Utah Flag on Our Flagpole

Utah – The Beehive State

Uranium Ore
Uranium Ore

Today mining activity still plays a major role in the state’s economy. Minerals mined in Utah include copper, gold, silver, molybdenum, zinc, lead, and beryllium. Fossil fuels including coal, petroleum, and natural gas continue to play a large role in Utah’s economy, especially in the eastern part of the state.

Transportation:

Major interstate in Utah include: I-15, I-70, I-80, and I-84.

TRAX, a light rail system in the Salt Lake Valley, consists of three lines. The Blue Line begins in the suburb of Draper and ends in Downtown Salt Lake City. The Red Line begins in the Daybreak Community of South Jordan and ends at the University of Utah. The Green Line begins in West Valley City, passes through downtown Salt Lake City, and ends at Salt Lake City International Airport.

A commuter rail line known as FrontRunner, also operated by Utah Transportation Authority, runs between Pleasant View and Provo via Salt Lake City.

Front Runner Commuter Rail
Front Runner Commuter Rail

Amtrak’s California Zephyr, with one train in each direction daily, runs east–west through Utah with stops in Green River, Helper, Provo, and Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake City International Airport is the only international airport in the state and serves as one of the hubs for Delta Air Lines. The airport has non-stop service to over 100 destinations throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as well as to Amsterdam, London and Paris.

Salt Lake City International Airport
Salt Lake City International Airport

Canyonlands Field near Moab, Cedar City Regional Airport, Ogden-Hinckley Airport, Provo Municipal Airport, St. George Regional Airport, and Vernal Regional Airport all provide limited commercial air service.

A new regional airport at St. George opened on January 12, 2011. SkyWest Airlines is also headquartered in St. George and maintains a hub at Salt Lake City.

Flag of Utah:

The flag of the state of Utah was adopted in February 2011 and consists of the seal of Utah encircled in a golden circle on a background of dark navy blue.

Utah State Flag Current
Utah State Flag Current

It replaced a previous, albeit rather similar flag that had been in use since 1913.

Utah State Flag 1913 to 2011
Utah State Flag 1913 to 2011

A bald eagle, the national bird of the United States, symbolizes protection in peace and war. The sego lily, the state flower of Utah, represents peace. The state motto “Industry” and the beehive represent progress and hard work. The U.S. flags show Utah’s support and commitment to the United States. The state name “Utah” appears below the beehive. The date 1847 represents the year the Mormon pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley, while 1896 represents the year that Utah was admitted as the 45th state to the Union.

The flag’s basic design uses the Seal of Utah which was adopted by the state legislature on April 3, 1896.

Utah State Seal
Utah State Seal

The state’s first flag was created in March 1903 to be used at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, MissouriHeber M. Wells, the governor of Utah, asked the Utah State Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution to oversee the creation of a flag. On May 1, 1903, the governor and his delegation marched, under the new flag, in the parade of states. The flag was blue, with the state seal and the year ‘1896’ hand-embroidered in white thread in the flag’s center.

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