New to Utah

Newcomers to Utah will find the locals welcoming and the mountains beckoning. It's hard to tear yourself away from the dramatic snow-tipped Wasatch Mountains flanking Salt Lake City in the northwest or the undulating, sunset-hued red rock canyons in the southeast, but you'll need to―there's so much else to do!

Driver License and Registration

First on the list is getting a Utah driver license, which we explain on our Driver License & ID page.

You'll notice that vehicle-related business in Utah is split between two entities. Driver licenses (and anything related to the people who operate vehicles) are overseen by the Department of Public Safety, Driver License Division. The vehicles themselves fall under the jurisdiction of the Utah State Tax Commission's Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), so this is where you will go to register your vehicle when you move to Utah. We make it easy to find your closest DMV office on our Locations & Hours page.

Commercial drivers who have relocated to Utah will need to replace their out-of-state commercial driver license (CDL) with one issued by Utah.

Drivers with disabilities who move to Utah may apply for disabled person license plates and placards that allow them special parking privileges.

Our Forms & Publications section can point you to online versions of the Utah Driver Handbook in both English and Spanish, as well as the state's Motorcycle Operator Manual.

These publications contain a wealth of information about driving in the state of Utah and how to navigate the various divisions and application processes. If you're really curious to know all the regulations affecting drivers and their vehicles, check out our section on Utah's vehicle code.

Employment

A great place to start a job search, should you need to, is with the Department of Workforce Services (DWS), where you can post your resume online and search the online job listings. The DWS adds hundreds of job postings daily.

Government jobs are listed on the State of Utah's Department of Human Resource Management Web site. And the main newspapers, the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret Morning News, share classified job listings at YourUtahJob.com.

Schools

Utah has one of the highest literacy rates in the country, a testament to the quality of the schools. Find out about elementary, junior high, and high schools near you at the Utah Education Network Web site, which also covers private schools and higher education institutions. You can also check out additional higher education information.

OTHER USEFUL NEWCOMER LINKS

• Maps of Utah
• Traffic information
• Weather
• Taxes and fees
• Voter registration
• Public libraries

Arts and Culture

Now that you've settled in and have the relocation chores out of the way, it's time to have some fun. Newcomers are sometimes surprised to discover that the Beehive State (the beehive represents industry) has such a vibrant, diverse artistic and cultural foundation.

Utah's Arts Council applies state and national funding to stimulate arts in the state, and its Web site can help you get involved with arts education, performing arts, graphic arts, visual arts, folk art, and literature―either as an observer or as a participant. The Arts Council is part of the Department of Community & Culture, whose Web site has links to the Office of Ethnic Affairs, the Division of State History, and the State Library, among other useful links.

UNIQUE ATTRACTIONS

• Park City
• Kennecott Utah Copper Mine
• Lake Powell
• Temple Square
• Moab
• Goblin Valley
• Spiral Jetty
• Ski and snowboard resorts

Brief History

The United States welcomed Utah to statehood in 1896, 49 years after members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seeking religious freedom migrated to the area in wagons and hand carts and established the headquarters of the Mormon church in Salt Lake City.

Twenty-seven years before Utah became the 45th state in the Union, the transcontinental railroad was completed at Promontory, Utah, with the symbolic golden spike. You can visit this historic site today.

Since then, Utah's incredible natural beauty and wide-open economic opportunities have attracted settlers and immigrants of all cultural backgrounds and religions, making Utah a melting pot of influences. One thing early Utahns had in common was a pioneering spirit, which has transferred to modern times in the form of a flourishing economy and a broad cultural fabric.

Utah Today

Utah offers four true seasons and what is widely reported to be the best snow on earth for winter sports, along with a varied mountain and desert terrain perfect for mountain biking, hiking, boating, hunting, fishing, and just about every other outdoor activity.

Utah's beauty is matched by its economic opportunities; the state is a thriving high-tech Mecca, easily drawing new business. The education and health care are among the best in the nation, and the crime rate is incredibly low. The cultural, economic, and natural advantages make Utah a wonderful place to live.

FACTS AND FIGURES

• Statehood: Utah became the 45th state on January 4, 1896.
• Population: Estimated to be 2,233,169 (2000 census).
• Elevation: Highest point is Kings Peak in the Uinta Mountains, which reaches 13,528 feet. Lowest point is Beaver Dam Wash, at only 2,350 feet.
• Average elevation of the Great Salt Lake: 4,200 feet.
• State capitol: Salt Lake City.
• Five largest cities, according to population: Salt Lake City (181,743), West Valley City (108,896), Provo (105,166), Sandy (88,418), and Orem (84,324).
• Percentage of Utahns who are Mormon: 62% in the state overall and roughly 40% in Salt Lake City.
• Origin of the name: "Utah" comes from the name of the Ute Indians, who were some of Utah's original inhabitants. "Ute" means "people of the mountains."
• State cooking pot: The Dutch oven (yes, this is on the books).
• State folk dance: The square dance.
• Area: At 84,900 square miles, Utah is ranked the 11th largest state in the U.S. Sixty-five percent of the state is owned by the federal government.
• National literacy ranking: 1.
• National birthrate ranking: 1.