Provo

Provo is a city in Utah County in Utah, United States, nestled between the Wasatch Range to the east and Utah Lake to the west. The settlement sits at roughly 1387 meters (4550 feet) above sea level, forming a corridor through the valley with neighborhoods reaching toward the mountain foothills.

Mormon pioneers built Fort Utah here in 1849, later naming the settlement after French-Canadian trapper Étienne Provost who passed through the region in 1825. The city was formally organized in 1851 and became the seat of Utah County.

The name comes from Étienne Provost, a trader who mapped the territory before any permanent settlements arrived. Restaurants and coffee shops near campus often close on Sundays, reflecting the customs practiced by many residents throughout the surrounding neighborhoods.

Regular bus routes link downtown with the university area and nearby communities, including direct connections to Salt Lake City. Most visits work well on foot, especially around the central streets and campus, though the valley layout means some destinations require transport.

The Peaks Ice Arena hosted ice hockey matches during the 2002 Winter Olympics and remains open as a training facility for regional athletes. The venue sits near the university and offers public skating sessions throughout the year.

Location: Utah County

Inception: 1849

Elevation above the sea: 1,387 m

Shares border with: Orem, Springville

Website: https://provo.org

GPS coordinates: 40.23389,-111.65861

Latest update: December 13, 2025 00:51