Until 1869, the population of Salt Lake City was nearly 100 percent Mormon. That year, the transcontinental railroad brought diverse groups of new settlers. Today, Mormons account for approximately 40 percent of the city's population, but the city's vibrancy is a testament to their hard work. The Wasatch Mountains have set the tone for the city's lifestyle. The recreational opportunities these mountains provide served the city well in its successful bid for the 2002 Olympics.
Residents here take full advantage of some of the best downhill skiing the county has to offer.
Snowbird, Alta, Solitude, and Brighton, all of them less than 30 miles from downtown. A bus departs the city from mid-November to early May and makes stops at all four of these resorts. The Wasatch Mountains also boast plenty of camping and hiking opportunities, particularly in Little Cottonwood Canyon, home of the Snowbird ski resort. Robert Redford fans and others head to Sundance Resort, located 50 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, which accommodates recreation-seekers year round with hiking and mountain biking in the summers and skiing in the winters.rustic getaway offering excellent skiing in winter and hiking and mountain biking in summer. And aspiring fishermen and women will appreciate Utah Lake State Park near Provo, the state's largest body of freshwater, which offers fishing, boating, canoeing, and swimming in the summer, as well as ice skating, cross-country skiing, and ice fishing in winter.