Provo, Utah Totally Explained

Everything about Provo Utah totally explained

Provo is a city in and the county seat of Utah County, Utah, United States, located about 45 miles south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. It lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south. It is the home of Brigham Young University, operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The LDS Church's largest Missionary Training Center is located in Provo. Provo was originally called Fort Utah when it was settled in 1849 by 33 Mormon families from Salt Lake City, but was re-named Provo in 1850 for Étienne Provost, an early French-Canadian trapper who arrived in the region in 1825. Father Silvestre Velez de Escalante, a Spanish Franciscan missionary-explorer is considered the first explorer to visit the area in 1776, but only came as far north as Utah valley (Provo), some 30 miles south of the Salt Lake City area. Escalante chronicled this first European exploration across the Great Basin desert.
Provo has grown to a population of 115,135 —making it the third-largest city in Utah, only about 3,000 people smaller than West Valley City. The Provo-Orem Metropolitan Area, consisting of Utah County and Juab County has 474,180 residents as of the July 1, 2006 U.S. Census Bureau estimate.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census of 2000, there were 105,166 people, 29,192 households, and 19,938 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,653.2 people per square mile (1,024.3/km²). There were 30,374 housing units at an average density of 766.3/sq mi (295.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.52% White, 0.46% Black or African American, 0.80% American Indian, 1.83% Asian, 0.84% Pacific Islander, 5.10% from other races, and 2.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.47% of the population. There were 29,192 households out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 11.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.34 and the average family size was 3.40.
22.3% of residents are under the age of 18, 40.2% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 8.6% from 45 to 64, and 5.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,313, and the median income for a family was $36,393. Males had a median income of $32,010 versus $20,928 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,207. About 12.5% of families and 26.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Geography

Provo is located at (40.244421, -111.660804). It lies in the Utah Valley at an elevation of 4,549 feet (1,387 meters). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 41.8 square miles (108.2 km²), of which, 39.6 square miles (102.7 km²) of it's land and 2.2 square miles (5.6 km²) of it (5.14%) is water. (External Link

) The Wasatch Range contains many peaks within Utah County along the east side of the Wasatch Front. One of these peaks, known as Y Mountain, towers over the city. There is a large "Y" made of whitewashed concrete half-way up the steep mountain, built in the early part of the 20th century to commemorate Brigham Young University (original plans included construction of all three letters: BYU). Wild deer (and less frequently, cougars and moose) still roam the mountains (and occasionally the city streets). The scenery is generally considered enjoyable and allows for hiking, skiing, fishing and other outdoor activities.

Landmarks

Provo Utah LDS Temple

The Provo Utah Temple is located at the base of Rock Canyon in Provo. Due to its proximity to Brigham Young University and the Missionary Training Center (MTC), just across the street, this temple is among the busiest the LDS Church operates. (External Link

)

Brigham Young University

Provo is home to Brigham Young University (BYU), a private university operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. BYU (occasionally, but incorrectly, called "BYU-Provo") is the second largest private university in the country, with more than 34,000 students. It is the flagship of the Church Educational System of higher education. The large population of students makes Provo a "college town". Provo's ambiance differs from other college towns, however, since the majority of its students are LDS - the Church bans the consumption of alcohol at BYU resulting in BYU being consistently rated the most "stone-cold sober" university in the United States, by The Princeton Review.(External Link

) The campus also is home to the Spencer W. Kimball Tower, the tallest building in Provo.
Most BYU students live near BYU's campus. BYU requires that single students live in approved, non-coed housing, with BYU-approved standards that include no smoking, no alcohol, no pre-marital sex, and other regulations as well. New rules will keep apartments from being "BYU-approved" if they're more than two miles from the center of campus. Many students live either in on-campus housing north of the University or just south of campus, in an area dedicated to student apartments and condos. There are currently more student housing apartments under re-construction

LDS Missionary Training Center

Provo is also home to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' largest Missionary Training Center (MTC). Each week some 475 LDS missionaries enter for 3 - 12 weeks of training before they depart for the mission field; becoming part of over 50,000 in more than 120 countries. Presently, about 1,100 instructors (many returned missionaries) teach 62 languages. The center in Provo began construction in July 1974 and completed in July 1976. The MTC was expanded in the early 1990s, becoming the largest of 17 such centers in the world.

Transportation

Interstate 15 runs along the west edge of Provo, connecting it with the rest of the Wasatch Front and much of Utah. U.S. 89 runs northwest to southeast through the city as State Street, while U.S. 189 connects U.S. 89 with I-15, BYU, and Orem to the north. At the north edge of the city, U.S. 189 heads northeast into Provo Canyon, where it connects with Heber. Amtrak the national passenger rail system, provides service to Provo station, operating its California Zephyr daily in both directions between Chicago, Illinois and Emeryville, California, across the bay from San Francisco. Provo also can be accessed by Greyhound Bus Lines and the extensive Utah Transit Authority (UTA) bus system. A commuter rail line is planned to be extended to the city by 2015.

Religious affiliation

The residents of Provo are predominately members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or LDS. According to data taken in 2000 by the ARDA, 88% of the overall population, and 98% of religious adherents in the Provo-Orem area are LDS.

Politics

(External Link

) Local discussion of national politics tends to fall within the spectrum of moderately conservative to arch-conservative thought. Utah's 3rd Congressional District, of which Provo is a part, elected Democrat Bill Orton to three consecutive terms during the 1990s, however.

