City's water security , caused
2967-484: Is mediated by its unique geography, generally keeping highs and lows from reaching extremes. The primary source of precipitation in Salt Lake City is massive storms that move in from the Pacific Ocean along the jet stream from October to May. In mid-to-late summer, when the jet stream retreats far to the north, precipitation mainly comes from afternoon thunderstorms caused by monsoon moisture moving up from
3096-399: Is more economically diverse on the west side, which results in demographic differences. Interstate 15 was also built in a north–south line, further dividing east and west sides of the city. Sugar House , in southeastern Salt Lake City, has a reputation as an older neighborhood with small shops in the center. Sugar House is an area which has been the focus of redevelopment efforts such as
3225-436: Is only 22%. Winters are quite cold but rarely frigid. While an average of 127 days drop to or below freezing, and 26 days with high temperatures that fail to rise above freezing, the city only averages 6.3 days at or below 10 °F (−12.2 °C). The record high temperature is 107 °F (42 °C), which occurred first on July 26, 1960, July 13, 2002, June 16, 2021, July 17, 2022, and most recently September 7, 2022, while
3354-625: Is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah . It is the county seat of Salt Lake County , the most populous county in the state. The city is the core of the Salt Lake City Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which had a population of 1,257,936 at the 2020 census. Salt Lake City is further situated within a larger metropolis known as the Salt Lake City–Ogden–Provo Combined Statistical Area ,
3483-438: Is the right place, drive on." Brigham Young is said to have seen the area in a vision before the wagon train's arrival. They found the broad valley empty of any human settlement. Four days after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young designated the building site for the Salt Lake Temple. The Salt Lake Temple, constructed on the block later called Temple Square, took 40 years to complete. Construction started in 1853, and
3612-401: Is usually considered to be 900 South. From 1870 to the 1930s, Commercial Street (Now known as "Regent Street") was Salt Lake's notorious red light district . Prostitution was begrudgingly tolerated as long as it was confined to Commercial Street. But prostitution continued beyond Commercial Street in brothels in other areas as well such as Plum Alley, which was Salt Lake City's China Town. In
3741-479: Is usually defined as the area approximately between North Temple and 1300 South Streets north to south and about 500 East and 600 West Streets east to west. Downtown encompasses the areas of Temple Square , The Gateway , Main Street, the central business district, South Temple, and others. Along with local and state government and non profits, two primary business organizations - the Salt Lake Chamber and
3870-558: The Billboard charts , including violinist Jenny Oaks Baker , and pianist Josh Wright. The following artists have released albums on Shadow Mountain Records: Deseret Book operates further business units in addition to its publishing and retail activities. Under the name Zion's Mercantile it produces home decor and religious art and holds events such as women's conferences in the United States and Canada. LDS Living
3999-618: The American Old West . The first group of settlers brought African slaves with them, making Utah the only place in the western United States to have African slavery. Three slaves, Green Flake, Hark Lay, and Oscar Crosby, came west with the first group of settlers in 1847. The settlers also began to purchase Indian slaves in the well-established Indian slave trade, as well as enslaving Indian prisoners of war. In 1850, 26 slaves were counted in Salt Lake County. In 1852,
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4128-703: The BYU Salt Lake Center moved downtown to the Triad Center, which was purchased by the LDS Church. The construction of the $ 1.5 billion mixed-use City Creek Center from 2006 to 2012, which covers 20 acres (81,000 m ) across three city blocks, marked a significant step toward bringing business interest and pedestrian activity back to downtown. The development included nearly 725,000 sq ft (67,400 m ) of retail space, new and refurbished office towers, new residential buildings, and
4257-500: The Church Educational System ). On November 15, 2004, Deseret Book announced that it had acquired Excel Entertainment Group, a 10-year-old company based in Salt Lake City which was known for its Latter-day Saint cinema productions as well as its record labels, including Highway Records, Joyspring Records, and Embryo Records (later renamed to Lumen Records). Jeff Simpson, the founder and president of Excel, became
4386-796: The City of Zion in the Midwestern United States, but following persecution and Smith's assassination, the plans were carried westward by the Mormon pioneers . Downtown Salt Lake began to form in 1847 when Brigham Young chose the site of the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , forming the core of the settlement. Temple Square became the center of the grid system, bounded by South Temple, West Temple, North Temple, and East Temple Streets. Streets are named according to their distance and direction from
4515-468: The Great Basin (the other being Reno, Nevada ). Salt Lake City was founded on July 24, 1847, by early pioneer settlers led by Brigham Young who were seeking to escape persecution they had experienced while living farther east. The Mormon pioneers , as they would come to be known, entered a semi-arid valley and immediately began planning and building an extensive irrigation network which could feed
4644-518: The Gulf of California . Although rainfall can be heavy, these storms are usually scattered in coverage and rarely severe. However, downtown was hit by an F2 tornado on August 11, 1999, killing 1 person, injuring 60, and causing $ 170 million in damage. The remnants of tropical cyclones from the East Pacific can rarely reach the city during Fall. The remnants of Hurricane Olivia helped bring
