That was plenty clear from the context.

Do you think people are confused that most major metropolitan areas are not controlled by religious groups, or that Salt Lake City is in Utah?

In my experience, most people outside of the USA are not very familiar with anything between NY and LA. Usually I have to tell people, I live in Oregon which is north of California. Oh, California, yes we've heard of California. I doubt the majority of the world has even heard of Utah or has any concept of where it is or that SLC is the capital of the state.

Utah... is that the place with the large rocks in the desert? Lots of mormons? It shows up from time to time. Oregon I have no idea. Only thing that comes to mind is the Oregon Trail?

Oregon was the end of the Oregon Trail, but the trail itself extended 2000+ miles back to Missouri in the center of the continent.