Liberal(ish) cities in Utah? (Salt Lake City, Park City: living, restaurants, law)

[Wata-Z]

If you're looking for objective data, here:




Now obviously looking at presidential results doesnt tell us everything; in some areas Clinton only won because McMullin split the conservative vote, but those areas are still significantly less conservative. Demographics also may play some role, especially in the northwest part of the SL Valley or in Ogden.

Evidently SLC is by far the only deep blue area in the Wasatch Front. Summit County is also deep blue but a bit more expensive.

As for liberal suburbs, Cottonwood Heights is significantly more blue than most of its suburban counterparts and despite its further proximity from SLC.

I can tell you as someone from the southwest quadrant of the Salt Lake Valley (and is vegan and Bisexual) that people aren't really exposed to tons of differing viewpoints. Most of my hs friends can't even fathom knowing a gay person who's not openly flamboyant or the "gay stereotype." There are beginning to be younger and more progressive pockets, such as Daybreak, but the culture isn't even remotely exposed to leftism, and it can get exhausting being the one person challenging such a dominant culture.

I go to school in Provo, and moving here (among the young population) seemed a godsend compared to red suburban life. Even when I tell people I'm from SLV those from Utah County tend to think all of Salt Lake County is really liberal.

The reality is I can only handle living in Provo becaue I have niche friends that I've met through various avenues. The only places where you'll get significant intellectual diversity in Utah are where there are young populations (college-aged adults) or somewhere that's pretty deep blue.

[MisfitBanana]

Originally Posted by snatale1

So your not OK with other people having a difference of opinion on things? Their beliefs somehow effect you
? (they don't) Doesn't sound like your very Liberal at all! I find it amusing the so many people that identify as socially liberal seem to always be the LEAST liberal about things. I'm more Libertarian but a true liberal would still put me on the right, I'm 100% ok with people having different beliefs whether socially or politically. THAT'S what somebody who is actually socially liberal does. You may blend in more than you know.

You're extremely defensive.

rsch441 didn't say he wasn't OK with other people having differing views, just that he may have trouble living in a place where he's in the minority, because it can wear on a person over time. Not wanting to live where you're the odd-man-out is understandable, and has nothing to do with being OK or not about other people's views.

[Montygirl]

Originally Posted by MisfitBanana

SLC is the most liberal city in Utah, but it's relative. Liberal in a red state is very different than liberal in a blue state, and "The Church" (the Mormon/LDS Church) still has a big say in politics for the entire state, which of course includes SLC.

The thing is, it seems like everything rotates around the Mormon church in some way here. Even if you're not a member, and liberal, and whatever else not sanctioned by "The Church," it still won't be far from your mind or your conversations. For instance, you might find yourself talking about the stupid liquor laws that are in place entirely because of the church. Or you might regularly try to suss out if a new acquaintance is a member of the church before you swear in front of them, etc. I have very liberal family members who were born and raised here (and were never Mormon), but who still regularly bemoan how the church pretty much runs the state. So, even if you have nothing to do with the church, you're still affected by it while living here.

The longer you live here, the more you notice it. I noticed a few small things right away (that I hadn't noticed when I was just a regular visitor), but it took two or three years before I started getting annoyed and wanted to move out. Right now, I'm stuck - that will change in a couple years, however.

That said, being outdoorsy will definitely help, and Utah is a beautiful state and great for outdoors activity.

I think that is a fair respresentation, law making is the biggest thing that affects day to day life and sadly it is slanted in one way. Yes you can get involved in change but the powers that be have their views and unless they or the church want that change then the laws will stay the same.

Hands down the outdoors and alot of the people here are amazing and there is lots going on especially with music and theatre etc. I really enjoyed working with my colleagues who i am seeing whilst back but again working in the public sector in education you again notice certain influences.My kids had no issues with kids at school and were always made welcome and their school experience was a pretty positive one and they had a mix of friends .

I have moved back to Europe and notice some of the differences immediately or even going into other states(I am back here for a vacation in Utah and have been travelling round the US in the last
weeks to Seattle, AZ & NV to name a few) There is the SLC beer festival here whilst we are here. No children allowed (my kids are not babies but almost teens) my hometown is doing the same at the end of August and all are welcome.

