The city of Sandy has a population of approximately 89,664, making it the state’s sixth largest city. Sandy has maintained its family orientation while accommodating a vast range of lifestyles. The city offers a wealth of recreational opportunities, limitless shopping options, and lively entertainment. It also boasts strong commercial growth, a rich history, safe environments, quality homes, and a high quality of life. And all the amenities of downtown Salt Lake City are only minutes away. You can enjoy the best of all worlds in Sandy.
Location
Sandy is located in Salt Lake County, north central Utah. It is a suburb of Salt Lake City, in the Salt Lake City metro area. It is southeast of the Great Salt Lake, and it sits on the slope of the Wasatch Range. The Jordan River lies to the west of the city. Salt Lake County is bordered by Davis County to the north, Morgan County to the northeast, Summit County to the east, Tooele County to the west, Wasatch County to the southeast, and Utah County to the south.
Geography/Terrain
Covering a total area of 22.4 square miles, Sandy has 22.3 square miles of land and 0.04 square miles of water. It sits at an elevation of 4,450 feet. The major residential region of eastern Sandy is situated on the slopes of the Wasatch Range and the western section lies at the bottom of the valley. The Jordan River forms part of the western border of the city, along with West Jordan and South Jordan.
Distance to 3 Closest Major Cities
Provo, UT is 26 miles south of Sandy, Ogden, UT is 44 miles north, and Logan, UT is 80 miles north. Sandy is just 13 miles south of Salt Lake City.
Jobs
The city of Sandy is experiencing tremendous commercial growth. The major employers in the city are: Discover Financial; Becton Dickinson/Deseret Medical; ACS Business Processing; Alta View Hospital; Jordan Commons; The Layton Companies; Magellan; Comcast; HealthSouth Rehabilitation; and Target Stores.
Educational, health and social services provide17.2% of the employment in Sandy; retail trade provides 14.7%; professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services provide10.8%; and finance, insurance, real estate, and rental and leasing provide10.2%. The unemployment level in the area is 2.9% and there has been a 4.07% increase in available jobs within the last year. The average commute time to work is 24 minutes. The median household income is $77,560 and the average per capita income is $29,060.
Housing
With the flourishing commercial growth, and increase in inventory, it is a great time to find a home in Sandy. The average time on the market is 52 days. Prices range from below $200,000 to multi-millions depending on the location. Prices are reasonable but they are rising. Sandy offers a wide variety of homes and neighborhoods to suit your taste and your budget. You can find horse properties, large estates, log homes nestled amongst trees, and condominiums, many with scenic mountain and valley views.
Parks/Sports/Recreation/Golf
The city of Sandy boasts over 32 city parks, and residents also have access to Dimple Dell Regional Nature Park and several county parks. Alta Canyon Park is one of the jewels of the area, covering over 6.9 acres, and adjacent to the popular Alta Canyon Sports Center. Flat Iron Mesa Park is the largest city park, with three jogging trails and 6 soccer fields. Lone Peak Park is the 2nd largest developed park, covering 28.8 acres, with a skate park and an indoor pavilion. Many of the parks are equipped with tennis courts, softball fields, soccer fields, picnic areas, and basketball courts. There is even a new off-leash dog park.
The recreational department offers disc golf, hiking, kickball, races, racquetball, softball and tennis. There is an organized hiking program offering trails from ¾ of a mile to 5 and a half miles long through the Wasatch trail system.
Skiing is a favorite sport in this part of the state. You can enjoy the slopes on any of the nearby resorts, skiing on the “Greatest Snow on Earth”, then drive a short distance down the canyon and play a full round of golf. Other local recreational activities include hiking, rock climbing, fishing, mountain biking, snowmobiling, and hiking through the spectacular scenery.
The highlight of the Alta Canyon Sports Center is the outdoor Olympic-size swimming pool, open through the summer months. Activities offered include swimming lessons, tennis, volleyball, basketball, racquetball, wallyball, tumbling, jazz dance, summer camp, and Kinder Kamp.
Sandy is the site of Real Salt Lake’s new soccer-specific Sandy Stadium, which is scheduled to be completed in 2008.
