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The Utah Quiz — Find out how much you really know about the Beehive State

russ | 5:59 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008

I am glad that someone remembered that Utah joined the union. I almost couldn't hear the news over the roar of the community meetings. Not like the 24th, eh.

Anonymous | 6:42 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008

As soon as they banished plural wives, Utah was allowed into the Union.

Ed | 8:50 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008

And as soon as they agreed to public education!

Comments continue below

Surprised | 10:03 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008

With all the money Mormons are always bragging about, I am surprised that they don't have parochial schools like The Catholics.
Or are parochial schools "an abomination" too?

Jim | 10:05 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008

tsk,tsk. If you're going to test us with trivia, you need to get the most important fact right. The first settlers in the Salt Lake Valley arrived July 22nd, 1847, not July 24th. We have a small park commemorating the event on the corner of 17th South and 5th East.

Government Pandering | 10:30 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008

It's sad they had to compromise so many of their religious beliefs to pander to the U.S. Government. I find it interesting that commandments of God change at the direction of the government.

Local Yocal | 10:35 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008

I scored a 22 on the quiz.

history question | 10:41 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008

Here's a question for the Beehive State -
When did the term "white and delightsome" come into being?

Anonymous | 11:14 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008

I think the lowest point is sea level or close to it. What is the elevation at the bottom of Kennecott?

GREATGRANDMOTHER | 12:01 p.m. Jan. 4, 2008

Thankyou to Carma Wadley and The Deseret News for this factual information. It helps clear the cobwebs of memory of the things we did learn as children. Utah is the finest place to live and raise children. Utah, I love Thee!

There are many things people do not understand about our ancestors who came here to this place that "Has blossomed as a Rose."

Anonymous | 12:18 p.m. Jan. 4, 2008

Dear "Greatgrandmother" -
are you talking about the native Americans?

tangent | 12:26 p.m. Jan. 4, 2008

Some quiz answers are not correct. How difficult is it to go to the state's website and verify these things before going to print?

The state fish is the Cutthroat Trout not the Rainbow Trout.

The state song is "Utah, This is the Place." The state hymn is "Utah We Love Thee."

And as was pointed out in an earlier comment, an advance party came into the valley on July 22, 1847, two days before Brigham Young's party arrived.

L | 12:36 p.m. Jan. 4, 2008

The format for the answers was a little had for an old guy to read, some white space or one answer per line would have been helpful for me.

Jim | 12:42 p.m. Jan. 4, 2008

Dear Surprised:
Parochial schools set up in small communities or "parishes" which is where the name comes from. You may not have heard of BYU, BYU-Rexburg, BYU-Hawaii, Snow College, or have noticed the dozens of seminary buildings attached to or near high schools throughout Utah and in neighboring states.

annon | 1:36 p.m. Jan. 4, 2008

Dear Jim,

Snow College is not a church-owned school, it is a state college. If you were listing colleges/universities that started as church-owned schools, you better add the University of Utah to your list. Sorry Ute fans.

Anonymous | 1:55 p.m. Jan. 4, 2008

state song is this is place not utah we love thee

K-12 | 2:08 p.m. Jan. 4, 2008

Catholics revere the benefits of a parochial school system. Not just an hour per day in seminary buildings or in colleges, but K-12.
The rumor is that LDS people cannot afford such a system as they are already tithed and taxed to the max.
I feel sorry for the LDS kids who'll never experience a parochial K-12 system.

Forrest Cuch | 2:51 p.m. Jan. 4, 2008

Dear Ms. Wadley,
What is the source for your answer to question no. 4 Where did the name Utah come from? My understanding is that Utah is a spanish derivative of the word referring to the Ute Indians as "Yutas" and that the state obtained its name from the Ute Indians. My source: Cuch, Floyd O'Neil as seen by Clifford Duncan, A History of Utah's American Indians, USU Press, 2000.

wow | 3:30 p.m. Jan. 4, 2008

How can such a simple story elicite so much hate mail? I think I'm beginning to understand who has the holier than thou complex, and it ain't the mormons.

This is bogus | 3:56 p.m. Jan. 4, 2008

I bet fewer than 1% of Utahns could answer these questions with a 90% accuracy. I taught Utah history for years, but many of these questions are so odd that nobody would know them. By the way, the correct answer to the question regarding The Utah Office of Tourism is "Who cares?"

Wikipedia says... | 4:11 p.m. Jan. 4, 2008

"Utah, This is the Place" is the state song of Utah. It was written in 1996 by Sam and Gary Francis for Utah's centennial celebrations. It replaced "Utah, We Love Thee" as the state song in 2003.
The previous song, "Utah, We Love Thee" became the State Hymn.

What About Weber? | 4:41 p.m. Jan. 4, 2008

Need to add Weber Acadamy to the list that started as a church-owned school, that has now become a state-owned University.

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