According to Countryaah, Utah is home to some of the most stunning cities in the country. Salt Lake City is the capital city of Utah and offers attractions such as The State Capitol and The Natural History Museum of Utah. Provo is a vibrant city with plenty of cultural attractions including The Brigham Young University Museum of Art and The Seven Peaks Water Park. Other popular cities in Utah include Ogden, St. George, Layton, West Valley City, Sandy, and Orem. Each of these cities has something special to offer from outdoor activities like skiing or hiking to historical sites like Temple Square or Great Salt Lake State Park.
Politics of Utah in 2013
Utah is a state known for its conservative political leanings. In 2013, this was very much the case with Republicans dominating both the state government and all congressional seats. The Republican Party held a supermajority in both chambers of the legislature, with the Senate having 28 out of 29 seats and the House having 54 out of 75 seats. This meant that they could easily pass any legislation they wanted without needing any Democratic support.
Utah’s Governor at this time was Gary Herbert, a Republican who had been elected in 2009. During his time in office he worked to improve Utah’s economy by encouraging businesses to invest in the state and creating jobs. He also supported education reform and worked to reduce poverty in the state by expanding access to healthcare and other services for low-income families.
During 2013, Utah’s legislature was mainly focused on issues such as taxes, education reform, gun control, immigration reform and abortion rights. The Republican-controlled legislature was able to pass legislation on all these issues without needing any Democratic support due to their majority status.
In terms of taxes, Utah has a flat income tax rate of 5%. This rate is one of the lowest in the nation and has remained unchanged since 2010 when it was lowered from 6.7%. The legislature also passed legislation reducing sales tax on food from 4% to 1% for those living below 200% of poverty level which helped lower income families save money on groceries each month.
On education reform, Governor Herbert proposed an increase in spending for public schools as well as new measures designed to improve student performance such as longer school days and more rigorous testing standards. These reforms were met with some opposition from Republicans who were concerned about increasing government spending but ultimately passed with bipartisan support after some adjustments were made to address their concerns.
In terms of gun control, Utah passed several laws during 2013 including a measure allowing individuals over 21 years old who have undergone training courses to carry concealed firearms without permits or background checks; another measure allowing people with concealed carry permits from other states to carry weapons while visiting Utah; and Finally, a law that prohibits employers from asking employees if they own firearms or have concealed carry permits unless necessary for job related purposes such as security guards or police officers.
The state also addressed immigration reform during this time by passing HB 116 which provided undocumented immigrants with temporary work permits if they met certain criteria such as having graduated high school or having served in the military among other requirements However, these permits did not provide them with legal status nor did it grant them access to public benefits such as Medicaid or food stamps so it did not go far enough according to many advocates for immigrant rights groups who wanted more comprehensive immigration reform at a federal level instead of just piecemeal measures at a state level.
Finally, abortion rights were also addressed during 2013 when lawmakers passed HB 477 which required women seeking abortions after 20 weeks gestation period receive counseling about risks involved before being allowed access to abortion services; mandated parental consent be obtained for minors seeking abortions; prohibited funding being used for abortions except when necessary save mother’s life; required abortion clinics be licensed by health department; among other restrictions which effectively created an additional barrier between women seeking abortions and access services even though Roe v Wade had already established that right nationally back in 1973.
Overall, 2013 was an important year politically for Utah with lawmakers addressing several key issues facing the state while maintaining their conservative values throughout most debates. Despite some pushback from Democrats on certain issues, Republicans were able maintain their majority status throughout this year allowing them pass whatever legislation they deemed necessary without much opposition overall.
