About the Salt Lake City, Utah Area 

Welcome to
Salt Lake City, Utah 

Salt Lake City Real Estate 

Lined by beautiful snow-capped mountains in the east, Salt Lake City is one of the most spectacular sites to see. Often shortened to Salt Lake, the city is the capital of Utah with the highest population of all Utah's cities. The city is located in Salt Lake County, Utah with a population of 178,858. Salt Lake City real estate is part of the Salt Lake City Metropolitan area along with Tooele and Summit Counties and, recently, Ogden-Clearfield was considered part of the Salt Lake City metro area. 

At every turn of the road, Salt Lake reveals spectacular views that are never ending and something you could never get tired of seeing. Salt Lake City real estate shows its strong western heritage all around the town. Gorgeous mountains line the east side of the city while the Great Salt Lake is to the west. There are endless opportunities for recreation year-round in Salt Lake City and its surrounding areas. 

The city can be easily accessed by Interstates 215,15 and 80. A variety of wonderful homes can be found amongst Salt Lake City real estate, including Single Family, Condominiums, Town Homes, Multi-Family, Lots & Land, Commercial and Investment Properties. Home prices range from the upper $90s on into the millions. The average home price is $284,000. 

History of Salt Lake City
What is now known as Salt Lake City was once home to the Paiute, Shoshone and Ute Indians. Theses tribes dwelt here for thousands of years near the many streams that empty from the surrounding canyons into the valley. The first recorded Caucasian to come to Salt Lake was explorer Jim Bridger in 1825. It is believed that many others had come before this, but he was the first one on record. In 1843 and again in 1845, John Fremont surveyed the Great Salt Lake and surrounding valley.  

On July 24, 1847, the first settlers came to the area: the Latter-day Saints. These Europeans were seeking an isolated area away from the hostility they encountered in the east so they could practice their religion. When they came into the valley, Brigham Young, the president of the Church, stated that "this was the right place". At the time of their arrival, the valley was not inhabited by anyone. Just four days after their arrival, Brigham Young chose the site for the Salt Lake Temple. The Church was to be "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints". It replaced the abandoned Nauvoo Temple in Illinois and the Kirkland Temple in Ohio. The temple took 40 years to complete and was dedicated on April 6, 1893. The temple is now the centerpiece of the city and has become a Salt Lake City iconic. By 1858, the city's had become the most populated city in the west, mostly with religious converts.  

Over the years, Salt Lake City real estate has had its ups and downs, but has gotten through them all. In 1995, Salt Lake City was chosen to host the 2002 Winter Olympics. Even though there was much controversy about a bid scandal, illegal drug use and judging scores, the games were a financial success. It was one of the few Olympics to actually turn a profit. In honor of the big event, many construction projects were initiated. Local highways were expanded, others repaired and the city got its first light rail system. Now, Olympic venues are used for sporting events and Olympic training. Since the Olympic games, tourism has increased, helping the economy even more. 

In 2007, Salt Lake City also hosted the 16th Winter Deaflympic, which took place in venues located in Salt Lake City and Park City. The Rotary International designated Salt Lake City as the site of their 2007 convention. The convention will be the largest gathering in Salt Lake real estate since the 2002 Winter Olympics.  

Salt Lake City's Climate
A semi-arid steppe climate is how most would characterize Salt Lake City's climate. There are four distinct seasons. Winters are cold with lots of snow, some coming from the Great Salt Lakes, lake-effect snow, bringing in around 62 inches of snowfall. It snows approximately eight times every winter; sometimes more, sometimes less. Winter months see temps in the upper 30's for highs and lower 20s for lows. 

Spring brings lots of rain, most of which comes from the Pacific Ocean. Sometimes, late-night storms can result in heavy snowfall occurring as late as mid-May.  

Summers are hot and dry, with monsoon months from mid-July to September which produce afternoon thunderstorms. The months of June, July and August see high temps around the 90s and lows around the 60s. It only reaches temperatures of 100 and above five times during the summer.  

Fall brings more rain from the Pacific Ocean and, on occasion, from the remnants of tropical cyclones. Snowfall can come as early as mid-September.

Salt Lake City Neighborhoods
Many formal and informal neighborhoods can be found in Salt Lake City real estate. The eastern part of the city has higher priced property, while the western part has lower priced property. It is believed that the eastern section of the city has higher values because of the inclined grounds and scenic views. The western section has a railroad running through it, so prices there tend to be a little lower. 

Historically, the west side of the city has been known as a working-class neighborhood. However, many professionals have recently moved to the area because of the affordable housing. The Historical District of Salt Lake City is encompassed by The Avenues, just northeast of downtown Salt Lake City. This area is mostly residential, with several historical Victorian era home. The Avenues sit on the upward-sloping bench of the Wasatch Range. The earlier established homes are in the lower elevation while later established homes are in the higher elevation. 

Large multi-million dollar homes with fantastic views of the valley can be found in Federal Heights, the East Bench and The Avenues. These areas have some of the most sought after real estate in the city. 

Getting Around Salt Lake City
Four major freeways are located in the city. Running north to south on the west side of downtown is Interstate 15, while Interstate 80 runs east through Parley's Canyon. Interstate 215 is a beltway that encircles the city's southern area. Running east to west on the border of West Valley City is Utah State Route 201. I-80, I-15 and SR-210 are also known as the Spaghetti Bowl.  

