View source for West Valley City, Utah

{{short description|City in Utah, United States}}
{{More citations needed
| date = August 2016
}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = West Valley City, Utah
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = "Progress as promised."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wvc-ut.gov/1168/About-Us|title=About Us|publisher=West Valley City, Utah|access-date=2018-08-14}}</ref>

<!-- Images -->| image_skyline      = E Center outside 2002.jpg
| image_caption      = The [[Maverik Center]] in West Valley City, home of the [[Utah Grizzlies]] ice hockey team and the [[Salt Lake City Stars]] basketball team.
| image_flag         = Flag of West Valley City, Utah.svg
| flag_size          = 125px
| image_seal         = Seal of West Valley City, Utah.png

<!-- Maps -->| image_map          = Salt Lake County Utah incorporated and unincorporated areas West Valley City highlighted.svg
| map_caption        = Location within Salt Lake County
| pushpin_map        = Utah#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Utah##Location within the United States
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| pushpin_label      = West Valley City

<!-- Location -->| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Utah]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Utah|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Salt Lake County, Utah|Salt Lake]]

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = [[Karen Lang]]<ref name="wvc-ut.gov">{{Cite web|url=https://www.wvc-ut.gov/912/Mayor|title = Mayor Karen Lang &#124; West Valley City, UT - Official Site}}</ref>
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = Settled
| established_date   = 1847
| established_title2 = [[Incorporated town|Incorporated]]
| established_date2  = 1980

<!-- Area -->| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_49.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 92.92
| area_land_km2      = 92.79
| area_water_km2     = 0.14
| area_total_sq_mi   = 35.88
| area_land_sq_mi    = 35.83
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.05

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_total   = 140230
| population_footnotes = <ref name="quickfacts">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/westvalleycitycityutah/PST045221 |title=QuickFacts West Valley City city, Utah |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2022 }}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = 3913.76

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain (MST)]]
| utc_offset         = &minus;7
| timezone_DST       = MDT
| utc_offset_DST     = &minus;6
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 1312
| elevation_ft       = 4304
| coordinates        = {{coord|40|41|21|N|111|59|38|W|region:US-UT_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = 
| postal_code        = 
| area_codes          = [[Area codes 385 and 801|385, 801]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 49-83470<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1437843<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|http://www.wvc-ut.gov/}}
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
}}
'''West Valley City''' is a city in [[Salt Lake County, Utah|Salt Lake County]] and an inner suburb of [[Salt Lake City]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Utah]]. The population was 140,230 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]],<ref name="quickfacts"/>
making it the [[List of cities and towns in Utah|second-most populous city in Utah]] after Salt Lake City. The city incorporated in 1980 from a large, quickly growing unincorporated area, combining the four communities of Granger, Hunter, Chesterfield, and Redwood. It is home to the [[Maverik Center]] and [[Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre]].

==History==
The earliest known residents of the western Salt Lake Valley were [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] bands of the [[Ute people|Ute]] and [[Shoshoni]] tribes.

The first European people to live in the area were the Latter-day Saints. The Euro-Americans arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. The area was first staked out by settler Joseph Harker and his family in the area they named as "over Jordan" (referring to the land west of the [[Jordan River (Utah)|Jordan River]], which runs through the valley).

The Granger area was settled by Welsh pioneers who came to Utah with [[Dan Jones (Mormon)|Dan Jones]] in 1849. Irrigation systems and agriculture were developed in the area, and [[Elias Smith (Mormon)|Elias Smith]] proposed the area's name on account of its successful farming. The population of Granger and its vicinity was about 1,000 people in 1930.<ref>Jenson, Andrew. ''Encyclopedic History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints''. (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1941) p. 295</ref>

Hunter was not settled until 1876. This settlement was started by Rasmus Nielson, Edward Rushton, August Larsen and about seven others along with their families. Irrigation began in 1881 and the main crop was fruit trees.<ref>Jenson. ''Encyclopedic History''. p. 346</ref>

The city began to experience rapid growth in the 1970s, when the area that is now West Valley City consisted of the four separate communities of Hunter, Granger, Chesterfield, and Redwood. These four [[unincorporated area]]s merged in 1980 to form the present-day city. During the [[2002 Olympic Winter Games]], West Valley City was the official venue for men's and women's [[ice hockey]].

