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CONCLUSION
A,LS Utah celebrates its centennial, the state is examining the role its counties have played in its history. Wasatch County has had a prominent role in providing resources to the populated Wasatch Front. That was not always the case. The area communities started as self-sufficient Mormon villages. But they did not have the funds to develop the natural resources of the area. As a result, the county lost water and grazing rights and became dependent on other areas of the state. In addition, larger outside industries were economically more competitive, forcing smaller Wasatch County businesses such as the creameries and pea factory to close. As transportation has improved, more people have moved to the county, frequently to escape urban life. A constant in the area has been the Mormon church. Even as newcomers move to the area, most residents continue to be Latterday Saints and their church still plays an important role in policymaking decisions, although that influence has declined somewhat. Wasatch County currently is at a crossroads. The county's population will continue to grow, but many oldtimers and newcomers 318
