Provo, Utah
Provo is a big city situated in Utah County in the north-central portion of the US State of Utah. Being the 4th largest city in Utah, Provo is located in Utah Valley at an elevation of 1,387m. Provo is a growing city that is home to the famous Brigham Young University, as well as the Mormon church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The city is renowned for its scenic views and also offers thriving business and job opportunities for its residents.
Geography And Climate Of Provo
Provo covers a total area of 114.4 sq. km, of which 107.9 sq. km is occupied by land, and 6.5 sq. km is covered by water. The city is located along the Wasatch Front, right next to the Wasatch Range, and just under Y Mountain. Provo is placed approximately 69km from Salt Lake City and 45km from Sandy and is surrounded by Orem and Springville to the north and south, respectively. Provo serves as the chief city of the Provo-Orem Metropolitan Statistical Area. As per the Köppen Climate Classification, Provo experiences a hot-summer Mediterranean climate with cold winters and warm summers. The average snowfall in Provo is about 57.2 inches. Annual rainfall can reach up to 17.23 inches.
History Of Provo
The Timpanogos Nation mainly inhabited the area that is now Provo before European settlement. Spanish explorer Silvestre Velez de Escalante was the first known European to visit the area. The first permanent European settlement occurred in 1847, as Mormons fled persecution in the east. Mormon militia members ended up committing a massacre on the Timpanogos in 1849. The city grew in the 1870s, and immigrants worldwide began to make Provo home.
Brigham Young University also found its start in the 1870s. The university was named after Mormon religious leader Brigham Young. Ensuing decades saw notable buildings erected, such as the Utah County Center, the Provo Utah Temple, and the Provo City Center Temple, which are huge centers of worship for Utah Mormons. Provo became a prime industrial center for Utah in the early to mid-1900s. Industrialism largely gave way to the service industry in the late 1900s and early 2000s.
Population Of Provo
As per the latest US Census, Provo has a population of 115,162 inhabitants. Provo's population is currently expanding at a rate of 0.23% per year. Spread over 114.4 sq. km, Provo has a population density of 1,066.61 people per sq. km. Approximately 88% of Provo's population is white. The second largest ethnic group in Provo is Asians, with 2.50% of the population. Provo also has a 3.25% mixed-race population, while there is a 1.27% population of people with Hawaiian ancestry. Provo's American Native and Black populations only account for 0.50% of the population. Provo has a significant religious population at 95%. Roughly 93% of these religious residents identify with the LDS Mormon Church. Catholicism is a distant second at only 1.4% of the population. The overwhelming majority of Provo identifies with some form of Christianity, while the only non-Christian religious group on record are the 0.3% adherents to eastern faiths.
Attractions In Provo
Nature enthusiasts are sure to find a lot to do in Provo. One can visit the Bridal Veil Falls in the Provo Canyon, providing stunning views and hiking trails for visitors. Those interested in science can visit the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum or the Museum of Paleontology at Brigham Young University. One can also visit Provo Beach for surfing, swimming, or riverside entertainment. A particularly unique spot in Provo is the Soap Factory, where one can mold their own soap designs in almost any style or color. Finally, Provo is home to one of the most storied sports programs in the United States. The BYU Cougars are particularly popular in football and basketball. The Lavell Edwards Stadium seats slightly over 63,000 spectators. The basketball teams play at the Marriott Center, which seats 19,000 spectators.
