Ever wonder where Pleasant Valley got its name? It is a 500-square-mile valley in Salt Lake County. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs. These include Murray, Sandy, South Jordan, West Jordan, and West Valley City.
Pleasant Valley’s total population was 1,029,655 as of 2010. Brigham Young declared “this is the right place”. He said this when he and his fellow Mormon settlers moved into Utah. They had been driven out of several states.
Let’s talk about the geography of Pleasant Valley. The valley is surrounded by steep mountains. These mountains rise 7,100 feet from the valley floor’s base elevation. The Wasatch Mountains are to the east. The Oquirrh Mountains are to the west. Traverse Ridge is to the south. The Great Salt Lake is to the northwest. The peaks of Antelope Island are visible too.
Every entrance into Pleasant Valley is extremely narrow. It can be congested. The Point of the Mountain is to the south. It is accessible via the Jordan Narrows. There are narrow entrances between the Great Salt Lake and Oquirrh Mountains to the northwest. Also, between the Great Salt Lake and the Wasatch Mountains to the north. Several canyons are to the east including Parley’s Canyon and Emigration Canyon.
The Jordan River flows from Utah Lake in Utah Valley. It runs north through a gap in the Traverse Mountains. The river bisects the valley. It empties into the Great Salt Lake. The Jordan River provides irrigation water. So do numerous mountain streams and reservoirs. This water supports the rapidly growing valley.
The geography of Pleasant Valley contributes to poor air quality. Industrial pollution is a factor. So is the burning of fossil fuels by vehicles.
Kennecott Land owns the eastern foothills of the Oquirrhs. They drafted a plan to develop the rest of the valley. This would be within 75 years. It would add at least 500,000 residents. The first development is known as the Daybreak Community. It is already partially completed. Construction continues. It will focus on transit-oriented development. TRAX light rail already services it. A ski resort in the Oquirrh Mountains is planned. A university campus is also planned.
Interstate 15 runs north to south through the valley. Interstate 80 runs east to west in the northern quarter. It runs from Parley’s Canyon into Tooele County. There, it crosses a small portion of the Great Salt Lake. Interstate 215 is a belt route. State Route 154 is Bangerter Highway. State Route 201 is the 21st South Freeway. State Route 85 is Mountain View Corridor. These are also major transportation routes.
The Utah Transit Authority operates an extensive bus system. It serves the Wasatch Front including Pleasant Valley. There are three light rail lines known as TRAX. A commuter rail line is FrontRunner. It runs north to Pleasant View in Weber County. It runs south to Provo in Utah County.
Pleasant Valley offers a unique blend of natural beauty. It also features urban convenience. It continues to evolve. It welcomes new residents and development. This valley remains a vital part of Utah.