Utah's April 1, 2010 population reached 2,763,885. This represents a population increase of 530,716 persons or 23.8% from the 2000 Census numbers. This increase ranked Utah third among states in the rate of population growth from 2000 to 2010.

Salt Lake County continues to be the most populous county in the state, with a population of 1,029,655 in 2010 (Census numbers). Salt Lake County contains two of the largest cities in the state: Salt Lake City with 186,440 and West Valley City with 129,480. Herriman City was the second fastest growing city in the state with over 1330% growth in the past ten years.

The county's average annual growth rate from the 2000 Census to the 2010 Census was 14.6%. Utah's average household size is 3.10 people per household. The median age in the county is 29.2. (2010 Census). Utah's natural population growth averaged 37,000 and our in-migration was still positive at around 10,000.

Utah ranks third among the 50 states in population growth with a rate of 23.8 percent from 2000 to 2010.  The U.S. rate of growth was only 9.7 percent. The total population in Utah increased by 530,716 persons in that ten-year period. Utah still has the highest birth rate in the nation. The other component of growth was in-migration.

Construction: Construction jobs in Utah have rebounded slightly from last year's numbers. It is estimated that 24,000 new construction jobs have been created in 2010-11.  Some of those jobs will be dedicated to the new NSA Data Center starting construction in 2011. The Salt Lake City Creek Center (downtown project) will be slowing construction job growth in anticipation of the project's completion in spring 2012. Other construction projects include expansion of the Trax lines in Salt Lake County, reconstruction of I-15 through Utah County, and construction of the Mountain View Corridor in West Salt Lake County. 

Home construction is still sluggish. The number of new home permits is up slightly from 2010.

Retail Sales: Total taxable retail sales in Utah was down 7.9% in 2009. The forecasts for 2010 and 2011 show a slight improvement to 3.4%. Auto service and repair is up 12%, whereas motor vehicle sales is down 3.9% from 2008. General merchandise and apparel purchases are up, and wholesale durable goods and furniture sales are down.

Land Ownership: Fifth smallest in land area, Salt Lake County covers 481,927 acres of land. Of this total acreage, 77.8% is owned privately or by the local government, 21.8% is federally owned, and 0.4% is state owned.