Tucked northeast of the Oquirrh Mountains and 8 miles south of the Great Salt Lake, Magna is a city of about 30,000 west of Salt Lake City. Originally settled as a copper mine town, its name is derived from the Latin word for “superior.” The city is known for its historic Magna Main Street buildings, including saloons and churches built during the early 20th-century copper boom. Disney Channel movies like “Dadnapped” and some of the “Halloweentown” franchise were filmed on Magna Main Street. Because of its location at the base of the mountains, “Magna used to be known as the armpit of Salt Lake. It’s as far west as you can get,” says Rodney Moser, Broker/Owner at NextHome Navigator, who has nearly three decades of experience. “But Magna has changed for the better.”
An overview of Magna showcasing the iconic Oquirrh Mountains in Magna, Utah.
Magna Veterans of Foreign Wars building on Main Street.
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Major employers and industries in Salt Lake County
Like many other Utah cities, Magna’s population is increasing. The city had about 26,000 residents in 2010, compared to about 30,000 in 2023. “A lot of developers have recently built large subdivisions for new townhomes – since then, it’s had a boom with younger families moving in,” Moser says. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city’s median household income was $87,516 in 2023. The Kennecott Copper Corporation, founded in 1903, employs more than 2,000 people in Salt Lake County; other major employers include the University of Utah, Intermountain Healthcare, the state government and the Granite School District.
Kennecott Copper Corporation in Magna is a major Salt Lake employer.
Local Magna retailers, restaurants and businesses along historic Main Street.
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The housing market in Magna
Magna’s median home price is around $480,000, slightly higher than the national median of $420,000. Properties sit on the market for 36 days on average, compared to 44 days nationally. Newly-constructed townhomes, 1980s bungalows and ranches and two-story homes with stucco exteriors are all available; white picket fences separate most homes from each other. Magna's streets are hilly but still walkable, with wide sidewalks and streetlights. Mountain peaks are visible from every corner.
Newly built townhomes in Magna have views of the Oquirrh Mountains.
Magna has single family homes built in the 1980s as well as newer homes.
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Magna Copper Park, Copper Club Golf Course
Magna Regional Park is the city’s largest green space, at 62 acres. It has a large jungle gym, seasonal splash pad and pavilion with picnic tables. In 2016, the park was renovated as part of a $90 million Salt Lake County investment to improve existing green spaces. Magna Copper Park includes grassy fields shaded by tall oak trees, a skate park, athletic courts and a community garden. The park hosts city events like car shows and fireworks displays. Next door is the Copper Club Golf Course, which opened in 1926 and has a private, 9-hole course. The Magna Fitness and Recreation Center offers residents an indoor space to exercise, and mountainside hiking and skiing trails are nearby. The city wraps around two man-made ponds, the Kennecott Tailings Ponds one and two; fishing is allowed in the second pond.
Magna residents enjoy a playground and baseball fields at Magna Copper Park.
Magna residents enjoy green space and play areas at Magna Regional Park.
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Learn at a diverse school district
The public Granite School District serves Magna students and earns a B from Niche. Magna Elementary School, the city’s namesake school, is graded C. The city has one private school: Stansbury Academy, which teaches grades 9-12.
The city’s places of worship include Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Magna Community Church and the Christ Presbyterian Church.
Magna Elementary serves students from K-6 in Magna.
Cyprus High School, located in the Magna neighborhood of Magna, Utah.
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Historic restaurants on Magna Main Street
Along 3500 South are several grocery stores, including Smith’s, Walmart and Ranchero Market. The 100-year-old Colosimo's Original Standard Market & Sausage Factory sits along Magna Main Street, along with local restaurants like Beardall’s Bakery and Llaneros Restaurant, a Mexican spot. Copper Miner Saloon offers bingo, karaoke and billiards.
Sitting on the Salt Lake Shore is the Great Saltair, an indoor concert arena hosting major acts. The city also hosts a Fourth of July celebration, which features a 5K run, parade and flag-raising ceremony. “People get in the car and head into Salt Lake City, Sandy or Draper, which isn’t far since I-80 is right there. Or they head over to Nevada for casinos,” says Maryann Hunwick, a Realtor with Equity Real Estate and a 60-year Utah resident.
Colosimo's Original Standard Market & Sausage Factory in Magna, Utah.
Grab a beer at The Filling Station, a local pub in the Magna neighborhood.
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Commuting on Mountain View Corridor
Utah State Route 201, known as 2400 South, is a major north-south highway in Magna. People also hop on 3500 South and Magna Main Street to head east into West Valley City. The Utah Transit Authority has a public bus service linking commuters to downtown Salt Lake City and the south Salt Lake area. The Salt Lake City International Airport is 10 miles away.
Magna is one of five cities under the Salt Lake County Unified Police Department, along with Millcreek, Kearns, Midvale and Holladay. According to FBI Crime Data, rates of violent and property crimes have declined over the past five years. The CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital - West Valley is the nearest 24-hour medical center, 8 miles away.
Utah State Route 201 is a major north-south highway in Magna.
Magna is 20 minutes from Salt Lake City using Utah State Route 201.
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What’s the weather like?
The city experiences all four seasons, with an average winter temperature of 25 degrees and a summer temperature of 94 degrees. Because of Magna’s topography, it’s prone to air pollution, and wildfire season happens every year from July to October.
Magna specifically experiences a smelly odor because it is close to the Great Salt Lake, which is notoriously smelly. Fish can’t survive in the lake because of its high salinity, but smaller animals like frogs and flies are enough to feed the birds. “The Great Salt Lake has a lot of small wildlife like birds and brine shrimp. When they die, it starts to smell,” Moser says. “But you know stagnant water is never going to smell good.”
Residents can easily access Great Salt Lake, the largest saline lake in the Western Hemisphere.
Silver Sands Beach is located behind Great Salt Lake State Park, just outside of Magna.
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