West Jordan, Utah
Encyclopedia
West Jordan is a city in Salt Lake County
, Utah
, United States
. West Jordan is a rapidly growing suburb of Salt Lake City
and has a mixed economy. According to the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 103,712, placing it as the fourth most populated in the state. The city occupies the southwest end of the Salt Lake Valley at an elevation of 4,330 feet (1,320 m). Named after the nearby Jordan River
, the limits of the city begin on the river's western bank and end in the eastern foothills of the Oquirrh Mountains
, where Kennecott Copper Mine, the world's largest man-made excavation is located.
Settled in the mid-19th century, the city has developed into its own regional center. Currently the city has four major retail centers; Jordan Landing
is one of the largest mixed-use planned developments in the Intermountain West
. Companies headquartered in West Jordan include Mountain America Credit Union
, Lynco Sales & Service, SME Steel, and Cyprus Credit Union. The city has one major hospital, Jordan Valley, and a campus of Salt Lake Community College
, which is designed to become the main campus by 2020.
City landmarks include Gardner Village, established in 1850, and South Valley Regional Airport, formerly known as "Salt Lake Airport #2." The airport serves general aviation
operations as well as a base for the Utah Army National Guard
for Apache
and Black Hawk helicopters.
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 Western Jordan
, a reference to the River Jordan in Israel
. The name was later simplified to "Jordan River". Like its Middle Eastern namesake, 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
. 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 phenomenal, 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 103,712 according to the 2010 Census. 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.
Current major construction projects include the completion of Jordan Landing
, a new main campus for the Salt Lake Community College
, the expansion of Jordan Valley Hospital, and Midvale's current transit-oriented development on the east border in the Jordan River bed. Future plans for the city include the Mountain View Corridor
freeway and the "Mid-Jordan" UTA TRAX
light rail
line.
Old downtown West Jordan is planned to be reconstructed as a transit-oriented development and called "Briarwood." The plans call for an expanded Main Park, a history museum, an indoor recreation center, a senior center, and a large courthouse to serve the Utah State Third District. The second phase calls for the demolition of a dilapidated commercial area, to be replaced by six-story buildings housing a performing arts center, a large library, a hotel, an education center, a conference center, retail and office space, a trail linking to Gardner Village and the Jordan River trail, and a cultural pavilion to house the planned light rail station.
West Jordan is located at 40°36′23"N 111°58′34"W (40.606385, -111.976217).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 30.9 square miles (80.0 km²), all of it land.
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 State Route 111, a highway that traverses the slopes of the Oquirrh Mountains.
The city lies approximately 18 miles (29 km) southwest of downtown Salt Lake City
. The city is bordered on the north by Taylorsville
and Kearns
, on the south by South Jordan
, on the east by Sandy
, Murray
and Midvale
, on the west by Copperton
, and on the extreme northwestern corner by West Valley City
.
West Jordan was incorporated on January 10, 1941. Today, West Jordan has a council-manager form of government. The city council
is composed of seven individuals: the mayor
and six council members. The mayor presides at city council meetings. The city council appoints a city manager
to act as the chief executive or administrative officer. The city council provides policy and direction for the city. The city council meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 6:00 PM.
The mayor and city council members are elected to four-year terms. Four city council members are elected from four districts within the city, while the other two are elected at-large or citywide. The mayor and the two at-large council members are elected during the same election cycle, while the four city council members representing their districts are elected offset by two years, last one held in 2007. All terms begin on January 1 following their respective election.
, there were 68,336 people 18,897 households, and 16,232 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,211.3 per square mile (853.9/km²). There were 19,597 housing units at an average density of 634.2 per square mile (244.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.07% of the population.
There were 18,897 households of which 57.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.0% were married couples
living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.1% were non-families. 10.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.60 and the average family size was 3.87.
37.8% of the population were 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.
The median household income
was $55,794, and the median family income was $57,818. Males had a median income of $38,141 versus $26,391 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,221. About 4.1% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.
Most of West Jordan lies in the Jordan School District
; however, due to a recent annexation, a small part of the northwestern section now lies within the Granite School District
. The city has 16 elementary schools (including 1 in the Granite District), 4 middle schools, and 2 high schools (West Jordan
and Copper Hills
). It is also the location of campuses of Salt Lake Community College
and Broadview University.
