Utah

Census data: Utah’s most ethnically and racially diverse counties

Published

2 years ago

August 13, 2023

Census data: Utah’s most ethnically and racially diverse counties

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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah, like the rest of the country, continues to become more racially and ethnically diverse, according to data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Utah’s population grew by 1.2% between 2021 and 2022. Although people of color only account for 23% of Utah’s total population, they drove 61% of that growth statewide, according to an analysis by the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. The Hispanic and Latino population accounted for two-thirds of minority growth, while Asian and mixed-race Utahns contributed 11% each to minority population growth.

Utah’s Latino and Hispanic population increased by 3.4%. That bump pushed the group across the half-million mark in 2022.

But the title of fastest-growing minority group goes to those of two or more races and Black Utahns, groups that grew by 3.8% and 3.6%, respectively. The Asian, Native American, Pacific Islander and white populations each grew by 3.4%, 0.6%, 3.4% and 0.6%.

White Utahns still make up the majority of the state’s population at 77%, followed by Hispanics and Latinos at 15%, Asians at 3%, those of two or more races at 2% and Pacific Islander, Native American and Black Utahns all at 1% each.

Which counties are more diverse?

San Juan County is the only county in the state where white Utahns do not make up the majority of the population. Over half the county’s population (55%) identifies as a person of color.

The county is home to a number of Native American tribes, namely the Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute and White Mesa Ute tribes. These groups and more make up 82% of the county’s minority population. Despite having the largest share of people of color, San Juan ranks only 10th in the state for the largest minority population, with 7,835 individuals.

Salt Lake County has the largest minority population in the state at 369,156 individuals. In fact, nearly half of the people of color in Utah live in Salt Lake County. Of the 31.1% of Salt Lakers of color, the two largest groups are the Hispanic or Latino population, at nearly two-thirds; and the Asian population, at 14.7%.

The counties with the next largest minority populations are Utah, Weber, Davis, Washington, Cache, Tooele, Iron and Box Elder counties, in that order.

However, by percentage of population, the top 10 most diverse counties in order are San Juan, Salt Lake, Weber, Tooele, Grand, Utah, Uintah, Davis, Carbon and Millard counties.

Morgan County is the least racially and ethnically diverse county, with 95% of its population identifying as non-Hispanic white.

Most recent Utah growth and population stories

Sydnee Gonzalez is a multicultural reporter for KSL.com covering the diversity of Utah’s people and communities. Se habla español. You can find Sydnee at @sydnee_gonzalez on Twitter.

Utah Republicans celebrate ‘big, beautiful bill’ passage; health advocates dismayed

Published

1 day ago

July 3, 2025

Press Room

Utah Republicans celebrate ‘big, beautiful bill’ passage; health advocates dismayed

Utah Republican leaders celebrated the final passage of the “big, beautiful bill” on Thursday, one day before the self-imposed Fourth of July deadline to bring it to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature. All members of the Utah congressional delegation voted in favor of the massive tax and spending bill that supports theTrump administration’s […]

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Utah

SWAT teams stand off with gunman ‘wearing bomb vest who shot wife’

Published

6 days ago

June 29, 2025

Press Room

SWAT teams stand off with gunman ‘wearing bomb vest who shot wife’

By EMMA RICHTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Published: 18:12 BST, 29 June 2025 | Updated: 19:36 BST, 29 June 2025

A quiet Utah neighborhood was dramatically evacuated after a SWAT team descended on a home where a man was wearing a bomb vest.

A 45-year-old unidentified man opened fire on authorities in Hyrum – a little more than an hour from Salt Lake City – around 7.15am Sunday.

The man claimed he had murdered his wife moments before shooting at police, which quickly turned into a standoff situation.

The Cache County Sheriff’s Office warned residents to ‘stay completely away’ from the area.

Authorities also said neighborhoods were being evacuated.

An investigation into the incident started around 5am when deputies were called to the home after receiving word from a man that he allegedly killed his wife.

A neighbor told 2News they saw an explosion inside the home on Sunday morning. Sparks were seen flying from the home on doorbell footage.

Once officers arrived, the man allegedly shot at them, prompting a SWAT team to rush to the scene in armored vehicles.

A 45-year-old man said to be wearing a bomb vest in Hyrum, Utah got into a standoff with police at a home after he allegedly said he murdered his wife Sunday morning.

Negotiators were able to make contact with the suspect who reportedly sent images of a bomb vest and what ‘appeared to be explosives in the house,’ police said.

Several local police departments also set up perimeters around the house.

After no contact with the man for several hours, the scene is now secure, a spokesperson with the Cache County Sheriff’s Office told Daily Mail.

No officers were injured. The police did not specify if anyone was arrested.

The Northern Utah Critical Incident Team, under the Cache County Attorney’s Office, have taken over the investigation.

Investigators are expected to remain at the scene for the next several hours, the sheriff’s office said.

Daily Mail contacted the Cache County Attorney’s Office for more information.

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Falling boulders at popular waterfall in southern Utah prompt safety warning

Published

6 days ago

June 28, 2025

Press Room

Falling boulders at popular waterfall in southern Utah prompt safety warning

GARFIELD COUNTY, Utah — Authorities in southern Utah are warning visitors after a viral video shows a near miss involving falling boulders at a popular attraction in a rugged area.

The terrifying moments were caught on camera when two people were seen playing in the water of the Lower Calf Creek Falls in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and multiple boulders came crashing down around them. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but this video has prompted a warning from a nearby sheriff’s office.

“We deal with those situations a lot — similar,” Administrative Lt. Alan Alldredge said to FOX 13 News on Saturday Saturday, commenting on the video in the popular Calf Creek Recreation area in neighboring Garfield County.

“We’ve seen a huge uptick in visitation here in Kane County over the last four or five years, especially since COVID,” Lt. Alldredge said, adding that they welcome the visitors but want them to know what they’re getting into — often wild, unpaved and rough and dangerous terrain.

“We’ve been really busy already this summer with the different hiking areas,” he added.

Like the surging popularity at Calf Creek Falls, their most popular attraction in Kanab is what’s called “The Wave,” a very remote destination.

“For us, it’s a four-and-a-half hour drive just to get to where the people are, so it’s a little bit of a challenge,” Alldredge said.

He advises travelers to always check the conditions and prepare for the extreme heat.

“It may be 100 degrees air temperature, but on that slickrock it’ll be more like 120 or 130 shining right back on your face,” he said.

Bringing more water than you think you may need is advised. Alldredge advises watching local weather reports and staying clear of slot canyons whenever there’s a threat of rain.

“Two or three years ago, we had three or four deaths in one year of people getting caught in these flash floods, and they’re just not survivable,” he said.

Alldredge urges recreators to go online and look at other people’s experiences and plan accordingly to make theirs a better one.

Last summer, a rock slide in Lake Powell was caught on camera. No one was injured in this case, but it’s another reminder of how quickly things can change when recreating in the great outdoors.

“A lot of people come to the Wave and think they’re going to have a Zion National Park experience with paved trails and rangers walking around to help them, and it’s much more primitive,” Lt. Alldredge said.

He said Garmin watches with SOS capabilities can help search and rescue crews if you ever find yourself in need of help, allowing them to quickly pinpoint your location in those emergency situations.

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