Salt Lake City was founded by Brigham Young and members of the Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) in 1847. The Mormons were looking for an isolated place to practice their religious beliefs without being persecuted. Immediately, settlers began building their temple, which was completed forty years later. They also organized a new state, which they called Deseret. Congress, however, denied their petition for statehood and instead created the Utah Territory. In 1858, Salt Lake City was named capital of the Utah Territory. In the late 1800’s, the city’s population grew with the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. The famed "Golden Spike" was hammered north of Salt Lake City in Promontory, Utah.

Today, Salt Lake City remains one of only two urban areas (cities) in the entire Great Basin (Reno, Nevada is the other). A little less than half of the city’s residents are Mormons. The city is a popular resort town with skiers and winter sports enthusiasts. In 2002, Salt Lake City hosted the Winter Olympics.