, an eight-lane beltway, is located northeast of the city. Bangerter Highway (State Route 154), a six-lane expressway, traverses the center of the city, just east of South Valley Regional Airport and the Jordan Landing
shopping center. Due to severe traffic congestion plaguing the rapidly growing city, "A ten-lane freeway in the Mountain View Corridor
is planned to have three exits in the city and run north-south at 5800 West. The road is currently undergoing environmental review
and no date for completion has been set.
New Bingham Highway, mostly a four-lane road, begins as 7720 South at State Street (U.S. Route 89) in Midvale
, curves into 7800 South as it enters the city, and finally heads southwest to end at Copperton. Redwood Road (State Route 68), a six-lane road, runs through the eastern portion of the city. In the far western extremes of the city, State Route 111, a two-lane road, runs through the developing rural area along the foothills. Development has recently begun to expand beyond SR-111.
West Jordan is served by the Utah Transit Authority
(UTA) bus system, which runs every half-hour during peak hours. All of the routes running into the city connect to nearby TRAX stations in Midvale
and Sandy
or to downtown Salt Lake City. Service in the city was increased during the August 2007 redesign of the bus system. A TRAX
light rail
line is also under construction. This line will begin at the Fashion Place West station in Murray
and run southwest through West Jordan, with 6 stops planned in the city, before turning south and terminating at the Daybreak Community
in South Jordan
. Completion of this route is expected in August 2011.
Transportation has been a major issue in city politics. The city's population has expanded rapidly from about 4,000 in 1970 to over 100,000 in 2010, outstripping the capacity of roadways and infrastructure. At city council
meetings it has been common for residents, particularly those on the western edge of the city, to complain about having one-hour commutes to downtown Salt Lake City, a distance of 26 miles (41.8 km). The mayor has blamed this situation on the fact that the city is the most populated in the state that is not directly served by a freeway. In addition to significant road widening projects throughout the city, the Mountain View Corridor
freeway is currently under construction to service the western portion of the city.
: Votkinsk
, Russia
Salt Lake County, Utah
Salt Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. It had a population of 1,029,655 at the 2010 census. Its county seat and largest city is Salt Lake City, the state capital. It occupies Salt Lake Valley, as well as parts of the surrounding mountains, the Oquirrh Mountains to the west...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. West Jordan is a rapidly growing suburb of Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
and has a mixed economy. According to the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 103,712, placing it as the fourth most populated in the state. The city occupies the southwest end of the Salt Lake Valley at an elevation of 4,330 feet (1,320 m). Named after the nearby Jordan River
Jordan River (Utah)
The Jordan River in the U.S. state of Utah is a river about long. Regulated by pumps at its headwaters at Utah Lake, it flows northward through the Salt Lake Valley and empties into the Great Salt Lake. Four of Utah's five largest cities—Salt Lake City, West Valley City, West Jordan and...
, the limits of the city begin on the river's western bank and end in the eastern foothills of the Oquirrh Mountains
Oquirrh Mountains
The Oquirrh Mountains is a mountain range that run north-south for approximately 30 miles to form the west side of Utah's Salt Lake Valley, separating it from Tooele Valley. The range begins in northwest Utah County and stops at the south shore of the Great Salt Lake. The highest elevation is...
, where Kennecott Copper Mine, the world's largest man-made excavation is located.
Settled in the mid-19th century, the city has developed into its own regional center. Currently the city has four major retail centers; Jordan Landing
Jordan Landing
Jordan Landing is a master-planned development located in the center of West Jordan, Utah, adjacent to South Valley Regional Airport. Its 500 acre size, containing of retail space, 1,200 residential units, and of office space, places it as a focal point of West Jordan's booming economy.It is one...
is one of the largest mixed-use planned developments in the Intermountain West
Intermountain West
The Intermountain West is a region of North America lying between the Rocky Mountains to the east and the Cascades and Sierra Nevada to the west. It is also called the Intermountain Region.- Topography :...
. Companies headquartered in West Jordan include Mountain America Credit Union
Mountain America Credit Union
Mountain America Credit Union is a federally chartered credit union headquartered in West Jordan, Utah, regulated under the authority of the National Credit Union Administration . Mountain America is Utah's second largest credit union...
, Lynco Sales & Service, SME Steel, and Cyprus Credit Union. The city has one major hospital, Jordan Valley, and a campus of Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College is the largest higher education institution with the most diverse student body in Utah . The College offers and operates throughout the Salt Lake valley. Even with its large student body, the College maintains a student to faculty ratio of just 20 to 1...