4773-787: The Hotel Newhouse , and the Salt Lake Theatre . After a period of stagnation in the era of urban sprawl , and with the construction of TRAX in the late 1990s and the City Creek Center in the early 2010s, downtown Salt Lake City is experiencing a period of revival. Empty lots and older structures are in the process of being redeveloped into apartment and office towers and the city has begun to close Main Street to automobile traffic on summer weekends to encourage pedestrian activity and business. More than 5,000 new residential units are planned or under construction for
4902-631: The Jordan River and the Great Salt Lake, and the highest is Grandview Peak , at 9,410 feet (2,868 m). The city is in the northeast corner of the Salt Lake Valley surrounded by the Great Salt Lake to the northwest, the steep Wasatch Range to the east, and Oquirrh Mountains to the west. Its encircling mountains contain several narrow canyons, including City Creek , Emigration , Millcreek , and Parley's which border
5031-728: The Salt Lake Temple and concludes at the City and County Building . Halfway between those two structures, the Walker Center , at the corner of Main and 200 South, was built in 1912 and was the tallest building between Chicago and San Francisco upon its completion. Other extant pre-war structures include the Kearns Building , Hotel Monaco , the First Security Building, the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (formerly Hotel Utah),
5160-458: The Salt Lake Temple , the Gardens at Temple Square and ZCMI on the north-end of Main Street, and those who were not members of the church, who were mostly prospectors in the early days, would stay south of the predominantly Mormon area. This divide still can be felt to the present day, particularly on weekend evenings when the businesses on the north side of downtown close their doors early while
5289-606: The UTA S-Line Streetcar . In late 2015 there were approximately 900 apartment units either recently built or under construction in the Sugar House area, with an additional 492 units proposed. Northeast of Downtown is The Avenues, a neighborhood outside of the regular grid system on smaller blocks. The area between 6th Avenue to South Temple Street is a Historical District that is nearly entirely residential, and contains many historical Victorian era homes. Recently
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5418-477: The University of Utah , commercial precincts, and the Wasatch foothills. The western neighborhoods of the city, such as Poplar Grove , Rose Park , and Glendale tend to be more working-class and ethnically diverse and are popular with immigrants and young people. This divide is a result of the railroad being built in the western half as well as panoramic views from inclined ground in the eastern portion. Housing
5547-692: The Utah Jazz , was torn down and a new arena, the Delta Center ( Vivint Arena ), was constructed to the northwest in 1991 with the leadership of Larry H. Miller . The existing convention center connected to the arena was also demolished and a new convention center of the same name was built on the site. In 1998, the American Stores Tower ( Wells Fargo Center ) was completed and remains the tallest building in Salt Lake City today by two feet. The LDS Church Office Building appears taller from
5676-631: The Utah State Capitol and Democratic lawmakers have introduced legislation in the Utah State Legislature to make public transportation free during January and July, when air quality is usually at its worst. The population of the Salt Lake City metropolitan area is projected to double by 2040, putting further pressure on the region's air quality. The Great Salt Lake is separated from Salt Lake City by extensive marshlands and mudflats. The metabolic activities of bacteria in
5805-451: The liquefaction of the clay- and sand-based soil and the possible permanent flooding of portions of the city by the Great Salt Lake. On March 18, 2020, a 5.7 magnitude earthquake , the largest in the Salt Lake City area in modern times, hit Magna , just southwest of Salt Lake City, causing some minor damage throughout the valley. Damage in Salt Lake City was especially evident in historic brick homes— unreinforced masonry buildings —such as
5934-570: The territorial prison in Sugar House in the 1880s for violation of anti-polygamy laws. The church began its eventual abandonment of polygamy in 1890, releasing "The Manifesto" , which officially suggested members obey the law of the land (which was equivalent to forbidding new polygamous marriages inside the US and its territories, but not in church member settlements in Canada and Mexico). This paved
6063-652: The 1892 Sears mansion which required demolition after the earthquake. The Warm Springs Fault and the East Bench Fault, offshoots of the Wasatch Fault, were found in 2021 to connect underneath Salt Lake City, increasing the risk of major metropolitan damage from an earthquake. Prior to this, in 1997 the Salt Lake Tribune published a front-page exposé about how the construction of the downtown Salt Palace convention center had been hastened by
6192-484: The 1940s. Winning an exclusive contract to distribute for Bell & Howell in Utah and parts of Idaho and Wyoming , Deseret Book supplied 16 mm film projectors to the Church of Jesus Christ. Becoming a film distribution and rental outfit, the Deseret Book "Censorship Committee on Films" was established in 1946 because regular employees were unable to review all the films it handled. By 1950, 18 members sat on
6321-419: The 1970s. Salt Lake City has a humid continental climate ( Dsa ), while western parts may experience a Mediterranean climate ( Csa ), as summers are dry and hot and winters are cold and wet, but rarely frigid. Late summer and early fall monsoonal activity can keep precipitation fairly consistent throughout the year aside from early to mid summer when rain is minimal. The temperature of the Salt Lake City area
