The year 1996 marks the state of Utah's centennial celebration. Utah gained statehood on January 4, 1896, and became America's 45th state. Most of Utah lies on a plateau above 4,000 feet (1350 meters) in elevation. The Wasatch and High Plateau Ranges of the Rocky Mountains span the heart of the state for 300 miles, from north to south. In the center of the state, the Rocky Mountain border Utah's major communities and rural areas, then slide away to the remote mountain ranges of the Great Basin Desert. Covering a large portion of northwestern Utah are the Great Salt Lake and the Bonneville Salt Flats.

People of many ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds have contributed to and continue to enhance the quality of life in Utah. Because members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly referred to as Mormons) constitute approximately 70% of the state's population and about 45% of the population of Salt Lake City, they are the individual group with the greatest influence on life in the state. Mormon pioneers settled in Utah approximately 150 years ago, and their religious and cultural traditions remain an important component of Utah's social landscape.

When the Mormon pioneers arrived in Salt Lake Valley, it was nothing more than a desert. Now, the valley is the site of a thriving city, the capital of Utah, and the crossroads of the west: Salt Lake City. The Salt Lake area has a population of 792,000; 166,000 of whom live in Salt Lake City proper. The Wasatch Metro area, including Salt Lake City and the cities from Ogden to the north and Provo to the south, has a population of 1.5 million (1996).
The city's name comes from the Great Salt Lake, the salty inland lake located in the desert to the west. Salt Lake City is located at an elevation of 4,330 feet (1,320 meters); nearby mountains reach a height of 11,000 feet (3,353 meters). The city enjoys four distint seasons. Summers are warm with low humidity. Autumn is a spectacular season of changing colors with moderate weather. Winter brings "the greatest snow on earth" to the city and nearby ski resorts. Spring is generally mild in the valley, but still snowy enough in the mountains to offer great skiing.
Salt Lake City was selected to host the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Salt Lake will be the largest city ever to host the Winter Olympics and is preparing for one of the most significant events in its history. The University of Utah will play a major role in the Olympics, hosting the opening and closing ceremonies in Rice Stadium and housing the Olympic Village. The city's slogan for the Olympics is "The world is welcome here!. Salt Lake is also home of the NBA's Utah Jazz and the Buzz Baseball Team."

Bordering the 1,425-acre University campus (below) are the rugged Wasatch Mountains, a mecca of pristine beauty and, for winter sports enthusiasts, unsurpassed downhill and cross-country skiing. Seven resorts, including three in the historic mining town of Park City, are within an hour's drive of campus.
Spring through autumn, the nearby canyons, streams and lakes offer a variety of other recreational activities. Some of the country's most breathtaking and varied parkland is within a six-hour drive of Salt Lake City, including Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Great Basin, Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.