Murray is a city situated on the Wasatch Front in the core of Salt Lake Valley in the U.S. state of Utah. Named for territorial governor Eli Murray, and according to the 2020 census, Murray had a population of 50,637.
Murray shares borders with Taylorsville, Holladay, South Salt Lake, Millcreek and West Jordan, Utah. Once teeming with heavy industry, Murray's industry mix has now shifted significantly toward healthcare, retail, and professional, scientific, and technical services. Known for its central location in Salt Lake County, Murray has been called the Hub of Salt Lake County. Unlike most of its neighboring communities, Murray operates its own police, fire, power, water, library, and parks and recreation departments and has its own school district. While maintaining many of its own services, Murray has one of the lowest city tax rates in the state.
The Sons of Utah Pioneer's South Cottonwood Monument
Murray's landmark smoke stacks, circa 1920s
Murray City Hall
Little Cottonwood Creek in Murray City Park
Salt Lake Valley is a 500-square-mile (1,300 km2) valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably Murray, Sandy, South Jordan, West Jordan, and West Valley City; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010. Brigham Young said, "this is the right place," when he and his fellow Mormon settlers moved into Utah after being driven out of several states.
A portion of the Salt Lake Valley with the Oquirrh Mountains in the background, as seen looking southwest from City Creek Canyon
Salt Lake Valley from space
Greatest vertical relief in the valley. Twin Peaks has a rise of 7,099 ft (2,164 m) from the valley floor.