Following Dr. Robotnik's military coup, Sand Blast City was among the areas of Mobius conquered, with many of its citizens being roboticized and sub-bosses being installed in the area to crush any attempts at resistance. Robotnik's efforts to quell all resistance failed when scattered groups evaded capture and remain hidden, barely surviving the perils of the desert and Robotnik's attacks. Despite this, the resistance groups were unable to liberate their city and were forced to remain in hiding.
Following Robotnik's death at the hands of Sonic the Hedgehog, the resistance groups, now calling themselves the Sand-Blasters, which modeled themselves after the Knothole Freedom Fighters - were inspired to fight with renewed determination and managed to overthrow the sub-bosses, liberating their city.
Unfortunately, with the removal of the sub-bosses and Dr. Robotnik, the Robian population went out of control and began attacking everything. However, the Sand-Blaster's leader; Jack Rabbit, created the Dome Force Field to keep the Robians from overwhelming the city.
During Sonic and Tails's hunt for Ixis Naugus, their plane crashed in the desert near the city. Jack and his recovery team quickly joined up with them and, fighting their way through a group of Robians, reached the safety of Sand Blast. Once secure, Jack tried desperately to convince Sonic to stay in Sand Blast for the rest of his life as the city's defender against the Robians, whose repeated attacks on the shield were beginning to wear it down. Realizing Jack and his men would keep him there by whatever means necessary, Sonic destroyed the shield's generator (ironically located in a giant monument of himself), allowing Sonic and Tails to escape, abandoning the Sand-Blasters to fight the Robians, who overran the city.
One year later, Jack sent out a distress call in an attempt to lure Sonic back to the city to enact vengeance, but instead Bunnie Rabbot, flying over the area investigating, was captured instead. During the conversation he had with Bunnie, Jack revealed that the Sand-Blasters had turned the tide of battle, and then capture and imprison the Robians and re-built the Dome Shield. Realizing they planned to unleash the Robians on Sonic when he came looking for her after a prolonged disappearance, Bunnie escaped, defeating any Robians in her way, and left Sand Blast City, while Jack and the Sand-Blasters went into battle against the Robians once again.
Inhabitants:
The Sand-Blasters