6450-601: The 1980s, a Saudi businessman, Adnan Khashoggi , had a vision of turning Salt Lake City into a major business hub. Forming a U.S. holdings company, "Triad Utah", he planned to build two 43-story skyscrapers , as well as several mid-rise buildings at the Triad Center . Khashoggi was implicated in the Iran-Contra scandal and his assets were frozen by the Federal government and the skyscrapers were never built, leaving
6579-663: The Avenues is becoming known for restaurants and shops opening in old retail space mixed within the community. The Avenues are situated on the upward-sloping bench in the foothills of the Wasatch Range, with the earlier built homes in the lower elevation. The Avenues, along with Federal Heights , just to the east and north of the University of Utah , and the Foothill area, south of the university, contain gated communities, large, multimillion-dollar houses, and panoramic views of
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#17327795226086708-791: The Boston and Newhouse Buildings, the Utah State Capitol , and the Clift Building . Salt Lake City has two historic passenger rail depots, the Denver and Rio Grande Western Depot and the Union Pacific Depot , the latter of which now anchors the Gateway district. Salt Lake City lost many significant structures to forces such as urban renewal in the 20th century, including the Dooly Building , designed by Louis Sullivan ,
6837-450: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in local congregations . This enabled new settlers to have the food and products they needed after they made the rigorous journey to Salt Lake City. This exchange was eventually organized into what would become Zions Cooperative Mercantile Institution (ZCMI). The first businesses to locate on Main Street were those founded by James A. Livingston and Charles A. Kincade, in 1850, in
6966-451: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Brigham Young, Jr. , then a church Apostle and vice president of the bank, temporarily resigned over the matter, until the building was later sold. Salt Lake City boomed in the years before World War I and the center of mass of downtown was pulled southward by the efforts of Samuel Newhouse and other non-LDS community members. The Exchange Place Historic District encompasses
7095-459: The Church of Jesus Christ-owned newspaper, the Deseret News . Five of Cannon's sons held important positions in the paper, and Cannon himself was editor between 1867 and 1872, and again while temporarily owning the paper from 1892 to 1898. Nearly every George Q. Cannon & Sons book was printed on the Deseret News press. Cannon sold the bookstore to the Church of Jesus Christ in 1900, near
7224-578: The City Creek Center. This new store sits almost exactly on the same location as the first Deseret Book Location. In early 1999, Bookcraft was acquired by Deseret Book. This allowed them to expand in the larger "values-oriented" publishing market. The merger also brought more writings by general authorities under the church's ownership, allowing for electronic and print collaborations with other DMC entities (the Deseret News , and Bonneville International ) and church entities (such as BYU and
7353-635: The Confederate States of America, marched through the city and found it had been evacuated. They continued their march through the deserted city to vacant land at the southwest corner of the valley. There they set up Camp Floyd (40 miles (64 km) south of the city). Another military installation, Fort Douglas , was established in 1862 to maintain Union allegiance during the American Civil War . Many area leaders were incarcerated at
7482-693: The Deseret Sunday School Union Bookstore. Both of these Utah bookstores trace their roots to George Q. Cannon , a Latter-day Saint general Authority . " Deseret " is a word from the Book of Mormon that is said to mean "honeybee." George Q. Cannon published the first issue of Juvenile Instructor magazine in 1866. Cannon organized the Deseret Sunday School Union , a Church of Jesus Christ organization responsible for educating young church members, and
7611-566: The Downtown Alliance promote Salt Lake CIty's downtown as the heart of the state, and as its most lively and diverse locale. Downtown's layout was first planned in 1833, 17 years before Salt Lake City was founded. Joseph Smith designed the Plat of Zion , a plan for cities of 20,000 people each that followed city blocks with self-sufficient family farms surrounding several temples in the center. Smith meant for this plan to be applied to
7740-454: The Great Salt Lake by two-thirds and reduced it to its lowest recorded levels, resulting in hundreds of square miles of dry lake bed and exposing millions of people living in the fast-growing metropolitan region to dust storms laced with arsenic and other toxic chemicals. Around 65% of the diverted water goes to agriculture, but demand for water is soaring as Utah's population grows. Downtown (Salt Lake City) Downtown Salt Lake City
7869-404: The Great Salt Lake level to drop to record low levels, and has impacted the local and state economy. The receding lake has exposed arsenic which may become airborne, exposing area residents to poisonous dust. The city is also under threat of major earthquake damage amplified by two offshoots of the nearby Wasatch Fault that join underneath the downtown area. Before settlement by members of
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#17327795226087998-587: The L.D.S Temple). This shift was the result of a change in buying patterns, with shoppers preferring malls rather than on-street department stores. Using land and a loan provided by Zion Securities, the second Main Street mall was completed in 1978. Following the completion of the Crossroads Mall, the south-end of Main Street collapsed, beginning with 117-year-old merchant Auerbachs Department Store. Others to go under were Broadway Music, Paris Company, Baker Shoes, Pembroke's, Keith O'Brien and Keith Warshaw. In
8127-436: The LDS Church, the Shoshone , Weber Ute, and Paiute had dwelt in the Salt Lake Valley for thousands of years. At the time of Salt Lake City's founding, the valley was within the territory of the Northwestern Shoshone . One local Shoshone tribe, the Western Goshute tribe, had names for the Jordan River , City Creek , and Red Butte Canyon (Pi'o-gwût, So'ho-gwût, and Mo'ni-wai-ni). The Goshutes (or, Gosiutes) also lived in