No one is there to get wasted, but just enjoy a social drink and hang out with friends and other families enjoying bands and different types of food and drink

It is not being from another country that taints my view as many of my friends here (all american) have come and gone in this state within 5 years , sadly because after a while the things that irritate sadly get more than the things keeping you here. I miss the hot summers but not the cold winters although my oldest especially loved the skiing here in the winter

We are outdoors kind of people and although we have ,moved back we have continued with the active lifestyle we had here and had before we came here. That I think is in you as a person/family regardless of the weather ! I think of myself as a strong person and carved a wonderful set of friends to hang out with here and a great social life that i had back in europe with both mormon and non mormons however frustration with things do grind you down. My workplace was mixed and we all used to go for dinner and will be doing so whilst im back. Those who wanted to drink did, those who didn't had non alcoholic and some of those are not mormon but wow we could all get along and have fun! All about respect for each other so why can't the laws here not let people have that freedom of choice like adults !

We have an LDS church in my hometown(which is a very small town) plus many other places of worship and everyone is free to live their life as they so wish and all faiths or those not wishing to follow a religion or faith seem to be able to do that quite easily, and have the choice. This is even though we have alcohol in grocery stores and other things that go against some beliefs of some faiths.

No one has one dominant point of view dictated to them especially not via legislation and we have a very friendly and close community where you are free to live life as liberally or conservatively as you wish.

[snatale1]

Originally Posted by Gray Man

Since no one mentioned it, I'll assume we're all cool with Utah's use of the firing squad to administer the death penalty.

I'd take that all day long over being strapped down to a bed and injected with chemicals that slowly kill me and possibly cause me an agonizing death but can't do a thing about it thanks to the first shot supposedly knocking me out and the second one paralyzing me. A correctly placed shot and you'd never even hear the gun go off.

[cedarite]

Originally Posted by Gray Man

Since no one mentioned it, I'll assume we're all cool with Utah's use of the firing squad to administer the death penalty.

The person who is to be executed has a choice of methods. The firing squad is one of the choices they can make over other methods, but it's up to the condemned.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by Gray Man

Since no one mentioned it, I'll assume we're all cool with Utah's use of the firing squad to administer the death penalty.

Why shouldn't we be? The choice to die by firing squad is the convict's own. He could choose to die by lethal injection instead, and most have.

[Kar54]

Park City would be my suggestion, especially with your love of the hills and outdoor rec. I consider it the "Boulder of the Wasatch".

Last I checked, we're still one country. There are attributes to living in liberal and conservative environs. There are good and rotten places on both sides of the fence, no place is perfect.

[JButlin]

As an infrequent foreign visitor to Salt Lake City, I'll chip in here; before ever going there I expected SLC to be dull, with hardly any amenities but quite the opposite is true - there are loads of great things there and I'm actually quite taken with the place! As someone from a large-ish town in the UK, I'm used to meeting people with different attitudes, we all tend to live on top of each other there. I can see anyone getting on in SLC, regardless of which party you support.
There are some really great bars and restaurants, as well as a lot of cultural amenities and great shopping.

The only other places I've been to in Utah are Park City, which I also really liked - some great funky cafes and shops. Also spent a couple of days in Saint George, which I thought was a nice little town, although it is the only place in the US where someone has yelled abuse at me from a moving car!

I can't speak for the rest of towns surrounding SLC, but the city itself is surprisingly diverse and packed full of good things. To my mind it doesn't look like a bad place to live, the only thing that would concern me about living there is not the politics of the place but the pollution, which can seem really bad at certain times of the year.

Anyway, I could be totally wrong, but that is my estimation of Salt Lake City as a visitor.

[gregory77]

This thread was about what the initial author wanted, to find a liberalish city in Utah. Instead, we are digressing on why he sought to find a liberal city within Utah. I came to this thread as I have the same question. Point blank- I also don't want to live in a city that is mainly conservative. It does not mean that I am not open-minded, but I want to live in a city where folks generally share similar views that I do- and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I would not bemoan a conservative for asking the same question for folks in a liberal state either.
Just my take,

[gregory77]

rsch441,

There are also websites showing the vote counts by county such as this one: https://www.politico.com/2020-election/results/utah/. According to this map, you will want to stay in either Salt Lake County (SLC), Summit County (Park City), and Grand County (Moab). This verifies pretty much what others have been saying.

There are counties in Utah that you will not absolutely go to, such as Sevier County where 87.2 of the folks voted for Trump! This town also has the highest porn addiction rate in the US! I have stayed there going to Moab one time and the only bar within a 200-mile radius had two people in it! Utah is a beautiful but quite different state in my opinion.

kletter1mann,

Agreed! Thanks!