Upper Sandusky, Ohio is a small industrial town with a Hollywood connection; several of the scenes in the film "The Shawshank Redemption" were filmed in this historic Ohio town.
Upper Sandusky, named for its location on the upper reaches of Ohio's Sandusky River, is the county seat of Wyandot County. It has a population of about 6,600 people and covers just over seven square miles. Upper Sandusky has a rich history, going all the way back to the late 1700s when it was a Native American Wyandotte settlement. Some of today's most popular tourist sites and events embrace that early history. While the town is primarily an industrial town now, there are numerous shopping, eating and entertainment venues in the area.
Moving to Upper Sandusky
Would you rather drive than stew amongst the tall buildings of a big city? Then moving to Upper Sandusky, which is within a long commute of Columbus or Lake Erie's shores, may appeal. The cost of living here tends to be a little lower than the national average, which may make up for the cost of the commute -- at least a bit.
Once you're back home in Sandusky, there's no mass transit or taxi service to speak of. But you can do most daily errands without a car; the town gets an impressive walkability score of 95 out of 100.
With a number of available property rentals in Upper Sandusky, motivated potential landlords and move-in specials available at some of the apartment complexes, you won't need a lot of time to rent an apartment here. Expect potential landlords to run a credit check before renting to you. Some will also ask for proof of income, depending on the management's rules for the complex.
Upper Sandusky's Neighborhoods
Upper Sandusky is divided into three main neighborhoods: Northern Upper Sandusky, where you'll find most of the town's apartment complexes; Eastern Upper Sandusky, where you'll find both apartments and house rentals; and the downtown area, which offers some rental options and easy access to restaurants and boutique shopping.
Eastern Upper Sandusky: Living here puts you close to Walmart and fast food restaurants such as Taco Bell and Bob Evans. This neighborhood contains a couple of major apartment complexes, including Essex Place Apartments and Nantucket Green, but you'll also find some options for home rentals here.
Downtown: Located between N. Sandusky Ave. and Warpole Street, you'll find both apartments and houses for rent in the downtown area. Living here gives you easy access to downtown boutique shopping and dining experiences at your choice of family-owned restaurants, or chain restaurants such as Subway and Domino's Pizza.
Apartment Complexes in Sandusky
The majority of the apartment communities in Upper Sandusky are in the north end of town, where residents have easy access to U.S. Route 30 and many of the town's shopping and entertainment venues.
Highland Village Apartments: Located close to Route 30, Highland Village is a good place to find large 3-bedroom units or a 2 bedroom apartment for rent. They allow small pets and feature hardwood floors, air conditioning, dishwasher, high speed Internet and laundry facilities.
Wyandot Place: This complex offers one and two bedroom apartments for rent and is located close to Route 30.
Maplewood Village Apartments: Also located close to Route 30, this complex is good for those looking for a 1 bedroom apartment and there are 2 bedroom units too, with onsite laundry facilities.
Living in Upper Sandusky
In addition to shopping and dining out, Upper Sandusky offers plenty of fun and relaxing local activities. These include playing paintball, visiting local parks and historical sites, or getting a spa-quality therapeutic massage. Outdoor activities like camping and golf are a big thing here.
Two golf courses are located in town -- Stone Crossing Golf Course and Lincoln Hills Golf Course -- while two others are within easy driving distance. Nearby Carey, Ohio is home to Bob's Countryside Golf Course, and Hickory Grove Golf Club is in the small town of Harpster. If you prefer golf on a smaller scale, putt-putt golf is another option in Upper Sandusky.
Three campgrounds serve the area: Smokies Campgrounds in Upper Sandusky, Foxfire Campgrounds in nearby Nevada, and Tee Pee Campgrounds in Carey. You'll also find a wealth of public parks here, including Water Tower Park, a U.S. Reservoir, Bicentennial Park, Stepping Stone Park, Harrison Smith Park, the park at Union School, the ball fields at U.S. High School, the park at South School, and the park at East School. There's also a city swimming pool.
Fans of "The Shawshank Redemption" can visit the famous movie's filming sites by following the Shawshank Trail guided tour; other must-see historical sites (for history enthusiasts as well as Shawshank Redemption fans) include The Wyandot County Courthouse in downtown Upper Sandusky, The Indian Mill State Memorial and Milling Museum, The Wyandot County Museum, Old Mission Church, and the covered bridge at Harrison Smith Park.