Plans to create a vibrant downtown district for the city were launched in 2011, including housing, commercial, and entertainment venues centered around Fairbourne Station (named after Joseph Fairbourne, an early settler who operated a weigh station in the area in the late 19th century), a civic center (consisting of city hall, a courthouse, police headquarters, and a library), hotels, a plaza, and public transport hub for the [[TRAX (light rail)|TRAX]] [[Green Line (TRAX)|Green Line]] and the [[3500 South MAX]] [[bus rapid transit]] line. [[Valley Fair Mall (West Valley City, Utah)|Valley Fair Mall]], West Valley Performing Arts Center, and the [[Maverik Center]] are located nearby, as is [[Interstate 215 (Utah)|I-215]]. 

Serial killer [[Ted Bundy]] was arrested in Granger on August 16, 1975, on a routine traffic stop.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/778245/Officer-recalls-Bundys-75-capture.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421230657/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/778245/Officer-recalls-Bundys-75-capture.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 21, 2012|title=Officer recalls Bundy's '75 capture|date=2000-08-20|work=DeseretNews.com|access-date=2017-04-21|language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 35.5&nbsp;square miles (91.8&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), of which 35.4&nbsp;square miles (91.7&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) is land and 0.1&nbsp;square miles (0.2&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) (0.17%) is water.

West Valley is located on the northwest side of the [[Salt Lake Valley]] between [[Salt Lake City]] on the north, [[South Salt Lake, Utah|South Salt Lake]] on the east, [[Magna, Utah|Magna]] on the west, and [[Taylorsville, Utah|Taylorsville]] and [[Kearns, Utah|Kearns Township]] on the south. The [[Oquirrh Mountains]] loom over the city to the west, while the [[Jordan River (Utah)|Jordan River]] marks the eastern boundary.
{| id="toc" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; width: 30%; font-size: 90%;" cellspacing="3"
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|'''Elected officials of West Valley City {{As of|2022|lc=y}}'''
|-
|'''Official'''||'''Position'''||'''Term ends'''
|-
|[[Karen Lang]]<ref name="wvc-ut.gov">{{Cite web|url=https://www.wvc-ut.gov/912/Mayor|title = Mayor Karen Lang &#124; West Valley City, UT - Official Site}}</ref> ||Mayor||
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|'''City Council members'''
|-
|Don Christiansen||At-large||2023
|-
|Lars Nordfelt||At-large||2025
|-
|Tom Huynh||District 1||2023
|-
|Scott Harmon||District 2||2025
|-
|William Whetstone ||District 3||2023
|-
|Cindy Wood||District 4||2025
|}
West Valley City has a [[Non-partisan democracy|nonpartisan]], strong city manager form of government, which means that the city manager is analogous to a corporation's CEO, while the [[mayor]] fills a role similar to chairman of the board, with the City Council acting as the "board". The [[mayor]] is a voting member of the City Council. The West Valley City Council meets each Tuesday night at 6:30 PM, except fifth Tuesdays. City Hall is located at 3600 South Constitution Boulevard.

==Government==
The [[mayor]] and six [[councilor]]s are elected to four-year terms. Mayoral elections are held the same year as three of the councilors. The other three councilors are staggered two years from the mayoral. Two council seats are at-large, or citywide, and the remaining four seats represent districts of approximately 28,000 residents. Officials are not subject to [[term limit]]s. {{as of|2013|November}}, the most recent election was held in November, 2013.<ref>{{cite news|last=Manson|first=Pamela|title=Bigelow wins West Valley City mayor's race by large margin|url=http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/57082920-90/bigelow-com-http-lang.html.csp|access-date=19 November 2013|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|date=5 November 2013}}</ref>

