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'Sacramento' is the capital of the State of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. Located in California's expansive Central Valley, it is the seventh most populous city in California with a 2007 estimated population of 467,343. Sacramento is the core cultural and economic center of its four-county metropolitan area (El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo counties) with a combined population of 2,103,956. The Sacramento Metropolitan Area is the largest in the Central Valley, and is the fourth-largest in California, behind the Greater Los Angeles Area, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the San Diego area. Greater Sacramento has been cited as one of the five "most livable" regions in America,[1] and the city was cited by Time magazine as America's most integrated.
Sacramento became a city due to the efforts of John Sutter, a Swiss immigrant, and James W. Marshall. There were settlers in the area before this time. The Dutch came in the 1820s. Sacramento grew faster due to the protection of Sutter's Fort, which was established by Sutter in 1839. During the California Gold Rush, Sacramento was a major distribution point, a commercial and agricultural center, and a terminus for wagon trains, stagecoaches, riverboats, the telegraph, the Pony Express, and the First Transcontinental Railroad.
Typical of California informality, Sacramento is referred to by many nicknames. The most common names are ''Capital City'', ''River City'' (after the Sacramento River and American River), ''The Big Tomato'', ''Sacratomato'',[2] and the ''City of Trees'' (due to Arbor Day recognition as a Tree City USA for 29 years).[3] The nicknames most used by those living in Sacramento are ''Sac'', ''Sactown'', or ''Sacto.'' The area where Sacramento was originally developed is still in existence as a tourist venue, and is simply named ''Old Sacramento'', or ''Old Sac''.
California State University, Sacramento, more commonly known as ''Sacramento State'' or ''Sac State'', is the major local university. It is one of the twenty-three campuses of the California State University system. Currently, many other universities have been proposed in the immediate metropolitan area.
History
Main articles: History of Sacramento, California
Indigenous culture
Valley Miwok, Shonommey and Maidu Indians have lived in this area for perhaps thousands of years. Unlike the settlers who would eventually make Sacramento their home, these Indians left little evidence of their existence. Traditionally, their diet was dominated by acorns taken from the plentiful oak trees in the region, and by fruits, bulbs, seeds, and roots gathered throughout the year.
In either 1806 or 1808, the Spanish explorer Gabriel Moraga "discovered" and named the Sacramento Valley and the Sacramento River after the Spanish term for 'sacrament', specifically, after "the Most Holy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ", referring to the Roman Catholic sacrament of the Eucharist.
From pioneers to gold fever
Sacramento in 1855.
The pioneer John Sutter arrived from Liestal, Switzerland in the Sacramento area with other settlers in August 1839 and established the trading colony and stockade Sutter's Fort (as New Helvetia or "New Switzerland") in 1840. Sutter's Fort was constructed using labor from local Native American tribes. Sutter received 2,000 fruit trees in 1847, which started the agriculture industry in the Sacramento Valley. In 1848, when gold was discovered by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma (located some 50 miles, or 80 kilometers, northeast of the fort), a large number of gold-seekers came to the area, increasing the population. John Sutter, Jr. then planned the City of Sacramento, in association with Sam Brannan against the wishes of his father, naming the city after the Sacramento River for commercial reasons. He hired topographical engineer William H. Warner to draft the official layout of the city, which included 26 lettered and 31 numbered streets (today's grid from C St. to Broadway and from Front St. to Alhambra Blvd.). However, a bitterness grew between the elder Sutter and his son as Sacramento became an overnight commercial success (Sutter's Fort, Mill and the town of Sutterville, all founded by John Sutter, Sr., would eventually fail).
The part of Sacramento originally laid out by William Warner is situated just east and south of where the American River meets the Sacramento River (though over time it has grown to extend significantly north, south, and east of there). A number of directly adjacent towns, cities or unincorporated county suburbs, such as Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove,
Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Roseville, Rocklin, West Sacramento, Orangevale, and North Highlands extend the greater Sacramento area.
