If you're looking for Middle America, don't look in Utah.
Utahns pride themselves on Middle American values that are manifest in large families and what new numbers show are the highest rates of home ownership in the nation. But the state is by no means average.For demographers, Utah is a study in anomalies. Comparisons show the state near the top or bottom of lists detailing everything from birthrates to education.
With the release of recent statistics, including 1990 Census numbers, Utahns are getting a glimpse of trends that have been shaping their state during the 1980s. Some fit the anomalistic mold while others like shifts of population to urban areas, fit into what's happening nationwide.
While 1990 Census reports will continue to dribble out of Washington for years to come, here's what some recent statistical snapshots of Utah in the 1980s show. On Page B2 you'll also find information graphics that help tell about Utah's decade of change and some glimpses into the future.
Here's how we add up:
-Utah has more than doubled its percentage of the United States' population in the past 100 years. In 1890, Utah's population was 211,000 -- or 0.3 percent of the nation's total. The 1990 Census shows it has grown to 1.72 million -- or 0.7 percent of the nation's total.
-Utahns live in the fastest-growing region in the nation and their was the ninth fastest-growing state during the 1980s. The state grew by 17.92 percent. The first and third fastest-growing states are neighbors -- Nevada and Arizona.
-At the same time, the decline of another neighbor, Wyoming, which lost population and was ranked 48th for growth, also show the West's downside. Rural areas, like six counties in eastern Utah, lost population.
-During the 1980s, Utah was one of several states that had the largest increases in the 65-and-older age group. Along with Utah's young population, this trend will continue to place burdens on taxpayers.
Utah already has the highest dependency ratios in the nation. The dependency ratio is the proportion of wage-earning taxpayers between the ages of 18 and 64 who finance services such as education and health services for the old the young. In Utah, for every 100 people of working age there are 84 dependents.
-Unlike other fast-growing states, Utah's growth is solely attributable to births. It's no wonder that Utah will maintain its title as the youngest state in the nation. Utah's growth during the past decade came even with a trend of out-migration, expected to reverse soon.
-According to the Population Reference Bureau, Utah's ratio of births per 100 deaths among all residents (based on 1988 information) is phenomenally high -- 391 compared to a national average of 180. But Utah still only ranks second among the states. Alaska is first with 544. West Virginia is last with only 110.
-Utah's fertility rate is stabilizing, although it is likely to remain a notch about the national average. Utah women were expected to have an average of 2.5 children while nationally the fertility rate has stabilized at 1.8 births per woman.
-In the past 100 years, Utah has grown from only the nation's 40th largest area (it was a territory back then, not a state)in terms of population to its 35th largest in 1990. Utah is likely to become the 34th largest state in 2000, surpassing West Virginia. In terms of geographic area, Utah is the nation's 11th largest with 84,900 square miles.
-Utah's population as of March 1990 had less than one-third the national average of minorities, 7.5 percent compared to 24 percent. That was the 39th lowest among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The District of Columbia ranked first with 74.7 percent. Four states had near 0 percent minorities -- Montana, North Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming.
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CHARTS
How we add up
How much we earn
The median household income in Utah is March 1990 was higher than the national average and is actually the highest among its neighboring Rocky Mountain states. That is interesting because Utah's per-person income is always among the lowest in the nation because of its large number of children.
Median Household Income
Utah $30,500 16th highest
Connecticut $42,362 Highest in nation
Mississippi $19,774 Lowest in nation
U.S. $28,906
Per-person income (1989)
Utah $13,079 5th lowest
Connecticut $24,683 Highest
Mississippi $11,724 Lowest
U.S. $17,569
Where we live
Home ownership
Utahns may not be the nation's wealthiest people. But as of March 1990 a higher percentage of them owned their own homes than residents of any other state.
