According to Money Magazine's evaluation of U.S. cities, Ogden is the least expensive place to live in Utah. It is located in Weber County and through most of its history has served as a railway hub. Ogden is well known for its historic buildings and many golf courses. It is near the Wasatch Mountains, north of the capital of Salt Lake City. Ogden was originally named Fort Buenavenura and was established in 1846 by a trapper named Miles Goodyear. It received its current name for Peter Skene Ogden, a brigade leader in the Hudson Bay Company.
Demographics
In 2006, the U.S. census bureau estimated the population of Ogden at 78,086. Forty-nine percent of the population of Ogden is aged between 25-55. The average household income in the area is $34,047 (compared to a national average of $50,740). The average home price is $101,300.
Employment
Ogden has a number of diverse industries. Hill Air Force Base, the home of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, employs thousands of civilian Ogden residents. Other large employers in Ogden include the National Forest Service, McKay Dee Hospital, Weber School District and Weber University. Ogden’s manufacturing industry includes Autoliv, which services car manufacturers, ATK which provides weapon systems for the U.S. military, and Parker Hannifin, which manufactures aircraft hydraulic and control systems.
Outdoor activities
If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, you will find plenty to do in Ogden. The city is home to Powder Mountain, Wolf Mountain and Snowbasin ski resorts. You can also snowmobile or snowshoe through the beautiful Wasatch-Cache National Forest. If you like ice fishing, there are plenty of fish to be caught at Pineview and Causey Reservoirs, and you can experience wildlife firsthand while hiking through Ogden Canyon and Ogden River Parkway. Ogden is also home to more than 10 golf courses.
Entertainment and leisure
If it’s night life that you’re looking for, Ogden will not disappoint. For family fun and entertainment, visit Peery’s Egyptian Theater to see musical shows and other performing arts. Weber State University hosts regular dance, music and live theater events. There are a number of clubs and bars and restaurants for adult entertainment. During the daytime you may want to check out the Hill Aerospace Museum and the shops and museums at the renovated Union Station.
Historic sites
Travel through time with a stroll down Ogden’s 25th Street, where you can wander through the historic railway hub and see the original bordellos and saloons interspersed with antique stores and restaurants. Don’t forget to visit the 1924 Egyptian Theater to see its famous restored rococo exterior, and the Fielding Gar Ranch House, which was built in 1848.
References
Writer Bio
Corinna Underwood is a freelance writer based in Atlanta. She specializes in health and lifestyle features. Her writing has been published in a number of magazines including "Alternative Medicine," "Alive" and "Chronogram". She is also the author of Haunted History of Atlanta and North Georgia and Murder and Mystery in Atlanta. She holds a Master of Arts in women’s studies from Staffordshire University.