The citizens of Sacramento adopted a city charter in 1849, which was recognized by the state legislature in 1850. Sacramento is the oldest incorporated city in California, incorporated on February 27 1850 [4]. During the early 1850s the Sacramento valley was devastated by floods, fires and cholera epidemics. Despite this, because of its position just downstream from the Mother Lode in the Sierra Nevada, the newly founded city grew, quickly reaching a population of 10,000.
Capital city
California's State Capitol Building
The California State Legislature, with the support of Governor John Bigler, named Sacramento as the permanent home of the state capital in 1854 by law, but the city did not physically hold that honor until January 1 1855. Previously, the capital was located in Monterey, San Jose, Vallejo, and Benicia successively.
Begun in 1860 to be reminiscent of the United States Capitol in Washington, DC, the Renaissance Revival style California State Capitol was completed in 1874. The legislative chambers were first occupied in 1869 while construction continued. From 1862-1868, part of the Leland Stanford Mansion was used for the governor's offices.
With its new status and strategic location, Sacramento quickly prospered and became the western end of the Pony Express, and later the First Transcontinental Railroad (which began construction in Sacramento in 1863 and was financed by "The Big Four" — Mark Hopkins, Charles Crocker, Collis P. Huntington, and Leland Stanford).
The Tower Bridge, a landmark of Sacramento.
The same rivers that earlier brought death and destruction began to provide increasing levels of transportation and commerce. Both the American and especially Sacramento rivers would be key elements in the economic success of the city. In fact, Sacramento effectively controlled commerce on these rivers, and public works projects were funded though taxes levied on goods unloaded from boats and loaded onto rail cars in the historic Sacramento Rail Yards.
In an effort to control the flooding the Sacramentans raised the level of the city by landfill. Thus the previous first floors of buildings became the basements, which were later connected by tunnels under the streets of Old Sacramento. The tunnels became a network of opium dens, which were also eventually filled in.
Now both rivers are used extensively for recreation. The American River is a 5-mph (8-km/h) waterway for all power boats (including jet-ski and similar craft) (Source Sacramento County Parks & Recreation) and has become an international attraction for rafters and kayakers. The Sacramento River sees many boaters, who can make day trips to nearby sloughs or continue along the Delta to the Bay Area and San Francisco. The ''Delta King'', a paddlewheel steamboat which for eighteen months lay on the bottom of the San Francisco Bay, was refurbished and is now a hotel and restaurant.
The modern era
The city's current charter was adopted by voters in 1920, establishing a city council-and-manager form of government, still used today. As a charter city, Sacramento is exempt from many laws and regulations passed by the state legislature. The city has expanded continuously over the years. The 1964 merger of the City of North Sacramento with Sacramento substantially increased its population, and large annexations of the Natomas area eventually led to significant population growth with the housing boom of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
Sacramento City and County (along with a portion of adjacent Placer County) are served by a customer-owned electric utility, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). Sacramento voters approved the creation of SMUD in 1923. In April, 1946, after 12 years of litigation, a judge ordered Pacific Gas & Electric to transfer title of Sacramento's electric distribution system to SMUD. SMUD today is the sixth-largest public electric utility in the U.S., and has a worldwide reputation for innovative programs and services, including the development of clean fuel resources, such as solar power.
The Ziggurat Building in the city of West Sacramento, viewed across the Sacramento River from the western edge of Sacramento
West America Bank Building
The Sacramento-Yolo Port District was created in 1947, and ground was broken on the Port of Sacramento in 1949. On June 29 1963, with 5,000 spectators waiting to welcome her, the Motor Vessel ''Taipei Victory'' arrived.[5] The port was open for business. The Nationalist Chinese flag ship, freshly painted for the historic event, was loaded with 5,000 tons of bagged rice for Mitsui Trading Co. bound for Okinawa and 1,000 tons of logs for Japan. She was the first ocean-going vessel in Sacramento since the steamship ''Harpoon'' in 1934. The Port of Sacramento has been plagued with operating losses in recent years and faces bankruptcy. As of 2006, the city of West Sacramento will take full responsibility for the Port of Sacramento. This severe loss in business is due to the heavy competition from the Port of Stockton, which has a larger facility and a deeper channel.
