Sandy, Utah
The Wasatch Mountains rise sharply to the east of Sandy, Utah. Nomadic bands of Paiute, Shoshone, and Bannock Indians roamed this base for centuries before permanent settlers arrived. They traveled from winter homes at Utah Lake to summer fishing grounds at Bear Lake. Permanent settlement began in the 1860s and 1870s when people sought land in the less crowded southern end of the Salt Lake Valley. The original plat covered one square mile on an alluvial terrace running north and south along the Jordan River drainage system. Only four homes existed between Union and Dunyon in 1863. Thomas Allsop, a Yorkshire farmer who immigrated to Utah in 1853, eventually owned almost half of present-day Sandy. He held property from County Road to Fourth East along Alta Road to Lindell Parkway. LeGrand Young owned the land between Fourth East and State Street. Mining shaped the town's first four decades more than farming ever did. Silver mining began in Little Cottonwood Canyon nearby. Entrepreneurs recognized Sandy's value as a supply station for miners ready to spend their wages. Hotels, saloons, and brothels lined the main street within a few years. Three major smelters operated in Sandy: the Flagstaff, the Mingo, and the Saturn. These facilities made Sandy the territory's most significant smelting center for several years. A railroad built in 1873 connected Sandy to Salt Lake City. It facilitated the transportation of ore and other products both in and out of the area.
Sandy was incorporated in 1893 largely as part of an effort to combat what Mormon inhabitants considered unsavory elements. The mine-based beginnings had brought transient men seeking quick fortunes. After incorporation, large numbers of single men disappeared from the population. By 1900 there was only a handful of saloons and hotels remaining. The community began to resemble other rural Utah towns where everyone knew everyone else. Church, farming, business, and family formed the focus of the inhabitants' world. This rural character persisted until the late 1960s when the town dramatically changed course with its second boom. Local leaders assumed growth would spread outward from Main and Center streets. Population growth overwhelmed the physical center as neighborhoods spread in every direction over the land. Pocket communities took shape during the 1970s providing services, schools, and shopping traditionally offered by a city. Annexation issues became prominent as Salt Lake County and Sandy vied for control over land and resources. Sandy became a collection of small local communities identified by a youthful, family-oriented population. Although initially perceived as a bedroom community, it developed a thriving commercial center along State Street and various arterial roads.
In 2014 the Sandy City government revealed blueprints to redevelop 1,100 acres of downtown area into a new resort-style city center. The project spans between 9000 South and 11400 South extending from Interstate 15 to the TRAX Blue Line. A formal master plan was adopted in January 2017 to accommodate regional growth over the next 25 years. It divides the city center into distinct urban villages while adding high-rise multi-family residential buildings and office towers. The Central Village features an office park and retail development along State Street. The South Village serves as the largest village containing City Hall, the Hale Center Theatre, and the Shops at South Town. The East Village focuses on transit-oriented development around the Sandy Civic Center TRAX light rail station. As of February 2017 the first phase of the Shops at South Town redevelopment was complete. The Central Village office towers including a new InContact headquarters were near completion. The Park at City Center residential project also neared completion. The East Village transit-oriented development was nearly halfway done with mixed-use projects planned for late 2017 or early 2018 groundbreaking. Transit enhancements connect the TRAX station to the South Jordan FrontRunner station via rubber-tire bus, trolleybus, or tram.
America First Field opened on the 8th of October 2008 as a soccer-specific stadium on the city's west side. Real Salt Lake, a Major League Soccer team established in 2004, plays its home games there. The Utah Royals FC, a National Women's Soccer League team that began play in 2017, shares the venue. The facility hosts professional soccer matches while serving as a community hub for events. The Mountain America Exposition Center sits nearby within the same redevelopment zone. Sandy is home to the Utah Mammoth practice facility for women's basketball. A new practice facility for the Utah Jazz will open in 2027. The city has hosted significant sporting events since the stadium construction. The area around the field includes retail and office space integrated into the urban design. This infrastructure supports both local recreation and major professional leagues operating out of the region.
The population reached 96,904 according to the 2020 United States census. In 2000 the total was 88,418 people with 80,523 identifying as White alone non-Hispanic. By 2010 the count dropped slightly to 87,461 before rising again in 2020. Non-Hispanic Whites made up 76.17% of the population in 2000 but rose to 86.05% by 2010 then fell to 78.61% in 2020. Hispanic or Latino residents increased from 4.38% in 2000 to 10.76% in 2020. Asian populations grew from 2.14% to 4.15% over the same period. Mixed race individuals rose from 1.27% to 4.05%. The median age stood at 29 years during the last census cycle. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males overall and 96.8 for those aged 18 and older. Median household income reached $76,904 while family median income hit $84,770. Full-time year-around male workers earned a median of $59,108 versus $40,506 for female workers. Per capita income was $30,952 with 7.8% living below the poverty line.
I-15 runs down the western side of Sandy with three exits located at 9000 South, 10600 South and 11400 South. An additional ramp connected the 10600 South northbound off-ramp to Monroe Street in early 2017. U.S. Route 89 runs parallel to I-15 through the city as State Street. Utah State Route 209 extends east/west terminating within the Wasatch Range at Alta Ski Resort. The Utah Transit Authority operates bus routes including two normal routes, three FLEX routes, and one ski service route. Bus services reach nearby light rail stations, commercial districts like the Shops at South Town, office parks, and government offices. A ski bus route runs seasonally from Historic Sandy TRAX station to Alta Ski Area and Snowbird. Four light rail stations exist on the Blue Line: Historic Sandy at 9000 South, Sandy Expo at 9375 South, Sandy Civic Center at 10000 South, and Crescent View at 11400 South. All stations terminate at Salt Lake Central Station to the north and Draper Town Center to the south. A circulator bus or trolley route between Sandy Civic Center TRAX station and South Jordan FrontRunner station is under planning.
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Common questions
What is the history of Sandy Utah before permanent settlement?
Nomadic bands of Paiute, Shoshone, and Bannock Indians roamed this base for centuries before permanent settlers arrived. Permanent settlement began in the 1860s and 1870s when people sought land in the less crowded southern end of the Salt Lake Valley.
When was Sandy Utah incorporated and why did it happen?
Sandy was incorporated in 1893 largely as part of an effort to combat what Mormon inhabitants considered unsavory elements. The mine-based beginnings had brought transient men seeking quick fortunes so large numbers of single men disappeared from the population after incorporation.
How much does the 2020 United States census say about Sandy Utah population?
The population reached 96,904 according to the 2020 United States census. Non-Hispanic Whites made up 78.61% of the population in 2020 while Hispanic or Latino residents increased to 10.76% over the same period.
Where are the light rail stations located on the Blue Line in Sandy Utah?
Four light rail stations exist on the Blue Line including Historic Sandy at 9000 South, Sandy Expo at 9375 South, Sandy Civic Center at 10000 South, and Crescent View at 11400 South. All stations terminate at Salt Lake Central Station to the north and Draper Town Center to the south.
When did America First Field open and which teams play there?
America First Field opened on the 8th of October 2008 as a soccer-specific stadium on the city's west side. Real Salt Lake plays its home games there while the Utah Royals FC shares the venue since beginning play in 2017.