UTAH FACTS

Interesting facts, weird facts, and crazy facts.

WHERE DOES THE NAME UTAH

COME FROM?
The name "Utah" comes from a tribe of native Americans, which means

"people of the mountains. Utah is located at the convergence of three

distinct geological regions: theRocky Mountains, theGreat Basin, and
theColorado Plateau.

UTAH WAS ONCE PART

OF MEXICO
The United States won the

Mexican War in 1848. Mexico had

to give what is now the American
West (including Utah) to the
United States. In the 20th
century the immigration to Utah
of thousands of Spanishsurnamed individuals and families
has helped to diversify the state's
population, enrich its cultural
heritage, and renew its historic
association with Mexico and the
Southwest.

UTAH BECOMES A STATE

The Utah area became a part of

the United States in 1848, but it

took until 1896 for Utah to become
a state. One of the facts is that in
order to be allowed statehood, the
United States Congress required
that Utah ban polygamy.

RAINBOW BRIDGE
Rainbow Bridge is one of

the world's largest known

natural bridges. The span of
Rainbow Bridge was
reported in 1974 by the
Bureau of Reclamation to be
275 feet. Rainbow Bridge
was known for centuries by
the Native Americans who
have long held the bridge
sacred.