In the [[Utah State Legislature]], West Valley City is situated within Senate Districts 10, 11, and 12, represented by [[Luz Escamilla]] (Democrat), [[Daniel Thatcher]] (Forward Party), and [[Karen Kwan (politician)]] (Democrat); and House Districts 25, 26, 27, 30, and 31, represented by [[Angela Romero]] (Democrat), Matt MacPherson (Republican), Anthony Loubet (Republican), [[Jake Fitisemanu]] (Democrat), and [[Verona Mauga]] (Democrat). Federally, West Valley City lies in the 2nd and 4th congressional districts, represented by Republicans [[Chris Stewart (politician)|Chris Stewart]] and [[Burgess Owens]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://le.utah.gov/ |title= Utah State Legislature |access-date= June 9, 2015}}</ref>

=== Police ===
[[File:West Valley City police car (33578466224).jpg|thumb|right|West Valley City police car, April 2017]]
The West Valley City Police Department (WVCPD) provides law enforcement services to the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wvc-ut.gov/index.aspx?NID=24|title=West Valley City Police Department - Welcome Banner &#124; West Valley City, UT - Official Site}}</ref> {{As of|2021}} the [[Police Chief|police chief]] is Colleen Jacobs, a 21 year veteran of the department, who oversees 218 sworn officers and 47 support staff.<ref>{{cite web |title=Inside the Police Department |url=http://www.wvc-ut.gov/1521/Inside-the-Department |publisher=West Valley City Police Department |access-date=24 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ksl.com/?sid=26608702&nid=148&title=west-valley-to-name-russo-new-police-chief-sources-say&fm=home_page&s_cid=queue-4|title = 'We're going to improve,' says new West Valley police chief}}</ref>

In 2013, the city police's narcotics unit was disbanded after an officer-involved critical incident revealed drugs and money had not been booked into evidence. Officers in the unit were also found to be keeping change and small items from seized vehicles, and placing tracking devices on potential suspects' vehicles without warrants.<ref>{{cite news|author=Jack Healy|title=A 'Pandora's Box of Problems' From a Police Shooting and Drugs in a Utah Town|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 17, 2013|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/18/us/drug-cases-put-utah-towns-police-force-under-scrutiny.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|access-date=2017-08-27}}</ref>

In 2016, Officer Cody Brotherson was killed in the line of duty, the department's only such fatality.<ref>{{cite web |title=West Valley City Police Department |url=https://www.odmp.org/agency/6857-west-valley-city-police-department-utah |publisher=Officer Down Memorial Page |access-date=24 July 2021}}</ref>

In 2019, an officer shot and killed a handcuffed man who was attempting to pull an officer's gun out of its holster: this killing was found legally justified by the district attorney.<ref>{{Cite web|title='A disturbing shooting': Salt Lake County district attorney says officer was justified in killing handcuffed man|url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/2021/07/22/west-valley-city-sergeant/|access-date=2021-10-26|website=The Salt Lake Tribune|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1980= 72299
|1990= 86976
|2000= 108896
|2010= 129480
|2020= 140230
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|footnote=source:<ref name="quickfacts"/><ref>{{cite web
  |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING (1790-2000)|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2010-07-17}}</ref><ref>Census number enumerated in 1980 prior to incorporation as '''West Valley [[Census-designated place|CDP]]'''.</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''West Valley City, Utah – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – West Valley City, Utah|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US4983470&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – West Valley City, Utah|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US4983470&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – West Valley City, Utah|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US4983470&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|76,545
|69,498
|style='background: #ffffe6; |61,004
|70.29%
|53.67%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |43.50%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|1,090
|2,254
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,720
|1.00%
|1.74%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.65%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|1,014
|1,137
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,231
|0.93%
|0.88%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.88%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|4,614
|6,303
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7,920
|4.24%
|4.87%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.65%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|3,118
|4,647
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6,334
|2.86%
|3.59%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.52%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|75
|284
|style='background: #ffffe6; |443
|0.07%
|0.22%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.32%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|2,314
|2,465
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,300
|2.12%
|1.90%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.07%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|20,126
|42,892
|style='background: #ffffe6; |55,278
|18.48%
|33.13%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |39.42%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''108,896'''
|'''129,480'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''140,230'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

According to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/westvalleycitycityutah/PST045216|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref> as of 2018, there were 136,401 people in West Valley City. The racial makeup of the city was 46.5% non-Hispanic [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 2.3% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]], 1.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 6.0% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 3.9% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], and 4.2% from two or more races. 38.1% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 129,480 people, 38,535 households, and 34,900 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 3,647.32 people per square mile (2,266.35/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 38,978 housing units at an average density of 1,097.97 per square mile (682.25/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 65.37% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.96% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.26% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 4.97% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 3.64% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 18.96% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.85% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 33.13% of the population.

