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Sandusky, Ohio is a city in Erie County. It is located midway between Toledo and Cleveland. It has been named the Best Coastal Small Town in America. It is home to Cedar Point Amusement Park, a large park with over 70 amazing rides. It is known as Ohio’s Water Park Capital because of its popular indoor water parks that run all year-round. During certain times of the year, you can take ferries from downtown Sandusky to one of several nearby islands. This city has plenty of beautiful parks, shops, and restaurants. There are also great beaches in the area. This city is one that is great for recreation, and even better for living. Whether you are here for a quick and good time, or for a permanent stay, you’ll find out why this is the best coastal town! 

Here’s what you should know about moving to Sandusky:

• History of Sandusky
• Facts and figures about Sandusky
• Local favorite things to do in Sandusky
• And more!
  

History of Sandusky

Before Moving to Sandusky, Get to Know the History of Your New Home

Sandusky was founded in 1817, and officially made a city in 1824. People began to populate the area after the war of 1812. It was originally known as Portland. The city’s name references the nearby lake. “Sandusky” means “cold water” in Wyandot. In 1838 when Erie County was established, Sandusky was made into the county seat. It was a center of trading starting from the 18th century. Americans, along with the British and the French, had trading posts and ports built on both sides of the Sandusky Bay. It also became  a transportation hub when railroads were built.

Sandusky was a destination in the Underground Railroad because of its location. Small fishing boats regularly provided slaves with transportation into Canada. This went on for years, and over time the lake has been used for different purposes. Sandusky also played a central part in Prohibition in the 1920s. It’s fishing boats smuggled in alcoholic beverages into Ohio from Canada. These fishing boats have also been used for a lot of actual fishing. Sandusky had a thriving commercial fish industry for years that specialized in perch. 

During the second half of the 19th century, Sandusky became the largest ice producer west of New York City. The city became known as the “Ice Capital of the Great Lakes” because of its solid, “crystal blue, clear as ice” ice. Its quality was far superior to the other ice sources nearby. Sandusky provided most of Ohio’s cities with ice at the time. 

When the industrial age came along, Sandusky focused less on shipping and more on fishing. It became a desired travel destination once visitors discovered the sandy beaches. Sandusky’s downtown area eventually went through a renaissance, and became a popular location filled with shops, restaurants, and tourists. It is filled with historic architecture, awesome boutiques, and museums. The view of Lake Erie is also something that draws visitors. 

Sandusky by the Numbers

Learn About Sandusky’s Economy, Demographics, and What It’s Really Like to Live Here

Sandusky Population

Sandusky has a population of over 24,000. There are over 2,500 people per square mile in this city. The median age of a Sandusky resident is 38, just one year older than the country’s median age of 37. There are 2.6 people per household on average. 39% of those households are made up of married couples, and 19% of those married households also have children. About 28% of homes in Sandusky are made up of single parent households. 

Sandusky’s Demographics

Sandusky’s residents are 65% white and 21% black. Around 7% of the population claims to be Hispanic, and about 4.9% of the population identifies as two or more races. Sandusky is a very affordable place to live. The median price for a home there is around $73,000. 

Sandusky’s Schooling

Sandusky public schools operates 10 schools. Those schools include 5 elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. They even run an alternative high school for gifted students in grades 3-12. They have two private schools in the city. 

Things to do in Sandusky 

Sandusky is a city that does not lack in fun activities for its residents. It is known for being a central location for indoor water parks. These water parks run year-round and are heated so that it always feels like summer. There are museums in the area and great restaurants on top of the very popular amusement park. It is a great destination for families who want to enjoy themselves. There is also plenty of shopping to do in the area. 

Get to Know Sandusky Like a Local

Where People Shop, Dine, and Hang Out in Sandusky

Sandusky is a city that is full of fun things to do. The sandy beaches around Lake Erie are destinations frequented by those who live there. Residents get to enjoy indoor water parks all year round. There are several museums in the area available to visit, some filled with unique attractions you don’t often see. 

Lake Erie is a place the locals love to be. You can relax on the beach, take nice walks, and have picnics in the designated areas. You can take a ferry to the multiple islands near Sandusky. There are plenty of great restaurants and breweries to visit. You can have lots of fun indoors and outdoors. This city was built to give residents a great experience, and when you visit you’ll find out exactly why they love it so much! 

Berardi’s Family Kitchen

This restaurant is a popular spot for breakfast and lunch.

1019 W Perkins Ave | Sandusky | sanduskyberardis.com

Berardi’s Family Kitchen is a popular Sandusky restaurant. People like to frequent this place to get breakfast and lunch that is well-priced and filling. This place has been a fixture of the community for over 75 years. Their fresh, homemade food is something they have received many accolades for. They have won awards for “best breakfast,” “best lunch,” and “best place to get a homemade meal,” among others. Their fries are their most popular item. They are considered to be the best fries in the area! You will find all kinds of amazing foods on their menu. Their homemade desserts, especially their pies, are famous around town. 

