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SALT LAKE CITY — In a world of endless lists and rankings, Utah seems to be fighting for the "most-ranked state" title. Some of the rankings are backed up by data; others are more arbitrary. None paint a complete picture of the Beehive State:
Some of the rankings are quantifiable: BYU's and the University of Utah's law schools were recently ranked in the top 50, for example, based on the quality of the schools' faculties, staff and students.
Other rankings have made national headlines despite being based on purely subjective criteria, such as Salt Lake City's "gayest city" ranking by The Advocate magazine, based on stereotypical data such as the existence of a WNBA team — which Utah has not had since 2003.
And then there was GQ magazine's ranking of Provo as America's 15th-worst-dressed city, based on assumptions that the city's 113,000 residents all dress in short- sleeved white shirts and wide ties every day.
Some of the statistical rankings have been positive: Utah usually garners a place near the top on business-friendly lists, and the past year has been no different. The state was recently ranked second for job growth and top for being business friendly.
Others portray the state in a more negative light: it was recently ranked fifth worst on a list of states that give Americans a bad impression.
Some have fought back against the sometimes-questionable rankings, though, pointing to the state's increasing diversity and huge economic growth over the past decade as indicators that the Beehive State is more than just an easy target for a bad joke. The rankings may paint a partial picture, but what really defines the state is the growth it has seen over recent decades, and the increased opportunities that growth has brought to each of its residents.
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Once geographically and economically isolated, Utah has enjoyed a surge of growth as it has entered the national and international business scene. And both the state's economy and its population has diversified in the process.
Thanks to the state's resilience during the last recession, it became a popular destination for those — both native and foreign born — seeking employment. Minorities, which for decades accounted for only 1-2 percent of the total population, accounted for 18 percent by 2007.
The state has also begun trending toward national numbers such as fertility rates and household size, leading to smaller families and a slightly older population that — while still younger than the U.S. average — seems to be catching up.
The relative economic health of Utah compared to the rest of the nation has also led to investments in the infrastructure by both the state and private businesses: an addition to the Salt Lake City Int'l Airport, a new TRAX line and planned FrontRunner additions increase mobility within the state, while developments such as City Creek Center in downtown Salt Lake City have begun to revitalize the area.
In all, the investments have led to a more culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse state. They are characteristics that are now reflected in the variety of community events and in the new businesses and houses of worship, not necessarily in the plethora of lists on which Utah consistently merits placement.