There were 38,535 households, out of which 47.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.6% were non-families. 14.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.36 and the average family size was 3.71.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 33.7% under the age of 18, 12.9% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,773, and the median income for a family was $48,593. Males had a median income of $32,116 versus $22,693 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $15,031. About 6.7% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.
[[File:LDS stake center in West Valley City, Utah (cropped).jpg|thumb|A stake center of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] in West Valley, Utah.]]

==Economy==
Companies based in West Valley City include [[Backcountry.com]], [[C.R. England]], [[FranklinCovey]], and [[USANA Health Sciences]].

===Top employers===
According to the City's 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wvc-ut.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11864/DIGITALTotal-CAFR-2017 |title=City of West Valley City CAFR|website=Wvc-ut.gov|access-date=2018-05-22}}</ref> these are the top employers in the city:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
|1
|[[Discover Financial]]
|4,200
|-
|2
|[[United Parcel Service]]
|1,320
|-
|3
|[[Swift Transportation]]
|1,118
|-
|4
|[[Select Portfolio Servicing]]
|987
|-
|5
|[[Hexcel]]
|953
|-
|6
|[[Verizon Wireless]]
|916
|-
|7
|[[West Valley City]]
|909
|-
|8
|[[Sutter Health]]
|804
|-
|9
|[[USANA Health Sciences]]
|778
|-
|10
|[[Walmart]]
|629
|-
|11
|Jacobsen Construction 
|616
|-
|12
|Pride Transport
|606
|-
|13
|[[Six Continents]]
|587
|-
|14
|[[C.R. England]]
|544
|-
|15
|Wheeler [[Caterpillar Inc.|CAT]]
|520
|-
|16
|[[ATK Launch Systems]]
|452
|-
|17
|[[Old Dominion Freight Line]]
|441
|-
|18
|[[Jordan Valley Medical Center West Valley Campus|Jordan Valley Medical]]
|418
|-
|19
|[[Zions Bank]] Commercial
|414
|-
|20
|[[Freightliner Trucks|Freightliner]] of Utah 
|402
|-
|21
|Hunt Electric
|397
|-
|22
|[[Federal Express]]
|396
|-
|23
|[[Zions Bank]] Data
|366
|-
|24
|[[YRC Worldwide]]
|360
|-
|25
|[[Automatic Data Processing|ADP]]
|338
|}

==Education==
The city lies in the [[Granite School District]]. It has 21 elementary schools, four junior high schools, and two high schools - [[Granger High School (Utah)|Granger Senior High]], which opened in 1958, and [[Hunter High School|Hunter]], which opened in 1990. The city also contains multiple charter schools: [[East Hollywood High School]], a charter school specializing in film education; American Preparatory Academy; and Monticello Academy.