City administration

The current Mayor of Provo is Lewis K. Billings, a lifelong Provo resident who is serving his third term as Mayor. Billings was originally elected Provo City Mayor in November 1997, after completing three years as Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Community and Government Relations for the City of Provo. Never having earned a college degree, and prior to his service to Provo City, Mayor Billings was President and Managing Partner of IDC, an investment partnership specializing in "turnkey" lease facilities for small to medium sized businesses. Before joining IDC in December of 1983, Mr. Billings was Senior Executive Vice President and General Manager of CalDisk, a manufacturer and worldwide supplier of rotating memory storage products for computer applications.
The current Police Chief of Provo is J. Craig Geslison, a 29-year veteran of the Provo Police Department. He was hired in April of 1978. Chief Geslison served four years as a patrolman and then spent two years as the Provo Police Department's first full-time Crime Prevention and Community Relations officer. Chief Geslison was promoted to Sergeant in 1984 where he served in detectives, patrol and dispatch divisions. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1988, where he served as a watch commander, and was appointed a Captain in 1994. Geslison became Provo's first Assistant Chief of Police in 1997 and was directly responsible for Support Services, the Patrol Division and had oversight of the Police Department's budget.

Companies in Provo

Local Companies of Interest

Provo is home to more than three dozen restaurants, and a couple of shopping centers. The Provo Towne Centre, a shopping mall, operates in Provo. Second Nature Therapeutic Programs runs a boarding school in a former convalescent hospital down the street from the mall. Within the past two years, a number of small shops, music venues, and boutiques have popped up in downtown, along Center Street and University Avenue. Downtown has also regularly hosts "gallery strolls", featuring local artists.

International Companies

Nature's Sunshine Products, a direct-selling company, manufactures and markets tablets and encapsulated herbal products, high-quality natural vitamins, food supplements, skin care and other complementary products. The Company has operations in the United States, South Korea, Mexico, Venezuela, Japan, Brazil, Canada, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, the United Kingdom, Israel and Chile. The Company also exports its products to several other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway and the Russian Federation.
The Generations Network is a genealogy and family networking company, whose holdings include ancestry.com.
Software company Novell, Inc. was founded and originally headquartered in Orem but soon after developed and moved into a facility in Provo. Novell continues to operate and employ around 2000 people at the Provo facility.
Nu Skin Enterprises, a multi-level marketing firm for skin care products, was founded in 1984. In 2005, some 82% of revenues for the $1B USD company were generated through markets in Asia.
Tahitian Noni International is a health and skin care manufacturer whose products are based on the Tahitian fruit called noni.

Special Events

Every July, Provo hosts America's Freedom Festival at Provo which includes the Stadium of Fire at BYU. It is held in LaVell Edwards Stadium, home to Brigham Young University's NCAA football team. The Independence Day festivities are quite popular among local residents and have featured such notable figures as Bob Hope, David Hasselhoff, Reba McEntire, Mandy Moore, Huey Lewis and the News, Toby Keith, Sean Hannity, Fred Willard, and Taylor Hicks.
Provo also hosts the Sego Music, Art, and Film Festival each fall. The festival highlights Utah County based musicians, artists, and filmmakers. It is typically held at the Rock Castle Amphitheatre above the State Hospital and is free to the public.

Notable Residents

Stephen R. Covey - author of the The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (External Link

) (External Link

)

LaVell Edwards - Former BYU, and NCAA Football Hall of Fame Coach

The Osmond Family - raised all 9 children in Provo, and continue to live there.(External Link

) (External Link

)

Donny Osmond - singer/musician/actor

Marie Osmond - singer/author/actress

Osmond Brothers - vocal group/band

Steve Young - MVP of Super Bowl XXIX (External Link

), and Inductee of Pro Football Hall of Fame (External Link

), College Football Hall of Fame (External Link

), record-breaking quarterback for BYU & San Francisco 49ers.(External Link

)

Vernon Law and Vance Law - both Major League Baseball players

Kurt Bestor - award-winning composer, performer and host of morning radio/talk show KUTR 820 AM

Shawn Southwick - wife of Larry King, owns a house in Provo

Ryan Shupe & the Rubberband - musicians/band/songwriter; "Dream Big" (External Link

)

Julianne Hough - singer/dancer/actor

Janice Kapp Perry - songwriter/composer/LDS musician

Sunfall Festival - band

Jack Paepke - baseball player, coach, manager and scout.

Robbie Bosco - Former BYU Football player

Josh Rohatinsky - Former BYU Cross Country national champion, professional runner.

Bert McCracken- lead singer of utah based band The Used

Points of Interest

Brigham Young University Arboretum

The Peaks Ice Arena, hockey venue for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games

Willow Creek School is a residential treatment center located near the mall.

Popular Culture

Mentioned in the movie Fletch

In the film Dirty Harry the envelope Harry Callahan used to collect a spent shell casing at a crime scene had a return address from "Provo, Utah"

In the 2001 film, Ocean's Eleven, the "Mormon brothers" Malloy are from Provo. A scene shows them racing cars on a race track that's supposedly in Provo, but is actually located in Springville, the town directly south of Provo.

In the 2002 film, Punch-Drunk Love, the con men threatening Adam Sandler's character were based out of Provo. Sandler makes a trip to Provo and intimidates the con men into leaving him alone. The scenes for the film, however, were shot in Salt Lake City.Further Information

Get more info on 'Provo Utah'.

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