Jesse Fox Jr. developed the area South Salt Lake referred to as Central Park around 1890.

Despite South Salt Lake being rural at the time, he decided to name the area Central Park.

In 1936, an attempted annexation by Salt Lake City failed due to concerns over funding and implementation of a sewer system.

The town was also lacking many other basic amenities at the time that would be easier to implement with incorporation, such as a post office and fire department.

On August 1, 1950, the population had increased enough for South Salt Lake to be designated as a third class city.

The town president of the time, Marlow Callahan, became the first mayor of the City of South Salt Lake.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.9 square miles (18 km2), all land.

The racial makeup of the city was 56.2% non-Hispanic White, 10.5% Black, 2.5% Native American, 11.1% Asian, 1.7% Pacific Islander, and 3.7% from two or more races.

Former SSL Police Chief Chris Snyder attributes the drop in crime to 4 factors: 1) Increased attention to code enforcement, 2) Crime Free Rental Housing program that results in greater landlord scrutiny of potential renters, 3) Partnerships, such as that with United Way of Salt Lake, combined with community organizing, such as the Promise South Salt Lake initiative, South Salt Lake Community Connection that address resident needs and improve neighborhoods, and 4) Extensive youth development efforts, such as Promise afterschool programs delivered in nine Neighborhood Centers across the city, and urban/neighborhood revitalization projects.

There is a new emphasis on redevelopment (including the Market Station development) and a reduction in the number of liquor licenses allowed to be issued is anticipated to reduce crime in the city.

[16] The Motovo Real Estate Blog ranked South Salt Lake as the "Most Dangerous Place in Utah" citing data from the 2012 FBI Uniform Crime Report.

This interchange is known locally as the "Spaghetti Bowl" due to its complex array of on and off ramps, which extend to several other city roads in the area.

US-89 runs north-to-south along State Street through the heart of South Salt Lake, serving as the primary commercial corridor and includes an interchange at I‑80.

All three of the TRAX lines (Blue, Red, and Green) enter the city from the north at Central Pointe station.