{"id":3440,"date":"2021-09-27T15:06:08","date_gmt":"2021-09-27T21:06:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/suggestedbylocals.com\/?p=3440"},"modified":"2022-08-12T14:40:24","modified_gmt":"2022-08-12T20:40:24","slug":"17-reasons-not-to-move-to-west-valley-city-utah-voted-by-the-locals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/suggestedbylocals.com\/17-reasons-not-to-move-to-west-valley-city-utah-voted-by-the-locals\/","title":{"rendered":"17 Reasons Not to Move to West Valley City, Utah (Voted by the locals!)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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I have great memories growing up in West Valley, Utah and that will always be my home. However, there are some things about my beloved hometown that may make you want to reconsider living there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

West Valley City is located about 9 miles from Downtown Salt Lake City and although there are about 136,000 people living there (source<\/a>), people often forget it exists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, I want to give you some things that you may want to consider before moving to West Valley City. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.The Crime<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Crime rate in West Valley is higher than nearly 96% of other cities in Utah. Not only is West Valley a major producer of crime in Utah, but it also ranks as one of the most crime-ridden cities in the nation. According to the data released by the FBI for the year 2019, West Valley has about 7.1 violent crimes committed per thousand people and about 32.37 property crimes per thousand people. Both of these numbers are well above the national average. Just like many cities, there are some safer parts to West Valley, but the city as a whole struggles to control this problem. (source<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a crime rate of 39 per one thousand residents, West Valley City has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes – from the smallest towns to the very largest cities.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

2. Cookie and Soda shops<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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On a little bit lighter note, many Utah cities, including West Valley are being overrun by Soda shops and cookie places. Now don’t get me wrong, I can go for a good snickerdoodle and Dr. Pepper, but the emergence and success of these restaurants are almost taking over the city. At this point, you can almost find either one of these stores on every other corner. Just a fair warning that if you want to go on a diet in West Valley City, Utah, you’re going to have to have some serious willpower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Schools<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I will be a Lancer until the day I die, and I love the schools I went to growing up, however, I like many others do not feel like the schools in West Valley prepared me to receive my post-secondary education or even to get a job after graduation. According to the Utah Department of Education here is how just the West Valley high schools ranked during the 2017-2018 school year: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/td>Graduation rate<\/td>ACT 18+<\/td>College Readiness<\/td><\/tr>
Hunter High School (source<\/a>)<\/td>88.5%<\/td>43.3%<\/td>70%<\/td><\/tr>
Granger High school (source<\/a>)<\/td>77.3%<\/td>33.9%<\/td>75.4%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Although in recent years the numbers have been increasing, the fact is that West Valley schools don’t have the greatest ability to help students be prepared for life post graduation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Religion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just a disclaimer that I do not at all consider religion a bad thing, however, because of West Valley’s proximity to many religious institutions, it can make it difficult for those who may not want to participate. As mentioned before West Valley is about 9 miles from downtown Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City is home to the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Because of this, about 48.91 percent of people in Salt Lake County are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. (source<\/a>) Like I mentioned before this is not at all a bad thing. I do however remember having many friends who felt ostracized because they were not a member of that church. Because West Valley is close to Salt Lake, it’s important to know that if you choose to live here, you may have to deal with some social norms that go along with being around members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. The Name<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to a poll taken on Facebook of people who do or previously did live in West Valley City (source<\/a>), a very unpopular thing about West Valley City is the name. In 1980 four growing areas named Granger, Hunter, Chesterfield, and Redwood were all combined to create what we now know as West Valley City. (source<\/a>) Many people are not a fan of the name as it sounds so basic and doesn’t give them as much of an identity as the previous names did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Earthquakes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I have heard all my life that Utah is bound to have a huge earthquake and I remember being in class having earthquake drills to prepare for this big day that could be soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may remember that in 2020 a 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit Salt Lake county with the epicenter being in Magna which is located right next to West Valley City. Aftershocks were happening for months after the earthquake and many buildings were damaged. Here is a video from the earthquake that was taken during a news broadcast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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