Often overlooked because its population is so small, Utah has been on a tear in terms of employment. It boasts a diversified economy based on transportation, information technology and research, government services, mining, and tourism. At its current rate of job-creation, Utah would have created 250,000 jobs since last December if it were California's size. That's nearly as strong as...

August Miller/Deseret News/AP/File
Andrew Kosorok works on a drawing for one of his sculptural glass works for each of the 99 names of God as contained in the Koran at Glass Images in Orem, Utah, in July.