Utah 75.1% Highest in nation
Maine 73.4% 2nd highest in nation
New York 52.9% Lowest in nation
U.S. 64.1%
Infant Mortality
Utah's infant mortality rate was 20 percent lower than the national average, 8 infant deaths per 1,000 births compared to an average of 10 nationally. It tied for the sixth best such rate nationally. Hawaii was best with 7.2. The District of Columbia was worst with 23.2.
Into the future
Utah's population is projected to grow to 2.3 million people in the next 20 years. Fed by Utah's unusually high, albeit somewhat decreased, birthrate, Utah will remain much younger than the nation as a whole.
A growing state
Officials hope that Utah is ending a trend of outmigration. In the past decade, Utah was the only state among thye fast-growing that could attribute its growth solely to births.
Net migration Births Deaths Net Population Increase
1950s 10,323 244,787 -53,345 201,765
1960s -9,214 243,455 -65,595 168,646
1970s 145,320 332,029 -75,585 401,764
1980s -25,364 379,373 -87,262 266,747
A rural state?
During the past decade the percentage of Utahns living in metropolitan areas grew from 77.2 percent to 77.6 percent. Despite its image as a rural place, Utah will continue to be one of the most urban states in the nation. Here's population per square mile for selected states:
Most crowded state: New Jersey
Utah is 41st most crowded state
Alaska is least crowded state
Population density per square mile (1990)
N. Jersey 1,035 1st
Rhode Island 951 2nd
Massachussetts 769 3rd
Connecticut 675 4th
Oregon 30 40th
UTAH 21 41st
Nebraska 21 42nd
N. Mexico 12 43rd
S. Dakota 9 47th
Montana 5 48th
Wyoming 5 49th
Alaska 1 50th
Utah's ethnic and racial diversity
Most of Utah's racial and ethnic minorities live in six Utah counties. The figures that follow represent the highest and lowest concentrations in Utah and the nation.
AMERICAN INDIAN, ESKIMO OR ALEUT
Highest San Juan County 6,859
Lowest Rich County 1
Utah Total 24,283
Highest Oklahoma 252,420
Lowest Vermont 1,696
National Total 1,959,234
BLACK
Highest Salt Lake County 5,663
Lowest Rich County* 1
Utah Total 11,576
Highest New York 2,859,055
Lowest Vermont 1,951
National Total 29,986,060
*Both Daggett and Piute counties have none
ASIAN OR PACIFIC ISLANDER
Highest Salt Lake County 20,035
Lowest Piute County 1
Utah Total 33,371
Highest California 2,845,659
Lowest Wyoming 2,806
National Total 7,273,662
HISPANIC ORIGIN*
Highest Salt Lake County 43,647
Lowest Daggett and Piute Counties 15
Utah Total 84,597
Highest California 7,687,938
Lowest Vermont 3,661
National Total 22,354,059
*A person of any race, usually of Spanish-speaking origin and from Latin America.
OTHER RACES
Highest Salt Lake County 19,006
Lowest Daggett County* 2
Utah Total 37,775
Highest California 3,939,070
Lowest Vermont 808
National Total 9,804,847
*Piute County has none
WHITE
Highest Salt Lake County 675,141
Lowest Piute County 1,267
Utah Total 1,615,845
Highest California 20,524,327
Lowest Hawaii 369,616
National Total 199,686,070
Growing and shrinking counties
Although most of the state saw a population increase during the '80s, some counties appeared to be exceptions to the rule by losing population.
Fastest growing counties
1980 1990 Increase
Washington 26,065 48,560 86%
Summit 10,198 15,518 52%
Kane 4,024 5,169 28%
Davis 146,540 187,941 28%
Millard 8,970 11,333 26%
Cache 57,176 70,183 23%
Shrinking Counties
Piute 1,329 1,277 -4%
Carbon 22,179 20,228 -9%
Emery 11,451 10,332 -10%
Dagget 769 690 -10%
Rich 2,100 1,725 -18%
Grand 8,241 6,620 -20%
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Reference Bureau, Inc., Demographic and Economic Analysis, Utah Office of Planning and Budget