6 Facts about Utah to Astonish Your Friends

1. Around 80% of the state's population was non-hispanic white in 2010. However, in 2011, 28% of children under one year old had at least one non-white parent.

2. The first band of pioneers belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (also called LDS or Mormon) were led by Brigham Young and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. Over the next 22 years, more than 70,000 pioneers settled in Utah. About half the residents of the state are or have been part of the LDS Church.

3. In recent years, approximately 1/3 of the state's workforce was bilingual. Many learned their second language through public school programs beginning in elementary school. Such programs work well with LDS missionary goals for young people.

4. The name "Utah" is derived from the term for "people of the mountains" in the Ute language. This tribe of Native Americans lived in the area prior to the arrival of people of European descent.

5. In 1890, the LDS Church banned polygamy. As a result, Utah was allowed to become a state in 1896 (subsequent territories were also required to write a ban on polygamy into their state constitutions).

6. Over 70% of Utah's land is Bureau of Land Management land, Utah State Trustland, US National Forest, US National Park, US National Monument, National Recreation Area, or US Wilderness Area. Every county contains some national forest land.