, which is designed to become the main campus by 2020.
City landmarks include Gardner Village, established in 1850, and South Valley Regional Airport, formerly known as "Salt Lake Airport #2." The airport serves general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
operations as well as a base for the Utah Army National Guard
Utah Army National Guard
The Utah National Guard comprises both Army and Air National Guard components. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions...
for Apache
AH-64 Apache
The Boeing AH-64 Apache is a four-blade, twin-engine attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement, and a tandem cockpit for a two-man crew. The Apache was developed as Model 77 by Hughes Helicopters for the United States Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter program to replace the...
and Black Hawk helicopters.
History
West Jordan received its name from Mormon settlers who entered the Salt Lake ValleySalt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably West Valley City, Murray, Sandy, and West Jordan; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010...
in 1847 under the leadership of their prophet
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
, Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
. These first European-Americans thought of the area to be their Zion
Zion
Zion is a place name often used as a synonym for Jerusalem. The word is first found in Samuel II, 5:7 dating to c.630-540 BCE...
, or Holy Land, and thus named the river flowing west of their first settlement, Salt Lake City, the Western Jordan
Jordan River (Utah)
The Jordan River in the U.S. state of Utah is a river about long. Regulated by pumps at its headwaters at Utah Lake, it flows northward through the Salt Lake Valley and empties into the Great Salt Lake. Four of Utah's five largest cities—Salt Lake City, West Valley City, West Jordan and...
, a reference to the River Jordan in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. The name was later simplified to "Jordan River". Like its Middle Eastern namesake, the Jordan River flows from a fresh water lake (Utah Lake
Utah Lake
Utah Lake is a freshwater lake in the U.S. state of Utah. On the western side of Utah Valley, the lake is overlooked by Mount Timpanogos and Mount Nebo. The lake's only river outlet, the Jordan River, is a tributary of the Great Salt Lake and is highly regulated with pumps. Evaporation accounts...
) to an inland salt sea (Great Salt Lake
Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake, located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Utah, is the largest salt water lake in the western hemisphere, the fourth-largest terminal lake in the world. In an average year the lake covers an area of around , but the lake's size fluctuates substantially due to its...
). 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
Archibald Gardner was a 19th century pioneer and businessman who helped establish communities in Alvinston, Ontario, Canada, West Jordan, Utah and Star Valley, Wyoming based on flour mills and lumber mills...
. Gardner was a devout Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
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
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
was constructed in the city in 1851.
Today, West Jordan is one of the fastest growing cities in Utah. Growth has been phenomenal, 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 103,712 according to the 2010 Census. Sears
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
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.
Current major construction projects include the completion of Jordan Landing
Jordan Landing
Jordan Landing is a master-planned development located in the center of West Jordan, Utah, adjacent to South Valley Regional Airport. Its 500 acre size, containing of retail space, 1,200 residential units, and of office space, places it as a focal point of West Jordan's booming economy.It is one...
, a new main campus for the Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College is the largest higher education institution with the most diverse student body in Utah . The College offers and operates throughout the Salt Lake valley. Even with its large student body, the College maintains a student to faculty ratio of just 20 to 1...
, the expansion of Jordan Valley Hospital, and Midvale's current transit-oriented development on the east border in the Jordan River bed. Future plans for the city include the Mountain View Corridor
Mountain View Corridor
The Mountain View Corridor, numerically designated as State Route 85 , is an expressway currently under construction that will run along the western periphery of Salt Lake County and northwest Utah County in northern Utah. A spur of the eventual freeway to Interstate 15 opened in northwestern Utah...
freeway and the "Mid-Jordan" UTA TRAX
UTA TRAX
TRAX is a three-line light rail system in Utah's Salt Lake Valley, serving Salt Lake City and several of its suburbs throughout Salt Lake County. The system is operated by the Utah Transit Authority ....
light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
line.
Old downtown West Jordan is planned to be reconstructed as a transit-oriented development and called "Briarwood." The plans call for an expanded Main Park, a history museum, an indoor recreation center, a senior center, and a large courthouse to serve the Utah State Third District. The second phase calls for the demolition of a dilapidated commercial area, to be replaced by six-story buildings housing a performing arts center, a large library, a hotel, an education center, a conference center, retail and office space, a trail linking to Gardner Village and the Jordan River trail, and a cultural pavilion to house the planned light rail station.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 30.9 square miles (80.0 km²), all of it land.