This restaurant does online orders as well as in person. They offer awesome specials that they list out in advance on their website. They offer catering for off site events, and also have a party room that holds about 90 people. 

“Family-run, unassuming place with fantastic homemade food. Daily specials, homemade soups, pies, hand-breaded fish, real fries (perfected after decades at cedar point. And quick, attentive, and friendly service (thanks Babs!) we were in the area for a few days at Cedar Point and had lunch here before heading back home -- very glad we did.” -- Yelp Review

Toft’s Ice Cream Parlor

This place provides visitors with delectable treats. 

5270 Pearl Rd | Sandusky

Toft’s Ice-Cream Parlor sells amazing ice-cream flavors. It is right at the entrance of Cedar Point, so you can get some ice-cream on the way out after a day of fun, or you can get some as you’re passing by. They have over 70 ice-cream flavors and also offer frozen yogurt. The serving sizes are substantial, so you’ll get a lot of ice-cream even when you order a small one. Oftentimes, there will be a long line of people outside waiting eagerly for their ice-cream. 

This place offers seating both indoors and outdoors, so you can enjoy your ice-cream there or take it to go. They even sell amazing milkshakes made by the staff with their ice-cream. 

“Wide variety of flavors and all taste amazing. Not a bad price either for what you get. Also located right at the front of the park so it's a nice treat before you leave. Lines were long during peak times but that's expected and true of any other place. I'd be worried if it wasn't lol. But I went at about 4:30 and only had to wait about 10 minutes. Would recommend it!” -- Yelp Review

Merry-Go-Round Museum 

This museum will give you a unique experience. 

301 Jackson St | Sandusky | merrygoroundmuseum.org

This museum will show you all kinds of merry-go-rounds. There are carvers on-site that will tell you the stories of the wood carvings and how they go about making them. You’ll see many old animal carvings used for past merry-go-rounds. You’ll get to learn about history and in the end can even get on an indoor merry-go-round! This place opened up in 1990 and has been a popular destination ever since. 

This museum actively restores antique carousel figures and other related items. They are also willing to help other private collectors restore their damaged art pieces. They make sure to use the same methods to restore the items that were originally used to create them. 

“Very fun visit to this long overlooked gem! Amazing to learn all about how the animals are carved, and sometimes repaired after a lot of wear and tear. A great many animals from private collectors and knowledgeable carvers on hand to tell you more. And, to top it off! We rode the Merry-Go-Round! Felt like a kid again!! Carefree and enjoying every minute!! Do yourself a favor and stop by!” -- Yelp Review

Great Wolf Lodge

Bring your whole family here for some great fun!

4600 Milan Rd | Sandusky | greatwolf.com

Great Wolf Lodge is a large indoor water park that you can go to all year round. There are plenty of fun activities for adults and kids to involve themselves with. There are pools, hot tubs, and plenty of water slides. You can relax on your way through the lazy river and even play interactive games. They even offer great dining options right on site. You can also book a suite and stay there with your family. Some of their suites have fun themes, like “wolf den,” and “cabin suite.” 

This place is kept at 83 degrees all year round so that it always feels like summer. You can have a great time splashing around there even during the winter. This place hosts parties, meetings, and holds celebrations for holidays like Halloween. You can even have your events there catered.  

“Great spot for a quick young family vacation! The water park, and various activities make this a great spot for a family with mostly young children. Several slides and water park attractions. There is even a hot tub area for adults as well. Outside of that, the hotel has an arcade, Magi quest adventures, and several daily programs for kids to take part in.” -- Yelp Review

Cedar Point

This is where you get to ride some awesome roller coasters. 

1 Cedar Point Blvd | Sandusky | cedarpoint.com

Cedar Point is an amusement park filled with many types of rides. There are 17 roller coasters throughout the park, along with a water park nearby. The water park has both shallow and deep areas, so it can be enjoyed by kids and adults. They have a description of all their rides on their website, including the thrill levels. You can get on bumper cars, dune buggies, and Ferris wheels, along with many other rides. There are plenty of activities to do aside from the rides as well. You can hang out on the beach or even ride jet skis across the lake. 

There are plenty of hotels nearby since this park is a common destination. Cedar Point also offers shopping, Segway tours, and live entertainment. There are many places to buy food and drinks in between rides and activities. 

“My wife and I visited cedar point a couple weeks ago. This was our first time visiting the park and we had a good time. The rides that I rode were a lot of fun and diverse with the type of fun. We had a good time and the park was very clean and nice. I would recommend it.” -- Yelp Review

Sandusky, Ohio is a city that offers anyone who’s there a really fun time. It is known for being a great park destination. You can go there for a fun vacation or live there and get to have fun all year round!