The Urbanization of Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City was once accurately described as a “commuter city”, to a degree it still is. Every day thousands of people commute in and thousands return back to their suburban cul-de-sacs. But as more out-of-state urban residents move into Salt Lake City the demographics are quickly changing.

As the saying goes “demographics is destiny”, the demographics of Salt Lake City have undergone a radical tipping point: there are now more non-Mormon singles living in Salt Lake City than there are LDS Members and families. We recently learned that the fastest-growing demographic of the new urban core of Salt Lake City are singles. And according to national statistics singles in their late twenties and early thirties are in far less of a hurry to get married.

Is Salt Lake City’s destiny to become a city for single partiers rather than married-with-children responsible, industrious LDS members? It appears so. And with Salt Lake City now gaining recognition as one of the most “LGBTQ+ friendly” cities in the United States, clearly the demographic change could be considered a 180-shift from how the LDS Church envisioned its headquarters city to be. Should we embrace our new demographics and destiny?

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