West Jordan is bordered on the west by the Oquirrh Mountains
Oquirrh Mountains
The Oquirrh Mountains is a mountain range that run north-south for approximately 30 miles to form the west side of Utah's Salt Lake Valley, separating it from Tooele Valley. The range begins in northwest Utah County and stops at the south shore of the Great Salt Lake. The highest elevation is...
and on the east by the Jordan River
Jordan River (Utah)
The Jordan River in the U.S. state of Utah is a river about long. Regulated by pumps at its headwaters at Utah Lake, it flows northward through the Salt Lake Valley and empties into the Great Salt Lake. Four of Utah's five largest cities—Salt Lake City, West Valley City, West Jordan and...
. 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 State Route 111, a highway that traverses the slopes of the Oquirrh Mountains.
The city lies approximately 18 miles (29 km) southwest of downtown Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
. The city is bordered on the north by Taylorsville
Taylorsville, Utah
Taylorsville is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 57,439 at the 2000 census...
and Kearns
Kearns, Utah
Kearns is a township and census-designated place in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. Named after Utah's U.S. Senator Thomas Kearns, it had a population of 35,731 at the 2010 Census.This was a 6.2 percent increase over the 2000 figure of 33,659...
, on the south by South Jordan
South Jordan, Utah
South Jordan is a city in the U.S. state of Utah. The city lies in the Salt Lake Valley between the peaks of the Oquirrh Mountains and the peaks of the Wasatch Mountains and is part of the Salt Lake City metropolitan area...
, on the east by Sandy
Sandy, Utah
Sandy is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is a suburb of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,461 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth-largest city in Utah....
, Murray
Murray, Utah
Murray is a city situated on the Wasatch Front in the core of Salt Lake Valley in the U.S. state of Utah. Named for territorial governor Eli Murray, it is the state's fourteenth largest city. According to the 2010 census, Murray has approximately 46,746 residents.Murray is close to Salt Lake City,...
and Midvale
Midvale, Utah
Midvale is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 27,029 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Midvale is located at ....
, on the west by Copperton
Copperton, Utah
Copperton is a CDP and township in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States, located at the mouth of Bingham Canyon, about 17 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. The township boundaries include a greater area than that of the CDP Copperton is a CDP and township in Salt Lake County, Utah, United...
, and on the extreme northwestern corner by West Valley City
West Valley City, Utah
West Valley City is a city in Salt Lake County and a suburb of Salt Lake City in the U.S. state of Utah. The population was 129,480 at the 2010 census,...
.
Government
| Elected officials of West Jordan as of 2009 | |||
| Official | Position | Elected | Term ends |
| Melissa K. Johnson | Mayor | 2009 | 2014 |
| City Council Members | |||
| Clive M. Killpack | At-large | 2009 | 2014 |
| Chad Nichols | At-large | 2009 | 2014 |
| Kim V. Rolfe | District 1 | 2003 | 2012 |
| Jim J. Lems | District 2 | 2007 | 2012 |
| Ben Southworth | District 3 | 2007 | 2012 |
| Lyle C. Summers | District 4 | 1999 | 2012 |
West Jordan was incorporated on January 10, 1941. Today, West Jordan has a council-manager form of government. The city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
is composed of seven individuals: the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and six council members. The mayor presides at city council meetings. The city council appoints a city manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
to act as the chief executive or administrative officer. The city council provides policy and direction for the city. The city council meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 6:00 PM.
The mayor and city council members are elected to four-year terms. Four city council members are elected from four districts within the city, while the other two are elected at-large or citywide. The mayor and the two at-large council members are elected during the same election cycle, while the four city council members representing their districts are elected offset by two years, last one held in 2007. All terms begin on January 1 following their respective election.
Demographics
At the 2000 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, there were 68,336 people 18,897 households, and 16,232 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,211.3 per square mile (853.9/km²). There were 19,597 housing units at an average density of 634.2 per square mile (244.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.76% White, 0.64% African American, 0.56% Native American, 2.04% Asian, 0.94% Pacific Islander, 4.76% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.07% of the population.
There were 18,897 households of which 57.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.1% were non-families. 10.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.60 and the average family size was 3.87.
37.8% of the population were 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.
The median household income
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
was $55,794, and the median family income was $57,818. Males had a median income of $38,141 versus $26,391 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $17,221. About 4.1% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Jordan School District
Jordan School District was the largest of Utah school districts , It now employs 2,631 teachers and other licensed personnel who educate more than 48,000 students. An additional 2,610 employees provide support services for the system...