8256-399: The LDS Church, which had always considered downtown its home. During the '70s, the Church built the ZCMI Center Mall on a full city block of land that had previously housed the ZCMI department store, preserving the historic storefront. The Church also leased land to a developer to build Crossroads Plaza Mall . The land for the mall originally housed the Amussen Jewelry building (1869), at
8385-408: The Latter-day Saints in July 1847, during the Mexican-American War . They had traveled beyond the boundaries of the United States into Mexican Territory seeking a secluded area to safely practice their religion away from the violence and the persecution they experienced in the United States . Upon arrival at the Salt Lake Valley, president of the church Brigham Young is recorded as stating, "This
8514-412: The Olympic games, but business did not pick up immediately following. On July 24, 2024, Salt Lake City was formally chosen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to host the 2034 Olympic Winter Games. All of the facilities from the previous Games can be re-used, and the bid enjoyed support from the IOC and the city. Salt Lake City hosted the 16th Winter Deaflympic games in 2007, taking place in
8643-499: The President of the United States to appoint a surveyor general for Utah Territory, and to cause that the lands of that territory should be surveyed preparatory to bringing them on the market. Because of numerous conflicts between the surveyor and the territorial government the first surveyor general abandoned his post in 1857, not to return till 1869. The pioneers organized a state called State of Deseret , and petitioned for its recognition in 1849. The United States Congress rebuffed
8772-456: The Sunday School Union in 1948 to become sole owner of the bookstore, but both the Deseret News and Deseret Book are now subsidiaries of DMC, which manages several for-profit assets of the Church of Jesus Christ. Deseret News Press printed nearly all Deseret Book publications until the 1960s when the company began seeking other competitive bids. Through the 1930s, the bookstore focused mostly on Sunday school needs such as lesson manuals. Though
8901-406: The Wasatch Range. The second-highest mountain range is the Oquirrhs, reaching a maximum height of 10,620 feet (3,237 m) at Flat Top. The east–west-oriented Traverse Mountains to the south extend to 6,000' (1830m), nearly connecting the Wasatch and Oquirrh Mountains. The mountains near Salt Lake City are easily visible from the city and have sharp vertical relief caused by ancient earthquakes, with
9030-416: The area south of the Council House that was being built on the corner of Main and South Temple Streets. The Mormon pioneers lived a very secluded existence in the remote Salt Lake Valley for the first 20 years of settlement, beginning construction of the Salt Lake Temple and other monuments like the Salt Lake Theatre . However, in 1865 U.S. troops stationed in Park City discovered silver and announced it to
9159-412: The bars and restaurants on the south end of downtown host crowds late into the night. Originally, the business district extended along the west side of Main between South Temple and 100 South. By the 1880s, the area had expanded to both sides of the street and down to 200 South, and increased about a block a decade, until 1900, when it reached 400 South. Today, the southern limit of downtown Salt Lake City
9288-561: The book quickly went through numerous printings as the Church of Jesus Christ's First Presidency authorized its use in its Sunday School program. Meanwhile, the Deseret Sunday School Union, still publishing the money-losing Juvenile Instructor , struggled to maintain its distribution center, the Deseret Sunday School Union Bookstore. Aimed at church supply, the Sunday School Bookstore sold textbooks , minutes ledgers, sacrament trays, as well as popular books. Since 1891,
9417-452: The bookstore introduced relatively few new authors, several important works were published in this period. Notably, B. H. Roberts ' magnum opus , the six-volume Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , 1930. Deseret Book did not accept manuscripts for publication until the 1940s when the company made a push for new authors. Deseret Book expanded into motion picture equipment and photographic supplies in
9546-621: The bulb of the native sego lily , which has long been part of the ordinary diet of the Shoshone, sego being derived from the Shoshone word seego . The sego lily was commemorated by the Sego Lily Dam, a flood-prevention infrastructure project in the shape of a giant sego lily, built in Sugar House Park in 2017. The city was not platted until after the federal surveyor abandoned his post in 1857. In 1855 Congress directed
9675-539: The city during that time period in an area that takes up just 1% of Salt Lake City. Pioneer Park was completely renovated in early 2008 following several severe assault incidents. After the controversial Operation Rio Grande , which began in 2017, and the closure and demolition of the Road Home homeless shelter in 2019 and 2020, respectively, the Pioneer Park area has begun to see a dramatic reduction in crime and
9804-408: The city has a significant LGBT community. There is also a large Pacific Islander population (mainly Samoans and Tongans ); they compose roughly 2% of the population of the Salt Lake Valley area. Salt Lake City was selected in 1995 to host the 2002 Winter Olympics. The games were plagued with controversy. A bid scandal surfaced in 1998 alleging bribes had been offered to secure the bid. During
9933-592: The city of Bellevue. By 2004, Deseret Book operated over 33 stores in 9 western US states . Expanding its reach in eastern Idaho, the chain also purchased Beehive Book Stores, located in Rexburg, Idaho Falls, and Blackfoot, Idaho. Deseret Book already operated in Idaho Falls at the Grand Teton Mall and in Rexburg. The new store in Rexburg has expanded merchandise selection from the prior two stores. In