==Transportation==
[[File:35 MAX - Magna to Millcreek bus.jpg|thumb|The [[West Valley Central (UTA station)|West Valley Central]] [[Green Line (UTA TRAX)|Green Line]] station.]]
[[File:Intersection continuous flow.jpg|thumb|A [[continuous-flow intersection]] on the Bangerter Highway in West Valley City.]]
West Valley City is on the same address grid system as Salt Lake City, and therefore follows the same street numbering system. [[Interstate 215 (Utah)|I-215]] runs through eastern portions of the city parallel to [[Interstate 15 in Utah|I-15]], which lies farther east of the city. The [[Utah State Route 201|SR-201]] freeway lies along the northern border with Salt Lake City and continues west into Magna as an expressway. [[Utah State Route 154|Bangerter Highway]], which runs south from [[Salt Lake City International Airport]], traverses the approximate center of the city and services the rapidly growing western and southern ends of the valley. The [[Mountain View Corridor]] also runs through the western portion of the city. The city is served by several bus routes operated by the [[Utah Transit Authority]], and an [[Intermodal passenger transport|intermodal transport]]ation hub located in the city center near [[Valley Fair Mall (West Valley City, Utah)|Valley Fair Mall]] and the [[Maverik Center]]. In addition to local bus routes, the [[West Valley Central station|West Valley Intermodal Hub]] is serviced by the [[TRAX (light rail)|TRAX]] [[light rail]]'s [[Green Line (TRAX)|Green Line]], which was completed and began service in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |first=Steve|last=Fidel|newspaper=[[Deseret News]]|publisher=[[Deseret Digital Media]]|location=[[Salt Lake City]] |title=2011 completion date for two TRAX lines announced|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700069890/2011-completion-date-for-two-TRAX-lines-announced.html?s_cid=rss-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017220256/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700069890/2011-completion-date-for-two-TRAX-lines-announced.html?s_cid=rss-30|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 17, 2010|date=1 Oct 2010|access-date=7 Mar 2013}}</ref> It was also formerly served by the [[3500 South MAX]] [[bus rapid transit]] (BRT) line, which began service in 2008.<ref>{{cite news|last=Warburton|first=Nicole|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/695249755/UTA-plans-bus-rapid-transit-line.html?pg=all|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505114422/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/695249755/UTA-plans-bus-rapid-transit-line.html?pg=all|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 5, 2014|title=UTA plans bus rapid-transit line|date=3 Feb 2008|newspaper=[[Deseret News]]|publisher=[[Deseret Digital Media]]|location=[[Salt Lake City]]|access-date=28 Mar 2013}}</ref> The line was temporarily suspended on April 5, 2020, due to the [[impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public transport]], and in the summer of 2022, UTA announced that the line would be permanently discontinued as of August 7, 2022.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Service Adjustments |url=https://www.rideuta.com/Test-Pages/Service-Adjustments |access-date=July 4, 2022 |website=www.rideuta.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Davidson |first=Lee |date=July 22, 2020 |title=UTA is restoring bus and train service to 91% of pre-pandemic levels |url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2020/07/22/uta-is-restoring-bus/ |access-date=July 4, 2022 |website=The Salt Lake Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=OpenGov |title=August Change Day 2022 |url=https://stories.opengov.com/utahtransitauthority/published/He3iF15jp |access-date=July 25, 2022 |website=August Change Day 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

==Sports and entertainment==
[[File:Rush at USANA Amphitheater.jpg|thumb|[[Rush (band)|Rush]] playing at the USANA Amphitheatre in 2007.]]
West Valley City is home to the [[Maverik Center]] and the [[Utah Grizzlies]] of the [[ECHL]] along with the [[Salt Lake City Stars]] of the [[NBA G League]]. It is also home to the Utah Cultural Celebration Center, Stonebridge Golf Course, The Ridge Golf Course, Rocky Mountain Raceways, [[USANA Amphitheatre]], and the [[Valley Fair Mall (West Valley City, Utah)|Valley Fair Mall]].
West Valley City is also home to The Drive-in.

==Neighborhoods==

===Chesterfield, Redwood, Westshire, East Granger (84119)===
The Eastern side of West Valley City consists of the Redwood, Chesterfield and East Granger neighborhoods. The neighborhood population in 2013 was 54,832. This area of West Valley City has a median household income of $42,512, which is lower when compared to the rest of the city and region. The neighborhood's racial makeup was 51.17% White, 35.08% Hispanic or Latino, 4.73% Asian, 3.24% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander and 2.51% African-American.<ref name="City-Data.com - 84119">{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/zips/84119.html|title=West Valley City, UT-84119|publisher=City-Data.com}}</ref>

Much of Eastern West Valley's residential architecture is based on common brick ranch styles from the 1960s and 1970s. To the north of Parkway Boulevard exists a significant number of light industrial development. South of Parkway is mostly residential and commercial, including Valley Fair Mall and the Maverik Center. The Westshire neighborhood is located directly south of Valley Fair Mall and consists of 160 homes built by modernist architect Ron Molen. This neighborhood is unique in that all homes were built in the 1960s and 1970s in the Mid-Century Modern style and are excellent examples of modernist residential architecture.<ref name="Preservation Utah">{{cite web|url=https://preservationutah.org/images/stories/pdf/Ron_Molen.pdf|title=Ron Molen|publisher=PreservationUtah}}</ref> West Valley City planners are currently developing a planned mass-transit anchored Downtown area near the Valley Fair Mall with the emergence of the [[Fairbourne Station]] as a gathering place and revitalization of the mall.<ref name="West Valley revitalization going strong despite recent economic woes">{{cite web|url=http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=34141391|title=West Valley City Downtown Revitalization|publisher=KSL}}</ref>