; however, due to a recent annexation, a small part of the northwestern section now lies within the Granite School District
Granite School District
The Granite School District spreads across central Salt Lake County, Utah, serving West Valley City, Taylorsville, South Salt Lake, and Holladay; Kearns, Magna and Millcreek Township; and parts of West Jordan, Murray and Cottonwood Heights. About 70,000 students are enrolled in its programs ranging...
. The city has 16 elementary schools (including 1 in the Granite District), 4 middle schools, and 2 high schools (West Jordan
West Jordan High School
West Jordan High School is a high school located in West Jordan, Utah. It opened in 1981 and is located southwest of Salt Lake City and is home of just over 2000 students. The mascot is the jaguar...
and Copper Hills
Copper Hills High School
Copper Hills High School is located in West Jordan, Utah, situated just east of the Oquirrh Mountains in the southwest corner of the Salt Lake Valley near the Bingham Canyon Copper Mine. This modern educational facility opened its doors in the fall of 1995 and has an enrollement of 2,290.The school...
). It is also the location of campuses of Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College is the largest higher education institution with the most diverse student body in Utah . The College offers and operates throughout the Salt Lake valley. Even with its large student body, the College maintains a student to faculty ratio of just 20 to 1...
and Broadview University.
Transportation
Interstate 15, a twelve-lane freeway, is located east of the city limits, providing access from the north and south, while Interstate 215Interstate 215 (Utah)
Interstate 215 , also known locally as the belt route or two-fifteen, is an auxiliary interstate in the U.S. state of Utah that forms a 270-degree loop around Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs...
, an eight-lane beltway, is located northeast of the city. Bangerter Highway (State Route 154), a six-lane expressway, traverses the center of the city, just east of South Valley Regional Airport and the Jordan Landing
Jordan Landing
Jordan Landing is a master-planned development located in the center of West Jordan, Utah, adjacent to South Valley Regional Airport. Its 500 acre size, containing of retail space, 1,200 residential units, and of office space, places it as a focal point of West Jordan's booming economy.It is one...
shopping center. Due to severe traffic congestion plaguing the rapidly growing city, "A ten-lane freeway in the Mountain View Corridor
Mountain View Corridor
The Mountain View Corridor, numerically designated as State Route 85 , is an expressway currently under construction that will run along the western periphery of Salt Lake County and northwest Utah County in northern Utah. A spur of the eventual freeway to Interstate 15 opened in northwestern Utah...
is planned to have three exits in the city and run north-south at 5800 West. The road is currently undergoing environmental review
Environmental impact statement
An environmental impact statement , under United States environmental law, is a document required by the National Environmental Policy Act for certain actions "significantly affecting the quality of the human environment". An EIS is a tool for decision making...
and no date for completion has been set.
New Bingham Highway, mostly a four-lane road, begins as 7720 South at State Street (U.S. Route 89) in Midvale
Midvale, Utah
Midvale is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 27,029 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Midvale is located at ....
, curves into 7800 South as it enters the city, and finally heads southwest to end at Copperton. Redwood Road (State Route 68), a six-lane road, runs through the eastern portion of the city. In the far western extremes of the city, State Route 111, a two-lane road, runs through the developing rural area along the foothills. Development has recently begun to expand beyond SR-111.
West Jordan is served by the Utah Transit Authority
Utah Transit Authority
The Utah Transit Authority operates a public transportation system throughout the Wasatch Front of Utah, United States. It operates fixed route buses, express buses, ski buses, three light rail lines , and a commuter rail line from Salt Lake City to Pleasant View, north of Ogden. UTA is based in...
(UTA) bus system, which runs every half-hour during peak hours. All of the routes running into the city connect to nearby TRAX stations in Midvale
Midvale, Utah
Midvale is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 27,029 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Midvale is located at ....
and Sandy
Sandy, Utah
Sandy is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is a suburb of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,461 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth-largest city in Utah....
or to downtown Salt Lake City. Service in the city was increased during the August 2007 redesign of the bus system. A TRAX
UTA TRAX
TRAX is a three-line light rail system in Utah's Salt Lake Valley, serving Salt Lake City and several of its suburbs throughout Salt Lake County. The system is operated by the Utah Transit Authority ....