10062-464: The city when UTA's TRAX opened in 1999. The S Line (formerly known as Sugar House Streetcar) opened for service in December 2013 on an old D&RGW right-of-way. The city's population began to stagnate during the 20th century as population growth shifted to suburban areas north and south of the city. Few of these areas were annexed to the city, while nearby towns incorporated and expanded. As
10191-411: The city. The city also has a belt route , I-215. Salt Lake City has developed a strong tourist industry based primarily on skiing , outdoor recreation , and religious tourism . It hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics and will host the 2034 Winter Olympics . It is known for its politically liberal culture, which stands in contrast with most of the rest of the state's highly conservative leanings. It
10320-613: The city. The lake effect can enhance rain from summer thunderstorms and produces lake-effect snow approximately 6 to 8 times per year, some of which can produce prodigious snowfall amounts. It is estimated about 10% of the annual precipitation in the city can be attributed to the lake effect. Salt Lake City features large variations in temperatures between seasons. During summer, there are an average of 56 days per year with temperatures of at least 90 °F (32.2 °C), 23 days of at least 95 °F (35 °C), and 9 days of 100 °F (37.8 °C). However, average daytime July humidity
10449-546: The committee. Preceding modern Latter-day Saint cinema by over 50 years, Deseret Book founded Deseret Film Productions in 1947. The first film, produced by Frank Wise, was Where the Saints have Trod , an 80-minute film celebrating the 100-year anniversary of Mormon pioneers entering Salt Lake Valley. Wise subsequently produced Temple Square , a 30-minute filmed tour of Salt Lake City's most popular tourist location . Deseret Film recorded over 120 general conference talks over
10578-498: The county geologist who erased the Warm Springs Fault from earthquake maps of Salt Lake City so that the downtown area appeared to be free of faults, enabling the convention center developers to avoid the time and expense of an earthquake hazard and risk assessment. The newspaper showed that the Warm Springs Fault runs north–south along W. Temple, directly adjacent to Temple Square and the convention center. A year later,
10707-579: The current Triad Center with only buildings 3, 4 and 5. Revitalization efforts of downtown continued through the 1980s and 1990s, with noteworthy projects that included the demolition of the Hotel Newhouse in 1983 and the redevelopment of Block 57 into the Gallivan Center and One Utah Center in 1991–1992. In 1985, the Radisson Hotel Salt Lake City Downtown was completed. The Salt Palace arena, home of
10836-422: The danger of earthquakes. Salt Lake City is subject to earthquakes from active fault lines running through it. These faults are related to the regional Wasatch Fault which runs north–south along the western base of the Wasatch Range and is considered at high risk of producing an earthquake as large as 7.5 magnitude . Catastrophic damage is predicted in the event of an earthquake with major damage resulting from
10965-497: The downtown area as of April 2021 and many new breweries and restaurants have opened in the last decade. Regent Street, which in the early 20th century was the city's red-light district , has recently been redeveloped with the notable additions of the 2,468-seat Eccles Theater and 111 Main, an adjacent 24-story office building. A distinctive feature of Salt Lake City's cityscape is its very large block sizes, which are 660 feet square and separated by streets 132 feet wide, making them
11094-513: The eastern city limits. The burgeoning population of Salt Lake City and the surrounding metropolitan area, combined with its geographical situation, has led to air quality becoming a concern. The Great Basin is subject to strong temperature inversions during the winter, which trap pollutants and decrease the air quality. The Utah Division of Air Quality monitors air quality and issues alerts for voluntary and mandatory actions when pollution exceeds federal safety standards. Protests have been held at
11223-458: The end of his life. The church combined the two businesses, and the remaining Salt Lake City bookstore became Deseret News Bookstore. By 1906, Deseret News press had a Linotype machine and dedicated book press . Many significant volumes were published and distributed through the Deseret News Bookstore. Of these, the most successful was James E. Talmage 's Jesus the Christ . Published in 1915,
11352-613: The first female CEO and president of Deseret Book. Deseret Book established new corporate offices and downtown Salt Lake City retail space during the redevelopment of the Crossroads Plaza Mall into City Creek Center . In 2007, the corporate headquarters, with around 160 employees, moved into the top seven floors of the Utah Woolen Mills Clothiers building across the street from Temple Square. In April 2010 Deseret Book opened its "Flagship" store in
11481-491: The forthcoming construction of the new tallest building in Utah, the Astra Tower, which will stand 39-stories tall. Pioneer Park , on the western edge of downtown, developed a reputation as one of the most crime-ridden areas of the state, and as having a large number of drug dealers. During a six-day crackdown in early November, 2007, 658 people were arrested in and around the park, approximately 70% of all arrests made in
11610-507: The games, other scandals erupted over contested judging scores and illegal drug use. Despite the controversies, the games were heralded as a financial success, being one of the few in recent history to turn a profit. In preparation major construction projects were initiated. Local freeways were expanded and repaired, and a light rail system was constructed. Olympic venues are now used for local, national, and international sporting events and Olympic athlete training. Tourism has increased since
11739-413: The lake result in a phenomenon known as "lake stink", a scent reminiscent of foul poultry eggs, two to three times per year for a few hours. The Jordan River flows through the city and is a drainage of Utah Lake that empties into the Great Salt Lake. The highest mountaintop visible from Salt Lake City is Twin Peaks , which reaches 11,330 feet (3,450 m). Twin Peaks is southeast of Salt Lake City in
