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Colorado Springs Directory
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Provo & Orem Background
Provo is a city in Utah and the county seat of Utah County, located about 50 miles south of Salt Lake City and near
the cities of Orem and Springville, Utah. It is perhaps best-known as home to the main campus of Brigham Young University.
Settled in 1849 by 33 families from Salt Lake City, Provo has grown to a population of 105,166 (2000 Census), although
a 2004 Census Bureau estimate places its population at 99,624, which has been protested by the Mayor of Provo. In October
2005, The Census Bureau revised Provos estimated population to be 111,718. This would make it the third largest city
in Utah behind Salt Lake City and West Valley City. The site was named Fort Utah by the Mormon settlers, but re-named Provo
in 1850 for Étienne Provost, an early French-Canadian trapper who arrived in the region in 1825.
The city remains heavily Mormon (LDS); according to one report, the population in Provo is 88% LDS.
One of the Wasatch peaks towers over the city, facing Utah Lake. There is a large "Y" made of whitewashed concrete half-way
up the steep mountain, built in the early part of the 20th century to commemorate Brigham Young University (original plans
included construction of all three letters: BYU). Wild deer (and less frequently, cougars and moose) still roam the mountains.
The scenery is generally considered enjoyable and allows for hiking, skiing, fishing and other outdoor activities.
Every July, Provo hosts the Stadium of Fire at BYU. It is held in LaVell Edwards Stadium, home to Brigham Young Universitys
NCAA American football team. The Independence Day festivites are quite popular among local residents and have featured such
notable figures as David Hasselhoff, Reba McEntire, Mandy Moore, Huey Lewis and the News and Sean Hannity.
Software company Novell, Inc. was founded and originally headquartered in Provo. The city also owns and operates iProvo, the
nations largest municipal Fiber to the Home network.
Interstate 15 links Provo with other nearby cities.
Geography
Provo is located at 40°1440" North, 111°3939" West (40.244421, -111.660804). It lies in the Utah Valley at an
elevation of 4,549 feet (1,387 meters).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 108.2 km˛ (41.8 mi˛). 102.7 km˛ (39.6 mi˛) of it
is land and 5.6 km˛ (2.2 mi˛) of it is water. The total area is 5.14% water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 105,166 people, 29,192 households, and 19,938 families residing in the city. The population
density is 1,024.3/km˛ (2,653.2/mi˛). There are 30,374 housing units at an average density of 295.8/km˛ (766.3/mi˛). The racial
makeup of the city is 88.52% White, 0.46% African American, 0.80% Native American, 1.83% Asian, 0.84% Pacific Islander, 5.10%
from other races, and 2.44% from two or more races. 10.47% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 29,192 households out of which 33.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% are married couples
living together, 7.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% are non-families. 11.8% of all households are
made up of individuals and 4.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.34 and
the average family size is 3.40.
22.3% of residents are under the age of 18, 40.2% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 8.6% from 45 to 64, and 5.7% who are 65 years
of age or older. The median age is 23 years. For every 100 females there are 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over,
there are 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $34,313, and the median income for a family is $36,393. Males have a median income
of $32,010 versus $20,928 for females. The per capita income for the city is $13,207. 26.8% of the population and 12.5% of families
are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.4% of those under the age of 18 and 4.3% of those 65 and older are
living below the poverty line.
Brigham Young University
Perhaps the most notable thing about Provo is that it is the location of Brigham Young University, a private university operated
by the LDS Church (Mormon). BYU is the largest private university in the state, with more than 34,000 students. The large population
of students makes Provo a "college town." Provos ambiance differs from other college towns, however, since the majority of its
students are LDS - the church strongly discourages the consumption of alcohol, and BYU is consistently rated the most "stone-cold sober"
university in the United States.
Provo Temple
The LDS Church operates one of their temples in Provo. It is in an elevated location, near the mouth of Rock Canyon.
Missionary Training Center
Provo is home to the LDS Churchs largest Missionary Training Center (MTC). It is here that a large number of LDS missionaries
go for a period of training before they depart for their mission field. The center in Provo was built in the 1970s.
Source: wikipedia.org
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