1. Statehood Day: January 1st marks Utah Statehood Day. This is the day when Utah officially became the 45th state in the United States in 1896.

2. Utah's first governor: January 1st is also the birthday of Utah's first governor, Heber M. Wells. He was born in 1859 in Salt Lake City and served as Utah's governor from 1896 to 1905.

3. First woman lawmaker: On January 1, 1917, Martha Hughes Cannon became the first woman lawmaker in Utah and the United States, after winning a seat in the Utah State Senate.

4. Pioneer Day: While Pioneer Day is typically celebrated on July 24th in Utah, January 1st marks the day when Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, marking the beginning of Utah's settlement.

5. New Year's Day celebrations: Throughout Utah's history, January 1st has been a day of celebration and festivities. From parades and fireworks to family gatherings and church services, Utahns have rung in the New Year with joy and excitement.