11868-516: The largest in the United States. This and the resulting development patterns gives the city and its buildings a unique sense of scale but also a distinct challenge to urban walkability , with many streets boasting six lanes for automobile traffic. On the other hand, the extra-wide streets have made the addition of dedicated transit lanes and light rail more feasible and many streets are now being redesigned with features such as protected bike lanes, linear parks, and even spaces for urban development within
11997-512: The late 1880s, the trade was unofficially licensed. Police would "arrest" all of the prostitutes and their madams each month and "fine" them $ 50 each. After a physical examination, they would be released and allowed to ply their trade without any further fear of molestation. Many notable Salt Lakers owned buildings on Commercial Street, including the Brigham Young Trust Company, whose board included many prominent members of
12126-717: The late 1970s, Deseret Book coordinated publication of new editions of the King James Version of the Bible and the Book of Mormon / Doctrine and Covenants / Pearl of Great Price "Triple combination". The 1979 publication of the Bible was the first geared toward Latter-day Saints. A comparably styled "triple combination" was introduced in 1981. With notes from the Joseph Smith Translation , Talmage's scripture commentary, and an index and "topical guide",
12255-425: The late 19th and early 20th centuries, an extensive streetcar system was constructed throughout the city, with the first streetcar running in 1872 and electrification of the system in 1889. As in the rest of the country, the automobile usurped the streetcar, and the last trolley was approved for conversion in 1941, yet ran until 1945, due to World War II . Trolley buses ran until 1946. Light rail transit returned to
12384-767: The magazine was the first church periodical oriented toward youth. Cannon opened the George Q. Cannon & Sons bookstore in 1867 to sell the magazine and other publications of an uplifting nature. Cannon believed that secular novels did not reflect Latter-day Saint values. In the 1880s, Cannon expanded with a branch in Ogden, Utah . It is not known how many books Cannon & Sons actually published itself. In that era, authors commonly self-published their books, which were then distributed by others. However, Cannon & Sons distributed several important books through their stores and mail order (see table). The company had extensive ties to
12513-535: The medians. The city also encourages new projects to incorporate mid-block walkways and other scale-mitigation strategies into planning to promote pedestrian engagement. Salt Lake City has many distinct neighborhoods. There is a general east–west socioeconomic divide. The eastern neighborhoods of the city, such as the Avenues , 9th & 9th , Yalecrest , Federal Heights , and Sugar House tend to be more affluent. These districts are popular with professionals, families, and students due to their proximity to Downtown,
12642-525: The menu from a high-society ball. Disputes with the federal government ensued over the church's practice of polygamy . A climax occurred in 1857 when President James Buchanan declared the area in rebellion after Brigham Young refused to step down as governor, beginning the Utah War . A division of the United States Army , commanded by Albert Sidney Johnston , later a general in the army of
12771-599: The nearby Utah Valley (the 1776 Dominguez-Escalante expedition were undoubtedly aware of Salt Lake Valley's existence). U.S. Army officer John C. Frémont surveyed the Great Salt Lake and the Salt Lake Valley in 1843 and 1845. The Donner Party , a group of ill-fated pioneers, had traveled through the Great Salt Lake Valley in August 1846. The settling of Salt Lake City dates to the arrival of
12900-556: The new editions are now standard in the Church of Jesus Christ. Typesetting for the volumes was done by Cambridge University Press . Deseret Book began publishing Latter-day Saint fiction for the first time in 1979. In 1986, it purchased Mormon Handicraft–a handmade crafts store–from the Relief Society . As inventory and distribution was centralized in 1984, Deseret Book expanded its lines to include items such as CTR rings and more popular music. In 2002, Sheri L. Dew became
13029-544: The new executive vice president of the merged company. Both companies are privately held, so terms of the deal were not publicly released. Although some Excel employees were relocated to Shadow Mountain music at Deseret Book headquarters, most remained at the separate Excel headquarters in Salt Lake City. In July 2006, Deseret Book threatened to discontinue sales with another Latter-day Saint bookstore chain, Seagull Book & Tape , citing marketing differences. Seagull claimed that their discounted prices on Deseret Book's products
13158-427: The non-profit Union asked for yearly five-cent contributions from Sunday school pupils on "Nickel Sunday." Facing over $ 12,000 in debt in 1914, requested donations increased to ten cents, and 1919 a committee formed to study the organizations solvency. Led by Talmage, the committee recommended consolidation of the Sunday School Bookstore with the Deseret News Bookstore. By 1920, both antecedent bookstores were closed and
13287-469: The population and foster future growth. Salt Lake City's street grid system is based on a standard compass grid plan, with the southeast corner of Temple Square (the area containing the Salt Lake Temple in downtown Salt Lake City) serving as the origin of the Salt Lake meridian . Owing to its proximity to the Great Salt Lake , the city was originally named Great Salt Lake City. In 1868, the word "Great"
13416-418: The record low is −30 °F (−34 °C), which occurred on February 9, 1933. During mid-winter, strong areas of high pressure often stagnate over the Great Basin , leading to strong temperature inversions . This causes air stagnation and thick smog in the valley from several days to weeks at a time and can result in the nation's worst air-pollution levels. This same effect will also occasionally play
