But the Beehive State rates higher than the Dakotas, according to the Morgan Quitno Press "2006 Most Livable State" rankings. Hey, Utah smoked them in the "number of books in public libraries" category.

In fact, Utah finished ahead of 39 states to wind up at No. 11 overall. The Pretty, Great State jumped eight spots from last year - the biggest leap of any state - and it wasn't due to Utah's Winter Olympic legacy; there was no category for that.

Wyoming eclipsed Utah, coming in sixth - a signal that "cold winds" were not among the 44 factors that Morgan Quitno Press, a Kansas-based research and publishing company, used in its rankings. North and South Dakota were Nos. 12 and 13, respectively.

Even without a category for mountain biking, Utah beat out the rest of its neighbors: Idaho was 18th, Colorado 20th, Nevada 24th Arizona 29th and New Mexico 41st.

The most livable state? New Hampshire, for the third-straight year. The "Live Free or Die" State took top honors in the "Median Household Income" category, among others.

But Utah clobbered New Hampshire on "Percent of Sunny Days" and "Normal Daily Mean Temperature." Turns out, New Hampshire winters really blow when compared with Utah - despite Thursday's on-again-off-again blizzards along the Wasatch Front.

Mississippi climbed to 49th, leaving Louisiana dead last, even though deadly hurricanes and devastating levee breaks were not part of the scoring.

Most of the 44 categories were based on economic indexes, education levels, health factors and social welfare issues.

Utah-watcher and all-around critic Tom Barberi pooh-poohed the results, saying the Beehive State should be in the top 10 - at least.

"Where else can you ski in the morning and golf the same afternoon," the 97.5 FM Talk radio host said Thursday. "This state is spectacular."

Barberi acknowledged Utah does have some strange laws - including its approach to liquor control - but he's loath to bad-mouth the Legislature.

"The state Legislature has provided me with a very good living for the past 35 years," he said. "I cry every time it ends."

Utah, no doubt, would have cracked the top 10 were it not for its last-in-the-nation teacher-pupil ratio in elementary and secondary schools.

On the other hand, Utah Power officials - with a record rate-hike request looming - may want to trot out the state's second-place score in "average monthly electric bills for residential customers."

And Utah had the best record in "Fatalities in Alcohol-Related Crashes."

Neighboring Wyoming, where the beer is a little more stout, was 17th in that category.

Utah's 11th-place showing isn't a surprise to Tracie Cayford, deputy director for the Utah Office of Tourism.

"It's a great place to live," she said. "Word is getting out."

Nonetheless, Cayford, too, would like to see Utah move up.

"We have a little work to do, but we're optimistic. We'll keep our fingers crossed that we'll be in the top 10 next year."

csmart@sltrib.com