Youthful Utah a plus

Surprise! Utah's population has the lowest median age in the United States. The state's residents average 28.5 years. The rest of the nation clocks in at 36.6 years. Almost 10 percent of Utahns are under 5 years old.

And the feeling is the number of youngsters in Utah will continue to grow as more Hispanic immigrants come to the state and the local emphasis remains on families.

Well, good for us.

Despite the challenges and trials that come with a youthful population, the figures speak of optimism. Carl Sandburg said a new baby is God's opinion that the world should continue. Children are walking examples of enthusiasm for life, the desire to move ahead and explore the future.

Needless to say, of course, not everyone feels the glee.

Along with youngsters, Utah has more than its share of oldsters. In 2015, for instance, a Utahn will turn 65 every 23 minutes. That means the remaining "middle group" has the task of helping both the older and younger set cope. Strain on working-age citizens is growing. The school system is feeling the pinch of new bodies, and the rising cost of living has cast an ominous cloud over many large families.

Still, with the state's history of producing productive, educated citizens, the new crop of kids would seem to be in a good place — not only for their own future, but for the future of the state and country. Tomorrows are built on the backs of hard-working, tax-paying, optimistic citizens. And Utah has a history of coming up with more than its share of those.

Besides, the poet Mary Howitt was not far afield when she said God sends children for more reasons than to keep up the race. They're here to enlarge our hearts, make us unselfish, give us higher aims and make us work and try even harder than we do.

Over the next 20 years, Utah will have an opportunity to improve in all those areas — thanks to the kids in our midst.