West Valley City, Utah
West Valley City is situated in Salt Lake County in the northern portion of the US State of Utah. A suburb of Salt Lake City, it consists of the communities of Chesterfield, Granger, Redwood, and Hunter. It is the state's second-largest city, with a population of 140,230 as per the latest US Census. West Valley City is located in an area filled with notable history and various entertainment options, including the Maverik Center and the USANA Amphitheatre.
Geography And Climate Of West Valley City
Situated in the northwestern side of the Salt Lake Valley, West Valley City is bordered by the Salt Lake City in the north, Magna Township in the west, South Salt Lake in the east, Kearns and Taylorsville townships in the south. The western boundary of the city is marked by the Oquirrh Mountains, while Jordan River marks its eastern boundary. West Valley City is approximately 14 km from Salt Lake City proper, 67 km from Provo, 19 km from Sandy, and 69 km from Ogden. The suburb covers a total area of 91.9 sq.km, of which 91.7 sq.km is occupied by land and 0.2 sq.km is covered by water. According to the Koppen Climate Classification, West Valley experiences a semi-arid climate, with dry summers and cold winters.
History Of West Valley City
The earliest recorded people in the area belonged to the Ute and Shoshoni tribes. Mormons arrived in the area in 1847, escaping persecution in the east. The first known European residents were Joseph Harker and his family, initially calling the area, Over Jordan. The proximity to Salt Lake City proper helped West Valley City to develop rapidly. Farming was also lucrative in the early decades of its existence. The early 1900s saw the creation of roads and the integration of more automobiles in West Valley City.
After WWII, the suburb grew at a much quicker pace. West Valley City was officially incorporated in 1980, though it faced some opposition at the ballot box shortly after. This opposition caused the banks to abandon the area briefly, as they were unsure if the suburb would even officially exist. This caused city commissioners to personally fund the police out of their own pockets for a brief time. The incorporation ended up staying, and West Valley City soon continued its development throughout the 1980s and 90s. Ice Hockey at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics of 2002 was hosted in West Valley City at the Maverik Center.
Population Of West Valley City
West Valley has a population of 140,203 inhabitants, as per the latest US Census. Approximately 60% of the population is white, and 2.28% is black. The suburb has a 5.06% Asian population and a 3.77% mixed-race population. There is a 1.12% Native American population and a 3.86 Hawaiian population. Finally, 37.9% of the city's population of any race identify as Latino. West Valley City has a high religious population of 75%. The majority of the religious population identifies with Mormonism, at 61%. The distant second in West Valley City, in terms of religion, is Catholicism, at 9%. The majority of West Valley City's religious residents identify with some form of Christianity. However, 1.1% of the suburb are part of a non-Christian religion, with Judaism, Islam, and eastern faiths being the majority among them.
Attractions In And Around West Valley City
West Valley City hosts the Maverik Center, which holds several events, and most notably, the Utah Grizzlies ice hockey team. One can do tons of shopping at the Valley Fair Mall. Furthermore, one can take in shows and performances at the Hale Center Theater, the Utah Cultural Celebration Center, and the Megaplex Theater. The Ridge and Stonebridge Golf Clubs are great spots to enjoy an excellent game of golf in good weather. One can also enjoy a drink and meal at the Lonestar Saloon. West Valley City's proximity to Salt Lake City and Sandy means that there are even more sports options. One can witness Utah Jazz professional basketball at the Vivint Arena and Real Salt Lake professional soccer at the America First Field.
