Draper, Utah

Draper is a city in Salt Lake and Utah Counties in the U.S. state of Utah, located about 20 miles (32 km) south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Between 1990 and 2000 Draper was Utah's fastest-growing city over 5,000 people (as of 2000). Its population in 1990 was 7,143 and had grown to 25,220 by the 2000 census. By 2008, the population is estimated to have increased to 42,317 Draper is part of two metropolitan areas - the Salt Lake County portion is included in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, while the Utah County portion is part of the Provo-Orem metropolitan area. The Utah State Prison is located in Draper, near Point of the Mountain. The execution of Gary Gilmore took place here on January 24, 1977. The winds on Traverse Ridge make it one of the world's best hang-gliding or paragliding spots. In 2004, Draper citizens voted for a tax increase that would pay for the purchase of key pieces of property in the Corner Canyon area. The aim of this measure was to protect and preserve the Corner Canyon area for the future enjoyment of citizens of the city and the Salt Lake Valley area. In the fall of 2005, 1,021 acres (4.13 km) of property were identified and purchased for the development of Corner Canyon Regional Park, which will consist of parks, trails and other recreation areas. Draper is home to the main customer service center of eBay, the tech call center of PGP Corporation, the call center of Musician's Friend, and the headquarters of 1-800 Contacts. Draper is also home to Utah's first Ikea, which opened in Spring 2007. In August 2006, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints broke ground for a temple in Draper; it has since been finished and was dedicated first on March 20, 2009.