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Running head: OREM COMMUNITY

Orem Community Assessment

Dixie State University
Crystal Buck, RN

OREM COMMUNITY
Category
Physical Environment:
geography & Climate

COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT TABLE

Findings & Source of Data
Orem is located at 401756N 1114147W (40.298753, -111.696486).[9] Its average
elevation is 4756 feet.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.4 square
miles (48 km2), all of it land.
The City of Orem is located on the eastern shore of Utah Lake. It borders Provo, Utah
on the east and south, and is located at the base of Mount Timpanogos.
In addition, Orem has more square area of parks as compared to city size than any other
city in Utah.
Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orem,_Utah January 21, 2016.

Physical Environment:
Population: size, demographic
characteristics, trends, migration,
density

As of 2011 the 88,112 residents of Orem had a racial and ethnic composition of 89.3%
non-Hispanic white, 0.9% black or African American, 0.9% Native American, 1.6%
Asian, 0.5% Pacific Islanders,4% non-Hispanics reporting some other race, 2.9% two
or more races reported and 14.8% Hispanic, as Orem has a large Mexican American
community with other Latinos residing in the city.
In the 2000 Census the population density was 4,572.6 people per square mile
(1,765.6/km). There were 24,166 housing units at an average density of 1,310.4 per
square mile (506.0/km). There were 23,382 households out of which 48.8% had
children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.0% were married couples living
together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.4% were
non-families. 12.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.1% had
someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
was 3.57 and the average family size was 3.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 35.4% under the age of 18, 17.4% from
18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 14.5% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% who were 65 years of
age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 98.7
males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $52,703, and the median income for
a family was $59,066. Males had a median income of $42,249 versus $30,742 for
females. The per capita income for the city was $20,971. About 10.3% of families and
13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16% of those under age
18 and 6% of those age 65 or over.

Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orem,_Utah January 21, 2016.

Physical Environment: water,
sewage & waste disposal, air
quality, housing, animal control

Economics: employment levels,

manufacturing, income levels

Air quality in Orem, Utah is 88 on a scale to 100, Water quality in Orem, Utah is 52 on
a scale to 100.
Orem city provides water, sewer and waste disposal to its residents. As well as a dump
site.
Also see physical environment: population
Retrieved from http://www.orem.org/ January 21, 2016
Retrieved from http://www.bestplaces.net/ January 21,2016
There are currently business licenses as such 2,471 Commercial, 1,632 Home
Occupation, 18 Nonprofit.
The unemployment rate in Orem, Utah, is 2.90%, with job growth of 5.37%. Future job
growth over the next ten years is predicted to be 47.80%. The income per capita is
$21,045, which includes all adults and children. The median household income is
$52,876.

Education: schools, types of

education, special education, sex
education, school lunch
programs, after-school programs,
day care, access to higher
education

Retrieved from http://www.orem.org/ January 21, 2016

Orem, Utah, schools spend $7,046 per student. There are 23 pupils per teacher, 894
students per librarian, and 857 children per counselor in Orem
There are 27 public schools in the Alpine School District, 3 private schools, and 2
charter school K-12. There are approximately 51 preschools. There are multiple special
education programs offered such as dual immersion, gifted services, online school etc.
There is a specialty school specific to the blind and the deaf. There are also school
programs for the mentally disabled.
Utah Valley University is located in Orem as well as multiple occupational colleges and
education programs.
Retrieved from http://alpineschools.org/ January 21,2016
Retrieved from http://www.bestplaces.net January 21,2016

Recreation: parks &

playgrounds, libraries, public &
private recreation, special
facilities

There are 19 parks that provide covered pavilions, tennis courts, childrens playgrounds
and open areas. There is 1 public library and a recreation center that has a pool,
climibing, classes, gymnasium and athletic center.
Retrieved from http://www.oremrecreation.com/ January 21,2016

Religion: denominations,
community programs

Communication: newspapers,
TV and radio channels

90.95% of the people in Orem, Utah are religious, meaning they affiliate with a
religion. 1.32% are Catholic; 88.69% are LDS; 0.15% are another Christian faith;
0.00% in Orem, Utah are Jewish; 0.32% are an eastern faith; 0.00% affilitates with
Islam
Retrieved from http://www.bestplaces.net/ January 21,2016
The city of Orem has multiple local newspapers and radio and television programs.
There is a monthly newsletter and residents are able to gather current information on