In 1967, Governor Ronald Reagan became the last Governor of California to live permanently in the city. A new executive mansion, constructed by private funds in a Sacramento suburb for Reagan, remained vacant for nearly forty years and was recently sold by the state.
The 1980s and 1990s saw the closure of several local military bases: McClellan Air Force Base, Mather Air Force Base, and Sacramento Army Depot. As a result, the U.S. armed forces have little military presence in the city except for recruiting offices.
In the early 1990s, Mayor Joe Serna attempted to lure the Los Angeles Raiders football team to Sacramento, selling $50 million in bonds as earnest money. When the deal fell through, the bond proceeds were used to construct several large projects, including expanding the Convention Center and refurbishing of the Memorial Auditorium. Serna renamed a city park for controversial farm labor organizer Cesar Chavez. Through his effort, Sacramento became the first major city in the country to have a paid municipal holiday honoring Chavez.
In spite of major military base closures and the decline of agricultural food processing, Sacramento continued to experience massive population growth in the 1990s and early 2000s. Primary sources of population growth are people migrating from the San Francisco Bay Area seeking lower housing costs, as well as immigration from Asia, Central America, Mexico, Ukraine, and the rest of the former Soviet Union. From 1990 to 2000, the population grew 14.7%. The Census Bureau estimates that in four years (2000-2004), the population of Sacramento County increased from 1,223,499 to 1,352,445.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Mayor Heather Fargo made several abortive attempts to provide taxpayer financing of a new sports arena for the Maloof brothers, owners of the Sacramento Kings NBA Basketball franchise. In November 2006, Sacramento voters soundly defeated a proposed sales tax hike to finance this, due in part to competing plans for the new arena and its location.
Despite a devolution of state government in recent years, the state of California remains by far Sacramento's largest employer. The City of Sacramento expends considerable effort to keep state agencies from moving outside the city limits. In addition, many federal agencies have offices in Sacramento.
The California Supreme Court normally sits in San Francisco.
Geography and climate
Geography
★ Elevation: 25 feet (8 m) above mean sea level.
★ Latitude: 38° 31' N; Longitude: -121° 30' W
The Sacramento River near the old pumping station
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 257.0 km² (99.2 mi²). 251.6 km² (97.2 mi²) of it is land and 5.4 km² (2.1 mi²) of it is water; 2.1% of the area is water. The population in 2000 was 407,018; the 1980 population was 275,741. The city's current estimated population is approximately 454,330. Depth to groundwater is typically about . Much of the land to the west of the city (in Yolo County) is a flood control basin. As a result, the greater metropolitan area sprawls only four miles (6 km) west of downtown (as West Sacramento, California) but 30 miles (50 km) northeast and east, into the Sierra Nevada foothills, and 10 miles (16 km) to the south into valley farmland.
The city is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River, and has a deepwater port connected to the San Francisco Bay by a channel through the Sacramento River Delta. It is the shipping and rail center for the Sacramento Valley, fruit, vegetables, rice, wheat, dairy goods, and beef. Food processing is among the major industries in the area.
Climate
Sacramento has a Mediterranean climate that is characterized by mild winters and dry, hot summers (Koppen climate classification ''Csa''). The area usually has low humidity. Rain typically falls only between November and March, with the rainy season tapering off almost completely by the end of April. The average temperature throughout the year is 61 °F (16 °C), with the daily average ranging from 46 °F (8 °C) in December and January to 76 °F (24 °C). Average daily high temperatures range from 53 °F (12 °C) in December and January to 93 °F (34 °C) in July (with many days of over 100 °F (38 °C) highs). Daily low temperatures range from 38 to 58 °F (3 to 14 °C). The average year has 73 days with a high over 90 °F (32 °C), with the highest temperature on record being 115 °F (46 °C) on July 25, 2006, and 18 days when the low drops below 32 °F (0 °C), with the coldest day on record being December 11, 1932, at 17 °F (-8 °C). Summer 2007 however could be the hottest ever on record with a possible drought due to Winter 2007 being drier than normal.
