Salt Lake County

Salt Lake County is a county in the state of Utah that covers the Salt Lake Valley and lies between the Oquirrh Mountains to the west and the Wasatch Range to the east. The area includes both urban zones with dense development and suburbs and natural landscapes that extend to the mountain slopes.

The county was created in 1850, shortly after Mormon pioneers settled in the area and began building communities. Over the decades, the region grew into the most populated part of Utah, with Salt Lake City designated as the state capital.

The name comes from the nearby salt lake, whose shores partly lie within the county and shape local identity. Many residents spend their free time hiking or skiing in the surrounding mountains, while downtown Salt Lake City serves as the economic and social center.

Salt Lake City International Airport connects the area to destinations worldwide and lies in the western part of the county, reachable via several highways. Public transport services such as FrontRunner and TRAX run through different neighborhoods and make it easier to move around the region.

A section of the Great Salt Lake lies in the northwestern part of the county and forms one of the few places where administrative boundaries run directly through a large inland body of water. Ground level in the area ranges from flat shore zones to about 1300 meters (4300 feet) in the adjacent mountains.

Location: Utah

Inception: 1852

Capital city: Salt Lake City

Elevation above the sea: 1,302 m

Shares border with: Tooele County, Utah County, Wasatch County, Summit County, Morgan County, Davis County

Website: https://slco.org

GPS coordinates: 40.67000,-111.93000

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:42