People in the rest of the country sometimes fail to appreciate Utah’s diversity. They have stereotypical ideas about who we are. Some of these stereotypes are true for some Utahns, some aren’t. Regardless, we’ll continue to get these questions from out-of-staters, and we’ll continue to try to answer them patiently. Mostly.
- Are you Mormon?
Aimee Custis Photography/flickr Some of us are; some of us aren’t. Utah-wide, our population is at about 62 percent Mormon.
- Do you ski?
UnofficialSquaw.com/flickr How could we NOT? Pretty easily, actually. Plenty of Utahns don’t like the cold, the driving snow, and the potential for decimating their ACL. Others of us can’t wait for that Utah powder.
- How many wives do you have?
Keoni Cabral/flickr For some Utahns, ONE wife is too many! Having more than one is illegal. But let’s be honest…it does happen occasionally.
- What in the world is “fry sauce?”
Jimmy Emerson DVM/flickr It’s a combination of ketchup and mayonnaise. Some people think it’s gross. Other Utahns can’t imagine eating fries without it.
- How do you pronounce “Tooele?”
Jimmy Emerson DVM/flickr Watching newscasters from out of town try to pronounce Tooele (too-ill-ah) is pretty funny. And don’t even get me started about Hurricane (hur-i-kun).
- Who are all those crazy, excited people in the airport with “Welcome Home” signs?
Cory Doctorow/flickr Back in the day, families greeted their returning missionaries at the gate. If you got off a plane in Salt Lake, you had to fight your way through the hordes of family members waving signs. Now, families hang out at the bottom of the escalator. That helps. A little.
- Do you really float in the Great Salt Lake?
Marriott Library, University of Utah/flickr We can, of course. The salt content in the lake makes it possible to bob like a cork. But we usually choose not to swim in the lake. Water levels have been low for years, and to be honest, the lake is kind of stinky.
- What’s with the green jello?
FraserElliot/flickr Around here, we think of it as a side dish. If it’s got carrots in it, it must be healthy, right? Utah sinners enjoy their green jello with alcohol, in the form of jello shots.
- Can you get a beer in Utah?
Justin Fincher/flickr Our liquor laws are confusing for out-of-staters. But yes, of course you can get a beer in Utah! We have some really great microbreweries, and even some aficionados who brew their own at home.
- Why are you wearing socks with sandals and cargo shorts in the snow?
Gwyn Fisher/flickr Because….well. This one still has me stumped. Some Utahns have an interesting sense of style. Enough people that this cargo short debacle has turned into a Utah thing.
- Do you wear weird underwear?
juli/flickr Seems like kind of a personal question, doesn’t it? Of course, some Utahns aren’t very good at hiding their undergarments. Those super-low rise jeans? Not so good with the “special” underwear.
- How many kids do you have?
David Robert Bliwas/flickr A lot. We have the highest number of kids per capita in the nation. Of course, not ALL Utahns have a lot of kids. Some even have no kids at all (those of us with kids are often jealous those folks).
- Do you have a minivan?
Garrett/flickr Yup, a bunch of us do. How else are we going to haul around all those kids? Not everyone in Utah has a minivan, though. Some have a great, big SUV (and others drive a Prius or a little Honda Civic).
What questions do you get from people out of state? Share them here!
Aimee Custis Photography/flickr
Some of us are; some of us aren’t. Utah-wide, our population is at about 62 percent Mormon.
UnofficialSquaw.com/flickr
How could we NOT? Pretty easily, actually. Plenty of Utahns don’t like the cold, the driving snow, and the potential for decimating their ACL. Others of us can’t wait for that Utah powder.
Keoni Cabral/flickr
For some Utahns, ONE wife is too many! Having more than one is illegal. But let’s be honest…it does happen occasionally.
Jimmy Emerson DVM/flickr
It’s a combination of ketchup and mayonnaise. Some people think it’s gross. Other Utahns can’t imagine eating fries without it.
Watching newscasters from out of town try to pronounce Tooele (too-ill-ah) is pretty funny. And don’t even get me started about Hurricane (hur-i-kun).
Cory Doctorow/flickr
Back in the day, families greeted their returning missionaries at the gate. If you got off a plane in Salt Lake, you had to fight your way through the hordes of family members waving signs. Now, families hang out at the bottom of the escalator. That helps. A little.
Marriott Library, University of Utah/flickr
We can, of course. The salt content in the lake makes it possible to bob like a cork. But we usually choose not to swim in the lake. Water levels have been low for years, and to be honest, the lake is kind of stinky.
FraserElliot/flickr
Around here, we think of it as a side dish. If it’s got carrots in it, it must be healthy, right? Utah sinners enjoy their green jello with alcohol, in the form of jello shots.
Justin Fincher/flickr
Our liquor laws are confusing for out-of-staters. But yes, of course you can get a beer in Utah! We have some really great microbreweries, and even some aficionados who brew their own at home.
Gwyn Fisher/flickr
Because….well. This one still has me stumped. Some Utahns have an interesting sense of style. Enough people that this cargo short debacle has turned into a Utah thing.
juli/flickr
Seems like kind of a personal question, doesn’t it? Of course, some Utahns aren’t very good at hiding their undergarments. Those super-low rise jeans? Not so good with the “special” underwear.
David Robert Bliwas/flickr
A lot. We have the highest number of kids per capita in the nation. Of course, not ALL Utahns have a lot of kids. Some even have no kids at all (those of us with kids are often jealous those folks).
Garrett/flickr
Yup, a bunch of us do. How else are we going to haul around all those kids? Not everyone in Utah has a minivan, though. Some have a great, big SUV (and others drive a Prius or a little Honda Civic).
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
