Overview

Introduction to Provo, Utah

Incorporated in 1849, the Utah city of Provo was named for French-Canadian explorer Etienne Provost, who first explored the area in 1825. Settled by Mormons in the late 1840s, Provo soon came to be known as the "Garden City" due to its substantial assortment of trees, fruit orchards, and gardens. The year 1875 was a significant one in Provo history, marking the founding of Brigham Young Academy, later to evolve into Brigham Young University (BYU), the largest church-affiliated university in the nation. Since that time, the city and its university have enjoyed a symbiotic connection, growing hand-in-hand to the point where today's Provo can boast a budding high-technology industry and sporadic national attention from the university's academic and sports programs.

Situated about 45 miles south of Salt Lake City, Provo is the county seat of Utah County. Highways serving the city include Interstate 15 (which connects Provo to Salt Lake City), U.S. Route 89 and U.S. Route 189. Closest cities to Provo are Orem (5 miles to the north) and Springville (6 miles to the south). According to 2005 U.S. Census figures, Provo is Utah's second-largest city (barely edging West Valley City in population).

Things to do in Provo

Every July, Provo is host to America's Freedom Festival, one of the nation's largest celebrations of America's Independence. The festival consists of over 30 events which take place throughout a 21 day period commencing on Flag Day (June 14) and ending on Independence Day (July 4). The anchor event is The Stadium of Fire Spectacular, which takes place in BYU's Cougar Stadium. The month of December is the timeframe for the annual WinterFest in Downtown Provo, a series of festive events starting with the early December Christmas Parade and culminating with New Year Eve's First Night, a public celebration marking the passage from the old year to the new with dances, children’s activities and the midnight Firework Finale.

Cultural sites in Provo start with BYU's first class Museum of Art which has housed world-famous exhibits such as the Masada and Dead Sea Scrolls as well as the Vatican's Etruscan Exhibit. Other cultural venues in the city include the Pioneer Museum, BYU's Monte L. Bean Museum, and the BYU Arboretum. The Sundance Ski Resort is home to the Sundance Film Festival and Summer Theater. The resort also offers a number of recreational activities, including fly fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and downhill and cross-country skiing.

The Provo sports scene centers on collegiate athletics in the form of the Brigham Young University Cougars. The BYU athletic program sponsors teams in football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, and track & field. Utah County's only professional sports team is located five miles away in the neighboring city of Orem. The Orem Owlz are a Minor League Baseball rookie-league affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Owlz play in the Pioneer League.

Major league professional sports are less than an hour's drive away. Salt Lake City is home to a number of pro teams, including:

  • Basketball: Utah Jazz (National Basketball Association)
  • Arena Football: Utah Blaze (Arena Football League)
  • Soccer: Real Salt Lake (Major League Soccer)

Also playing in Salt Lake City are the Salt Lake Bees, a Minor League Baseball Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Angels. West Valley City, located only 8 miles from Salt Lake City and 40 miles north of Provo, is home to hockey's Utah Grizzlies who play in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL).

Demographics

People

Total Population116,146
Male Share of the Population49.7%
Female Share of the Population50.3%
Senior Citizens5.9%
Employed Population 16+61,146
Age of the Population24

Families

% of people married45.1%
Average household size3

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher38.4%
Median Earnings25+$29,890
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$23,129
Median Earnings With High School Degree$26,563

Wealth

Median Family Income$50,370
% Above Poverty Level74.1%
% Below Poverty Level25.9%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time18 minutes
% Working from Home4.9%
% Walking and Biking to Work15.4%
% Using Public Transportation3.2%

Housing

People Living Alone13.9%
Median Gross Rent$844
Median House Value$247,100

Ancestry

Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)29.9%
English23.1%
German10.5%
Danishn5%
Scottish4.6%
Irish4.1%
Swedish3.9%
Welsh2.5%
Norwegian2.3%
Italian2.2%
French Except Basque1.7%
Dutch1.5%
Swiss1.2%
Polish0.7%
Brazilian0.4%
Icelander0.3%
Russian0.3%
Portuguese0.3%
African0.2%
Hungarian0.2%
Austrian0.2%
Finnish0.2%
Canadian0.2%
Greek0.2%
Lebanese0.1%
West Indian0.1%
Haitian0.1%
Ukrainian0.1%
Australian0.1%
Croatian0.1%
Arab0.1%
Czech0.1%
+ Show More

Provo Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyUtah County
Standard Zip Codes84602, 84601, 84606, 84604
P.O. Box Zip Codes84605, 84603
Phone Area Codes801, 385
Time ZoneAmerica/Denver
Approximate Latitude40.22
Approximate Longitude-111.67

Provo Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationPROVO BYU
Distance1.2 miles
Jan Temp23 to 39 F
Apr Temp40 to 64 F
Jul Temp60 to 93 F
Oct Temp40 to 68 F
Annual Precip20.1 inches
StationOLMSTEAD P H
Distance5.7 miles
Jan Temp20 to 39 F
Apr Temp37 to 63 F
Jul Temp59 to 92 F
Oct Temp40 to 67 F
Annual Precip20.2 inches
StationSPANISH FORK PWR HOUSE
Distance10.9 miles
Jan Temp20 to 37 F
Apr Temp38 to 64 F
Jul Temp59 to 92 F
Oct Temp40 to 67 F
Annual Precip21.5 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Lindon10,826$91,473
Orem95,428$66,368
Pleasant Grove38,066$78,834
Spanish Fork38,673$78,831
Springville32,603$71,197
Vineyard4,873$90,357

