Salt Lake City is perhaps the most famous locale in Utah, US, and that’s for a variety of different reasons! For one, it has huge religious significance, as it is said to be a pivotal location in the Mormon faith. It’s also been an Olympic Games host and is one of very few regions in the US where you can sunbathe in the morning and ski in the evening. The climate here is truly bizarre! Take a look below for 30 fun and interesting facts about Salt Lake City.

1. Salt Lake City is the capital of the state of Utah in the USA.

2. Salt Lake City was founded by a church leader, Brigham Young.

3. There is conflicting information regarding safety in the city. Some feel that it is one of the safest to live and work in across the USA. However, other figures suggest theft and property crime are rife.

4. That said, it’s thought that public schools in the city have higher success rates than national averages!

5. Public transport use is said to be 7% higher than the national average here. What’s more, fuel costs tend to be higher than the national average, too.

6. Housing costs are lower than the national average here by up to 8%, and utility costs are up to 22% lower, too!

7. The global headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or LDS, is based in Salt Lake City.

8. The streets of the city were organised into a formal grid pattern by early Mormon settlers. They are numbered in a logical fashion and are generally easy for newcomers to navigate.

9. The Temple Square is the main focal point from which the grid numbers lead outwards and increase in value. The larger the number, the further away you are from Temple Square. For example, 9th and 9th is, funnily enough, nine blocks from the Square.

10. The 9th and 9th area is popular for its local businesses, shopping, and restaurant scene. There’s an annual celebration of local produce here, too, where you’ll find plenty of crafts and exhibits.

11. There are nine sculptures adoring 9th and 9th. These are based on the Greek Muses – for example, there are statues representing anatomy and music.

12. The largest and oldest free-standing aviary in the US is in Liberty Park, Salt Lake City. The Tracy Aviary is based in the city’s central area and is very popular with tourists.

13. Liberty Park is truly huge. It covers 80 acres, and has a swimming pool, pond, tennis courts and play facilities for kids.

14. The 10 acres covering Central City are relatively untouched. This is because they are seen as historically important.

15. The Avenues, too, is a historically important area of Salt Lake City. It is here where the first cathedral in Utah was built. Known as the Cathedral of Madeleine, its construction was ordered by the first bishop in the city.

16. Historic records show that Salt lake City was the fifth city in the world to benefit from centralised electricity!

17. The Salt Lake City Power Heat and Light Company was established all the way back in 1880!

18. Trolley Square in the city is so-named thanks to the fact that it’s a hub for trolley car transportation, again reliant on the central electricity.

19. The Capitol Building is large, impressive, and strikingly white. It’s easily recognisable by locals and was built from 1912 to 1916.

20. Both the Capitol Building and the Temple of Worship in the Square are made from granite mined at Little Cottonwood Canyon.

21. Memory Grove Park proves hugely popular with walkers and joggers. It’s also seen as a place of reverence and respect, as it’s dedicated to the war veterans of Utah State.

22. Downtown Salt Lake City was once one of the most expensive areas in the city in which to live. This was largely thanks to the mountain views beyond.

23. Interestingly, prices in the area seem to have levelled out. However, it’s actually rare that you will see properties go up for sale Downtown, indicating that people are generally happy to stay there.

24. Salt Lake City even has its own Mount Olympus. This peak is 9,000 feet tall and is easy to spot from the city! Only the bravest ever try to climb it!

25. The City’s Sugar House district is famous for a variety of reasons. However, it is probably most famous for being the original site of the first prison ever built in Utah State!

26. Sugar House’s name actually stems from the local sugar beet factory which was based in the area. It was mayor’s wife Margaret McMeans Smoot who first came up with the name!

27. The weather in Salt Lake City is notoriously changeable! Summers are hot and winters are cold, frequently with snow attached. Autumn in the area is popular with outdoors lovers as the local trees take on and shed some amazing colors! They really have to be seen to be believed.

28. Some ski resorts in the city have reportedly stayed open until July some years! It’s truly bizarre to be able to ski in one place and soak up the sun only a few minutes away.

29. The large majority of residents in Utah, and Salt Lake City, have some form of connection with the Mormon faith. However, the capital is one of the most open-minded cities in the US, welcoming people of various creeds and faiths to take up residence.

30. In fact, surveys continue to suggest that Salt Lake City is one of the most popular areas for millennials to live in across the US.