A small town with Black Mountains recreation and many festivals
Bordered by the Black Mountains and red hills to the east, Cedar City maintains a small-town feel even though it's home to nearly 40,000 people. Situated along Interstate 15, the city is a scenic stop between Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, and it continues to draw in more homebuyers each year. “Cedar City's small-town vibe still shines through, even as the residential neighborhoods sprawl out,” says resident Branin Boyack, owner of local Smash Labs Rage Rooms and Axe Throwing on South Main Street. “My personal favorite feature in Cedar City is the scenery. To the east, you have beautiful mountains and streams sloping off to a wide valley in the west.” Though its natural beauty remains a significant claim to fame for Cedar City, it is also widely known as "Festival City, USA," because of the constant presence of activities throughout the year, from the Shakespeare Festival to the Renaissance Fair. “The town really rallies around everything. The locals really get involved in all the events here,” says Realtor Cindy Laffoon, who works with J&E Property Management and Sales LLC and has about a decade of experience in the area.
Cedar City maintains a small-town feel even though it's home to nearly 40,000 people.
Though its natural beauty remains a significant claim to fame for Cedar City, it is also widely known as "Festival City, USA."
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Hiking in Stephens Canyon and skiing in Brian Head
The city’s location allows for hiking trails through red rock and ski slopes down snow-covered mountains. “There are a lot of natural trails around Cedar City, where people walk, run and bicycle. We’re close to Brian Head if you like skiing or snowboarding. Zion is just an hour south of here, so it’s a central hub for all things outdoors and nature,” Laffoon says. Coal Creek Trail links Cedar Canyon to places like Bicentennial Park and East Canyon Park. “Being an outdoorsy person, I love spending time near the mouth of the canyon,” Boyack says. “You can play by the river or just sit in the shade and relax.” Cedar Ridge Golf Course also sits in the city's eastern part, and its 18-hole course borders many of the area’s trails. Snowmobiling is a popular pastime in the winter. High Mountain Trail, Thunder Mountain Snowmobile Complex and Cedar Breaks Trail are among the many busy spots after snowfall. During summer and fall, residents bring their all-terrain vehicles to off-roading trails in the east and south, and local ATV clubs venture to trails throughout Utah and Nevada.
Cedar City's location allows for hiking trails through red rock and ski slopes down snow-covered mountains.
In Cedar City, skiing and snowmobiling are popular pastime activities in the winter.
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Historic homes and new construction in Cedar City
In the center of Cedar City, the homes date back to the 1920s through the 1950s. The architecture includes Craftsman bungalows, Tudors and Cape Cods. However, most of Cedar City’s housing was constructed after 2000. “There's a lot of building right now. The market is picking up and it’s mostly new construction,” Laffoon says. The city continues to develop with more subdivisions popping up, including Rose Village, which is on the northern outskirts of the community and overlooks Three Peaks Recreation Area. Townhouses are typically concentrated in the northern part of the city near Interstate 15, although there are also some available near Lone Tree Mountain. Condos are in short supply, as there are no condo buildings in the western or easternmost parts of the city. The median sales price in Cedar City is $400,000. On average, they stay on the market for 49 days, compared to the national average of 41 days.
In the center of Cedar City, the homes date back to the 1920s through the 1950s.
Most of Cedar City’s housing was constructed after 2000, and the median sales price is $400,000.
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Retail and events in Historic Downtown Cedar City
Most shopping and dining attractions are concentrated in the Historic Downtown area, which features buildings that date to the 1880s. This walkable area has boutique shopping, cafes and diverse restaurants. “Downtown offers a great mix of longstanding establishments and delicious restaurants, which creates a vibrant atmosphere,” Boyack says. “One of my favorite places to eat is Centro Pizza. They have a great atmosphere and even better pizza.” On Main Street, there are also strip malls with grocery shopping and chains, including Cedar City Towne Center and Renaissance Square.
The Festival City Farmers Market operates downtown year-round near Southern Utah University, and Heritage Theater hosts events from comedy shows to the Cedar City Music Arts concert series just a few blocks away. Cedar City earns its name as Festival City, USA, thanks to its wealth of annual events. There are festivals every month of the year, including the Utah Shakespeare Festival. “The Shakespeare Festival brings people from all over the world in the summertime,” Laffoon says. Also in the summer, the Fourth of July parade allows locals to watch patriotic floats on Main Street. “We have the Harvest Festival in the fall where they parade the sheep down Main Street because they’ve been doing that for a hundred years. There’s a lot of festivals around rural life,” Laffoon says.
Most shopping and dining attractions in Cedar City are concentrated in the Historic Downtown area, which features buildings that date to the 1880s.
Heritage Theater in downtown Cedar City hosts events from comedy shows to the Cedar City Music Arts concert series.
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Iron County School District and Southern Utah University
Students can attend Iron County School District, which earns a B-minus rating on Niche. Private boarding schools like Moonrise Academy and Mountain Springs Preparatory are also in Cedar City. Southern Utah University is one of the area's most highly attended post-secondary schools and the city’s top employer. The university has the largest helicopter fleet in the world, so degrees in aviation are a popular choice for students. The campus also has attractions like the Southern Utah Museum of Art and the Garth & Jerri Frehner Museum of Natural History.
Cedar City students can attend Iron County School District, which earns a B-minus rating on Niche.
Cedar City is home to the Southern Utah Museum of Art, located on the campus of Southern Utah University.
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Travel via Interstate 15 and Cedar City Airport
Interstate 15 runs through the heart of Cedar City, taking residents to Las Vegas in 170 miles and to Salt Lake City in 250 miles. Most commutes are limited to Cedar City limits because of its distance from major metropolitan areas. Main Street runs throughout the city, connecting residents to commercial corridors and businesses. If traveling outside Utah, Cedar City Airport offers flights to the international airport in Salt Lake City.
Low crime rates and the environmental factors of Cedar City
According to the FBI, the violent crime and property crime rates in Cedar City were low in 2023, compared to the state of Utah and the United States.
Cedar City experiences all four seasons, with warm dry summers and snowy winters. Environmental factors include major fire risk, with the Black Mountains just east of the city.
Written By
Anna Anderson
Photography Contributed By
Claudiu Varzaru
Video By
Tyler Belile
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