A new freeway, Mountain View Corridor, has started construction and is set to be complete in 2015. This new freeway is expected to dramatically reduce congestion on I-15. The Salt Lake City International Airport can be accessed by Interstate 80. Delta Airlines runs its second fastest and largest growing hub at the Salt Lake International Airport. It provides over 110 non-stop destinations.  

Public transportation is provided by the Utah Transit Authority. It includes bus routes and light rail services. The light rail service is known as TRAX, which is made up of two rail lines originating from downtown. One line travels south to Sandy while the other splits east to the University of Utah. An average of 42,500 people take advantage of TRAX everyday. The system includes 25 stations, with two more under construction. 

The Utah Transit Authority operates an extensive bus system, which travels throughout the entire Greater Salt Lake City Metro area. Bus routes to ski resorts in Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons can alsobe found during the ski season. Taxi services are provided by Yellow Cab, City Cab and Ute Cab. 

Amtrak also provides services to Salt Lake City real estate. Daily commutes include Chicago and Emeryville, California along with access to north and south Utah.  

Education In Salt Lake City
Students residing in Salt Lake City real estate attend the Salt Lake City School District, serving most of Salt Lake City proper. There are three high schools, five middle schools, 23 elementary schools and one alternative school within the district. Highland High School has been recently selected for the site of the charter school Salt Lake School for Performing Arts. There are also many private schools in the area. 

The Salt Lake City Public Library system operates six libraries around the area. The main library is downtown, while there are five branches in surrounding neighborhoods. The Salt Lake City Library opened in 2003 and, in 2006, was named Library of the Year by the American Library Association. 

Arts and Culture of Salt Lake City
Some of the most popular museums occupying Salt Lake City real estate are the Museum of Church History and Art, Utah Museum of Natural History and the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. Other museums include the the Social Hall Heritage Museum, Fort Douglas Military Museum, Daughters of Utah Pioneer Memorial Museum and the Utah State Historical Society.  

An IMAX theater can be found at the Gateway Mall along with the Clark Planetarium. More professional and amateur theaters are also provided. Several traveling Broadway and off-Broadway performances come to Salt Lake City. Some of the local acting companies include Plan-B Theater Company, Salt Lake Acting Company and the Pioneer Theater Company. At Salt Lake's historic Clift Building, you can catch comedy plays and the state's longest running improv, "Laughing Stock". 

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, which was founded in 1847, has its home in Salt Lake City real estate. The choir has a weekly program called "Music and the Spoken Word". It is the world's longest running continuous network broadcast. The widely renowned Utah Symphony Orchestra is also located in Salt Lake City and was founded in 1940 by Maurice Abravanel. The orchestra now performs at Abravanel Hall, just west of the downtown area. The award-winning Salt Lake Children's Choir is a wonderful show to attend. The choir is directed by Ralph B. Woodward.  

Salt Lake City has a great local music scene that is dominated by rock and roll, blues, emo and punk groups. Several clubs around the area offer musical venues. The University of Utah has two very popular and well respected dance departments: the Department of Modern Dance and the Ballet Department. Some professional dance companies in the area are the Repertory Dance Theatre, Rire Woodbury and Ballet West. 

Unknown to many, there have been several TV shows, commercials, music videos and films recorded in Salt Lake City. Some of these include The Postal Service's "Such Great Heights", The Amazing Race 8, Carnival of Souls, The Way of the Gun, The World's Fastest Indian, The Brown Bunny, Pool-hall Junkies, Independence Day, Dumb and Dumber, Unaccompanied Minor, Big Love, Everwood, Touched By An Angel and SLC Punk. 

Things to See and Do in Salt Lake City
Winter sports are the most popular activity in Salt Lake City and most of the state. Skiing and snowboarding stand far above all other sports. There are eight ski resorts within minutes of Salt Lake real estate. These resorts see frequent snowstorms that bring a light, dry dusting of snow due to the lake effect from the warm waters of the Great Salt Lake. Some of the resorts only allow skiing, while others allow both skiing and snowboarding. You can also go into the mountains with a sled and have hours of fun on any mountainside.  

Some of the ski resorts offer summer activities. In the surrounding mountains, mountain biking, rock climbing, camping and hiking can be enjoyed. Fishing, boating, swimming and other water activities are done in the many rivers and reservoirs in and around Salt Lake. Many come to Salt Lake City to explore the monuments, national parks and rugged terrain that can be found in the southern part of the state, since the only airport in the state is in Salt Lake City.  

Professional sports can be seen at Energy Solutions Arena and Rice Eccles Stadium. Some of the professional sports teams are the Utah Blaze, the Salt Lake Bees, the Utah Grizzlies, and the Utah Starzz. 

Youth sports programs are provided by the city's community centers and the public schools. They offer softball, baseball, basketball, football, volleyball, tennis, golf and soccer. The community centers also offer several parks around the area with playgrounds, picnic areas, open space, walking and jogging trails along river banks and senior citizen centers. 

The city is full of great restaurants that range from fast-food to fine-dining. There is something to satisfy every tastebud. Shopping can be done throughout the city at the many shopping centers, antique shops, specialty shops and malls. With so many shops to browse through, you will find yourself making a day of it. 

Salt Lake City Demographics Report
Population: 178,858
Median Household Income: $36,944
Median Family Income: $45,110
Median Home Value: $153,300
 

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