West Jordan is a city located in Salt Lake County, Utah, approximately 14 miles southwest of downtown Salt Lake City. The 2000 Census placed its population at 68,336. As of 2005, the city had an estimated population of 93,193, placing it as Utah's fourth largest city behind Salt Lake City, Provo and West Valley City.
The city began as a small outpost settlement of Mormons in the mid-19th century, mainly providing natural resources and defenses for the greater population center of Salt Lake City - for which it is presently a large, mainly residential suburb but functions as the commercial center of southwestern Salt Lake County. Currently the city has four major retail centers with Jordan Landing being the largest.
Companies headquatered in West Jordan include Cyprus and Mountain America Credit Union and Dunford Bakeries. Corporations with regional centers in the city are Sysco, Balkamp, Fairchild Semiconductor, and Dannon Yogurt Company. West Jordan is also the base of the Utah Army National Guard and home to the state's second-largest courthouse. The city has one major hospital, Jordan Valley, and a campus of Salt Lake Community College, which is planned to become the main campus upon completion in 2020.
City landmarks include the historic Sugar Factory, built in 1916, and Gardner Village, established in 1850. The Jordan River flows along its eastern border and the Oquirrh Mountains lie along its western border, where Kennecott Copper Mine, the world's largest open pit mine, is nestled. It is also the location of Salt Lake City Municipal 2 Airport, commonly referred to as "Airport #2", Salt Lake County's regional airport for smaller passenger planes.
West Jordan is located at 40°36'23" North, 111°58'34" West (40.606385, -111.976217).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 80.0 km2 (30.9 mi2). 80.0 km2 (30.9 mi2) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.
West Jordan is bordered on the west by the Oquirrh Mountains and on the east by the Jordan River. The western neighborhoods of Welby, Copper Hills, and Jordan Hills are rapidly-growing regions located along the lower slopes of the eastern Oquirrh Mountains. The fastest development is currently taking place between 4800 West and Utah State Route 111, a highway that traverses the slopes of the Oquirrh Mountains.
The city is bordered on the north by Taylorsville and Kearns, on the south by South Jordan, on the east by Sandy and Midvale, and on the extreme northwestern corner by West Valley City.
As of the census of 2000, there are 68,336 people, 18,897 households, and 16,232 families residing in the city. The population density is 853.9/km2 (2,211.3/mi2). There are 19,597 housing units at an average density of 244.9/km2 (634.2/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 88.76% White, 0.64% African American, 0.56% Native American, 2.04% Asian, 0.94% Pacific Islander, 4.76% from other races, and 2.31% from two or more races. 10.07% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 18,897 households out of which 57.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.0% are married couples living together, 10.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 14.1% are non-families. 10.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 2.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.60 and the average family size is 3.87.
In the city the population is spread out with 37.8% under the age of 18, 12.2% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 14.8% from 45 to 64, and 3.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 25 years. For every 100 females there are 100.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 98.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $55,794, and the median income for a family is $57,818. Males have a median income of $38,141 versus $26,391 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,221. 5.2% of the population and 4.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 6.1% of those under the age of 18 and 3.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
West Jordan received its name from Mormon settlers who entered the Salt Lake Valley in 1847 under the leadership of their prophet, Brigham Young. These first European-Americans thought of the area to be their Zion, or Holy Land, and thus named the river flowing west of their first settlement, Salt Lake City, the "Jordan River". Similar to the River Jordan in Palestine, the Jordan River flows from a fresh water lake (Utah Lake) to an inland salt sea (Great Salt Lake). West Jordan was founded around 1849 on the western banks of the Jordan River.
One of the first sawmills in the area was built in 1850 in the city by Archibald Gardner. Archibald Gardner was a devout Mormon whose legacy can still be seen in modern West Jordan. His collection of now historic mills and houses have been renovated into a specialty shopping district known as Gardner Village.
Early West Jordan relied primarily on agriculture, mills, and mining activity to form the base of its economy. The first leather tannery west of the Mississippi River was constructed in the city in 1851.
Today, West Jordan is one of the fastest growing cities in Utah. Growth has been phenomonal, beginning in the 1970s and continuing unabated since. The population grew from 4,221 in 1970 to 27,327 in 1980, 42,892 in 1990, and 68,336 in 2000, reaching 89,011 according to 2004 Census estimates. Sears chose the city as its first Sears Grand location, a new store concept, which opened its doors in 2003 at the Jordan Landing shopping center. Transportation issues along with school overcrowding are the city's top concerns as it attempts to deal with rapid population growth.
Source:
WestJordanUtah.com
HOTELS • REAL ESTATE • JOBS