13545-631: The record monthly precipitation of 7.04 inches (179 mm) in September 1982. 1983 was the wettest year on record, with 24.26 inches (616 mm), while 1979 was the driest, when 8.70 inches (221 mm) were recorded. Spring snowmelt from the surrounding mountains can cause localized stream flooding during late spring and early summer, the worst examples being in 1952 and especially 1983, when City Creek burst its banks, forcing city engineers to convert several downtown streets into waterways. Snow falls on average from November 6 to April 18, producing
13674-573: The rest of the city. Smith's Plat of Zion specified the city was to be developed into 135 10-acre (4.0 ha) lots. However, the blocks in Salt Lake City became irregular during the late 19th century when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lost authority over growth and before the adoption of zoning ordinances in the 1920s. The original 10-acre (4.0 ha) blocks allowed for large garden plots, and many were supplied with irrigation water from ditches that ran approximately where modern curbs and gutters would be laid. The original water supply
13803-482: The settlers in 1850 and established the Utah Territory , vastly reducing its size, and designated Fillmore as its capital city. Great Salt Lake City replaced Fillmore as the territorial capital in 1856, and the name later was shortened to Salt Lake City. The city's population continued to swell with an influx of converts to the LDS Church and Gold Rush gold seekers, making it one of the most populous cities in
13932-455: The source of the unusual width. These wide streets and grid pattern are typical of other Mormon towns of the pioneer era throughout the West. Though the nomenclature may initially confuse new arrivals and visitors, most consider the grid system an aid to navigation. Some streets have names, such as State Street, which would otherwise be known as 100 East. Other streets have honorary names, such as
14061-486: The southeast corner of Temple Square; for example 200 West is two blocks west of this meridian, while 400 South is four blocks south. East Temple was popularly known as Main Street, and was officially renamed sometime in the late 19th century. It remains as the commercial and economic center of the city today. The early Mormon pioneers, who originally settled in Salt Lake City, adopted a form of consecration whereby crops grown and products produced were divided among members of
14190-595: The street. A common explanation for the unusually wide streets of Salt Lake City is that Brigham Young wanted a wagon with a team of oxen to be able to turn around. However, Young was never recorded giving this directive. Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, planned the layout in the " Plat of the City of Zion " (intended as a template for Mormon towns wherever they might be built). This plan included streets 132 ft (40 m) wide, and may be
14319-543: The summer of 2007, 9th and 9th saw sidewalk and street improvements as well as an art installation by Troy Pillow of Seattle, Washington inspired by the 9 Muses of Greek myth, thanks in part to a monetary grant from Salt Lake City. Many of the homes in the valley date from pre–World War II times, and only a select few areas, such as Federal Heights and the East Bench, as well as the far west side, including parts of Rose Park and Glendale, have seen new home construction since
14448-420: The surviving structures from this era. In 1912, at the intersection of Main Street and 200 South, police officer Lester Wire installed his homemade electric traffic light , the first of its kind in the world. Salt Lake had an extensive streetcar network at the time and Trolley Square served as its main depot for years before the gradual removal of the system that came with the rise of the automobile. Though
14577-412: The temple was dedicated on April 6, 1893. The temple has become an icon for the city and serves as its centerpiece. The southeast corner of Temple Square is the point of reference for the Salt Lake meridian , and for all addresses in the Salt Lake Valley. During the winter of 1847, an outbreak of measles killed many of the Shoshone in the area. The Shoshone saved the pioneers when they taught them to eat
14706-598: The territorial legislature passed the Act in Relation to Service and the Act for the relief of Indian Slaves and Prisoners formally legalizing slavery in the territory. On June 19, 1862, during the American Civil War , Congress prohibited slavery in all US territories. Explorer, ethnologist, and author Richard Francis Burton traveled by coach in the summer of 1860 to document life in Great Salt Lake City. He
14835-608: The texts of many of its books online with paid subscriptions at GospeLink.com. In 2009 selected Deseret Book locations partnered with the Church of Jesus Christ Distribution Center and began selling official Church of Jesus Christ items, such as Temple garments , which had originally been available only in Church of Jesus Christ Distribution Centers. That working relationship has expanded and now half of Deseret Book's 39 stores have been "integrated" and are half Deseret Book and half Distribution Centers. Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Lake City , often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC ,
14964-484: The time Salt Lake City's oldest building. A study commissioned by the city found it to be Salt Lake City's most architecturally significant building, and efforts to preserve it were underway. However, before the building could be saved, it was torn down to make way for the mall . Many historic buildings were lost to urban renewal during this era, the most notable of which was the Dooly Building , built in 1892 and designed by Louis Sullivan . The LDS Church Office Building
15093-420: The trolley system itself is now long gone, Trolley Square remains as a noteworthy example of adaptive reuse and houses a museum dedicated to the history of the city's streetcars. After World War II , many people could afford to move out of downtown into the suburbs . By 1971, 60% of the homes in downtown Salt Lake City were in major disrepair. Starting in the 1960s, revitalization efforts began, spearheaded by