Average yearly precipitation is 17.4" (442 mm), with almost no rain during the summer months, to an average rainfall of 3.7" (94 mm) in January. It rains, on average, 58 days of the year. In February 1992, Sacramento had 16 consecutive days of rain (6.41" or 163 mm). A record 7.24" (184 mm) of rain fell on April 20 1880.
On average, 96 days in the year have fog, mostly in the morning (tule fog), primarily in December and January. The fog can get extremely dense, lowering visibility to less than 100 feet (30 m) and making driving conditions hazardous.
The record snowfall was recorded on January 4 1888, at 9 cm (3.5 in). Snowfall is rare in Sacramento (with an elevation of only 52 feet or 16 m above sea level), with a dusting of snow every eight to ten years. Forty miles (65 km) east of Sacramento, in the foothills, snow accumulation is an annual occurrence. Further east, the Lake Tahoe recreation area is home to a number of world famous ski areas which have accumulation greater than 90" (230 cm) nearly every year during the peak season. Spots in the Sierra Nevada mountains east of Sacramento annually receive some of the greatest snowfall in the lower 48 states, and the mountain range's immense snowpack is a vital source of water for the entire state of California.
| Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures | ||||||||||||
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec High °F | 70 | 76 | 88 | 95 | 105 | 115 | 114 | 110 | 108 | 104 | 87 | 72 |
| Norm High °F | 53.8 | 60.5 | 64.7 | 71.4 | 80 | 87.4 | 92.4 | 91.4 | 87.5 | 78.2 | 63.7 | 53.9 |
| Norm Low °F | 38.8 | 41.9 | 44.2 | 46.3 | 50.9 | 55.5 | 58.3 | 58.1 | 55.8 | 50.6 | 42.8 | 37.7 |
| Rec Low °F | 23 | 23 | 26 | 31 | 36 | 41 | 48 | 49 | 43 | 36 | 26 | 18 |
| Precip (in) | 3.84 | 3.54 | 2.8 | 1.02 | 0.53 | 0.2 | 0.05 | 0.06 | 0.36 | 0.89 | 2.19 | 2.45 |
| ''Source: USTravelWeather.com[6]'' | ||||||||||||
City Neighborhoods
The city groups its neighborhoods into four areas:
===Area One (Central/Eastern)===
Alkali Flat, Boulevard Park, Campus Commons, Sacramento State University, Dos Rios Triangle, Downtown, East Sacramento, Mansion Flats, Marshall School, Midtown, New Era Park, Newton Booth, Old Sacramento, Poverty Ridge, Richards, Richmond Grove, River Park, Sierra Oaks, Southside Park.
===Area Two (Southwestern) ===
Airport, Freeport Manor, Golf Course Terrace, Greenhaven, Land Park, Little Pocket, Mangan Park, Meadowview, Parkway, Pocket, Sacramento City College, Land Park, Valley Hi / North Laguna, Z'Berg Park
===Area Three (Southeastern) ===
Alhambra Triangle, Avondale, Brentwood, Carleton Tract, College/Glen, Colonial Heights, Colonial Village, Colonial Village North, Curtis Park, Elmhurst, Fairgrounds, Florin-Fruitridge, Industrial Park, Fruitridge Manor, Glen Elder, Granite Regional Park, Hollywood Park, Lawrence Park, Med Center, North City Farms, Oak Park, Packard Bell, South City Farms, Southeast Village, Tahoe Park, Tahoe Park East, Tahoe Park South, Tallac Village, Woodbine
===Area Four (North of the American River) ===
Natomas (north, south, west), Valley View Acres, Gardenland, Northgate, Woodlake, North Sacramento, Terrace Manor, Hagginwood, Del Paso Heights, Robla, McClellan Heights West, Ben Ali, and Swanston Estates.
