Sugar House (Salt Lake) was established in 1853, six years after the arrival of the Mormon Pioneers. It is located west of the mouth of Parleys Canyon, and encompasses the approximate area southeast of Salt Lake City: 1700 South to 2700 South and 700 East to 2000 East. The name was suggested by Margaret McMeans Smoot inspired by the local sugar mill. However, the sugar mill project never got off the ground. An earlier attemt to produce paper also failed. However, in recognition of the beet sugar manufacturing effort, a monument in the form of an obelisk was erected in the center of town where Highland Drive and 2100 South meet.

The area includes the following schools: Dilworth Elementary, Highland Park Elementary, Clayton Middle School, Highland High and Westminster College. Sugar House Park and Highland High School now dominate a large section of land previously occupied by the Sugar House State Prison. The prison opened in 1855 and closed in 1951. The remaining 400 resident inmates were moved to the Utah State Prison in Draper. Another nearby park is Fairmont Park with lots of shade trees, picnic areas, playgrounds, ball fields and other amenities.

Today, Sugar House is a thriving community with old buildings being replaced by modern structures. Some enduring landmarks such as the Granite Furniture store, the attractive todor style public library and the old Irving Jr. High School facade remind of older times.

Additional public transportation is being brought into the area by way of a trolley system which starts at the TRAX Central Point Station (2100 South) and follows the old Union Pacific corridor which runs along 2300 South to Fairmont Park at (1100 East) where it currently ends. Future plans will extend the line east along 2100 South to 1700 East. At this point a hub extending north along 1700 East to Westminster College is a possibility. At the 1700 East hub plans are to continue east along 2100 South past Sugar House Park to Highland High School.

See: John W. Van Cott, Utah Place Names; Sugar House History and Information.