Utahns are often unfairly stereotyped (No! We aren’t polygamists!), but some of the stereotypes are true, we must admit.
1. Utahns are hard-working people.
There's a reason our state is the Beehive State - because Utahns are industrious, hard-working people. Whether you do physical labor on a farm or construction crew, or you spend your day in an office or store, you should be proud to be a hard-working Utahn.
2. Utahns are hikers.
With so much incredibly beautiful, easily-accessible nature, why wouldn't we be hikers?
ok...not everyone hikes on hiking trails....but...
Have you ever been to Hogle Zoo with a wagon full of toddlers and a stroller? And have you visited the giraffes, and then made your way up that ginormous hill? Yeah, you're a hiker.
3. Utahns marry young.
The average age for a first marriage in Utah is just 24 years old for women; 26 years old for men. In the rest of the country, the average age is 27 for women and 29 for men. By the time most Utahns are that age, we have a baby and a mortgage!
4. Utahns eat weird things.
Maybe not every Utahn loves fry sauce, but people in the Beehive State also eat funeral potatoes and jello salad (or for some state pride fun - green Jello shots)...all of which you have to admit, are kind of weird.
5. Utans love their snow.
We have 14 ski resorts here, and many Utahns are die-hard skiers. How many sick days get used here on a powder day, do you suppose?
But if you don't ski, you might snowboard...
...or snowshoe...
...or maybe you just build snowmen in the front yard after a good blizzard.
Even on relatively dry years, much of Utah gets snow. We figure that we may as well make the best of it.
6. Utahns are known for our beauty.
Look at these gorgeous, chalk-covered faces at the Festival of Colors at the Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork! You have to admit - many Utahns are beautiful people - inside and out.
7. Utahns have a lot of kids.
You don't even need the U.S. Census Bureau to tell you that just over 30 percent of Utah's population is under the age of 18. Just walk into any shopping mall, grocery store, movie theater or park and you'll see it for yourself! If you love kids, and especially if you have some of your own, Utah is THE state for you! It's safe and oh-so-kid friendly.
8. Utahns are bad drivers.
Some Utah drivers speed 20 mph over the speed limit on the freeway; others feel smug and superior while they drive exactly the speed limit in the left lane, causing a serious hazard to everyone on the road. Utahns forget to use their turn signals, change lanes without checking their blind spots, and love to pull into that middle lane of the road with a raised curb because hey - they have a big, jacked up truck!
9. Utahns are big on volunteerism.
We sure are! Utah consistently ranks first in the nation for the number of volunteer hours our residents donate every year. Sure, some of that certainly includes Mormon church members' volunteer hours...but we Utahns also spend many hours at other charitable organizations such as the Utah Food Bank (shown here).
10. Utahns are really nice people.
It's true. Utahns are the best kind of people you'll find in the entire country. They're polite, welcoming and genuine. Sleep in a little on a snowy Saturday and you might find that your driveway has already been shoveled. Get sick or have a baby, and your neighbors bring you dinner.
What’s your favorite (accurate) Utah stereotype? Give us your two cents in the comments!
Of course, if you’re a new Utah resident, many of these stereotypes don’t apply to you – yet. But before you can be a true Utahn, you must do these 13 things .
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