Provo Public Libraries

Provo City Library
550 NORTH UNIVERSITY AVENUE
Provo, Utah
(801) 852-6651

library logo

More Information for Librarians

Provo Hospitals

Utah Valley Specialty Hospital
306 West River Bend Lane
(801) 226-8880
Utah Valley Regional Medical Center
(Non-profit)
1034 North 500 West
(801) 357-7850
Utah State Hospital
(Government - State)
1300 East Center Street
(801) 344-4400

Provo Public Schools

Amelia Earhart School
2585 W 200 S
ZIP: 84601
(801) 370-4630
Primary
Total Enrollment 514
Dixon Middle
750 W 200 N
ZIP: 84601
(801) 374-4980
Middle
Total Enrollment 822
East Bay Post High
1170 S 350 E
ZIP: 84601
(801) 375-0414
High
Total Enrollment 83
Franklin School
350 S 600 W
ZIP: 84601
(801) 374-4925
Primary
Total Enrollment 454
Independence High
636 N Independence Ave
ZIP: 84601
(801) 374-4920
Other
Total Enrollment 283
Lakeview School
2899 W 1390 N
ZIP: 84601
(801) 374-4990
Primary
Total Enrollment 765
Oak Springs School
1300 E Center
ZIP: 84601
(801) 374-4858
Other
Total Enrollment 48
Provo Adult Education
636 N Independence Ave
ZIP: 84601
(801) 374-4840
High
Sunset View School
525 S 1600 W
ZIP: 84601
(801) 374-4950
Primary
Total Enrollment 511
Timpanogos School
449 N 500 W
ZIP: 84601
(801) 374-4955
Primary
Total Enrollment 703
Canyon Crest School
4664 N Canyon Rd
ZIP: 84604
(801) 221-9873
Primary
Total Enrollment 541
Centennial Middle
305 E 2320 N
ZIP: 84604
(801) 370-4621
Middle
Total Enrollment 988
Early Childhood Ed Cntr
815 N 800 W
ZIP: 84604
(801) 374-8074
Primary
Edgemont School
560 E 3650 N
ZIP: 84604
(801) 221-9984
Primary
Total Enrollment 630
Eschool@provo School District
280 W 940 N
ZIP: 84604
(801) 374-4814
Other
Total Enrollment 2433
Freedom Preparatory Academy
1190 W 900 N
ZIP: 84604
(801) 437-3100
Other
Total Enrollment 1062
Provo High
1125 N University Ave
ZIP: 84604
(801) 373-6550
High
Total Enrollment 1917
Rock Canyon School
2405 N 650 E
ZIP: 84604
(801) 374-4935
Primary
Total Enrollment 634
Timpview High
3570 N 650 E
ZIP: 84604
(801) 221-9720
High
Total Enrollment 1998
Walden School Of Liberal Arts
4230 N University Ave
ZIP: 84604
(801) 374-1545
Other
Total Enrollment 449
Wasatch School
1080 N 900 E
ZIP: 84604
(801) 374-4910
Primary
Total Enrollment 964
Westridge School
1720 W 1460 N
ZIP: 84604
(801) 374-4870
Primary
Total Enrollment 824
Provo Peaks School
665 E Center St
ZIP: 84606
(801) 374-4940
Primary
Total Enrollment 616
Provost School
629 S 1000 E
ZIP: 84606
(801) 374-4960
Primary
Total Enrollment 447
Spring Creek School
1740 S Nevada Ave
ZIP: 84606
(801) 370-4650
Primary
Total Enrollment 505
Sunrise Preschool
87 N. 700 E.
ZIP: 84606
(801) 374-4915
Primary
Total Enrollment 280

Provo Private Schools

Discovery Academy
105 N 500 W
ZIP: 84601
Secondary
Total Enrollment 105
Ivy Hall Academy
1598 W 820 N
ZIP: 84601
Elementary
Total Enrollment 109
Clear Horizons Academy
5455 N 250 W Ste 302
ZIP: 84604
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 30
Heritage Schools
5600 Heritage School Dr
ZIP: 84604
Secondary
Total Enrollment 140
Provo Canyon School-provo Campus
4501 N University Ave
ZIP: 84604
Secondary
Total Enrollment 97
Wunderkind Academy
1165 S 180 E
ZIP: 84606
Elementary
Total Enrollment 5
Sources :
Additional Details
Provo Careers
Provo career and employment information.
Provo Colleges
Provo colleges and trade schools.
Our Partner Listings
Additional Resources
Info for Provo Government Officials


Are you an official in the Provo government or quasi-government agency such as the chamber of commerce, visitors bureau or economic development council? If so, visit our information page for government officials to see how CityTownInfo can support you.