15 of 100
BACK NEXT
15. Salt Lake City
Population: 184,550
Pro: Spectacular scenery
Con: Less growth than some neighboring cities

Nestled between the Wasatch Mountains in the east and the Oquirrhs in the west, Salt Lake City features 11 world-class ski resorts within an hour of the city. Snow lovers arrive en masse every winter to experience the world-renowned powder.

Entrepreneurs find additional reasons to show up and stay for the longhaul. Businesses with five or fewer employees requiring less than $35,000 instartup capital may apply to Utah's Microenterprise Loan Fund. The county's economic development office offers loans, grants, on-the-job training and free monthly workshops. Salt Lake City is the center of banking and finance for the region, and tourism remains the dominant industry.

While towns to the south, such as Provo, are currently experiencing hotter economic growth, Salt Lake City, the state's capital, offers a more diverse population and additional entertainment amenities, from fine dining to arts and culture. In the summer, skiers make way for hikers, rock climbers and mountain bikers, but the rugged mountains remain the reason for visiting - and sometimes, staying. -Kelsey Abbott

Interactive map: Salt Lake City
Homes for sale Find homes for sale in Salt Lake City


NEXT: 16. Novato, Calif.

Last updated July 02 2008: 11:16 AM ET
More Galleries
5 startups that are reimagining the world Bricks that grow from microorganisms, household garbage turned into art, three-wheeled bike-cars -- these startups are redefining urban living. More
Blue collar entrepreneurs These five entrepreneurs took their blue collar experience and used it to launch innovative businesses. More
7 lifehacks to eliminate your holiday hassle Whether curating the perfect gift or finding a pet-sitter, these startups offer time-saving services that might just seem like holiday magic. More

Special Offer

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.