Salt Lake City is the capital of Utah, United States. Situated near the Great Salt Lake, in the northern part of the state, the city is the trade centre for a wide region and also has a variety of manufacturing industries. Products include refined petroleum, metal goods, processed foods, printed materials, and textiles. Nearby mining and processing operations for copper, silver, lead, zinc, coal, iron ore, and other minerals also contribute to the city's economy. The international headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) is the city's major landmark.

Among the points of interest in Salt Lake City are the Mormon Tabernacle (1867), home of the 325-voice Mormon Tabernacle Choir; the Mormon Temple (1893); the State Capitol (1915); the Utah Museum of Fine Arts; and Symphony Hall, home of the Utah Symphony Orchestra. Salt Lake City is also the seat of the University of Utah (1850) and Westminster College (1875), and a community college. The Delta Center arena is the home of the Utah Jazz basketball team.

Searching for a “land that nobody wanted”, Mormons entered the valley of the Great Salt Lake on July 24, 1847. Their leader, Brigham Young, declared “this is the place”, and the pioneers began to cultivate the land. Young planned the community in 4-hectare (10-acre) plots around Temple Square, on which were later built the Temple and the Tabernacle. A constitution was drawn up in 1849 for the state of Deseret, and Great Salt Lake City (the name was shortened to Salt Lake City in 1868) was made its capital. The population grew rapidly with the steady influx of Mormons, many coming from Europe. In 1851, the Utah Territory was created, and in 1856 Salt Lake City replaced Fillmore as the capital; it remained the capital when Utah became part of the United States in 1896. The unorthodox ways of the Mormons led to conflicts with the US government, and in 1858 federal troops established Camp Floyd near the city. The city's economy was strengthened with the completion of the first transcontinental railway in 1869. Population (1980) 163,697; (1990) 159,936.

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