Distribution of Trust Lands Funds

State of Utah, Trust Lands

This map depicts the distribution of the State of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration permanent school trust fund. There are 3.3 million acres of school trust lands in Utah granted at statehood to support schools. These lands generate revenue, all of which is saved in the permanent state school fund. The interest and dividends from fund investments are distributed to every public school in the state through the School LAND Trust Program. The spheres on the map represent total funds received per school district and total per student spending.

The mundane subject matter required very little technical analysis so it was important to have an eye-catching display. Three-dimensional spheres show the enormous difference in district funds based on locational proximity to major population centers around the state. The spheres were also selected in lieu of typical pie charts or bar graphs to satisfy the cartographically pleasing goal of the map.

Courtesy of State of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration.

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