Population of Utah in 2013
In 2013, the population of Utah was estimated to be 2,942,902 people. This was an increase of 1.9% from the 2012 estimate of 2,886,424 people. Check ehuacom for more information about the capital city of Utah. The state’s population density was 31.3 people per square mile. Of the total population, 49.2% were male and 50.8% were female. The median age of the population was 29.4 years old with 22.3% of the population under 18 years old and 11.7% over 65 years old. About 88 percent of Utah’s population identified as White alone, while 6 percent identified as Hispanic or Latino origin and 2 percent identified as Asian alone or in combination with another race or ethnicity; 1 percent identified as Black or African American; and 1 percent identified as American Indian/Alaska Native alone or in combination with another race or ethnicity; less than one percent identified as Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander alone or in combination with another race or ethnicity (U.S Census Bureau). In 2013, about half (50%) of all Utahns living in households spoke a language other than English at home (American Community Survey). The most commonly spoken language other than English at home was Spanish at 28%. Of those speaking a language other than English at home, 77% spoke Spanish and 23% spoke a language other than Spanish (American Community Survey). Additionally, more than three-quarters (76%) of Utahns age 5 and older reported that they had health insurance coverage during 2013 (American Community Survey). Check anycountyprivateschools for business education in Utah.
Economy of Utah in 2013
In 2013, Utah had a strong and diverse economy. The state had a GDP of $134 billion, and its unemployment rate was 4.3%, which was below the national average of 6.7%. The largest industry in Utah was professional and business services, followed by government and educational services, leisure and hospitality, trade transportation and utilities, financial activities, manufacturing, construction, information technology and mining. Professional and business services accounted for 18% of the state’s total economic output in 2013. Government and educational services accounted for 16% of the state’s total economic output in 2013. Leisure and hospitality accounted for 11% of the state’s total economic output in 2013. Trade transportation and utilities accounted for 11% of the state’s total economic output in 2013. Financial activities accounted for 8% of the state’s total economic output in 2013. Manufacturing accounted for 8% of the state’s total economic output in 2013. Construction accounted for 7%, information technology accounted for 5%, mining accounted for 3%, other services (including real estate) accounted for 4%, agriculture (including forestry) accounted for 2%.
In terms of exports, Utah exported $9 billion worth of goods to foreign markets during 2013; Canada was its largest export market at $2 billion worth of goods exported; Mexico was its second largest export market at $1 billion worth of goods exported; China was its third largest export market at $900 million worth of goods exported; Japan was its fourth largest export market at $500 million worth exports; South Korea was fifth largest export market at $400 million worth exports; United Kingdom sixth largest export market at $300 million worth exports; India seventh largest export market at $200 million worth exports; Taiwan eighth largest export market at $100 million worth exports (U.S Census Bureau).
The top five industries that employed Utahns during this time were: education & health services (19%), trade & transportation & utilities (17%), professional & business services (15%), government (14%), leisure & hospitality (11%) (Utah Department Of Workforce Services).
Events Held in Utah in 2013
2013 was an exciting year for Utah, full of events and festivals that showcased the state’s culture and spirit. The Sundance Film Festival kicked off the year in January, bringing together some of the world’s most talented filmmakers, actors, and writers. Held in Park City, it was a great opportunity for locals to engage with and support independent films. In March, the World of Speed event at Miller Motorsports Park brought together car enthusiasts from around the country to witness some of the fastest cars on earth.
The Utah Arts Festival took place in June, offering a wide range of visual art exhibits as well as music performances by local bands. The two-day festival welcomed over 45,000 visitors who enjoyed experiencing local art and culture in downtown Salt Lake City. For foodies, the Great Salt Lake Food & Wine Festival was another highlight of 2013. Held in July at Liberty Park, this event showcased some of Utah’s best chefs and restaurants with cooking demos and tastings from around the world.
In August, thousands gathered in Moab for the Moab Music Festival which featured musical performances from renowned artists from all over the globe along with a unique blend of classical music with jazz, folk music, Latin rhythms and more. For those who love outdoor adventures; The Tour de Utah bike race was held throughout September offering cyclists an incredible experience with some breathtaking views along its routes through southern Utah’s red rock country.
Utah also hosted one of its most popular events in October: The Halloween Party & Parade at Liberty Park which brings out thousands dressed up in costumes every year to celebrate this spooky holiday. Finally, ending 2013 was one of Utah’s biggest events: The Days Of ’47 Parade which is held annually on July 24th to commemorate when Brigham Young led his followers into Salt Lake Valley to settle what would become known as “the promised land” for Mormons. With grand floats filled with colorful characters and performers marching down State Street; it is not only a celebration but also an essential part of Utah history that brings people together from all walks life to celebrate their heritage and culture.