There are no fjords in Utah, but the town of Spanish Fork is nevertheless the first Icelandic settlement in the United States. In fact, Icelanders celebrate their culture yearly with a three day event.
Located in the heart of Utah, near Provo and south of Salt Lake City, an apartment search here will turn up not just a potential residence but a wealth of culture and heritage. It’s not just those with Icelandic heritage hosting festivals in diverse Spanish Fork. The annual July Fiesta Days celebrate the region’s Latino culture, and the Festival of Cultures is held at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple. This opulent temple is the world's newest, surrounded by fruit orchards, bucolic pasture land, and snowy mountain peaks. Add the Harvest Moon Hurrah family festival, and the Christmas Festival of Lights, and you have a lively mix of fun in this verdant valley. This diverse city boasts a large population with Croatian heritage, too.
Living in the City
Incorporated in 1851 by Mormon settlers, Spanish Fork was named by Catholic priests, two Spanish Franciscans following a stream down a canyon. They described the area aptly as having beautiful meadows, shadowed by the Wasatch mountain range.
The historic center of town is the focus of Spanish Fork today. If youre looking for apartment rentals in Spanish Fork, youll find rents lower than in 71.2 percent of other Utah neighborhoods. This town of just over 35,000 people is densely populated.
Neighborhoods
In Spanish Fork, real estate is mostly comprised of apartment complexes, high-rise apartments, and single family homes. Medium sized homes, such as three bedroom houses for rent, are common. Many of the available properties were built between 1970 and 2000, making the overall feel of the city modern.
Downtown: Most properties here are located in one consolidated, downtown area. It's not overly expensive and has a good range of housing types.
Lake Shore:If you don't mind being lonely, then a home close to the shore of Utah Lake could be a good option. This area northwest of Spanish Fork is fairly rural, but it's easy to drive into the city center.
Tips for Renting
Youll want to start looking for rentals several months before you move - real estate vacancies in Spanish Fork hover around 4.8 percent, lower than a significant majority of rental availabilities in the other U.S. neighborhoods. Demand is higher than average, and with great recreational activities such as skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and more just outside your door, renters and property owners alike tend to stay in Spanish Fork for a long time.
It's a good idea to call rental property owners to find out the price range and availability of properties in the area. Making a few phone calls will save you time on your search. You'll also want to look at the different advantages of various property types: you may find apartments or town houses with paid water and sewerage, while many houses will require you to make your own payment for these utilities. There are a range of options to suit almost any budget in Spanish Fork.
Living in Spanish Fork
Spanish Fork is essentially a middle-income neighborhood, with many residents employed by the military, or in executive or professional positions. You'll find lots of upwardly mobile couples, singles, and families in Spanish Fork.
Nearby, large and lovely Utah Lake offers fresh water fishing, boating, camping, and water skiing in the summer. In the winter months, get out those skates and pucks for ice hockey and ice skating, which are also popular pastimes. And don't put those fishing poles away: ice fishing is popular, too. Spanish Fork Peak and Grindstone Ridge form a scenic backdrop to any outdoor activity, and one of the most popular is the nearby Hobble Creek Golf Course.
If you don't drive, you'll want to learn -- and find some wheels to go with that license. You’ll need a car to get to your job, or find a carpool to join. Yes, gas prices are high, and public transportation is not a central facet of life in Spanish Fork. But commutes are short, with an average time of 15 to 30 minutes daily.
Turbine wind energy and a new hydro-power plant make Spanish Fork an ecologically sound community. The turbines generate enough clean energy to provide power for up to twelve hundred homes. So, if you move here, you'll have the fuzzy warm feeling of helping to protect the environment.