Utah is a state in the western United States. It became the 45th state admitted to the union on January 4, 1896. It is the 13th largest state by area, the 30th most populous and the 11th most densely populated state.Utah is known for its natural diversity and is home to features ranging from arid deserts with sand dunes to thriving pine forests in the mountain valleys. It is a rugged and geographically diverse state that is at the convergence of three distinct geological regions: the Rocky Mountains, the Great Basin, and the Colorado Plateau.