Unincorporated Neighborhoods
===Antelope
Antelope is an unincorporated area located approximately northeast of downtown Sacramento. Established in the mid-1800s by Chinese immigrants who worked for the railroad, Antelope began as, and remains, a bedroom community. By 1973, Antelope still consisted of little more than a general store and a half-dozen homes. As the surrounding areas grew in the 1980s and 1990s, so did Antelope. By 1993 the residents of the area voted to be recognized as a community by the county and with their own ZIP code (95843) which became effective July 1, 1994. By the 2000 Census the population had grown to more than 36,000.
Arden-Arcade
Arden Arcade is an affluent community immediately east of the city of Sacramento and north of the American River. It is home to over 90,000 people and boasts 42,987 households, 55% of which are family households. It is located only minutes from downtown and offers many shopping and entertainment venues. There are over 2,000 businesses in the area, employing over 40,000 people. Access to out doors recreation is also nearby because Arden is bordered by the American River Parkway, a 26-mile (42-kilometer) hike and bike trail that follows the American River to Folsom Lake. Golf, swimming and city parks are also close by.
Carmichael
Carmichael is located northeast of downtown Sacramento and is a historic community that dates back to the early 1900s. It was founded by Dan Carmichael, who was mayor of Sacramento in 1917-1919. Some of the remaining signs of the early Carmichael days are the palm trees along Palm Drive, planted around 1913. The current population is 49,742; there are 20,631 total households, 64% are family households, and the median age is 40. Carmichael is home to the beautiful Ancil Hoffman Park which houses the 77 acre Effie Yeaw Nature Center, a sprawling pristine nature preserve along the banks of the American River. Golf can also be played in the park under the shade of native oaks trees.
Fair Oaks
Fair Oaks, located from downtown Sacramento and, with a population of 28,808, is an affluent, well-established community located in unincorporated Sacramento County. It consists of suburban and semi-rural neighborhoods. The area is home to rolling hills and numerous native oaks that add to the area's quality of life. The views of the American River bluffs and nearby Nimbus Hatchery and Folsom Dam add to the distinctive character of Fair Oaks.
Fair Oaks’ uniqueness also stems from its existing business core and town center, known as the Fair Oaks Village. The village is home to narrow winding roads, rolling hills, an open-air amphitheatre, and a historic plaza of historic buildings full of unique galleries and shops. The Village has a charming small town atmosphere. The Plaza Park Amphitheatre, located in the Village, is the main site of the Fair Oaks Theatre Festival, one of the many outdoor community theatres in the area. Fair Oaks Village is also the site of the annual Fiesta Days, an event celebrating the residents of Fair Oaks.
Gold River===Gold River is an affluent suburb east of downtown Sacramento that is often mistakenly considered part of Rancho Cordova, an incorporated city in Sacramento County, California. The population was 8,023 at the 2000 census. The Gold River Community Association is the master association for the 25 separate "villages" that make up the community. Each village has its own sub associations as well.
===La Riviera
La Riviera is a suburban community, east of downtown Sacramento. The population was 10,273 at the 2000 census. La Riviera is a primarily residential neighborhood located between the American River and Highway 50. The community is sub-divided by La Riviera Drive into the areas of College Greens and Glenbrook.
Rio Linda/Elverta
Rio Linda, Spanish for beautiful water, is a community located north of Sacramento city and is home to over 10,000 people. There are approximately 3,500 households, 77% of which are family households and the median age is 34. This rural community offers an escape from the busy city life. Rio Linda/Elverta has its roots as a small farming community established in the early 1900s. The Gibson Ranch and Cherry Island Gold Course are a couple of the places this area offers for horseback riding and outdoor recreation.
North Highlands
North Highlands is a community of 44,000 residents that is located approximately northeast of downtown Sacramento in an unincorporated area of Sacramento County. The community was formally established with the opening of the North Highlands post office in July of 1952 and this unincorporated area grew with the development of the McClellan Air Force Base. North Highlands is mostly a middle-class residential housing area. With some commercial and industrial regions around the McClellan Air Force Base, now a civilian airport, called McClellan Business Park.