===West Granger, Hunter, Lakepark (84120)===
The Central portion of West Valley City consists of the West Granger and Hunter, south of 3100 South, with the Lakepark and Westlake Business Park commercial and office developments taking up the majority of the space north of 3100 South. The neighborhood population in 2013 was 49,107. This area of West Valley City has a median household income of $55,087, which is typical for the state of Utah and Northern Salt Lake County. The neighborhood's racial makeup was 53.82% White, 32.11% Hispanic or Latino, 5.04% Asian, 4.54% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander and 1.57% African-American.<ref name="City-Data.com - 84120">{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/zips/84120.html|title=West Valley City, UT-84120|publisher=City-Data.com}}</ref>

Much of Central West Valley's residential architecture is based on common brick ranch styles from the 1960s and 1970s. The Highbury planned development is currently being established in the northwestern portion of this area. This is a large planned mixed residential and commercial area with a large pond and many casual restaurants in a walk-able district near [[Utah State Route 172|5600 West]].

===West Hunter, Woodhaven, Oquirrh (84128)===
The western portion of West Valley City consists of the West Hunter, Woodhaven, and Oquirrh neighborhoods. The neighborhood population in 2013 was 28,475. This area of West Valley City has a median household income of $64,356, which is slightly higher than the median for both the state of Utah and Salt Lake County. The neighborhood's racial makeup was 60.65% White, 29.62% Hispanic or Latino, 3.15% Asian, 2.37% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander and 1.39% African-American.<ref name="City-Data.com - 84128">{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/zips/84128.html|title=West Valley City, UT-84128|publisher=City-Data.com}}</ref>

Much of western West Valley's residential architecture is based on 1990s and 2000s planned developments. The majority of the neighborhood is residential, with the exception of many strip-mall style commercial developments along its eastern border of 5600 West. The city's master plan calls for a Hunter Town Center development near the intersection of 5600 West and [[Utah State Route 171|3500 South]], but no structures have yet been developed specifically for this.<ref name="Hunter Town Center">{{cite web|url=http://www.wvc-ut.gov/728/Hunter-Town-Center-Plan|title=Hunter Town Center Small Area Plan|publisher=West Valley City}}</ref> This side of West Valley City is also home to USANA Amphitheater, though it technically shares the 84118 zip code with Kearns and Taylorsville, rather than West Valley City.

==Key to the City==
West Valley City has presented the [[Key to the city]] to several visiting dignitaries. Past recipients have included Mayor [[Yeah Samake|Yéah Samaké]] of [[Ouélessébougou]], [[Mali]]; [[Governor of Chiapas]] [[Juan Sabines Guerrero]]; and [[United States Secretary of State]] [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref name=slt>{{cite news|title=Tonga's Queen Mother coming to West Valley City to rededicate Methodist church |url=http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52288527-78/valley-west-tonga-church.html.csp |work=[[Salt Lake Tribune]]|date=2011-07-29|access-date=2011-07-31}}</ref> The key was awarded to [[Tonga]]n [[queen mother]] [[Halaevalu Mataʻaho ʻAhomeʻe]] on July 28, 2011, when she visited the city for the rededication of the Tongan United Methodist Church.<ref name=slt/> It was also presented by Mayor [[Mike Winder]] on December 14, 2011 to [[Axl Rose]] of [[Guns N' Roses]] when they performed in the [[Maverik Center]] the day after it was announced that the band was to be inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/guns-n-roses-frontman-presented-with-key-to-west-valley-city/|title=GUNS N' ROSES Frontman Presented With Key To West Valley City|last=Blabbermouth|date=14 December 2011|website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET|access-date=27 August 2017}}</ref>

