Utah , state, United States: Twentieth-Century Developments

Agriculture was long hampered by an 1880 court ruling favoring a concept of water as private property. Not until the Reclamation Act of 1902 was the principle of water as public property restored, reinforced by state legislation in 1903 vesting ownership of water in the state. World War II spurred industrial growth, and the development of hydroelectric power during the 1950s attracted new industries. The federal government, which owns over 60% of Utah's land, has become one of the state's largest employers, at both military and civilian facilities. Computer-software and other high-technology firms have recently given the state a diversified and robust economy.

Republicans have held the governor's seat since 1985. Michael O. Leavitt was elected to three terms (1993-2003), but resigned in 2003 to head the Environmental Protection Agency. His term was completed by his Lt. Gov., Olene S. Walker (2003-05), who was Utah's first woman governor. Jon Huntsman was elected to the office in 2004 and reelected in 2008, and then resigned in 2009 to become ambassador to China; his Lt. Gov., Gary Herbert, succeeded him in 2009, and then was elected to serve two full terms (2013-21). In 2020 Spencer Cox was elected governor.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Twentieth-Century Developments
• Statehood and the End of Isolation
• Friction with Native Americans and the U.S. Government
• Mormon Settlement and Territorial Status
• Mountain Men and Wagon Trains
• Spanish Exploration and Possession
• Government and Higher Education
• Economy
• Geography
• Facts and Figures
• Bibliography

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