Golf lovers can enjoy a game at any of Sandy’s 4 first class golf courses. Hidden Valley Country Club is a private facility with a regulation nine-hole course and regulation eighteen-hole course. Wildlife such as deer and foxes are abundant and readily seen on the course. Hidden Valley has been rated as the 4th and 5th "Best in State" by Golf Digest. The fairways are gently rolling and the course offers great views. Willow Creek Country Club is another private course, which has also been rated 4th and 5th "Best in State" by Golf Digest. Schneiter’s Pebblebrook Links is a challenging public course with narrow fairways and fast greens. River Oaks offers spectacular views of the nearby Wasatch Mountains, and has the Jordan River running through the course.
Special Attractions/Events
Residents and visitors can take pleasure in theatre, music and dance at the Sandy Amphitheater. Located at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, it overlooks the Salt Lake Valley and boasts a breathtaking view. It has a capacity of over 2,500, with almost 1,000 theater seats located close to the stage. Enjoy theatrical classics, such as 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, or the performances of world-renowned musicians. This is a prime venue for musicals, children’s plays, rock bands, New Age musicians, and more.
There is a great selection of places to shop in Sandy, such as the South Towne Center, as well as art museums, superb dining and theaters. The city is home to Jordan Commons, a large entertainment complex featuring 17 movie screens and several restaurants. The city’s South Towne Exposition Center hosts events all year round, such as the Wellness Expo, the Train Show, the Youth Athletic Expo, the Mommy’s Market or Off Road Super Show, the International Gem and Jewelry Show, the Salt Lake Golf Show, and Great Salt Lake Truck Show.
There are festivities and special events throughout the year in Sandy. Deck the Hall is celebrated in November, with the turning on of City Hall's holiday lights, as well as a miniature village and visits with Santa. You can listen to celebrated artists perform at the Christmas Concert Spectacular, held at the Exposition Center. The Sandy 4th of July event is a daylong event featuring games, music, races, the Youth Arts Festival, community stage, vendor booths and fireworks.
The city is proud of its Living Planet Aquarium, which features a touch pool where you can pet Southern Pacific Sting Rays, a 20,000 gallon shark tank, and aquatic environments for the Giant Pacific Octopus, eels, lionfish, moon jellies and sea-horses. The aquarium has been recently expanded, and now includes a new multi-purpose education room, and a ‘biofacts’ area for the close inspection and handling of friendly aquatic animals. The Sandy Museum has just celebrated its 19th Anniversary. The two-story building, which houses the museum, was built over 100 years ago. You can visit and get a glimpse of what it was like to live in Sandy in the late 17th and early 18th century.
Interesting Facts/Historic Buildings and Places
Prior to being settled, the area now known as Sandy was used by nomadic Paiute, Shoshone, and Bannock Indians crossing the base of the mountains as they traveled from Utah Lake to their summer fishing grounds at Bear Lake. Permanent settlers moved into the area during the 1860’s and 1870’s. In 1863 there were a total of four homes in the area. Within a few years, Thomas Allsop, a Yorkshire farmer, owned almost half of present-day Sandy. Some farmers worked the land, but it was mining that influenced Sandy's first forty years. Silver mining began in Little Cottonwood Canyon, and soon Sandy’s main street was lined with hotels, saloons, and brothels. With three major smelters located in the area, it became the territory's most significant smelting center.
In 1873 a railroad was built, connecting Sandy to Salt Lake City and facilitating the transportation of ore and other products. Then in 1907, a streetcar line facilitated the transportation of local residents to jobs in Salt Lake City. When the mines failed in the 1890s, Sandy transformed into an agricultural community. The city was incorporated in 1893, and church, farming, business, and family became the new primary -focus of the community residents.
Notable residents of Sandy include: Doug Jolley, a professional football player; Bonnie Gritton, a pianist and musician; Jamie Pierre, a professional free skier; Dick Simon, a race car driver and owner; Paul Luscher, a composer and singer; Jim Fullington, a professional wrestler; and Heather Anderson, Miss Utah USA.
Sandy is well known for being a safe city to live in. It has been named one of Morgan Quinto Press’ Top 50 Safest Cities in America for nine consecutive years. This year Sandy was awarded the 26th Safest City spot.
Money Magazine has rated Sandy the 23rd Best Place to Live in the nation. These ratings are based on issues such as affordable housing, leisure activities, cultural options, job growth, crime rate, weather, commute time, and health care access.
- NUMBER1EXPERT™ 
