Bird eye view photo of Sandy City in Utah.

Sandy, Utah

Sandy is a big city situated in Salt Lake County in the northern portion of the US State of Utah. Sandy forms a part of the Salt Lake City metropolitan area and is Utah's 6th largest city. The city is home to a shopping mall, entertainment complexes, offices, and sports stadiums. At present, Sandy is developing a walkable and transit-oriented urban center named "The Cairns."

Geography And Climate Of Sandy

View at Snowbird Resort in Sandy, Utah.
View at Snowbird Resort in Sandy, Utah. Editorial credit: Ritu Manoj Jethani / Shutterstock.com

Sandy covers a total area of 62.58 sq. km, of which 62.55 sq. km is occupied by land, and 0.03 sq. km is covered by water. The city's eastern part is situated on the slopes of the Wasatch Range, while the Jordan River forms a portion of the western border. Sandy is located approximately 23km from Salt Lake City, Utah, and 49km from Provo, Utah. Furthermore, the city is about 822km from Denver, Colorado, and 655km from Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sandy experiences a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers and cold winters. July is the warmest month with 95°F, while January is the coolest, having an average low temperature of 22°F. 

History Of Sandy

Sandy City Hall in Sandy, Utah
Sandy City Hall in Sandy, Utah.

The area that is now Sandy was primarily used by several Native American nations, such as the Shoshone, Bannock, and Paiute nations. European settlers began to arrive in the 1860s due in part to the expansion of the United States and because of Mormon refugees fleeing persecution in the east. The name of the city, Sandy, is believed to have been given by Mormon religious leader Brigham Young due to the "thirsty" soil of the area. Sandy expanded through the building of railroads in the area, as well as through the exploits of silver mining. During the 1890s, Sandy was officially incorporated and subsequently went through a conservative rebranding to change its image. 

Saloons and hotels were shut down or repurposed to comply with Mormon religious orthodoxy. The 1960s saw another expansion for Sandy, as immigrants to the city from all over the nation and even the world once again contributed to an image change for the city. Sandy has since been modernizing as a city and competes with Salt Lake City for the attention of the state's residents and potential tourists. There has been an initiative in Sandy since 2014 to rebrand and redevelop the downtown area called The Cairns. This plan includes new shopping centers, environmentally friendly designs, increased walkability, and new housing projects.

Population Of Sandy

As per the latest US Census, Sandy has a total population of 96,904. Approximately 87% of Sandy is white, and 3.72% is Asian. There is also a 3.64% mixed-race population and a 0.88% African-American population. Sandy has a high religious population of 74%. Roughly 61% of that religious population identifies as Mormon, with a distant second being the 9% Catholic population. The remaining religious population follows various denominations of Christianity. The largest non-Christian population on record is the 0.5% Muslim population. Furthermore, 0.5% of Sandy's population follow eastern faiths, and 0.1% follow Judaism.

Attractions In Sandy

View of Rio Tinto Soccer Stadium during a midday in Sandy, Utah
View of Rio Tinto Soccer Stadium during a midday in Sandy, Utah. Editorial credit: M Outdoors / Shutterstock.com

A primary attraction in Sandy is the soccer games at Rio Tinto Stadium (now the America First Field). Real Salt Lake actually plays their games in Sandy. RSL is one of the most well-supported and respected clubs in American soccer. One can also view performances of many kinds at the Hale Center Theater or the Sandy Amphitheater. Nature enthusiasts can enjoy splendid views and trails at the Bells Canyon Trail, while thrillseekers can find their fun at the Enigma Escape Experience, a series of escape rooms.

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