Utah is a western state of the United States, in the Rocky Mountain region. The name Utah is derived from the Southern Ute word for "higher up." In addition to the Ute Tribe, the Paiute, Navajo, Shoshone, and Goshute nations also inhabit portions of the state.
Utah had a population of 2,389,039 in 2004, according to a Census Bureau estimate. About 85% of Utah's population resides in the valleys and on the western slope of the Wasatch Mountains in northern and central Utah. Residents are called Utahns. The state is generally rugged and arid, and has spectacular natural scenery. It is a popular summer and winter tourist destination. Salt Lake City, the ski resorts in the Wasatch Range, and the national parks of the south are the most popular destinations.
Utah's capital is Salt Lake City, a vibrant metropolitan city. The small community of Fillmore, in Millard County, was designated as the territorial capital in 1854, four years after Utah Territory was organized. In 1856, the capital was moved back to Salt Lake City, which became the capital of the state when Utah was admitted to the Union in 1896. Salt Lake City hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics, which gave a significant boost to the state's tourist industry (especially the ski resorts).
Salt Lake City, Utah is also the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which approximately 60% of Utah residents are members. The LDS Church has a strong cultural influence on the state, resulting in Utah being one of just two states where gambling is illegal.
Brigham Young University, often referred to as BYU, is the flagship university of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The vast majority of students at BYU are members of this church and, as a condition of admission to the university, they commit to obey a stringent honor code while they attend BYU. BYU is often known for its low tuition costs, especially for a private university of its size. A large number of its students have some proficiency in a foreign language. BYU is located in Provo, Utah, approximately 50 miles to the south of Salt Lake City.
Additional facilities include a study center in Israel (the BYU Jerusalem Center); a satellite campus to the north in Utah's capital and largest city, Salt Lake City, (the BYU Salt Lake Center); and study centers all over the world, including London and Washington, D.C. Until recently, BYU operated an academy for its students at Nauvoo, Illinois, a town that figures prominently in Latter-day Saint history (the Joseph Smith Academy).
Orson Scott Card (born August 24, 1951) is a prolific and best-selling author, working in numerous genres. He is best known for his novel Ender's Game and its many sequels. Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead were both awarded the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award, making Card the only author (as of 2006) to win both of Science Fiction's top prizes in consecutive years.
His writing is dominated by detailed characterization and moral issues. As Card says, "We care about moral issues, nobility, decency, happiness, goodness — the issues that matter in the real world, but which can only be addressed, in their purity, in fiction."
A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, some of his novels have stories explicitly drawn from scripture or church history. His religious and political beliefs have drawn the ire of some science fiction fans, making him a provocative figure within the genre.
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- To Create: Canyons: Butterfield Canyon • Yellow Fork Canyon History: Dominguez-Escalante Expedition (currently a redirect) • History of Utah (to 1847) • History of Utah (1847 to 1896) • History of Utah (1897 to 1947) • History of Utah (from 1948) • Days of '47 (currently a redirect) • History of mining in Utah Geography: Geography of Utah (currently a redirect) Towns: Beaver Dam, Utah • Caineville, Utah • College Ward, Utah • Lawrence, Utah • Leland, Utah • Liberty, Utah (currently a redirect) • Manderfield, Utah • Marion, Utah • Mills, Utah • Molen, Utah • Pintura, Utah • Silver Summit, Utah • Snyderville, Utah (currently a redirect) • Spring Glen, Utah (currently a redirect) • Sutherland, Utah (currently a redirect) • Venice, Utah • Young Ward, Utah Lakes: Oowah Lake • Lake Uinta Rivers: Beaver River (Utah) (currently a redirect) • Sulphur Creek (Utah) Mountains: Brian Head Peak Misc: Jones Hole National Fish Hatchery • Ouray National Fish Hatchery
Coordinates: 39°18′N 111°36′W / 39.3°N 111.6°W / 39.3; -111.6
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