light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
line is also under construction. This line will begin at the Fashion Place West station in Murray
Murray, Utah
Murray is a city situated on the Wasatch Front in the core of Salt Lake Valley in the U.S. state of Utah. Named for territorial governor Eli Murray, it is the state's fourteenth largest city. According to the 2010 census, Murray has approximately 46,746 residents.Murray is close to Salt Lake City,...
and run southwest through West Jordan, with 6 stops planned in the city, before turning south and terminating at the Daybreak Community
Daybreak Community
Daybreak is a master-planned community over 4,000 acres in size being built by land development company Kennecott Land in South Jordan, Utah. Home construction began in 2004 and the community is expected to continue building for the next 18 to 20 years...
in South Jordan
South Jordan, Utah
South Jordan is a city in the U.S. state of Utah. The city lies in the Salt Lake Valley between the peaks of the Oquirrh Mountains and the peaks of the Wasatch Mountains and is part of the Salt Lake City metropolitan area...
. Completion of this route is expected in August 2011.
Transportation has been a major issue in city politics. The city's population has expanded rapidly from about 4,000 in 1970 to over 100,000 in 2010, outstripping the capacity of roadways and infrastructure. At city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
meetings it has been common for residents, particularly those on the western edge of the city, to complain about having one-hour commutes to downtown Salt Lake City, a distance of 26 miles (41.8 km). The mayor has blamed this situation on the fact that the city is the most populated in the state that is not directly served by a freeway. In addition to significant road widening projects throughout the city, the Mountain View Corridor
Mountain View Corridor
The Mountain View Corridor, numerically designated as State Route 85 , is an expressway currently under construction that will run along the western periphery of Salt Lake County and northwest Utah County in northern Utah. A spur of the eventual freeway to Interstate 15 opened in northwestern Utah...
freeway is currently under construction to service the western portion of the city.
Famous residents
- Wassef Ali HassounWassef Ali HassounWassef Ali Hassoun was a United States Marine Corps corporal who was charged with desertion for leaving his unit and apparently engaging with others in a hoax to make it appear that he had been captured by terrorists on June 19, 2004 while serving in Iraq...
, U.S. Marine - Gene FullmerGene FullmerGene Fullmer is a former American middleweight boxer and world champion.-Professional career:Fullmer began his professional career in 1951 and won his first 29 fights, 19 by knockout...
, boxer - Carolyn JessopCarolyn JessopCarolyn Jessop is a former Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints member who wrote Escape, an autobiographical account of her upbringing in the polygamist sect and later flight from that community. She is the cousin, by marriage, of Flora Jessop, another former FLDS member and...
, former member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day SaintsFundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day SaintsThe Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is one of the largest Mormon fundamentalist denominations and one of the largest organizations in the United States whose members practice polygamy. The FLDS Church emerged in the early twentieth century when its founding members left...
who wrote a book about her own experience called Escape. - Jordan HallidayJordan HallidayJordan Cade Halliday is an American animal rights activist. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2009 on charges related to resisting a federal grand jury investigating local illegal animal rights activities, mainly concerning fur farm raids in Utah. He was jailed for nearly four months...
, animal rights activist.
In the media
- In the fictional HBO drama Big LoveBig LoveBig Love is an American television drama that aired on HBO between March 2006 and March 2011. The show is about a fictional fundamentalist Mormon family in Utah that practices polygamy...
, one of Bill HenricksonBill HenricksonWilliam Orville "Bill" Henrickson is the fictional protagonist husband in a polygamous family in the HBO series Big Love, portrayed by Bill Paxton. He is married to three wives, Barbara Henrickson, Nicolette Grant and Margene Heffman...
's home improvement stores is located in West Jordan.
Sister cities
West Jordan has a sister city, as designated by Sister Cities InternationalSister Cities International
Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between United States and international communities. More than 2,000 cities, states and counties are partnered in 136 countries around the world...
: Votkinsk
Votkinsk
Votkinsk is an industrial city in the Udmurt Republic, Russia. Population: It is the birthplace of the composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky who spent the first eight years of his life here: today the house of his birth contains a museum dedicated to the composer.The town was established in April...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
External links
- West Jordan official website
- West Jordan - Utah History Encyclopedia
- Broadview University - West Jordan Campus
- http://www.wjordan.com/index.cfm?objectid=603864B1-802E-03C3-313C50A490E4705C
- http://www.wjordan.com/files/Demographic_Overview2.pdf