==Sister cities==
West Valley City has [[twin towns and sister cities|sister cities]], as designated by [[Sister Cities International]]:
* {{flagdeco|ROC}} [[Nantou City|Nantou]], [[Nantou County|Nantou]], [[Taiwan Province]], [[Republic of China]] (Taiwan)
* {{flagdeco|MEX}} [[Boca del Río, Veracruz|Boca del Río]], [[Veracruz]], [[Mexico]]

==Notable people==
<!---needs article PLUS citation to include on this list. in other words, prove they live(d) in West Valley City with WP:RS
details of work unnecessary. "professional football player" is less work all around-->
* [[Ray Feinga]], NFL offensive tackle<ref>{{cite web |title=Ray Feinga Biography |url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/player/bio/_/id/12786/ray-feinga |access-date=14 March 2023 |website=ESPN}}</ref>
* [[Tadd Gadduang]], finalist, So You Think You Can Dance<ref>{{Cite web |title=FOX Broadcasting Company - Tadd Gadduang - So You Think You Can Dance - Official Site |url=http://www.fox.com/dance/bios/contestants/tadd-gadduang |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818013957/http://www.fox.com/dance/bios/contestants/tadd-gadduang |archive-date=2011-08-18 |access-date=2011-08-17}}</ref>
* [[Zavier Gozo]], soccer player<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 30, 2025 |title=Emerging Real Salt Lake Standout Zavier Gozo Named to U.S.A. U-20 Men's National Team Camp |url=https://www.rsl.com/news/emerging-real-salt-lake-standout-zavier-gozo-named-to-u-s-a-u-20-men-s-national-team-camp |access-date=August 20, 2025 |website=[[Real Salt Lake]]}}</ref>
* [[SHeDAISY]]<ref>{{cite web |date=April 21, 1989 |title=W.V. TEEN WAS SHOWTIME HOSTESS FOLLOWING NATIONWIDE COMPETITION |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/43598/WV-TEEN-WAS-SHOWTIME-HOSTESS-FOLLOWING-NATIONWIDE-COMPETITION.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224112806/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/43598/WV-TEEN-WAS-SHOWTIME-HOSTESS-FOLLOWING-NATIONWIDE-COMPETITION.html |archive-date=February 24, 2014 |website=[[Deseret News]]}}</ref>
* [[Naufahu Tahi]], former NFL full back<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vikings.com/team/roster/Naufahu-Tahi/b6b485c5-2900-45ad-84ea-f0f0e7e6427d|title=Minnesota Vikings: Naufahu Tahi|website=Vikings.com|access-date=27 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828020449/http://www.vikings.com/team/roster/Naufahu-Tahi/b6b485c5-2900-45ad-84ea-f0f0e7e6427d|archive-date=28 August 2017|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* [[Khyiris Tonga]], nose tackle for the [[Atlanta Falcons]] 

==See also==
* [[Salt Lake City metropolitan area]]
* [[Granger-Hunter, Utah|Granger-Hunter]], a [[census-designated place]] delineated within the area in [[1970 United States census|1970]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.wvc-ut.gov/ West Valley City official website]
* [http://www.chamberwest.org/ Chamber of Commerce/Tourism website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727162758/http://www.chamberwest.org/ |date=July 27, 2010 }}
{{wikivoyage inline|West Valley City}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = West Valley City
|North     = [[Salt Lake City]]
|Northeast = 
|East      = [[South Salt Lake, Utah|South Salt Lake]]<br />[[Millcreek, Utah|Millcreek]]
|Southeast = [[Murray, Utah|Murray]]
|South     = [[West Jordan, Utah|West Jordan]], [[Kearns, Utah|Kearns]], [[Taylorsville, Utah|Taylorsville]]
|Southwest = [[Tooele, Utah|Tooele]]
|West      = [[Magna, Utah|Magna]]
|Northwest = 
}}
{{Salt Lake County, Utah}}
{{Utah}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:West Valley City, Utah| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Utah]]
[[Category:Salt Lake City metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1980 establishments in Utah]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1980]]
[[Category:Wasatch Front]]
[[Category:Cities in Salt Lake County, Utah]]
[[Category:Tongan diaspora in the United States]]