OREM COMMUNITY
the cities website www.orem.org.
Safety: fire protection, police
protection, EMS, rape treatment
centers, utilities, American Red
Cross, disaster plans, potential
sources of disaster

The Orem Department of Public Safety is a progressive, problem solving public safety
organization. The department consists of four major divisions. The organizational
structure of the department is designed to provide a full range of public safety responses
to serve and protect the citizens of Orem. The patrol, fire, investigations and support
service. Each department has its own responsiblities such as traffic gaurds, community
education, ambulance services and much more. There is a state mental hospital and rape
treatment center closely available for citizens in need. Orem currently does not have its
own animal shelter but is affiliated with the Lindon shelter.
Retrieved from http://www.orem.org/PDF/PS/2006_PS_report.pdf January 21,2016

Transportation: intercity &

intracity, handicapped,
emergency transport

Politics & Government:

Dominant party; how city/area is
governed; how positions are
filled

Orem is crossed north/south by Interstate 15, which was recently reconstructed and
widened through the city. The overall project cost was $1.725 billion. The Orem portion
was widened to six lanes northbound and six lanes southbound.
In 2012, a commuter rail line known as the UTA FrontRunner was completed through
northern Utah County. The train stops at the Orem Central station which is located in
southwest Orem. An Orem rider can travel south to Provo City, north to Salt Lake City,
or even further north to Ogden City. UTA buses connect to the station and provide
riders access to other Orem locations.
A planned Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line that will cross Orem in an east/west direction
along University Parkway will connect to the Orem Central Station in the near future.
Retrieved from January 21,2016http://www.orem.org/
The City of Orem was organized in 1919 and named after Walter C. Orem, President of
the Salt Lake and Utah Railroad. Orem is now the commercial and technological center
for Central Utah and is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United
States. Housing, educational, and employment opportunities continue to be in high
demand as Orem's population approaches 94,000 residents.
In a special election on October 21, 1980, the citizens of Orem voted to adopt the
Council-Manager form of government as authorized by State law for municipalities.
Since January 1, 1982, the City Council has consisted of six Councilmembers and the
Mayor who are all elected at large. The Mayor and Councilmembers serve staggered
four-year terms. Elections in the City of Orem are nonpartisan. Today the majority of
America's cities with a population above 25,000 have adopted the Council-Manager
form of government. The Council-Manager form capitalizes on a basic tenet of
American democracy--the separation of legislative and executive powers. The Council
assumes the legislative or policy-making role of the community while the manager
assumes the executive or administrative role.

Health Statistics: mortality,

morbidity, leading causes of
death, births

Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orem,_Utah January 21, 2016

24.6 live births per 1000. The average life expectancy is 81 years. In Utah state there is
an average of 149 death from cardiovascular disease per 100,000 and 7.1% diagnosed
with diabetes. There was an average of 75% of children that were immunized.

Social Problems: mental

health, alcoholism & drug abuse,
suicide, crime rate, school
dropout, unemployment, gangs

Health Manpower: number of

physicians, dentists, and nurses
per population

Retrieved from http://kff.org/statedata/ January 21, 2016

The crime rate in Orem has decreased from 2598 to 2200 from the year 2012 to 2013.
There continues to be a downward trend in criminal activity.
The Unemployment rate in November 2015 was currently at 2.7% which is a drop from
even June of the same year.
Mental health cases reporting more than 7 days consecutively in 20015 were at a lower
limit of 9.1% and upper limit of 18.9%, with the highest average of 14.2%.
Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/, http://econdev.orem.org/ January 21,2016
There are 134 physicians in Orem. There are currently 17,120 working registered
nurses in Utah; this should grow by 41% to about 24,090 working registered nurses in
the state by 2016. There are currently 1946 dentists in Utah,
Retrieved from http://www.bestplaces.net/ January 21,2016
Retrieved from http://www.careeroverview.com/ January 21,2016
Retrieved from http://kff.org/statedata/ January 21, 2016

Community Services: senior

citizen centers, hospitals, nursing
homes, mental health care,
ambulatory care, preventive
health services, home health &
hospice agencies, welfare
services

There are multiple hospitals, senior centers, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers,
dentists and family practice doctors available for the community. There are also
chiropractors and other health services available. There is a welfare agency that
provides medical and financial assistance as well as job placement.
Retrieved from http://www.city-data.com/city/Orem-Utah.html January 21,2016