15222-594: The valley. Many consider this some of the most desirable real estate in the valley. In addition to larger centers like Sugar House and Downtown, Salt Lake City contains several smaller neighborhoods, each named after the closest major intersection. Two examples are the 9th and 9th (at the intersection of 900 East and 900 South Streets) and 15th & 15th (at the intersection of 1500 East and 1500 South Streets) neighborhoods. These areas are home to foot-traffic friendly, amenities-based businesses such as art galleries, clothing retail, salons, restaurants and coffee shops. During
15351-423: The venues in Salt Lake City and Park City , and Rotary International chose the city as the host site of their 2007 convention, which was the single largest gathering in Salt Lake City since the 2002 Winter Olympics. The U.S. Volleyball Association convention in 2005 drew 39,500 attendees. In 2020, the city experienced a 5.7 magnitude earthquake , protests against the killing of Bernardo Palacios-Carbajal , and
15480-541: The vicinity of Salt Lake and the valleys to the west. The land was treated by the United States as public domain; no aboriginal title by the Northwestern Shoshone was ever ceded or relinquished by treaty with the United States. The first explorer of European descent in the Salt Lake area was likely Jim Bridger in 1825, although others had been in Utah earlier, including some who traveled as far north as
15609-582: The way for statehood in 1896, when Salt Lake City became the state capital. The First Transcontinental Railroad was completed in 1869 at Promontory Summit on the north side of the Great Salt Lake. A railroad was connected to the city from the Transcontinental Railroad in 1870, making travel less burdensome. Mass migration of different groups followed. Ethnic Chinese (who had laid most of the Central Pacific railway) established
15738-604: The western portion of 300 South, named "Adam Galvez Street" (for a local Marine corporal killed in action) or others honoring Rosa Parks , Martin Luther King Jr. , César Chávez , Harvey Milk , and John Stockton . These honorary names appear only on street signs and cannot be used in postal addresses. In the Avenues neighborhood , north–south streets are given letters of the alphabet, and east–west streets are numbered in 2.5-acre (1.0 ha) blocks, smaller than those in
15867-480: The world. With this announcement, an entirely new element began streaming into Salt Lake City. Prospectors completely changed the downtown district. In accommodation of the new crowd, many of the Main Street businesses were saloons , earning the street the nickname "Whiskey Street". For many years, there existed a political and cultural divide in Salt Lake City. Mormons would mostly shop and congregate around
15996-659: Was completed in 1973 and became Salt Lake's tallest building at 28 floors and 420 ft tall. Contrary to a popular local legend, there is no formal restriction that prevents buildings from being built taller than the Church Office Building. From 1970 to 1976 the Central Main Street shopping district saw a dramatic shift from the South-end (near Exchange Place and Broadway) to the North-end (near
16125-654: Was donated. Stores in Orange, California and greater Salt Lake County opened in malls in 1962. In the 1970s, the original location was torn down to make way for the ZCMI Center Mall where the store reopened on April 2, 1976, during a general conference to attract large crowds. Several more mall locations opened in the 1970s; in Northridge, California , Boise, Idaho , and many more locations in Utah. In 1997, Deseret Book opened its first Washington state location in
16254-520: Was dropped from the city's name. Immigration of international members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), mining booms , and the construction of the first transcontinental railroad brought economic growth, and the city was nicknamed "The Crossroads of the West". It was traversed by the Lincoln Highway , the first transcontinental highway, in 1913. Two major cross-country freeways, I-15 and I-80 , now intersect in
16383-528: Was from City Creek . Subsequent development of water resources was from successively more southern streams flowing from the mountains east of the city. Some old irrigation ditches are still visible in the eastern suburbs, or are still marked on maps, years after they were gone. There are still some canals that deliver water as required by water rights. Many lots, in Salt Lake City and surrounding areas, have irrigation water rights attached to them. Local water systems, in particular Salt Lake City Public Utilities, have
16512-467: Was granted unprecedented access during his three-week visit, including audiences with Brigham Young and other contemporaries of Joseph Smith. The records of his visit include sketches of early city buildings, a description of local geography and agriculture, commentary on its politics and social order, essays, speeches, and sermons from Young, Isaac Morley, George Washington Bradley and other leaders, and snippets of everyday life such as newspaper clippings and
16641-915: Was the reason for the threat. Seagull Book & Tape competed with Deseret Book's retail operation, but depended on the company's published work, which reportedly accounted for most of its sales. Deseret Book later opted to renegotiate its distribution contract with Seagull. On December 28, 2006, it was announced that Deseret Book was buying both Seagull Book & Tape and the publisher Covenant Communications, from Lewis Kofford. Company officials said they intended to continue running all three businesses as separate entities. After Deseret Book acquired Bookcraft in 1999, it divided its publishing into four differently marketed imprints: Deseret Book for history and doctrine; Bookcraft for self-help, family, children, women's interests, and Latter-day Saint fiction; Eagle Gate for art, niche markets, library editions, and teaching aides; and Shadow Mountain for "values-based" publications for
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