Gardner Institute launches research series about northwest Salt Lake County
In an effort to provide the information that decision-makers and community partners need to deal with the rapid growth in Salt Lake County’s northwest region, the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah is launching “Northwest Valley Datapoints,” a series of fact sheets designed to provide data about the area.
The first installment highlights key population and land-use characteristics of the region, which includes West Valley City, Kearns, Magna, Taylorsville and Salt Lake City west of I-15.
“Northwest Salt Lake County stands out as a unique and vibrant part of our state,” said Heidi Prior, public policy analyst at the Gardner Institute and lead author of the research. “This initial report provides a foundational understanding of the region’s geography, land use and key assets. Future reports will dig into the area’s demographic, economic and housing characteristics, informing community stakeholders and supporting societal impact initiatives surrounding the creation of the new Eccles Hospital and Health Campus.”
Key findings from the research include the following:
Population: Northwest Salt Lake County is home to more than 330,000 Utahns — a population larger than Ogden, Provo and St. George combined.
Key Population Center: One in 10 Utahns lives in northwest Salt Lake County, which includes West Valley City, the second-largest city in the state.
Land Use: Approximately one-quarter of the land in northwest Salt Lake County is zoned for residential housing. The remaining land serves a wide variety of commercial, industrial, manufacturing, recreational and agricultural purposes.
Key Assets: The region is home to key statewide assets, including the Salt Lake City International Airport, the Utah Olympic Oval and the future Eccles Hospital and Health Campus.
“Northwest Valley Datapoints” is available online through the Gardner website, gardner.utah.edu.