Davis County

The kind, hard-working people who reside in Davis County form the backbone of our community, a community nestled snugly between the breathtaking Wasatch Mountains and the solace of the Great Salt Lake. I'm proud to represent an area that may be small in size, but is full of character.

Residents in Davis County live just minutes away from nearby Salt Lake City. Their location allows them to easily enjoy outdoor recreation, such as nationally-renowned ski areas and numerous locations for fishing, hiking, boating, camping and backpacking.

By size, Davis County is the state's smallest. Further, because we are home to the Great Salt Lake, only 220 miles are on useable land. But we still support the state's third largest population with about 250,000 residents.

The Great Salt Lake is an inherent aspect of our community. It supports recreation, agriculture, and related industries. Many Utahns have fond memories of swimming -- or as the case may be, floating -- in the lake's salty waters. The lake is even home to a nationally-renowned piece of art work, the Spiral Jetty by Robert Smithson.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the Great Salt Lake is:

• The largest U.S. lake west of the Mississippi River
• The 4th largest terminal lake (no outlet) in the world
• A remnant of Lake Bonneville, a prehistoric freshwater lake that was 10 times larger than the Great Salt Lake
• About 75 miles long, 28 miles wide, and covers 1,700 square miles
• Has a maximum depth of about 35 feet
• Typically 3 to 5 times saltier than the ocean
• Fish free, the largest aquatic creatures are brine shrimp and brine flies

Because the Great Salt Lake is one of the largest bird magnets in Western North America, it is no surprise that the Farmington Bay Wildlife Bird Refuge functions with such great success.

The Great Salt Lake also played a large role in the county's slogan, "Davis County, the Garden Spot of Utah." The nutrient-rich soil provided by the lake supports about 200 farms in Davis County, producing mostly wheat, corn and oats.

Lagoon is perhaps the pinnacle attraction in Davis County, drawing thrill-seekers from all over the west. Lagoon opened as "Lake Park" in 1886 on the shores of the Great Salt Lake. When the lake receded, leaving a gooey mud, the amusement park relocated closer to the mountainside. In 1906, the park built its first carousel, the same one in use today. The amusement park now features a wealth of exhilarating rides and a large water park.

Another large influence on Davis County and our residents is Hill Air Force Base, the area's largest employer with more than 23,000 employees. The center works with the F-16 Fighting Falcon, A-10 Thunderbolt II, Minuteman III, and Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missiles, as well as the F-16, A-10, and C-130 Hercules aircraft. Its effect on Davis County cannot be underestimated. The annual base payroll is around $750 million and its total impact on Utah's economy is nearly $2 billion.

Davis County residents have also impacted state politics. Three of Utah's Governors were born in Davis County: Utah's fifth governor, Charles R. Mabey; Utah's 11th governor, Henry H. Blood; and Calvin Rampton.

I am proud to call Davis County my home. As always, I love to hear from my fellow citizens about their concerns and suggestions. I welcome your opinions on ways we can keep Davis County a great place for our children and grandchildren.

(Also, let me extend a special thank you to Davis County Tourism who lend us its beautiful photos of Davis County.)