Introduction to West Valley City, Utah
West Valley City, a suburb of Salt Lake City, is located in Utah's Salt Lake County. Situated about 8 miles southwest of Salt Lake City and 41 miles northwest of Provo, West Valley City affords easy access to nearby cities via Interstate Highways I-15 and I-80; as well as Utah State Highways 173 and 201. With a population in six figures, West Valley City is one of the largest cities in the state of Utah.
Part of an area which had been largely agricultural for over one hundred years, West Valley City was formed from a conglomeration of the four separate communities of Hunter, Granger, Chesterfield, and Redwood. In 1980, these four unincorporated communities merged to incorporate as West Valley City, only to face a strong challenge a week later in the form of a campaign to do away with the new city. The campaign had enough petitioners to successfully persuade the state’s court system to order a disincorporation election a mere three months after the original incorporation vote. By a mere 72 votes, voters rejected the effort to disincorporate and West Valley City survived. More than 20 years later, the voters' decision has been vindicated, as the city has since thrived and been the beneficiary of sustained growth and ongoing progress.
Things to do in and near West Valley City
West Valley City is home to the Utah Cultural Celebration Center, a new world-class facility which hosts a large variety of music and cultural shows. Another city attraction is the E Center, a structure which was built in 1997 and served as the venue for the 2002 Winter Games. Also located in West Valley City are the Rocky Mountain Raceway, the USANA Amphitheatre, and the Hale Centre Theatre. Nearby Salt Lake City has its own wealth of attractions which include the following:
- Off Broadway Theatre: Salt Lake City's downtown hot spot for comedy.
- Ballet West: Considered one of America's leading ballet companies.
- Wheeler Historic Farm: A Family Farm Museum which features an historic farmhouse.
- Capitol Theatre: Built in 1913 and home to the Utah Opera Company, Ballet West, and Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company.
- Clark Planetarium
- Trolley Square
- Heber Valley Historic Railroad
- Lagoon Amusement Park
- Utah's Hogle Zoo
- Utah Opera Company
- The Utah Symphony
- Sandy City Amphitheater
- Salt Lake Art Center
- The Children's Museum of Utah
- Fort Douglas Military Museum
- Pioneer Memorial Museum
- Utah Museum of Fine Arts
- Utah Museum of Natural History
- Usana Amphitheatre
Sports fans in West Valley City have a professional sports team to root for. Hockey's Utah Grizzlies compete in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and play their home games in the city's E Center. Major league pro teams in the Salt Lake City area include basketball's Utah Jazz (NBA), Arena Football's Utah Blaze (AFL), and soccer's Real Salt Lake (MLS). Baseball fans can follow the exploits of the Salt Lake Bees, a minor league team which serves as the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