Vineyard=
Vineyard is a new suburban neighborhood in Sacramento County approximately from downtown Sacramento. The population was 10,109 at the 2000 census, however, plans have been announced to add as many as 20,000 new homes to Vineyard. This could add as many as 60,000 new people to the area. Along with the houses would come new shopping centers, parks, and schools. However, some have been critical of the expansion and one California State University, Sacramento professor referred to it as "car-oriented sprawl development." However, there are plans to extend some sort of public transportation to Vineyard and to build around the train tracks that go through the town.
Demographics ==| 'Sacramento Population by year' | |
| 1860 | 13,785 |
| 1870 | 16,283 |
| 1880 | 21,420 |
| 1890-1910 | N/A |
| 1920 | 65,908 |
| 1930 | 93,750 |
| 1940 | 105,958 |
| 1950 | 137,572 |
| 1960 | 191,667 |
| 1970 | 254,413 |
| 1980 | 275,741 |
| 1990 | 369,365 |
| 2000 | 407,018 |
| 2007 | 467,343 |
As of the census of 2000, there are 407,018 people (2004 Est. 454,330), 154,581 households, and 91,202 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,617.4/km² (4,189.2/mi²). There are 163,957 housing units at an average density of 651.5/km² (1,687.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 48.29% White, 15.47% African American, 1.30% Native American, 16.62% Asian, 0.95% Pacific Islander, 10.96% from other races, and 6.41% from two or more races. 21.61% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 154,581 households out of which 30.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% are married couples living together, 15.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 41.0% are non-families. 32.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.57 and the average family size is 3.35.
The Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Cathedral Square, Downtown.
In the city the population is spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100 females there are 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $37,049, and the median income for a family is $42,051. Males have a median income of $35,946 versus $31,318 for females. The per capita income for the city is $18,721. 20.0% of the population and 15.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 29.5% of those under the age of 18 and 9.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Factors such as mild climate, a location at the crossroads of major interstate highways and railroads, and the availability of campsites along the rivers, as well as an outlook of tolerance, attract some homeless people.
Sacramento is notably diverse racially, ethnically, and by household income, and has a notable lack of inter-racial disharmony. In 2002, Time magazine (http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,340694,00.html) and the Civil Rights Project of Harvard University identified Sacramento as the most racially/ethnically integrated major city in America.[7] The U.S. Census Bureau also groups Sacramento with other U.S. cities having a "High Diversity" rating of the diversity index.[8]
Education
Colleges and universities
Sacramento State north entrance
Sacramento is home to an unaccredited private institution, University of Sacramento, a Roman Catholic university run by the Legionaries of Christ. Currently, the university offers course work in graduate programs. Nearby Rocklin, CA is home to William Jessup University, an evangelical Christian college.
The University of California has a campus, UC Davis, in nearby Davis and also has a graduate center in downtown Sacramento. The UC Davis Graduate School of Management (GSM) is located in downtown Sacramento on One Capital Mall. The UC Davis GSM is where working professional (part-time) MBA students, from UC Davis, complete their MBA. There are over 300 part-time MBA students enrolled in the program. The part-time program is ranked in the top-20 and is well known for its small class size, world class faculty, and involvement in the business community. UC also maitains the Unversity of California Sacramento Center (UCCS for undergaduate and graduate studies. Similar to the UC's Washington DC program, "Scholar Interns" engage in both academic studies and as well as an internship.
Also, the UC Davis School of Medicine is located at the UC Davis Medical Center in Oak Park.
University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, a top 100 law school according to U.S. News and World Report's annual rankings of U.S. law schools (2006, 2007 & 2008), is located in the Oak Park section of Sacramento.
The private campus of the University of Southern California has an extension in downtown Sacramento, called the State Capital Center. The campus, taught by main campus professors, Sacramento-based professors, and practioners in the State Capitol and state agencies, offers Master of Public Administration and Master of Public Health degrees.
The Los Rios Community College District consists of several two-year colleges in the Sacramento area – American River College, Cosumnes River College, Sacramento City College, Folsom Lake College, plus a large number of outreach centers for those colleges.
Sacramento has a number of private vocational schools as well.
In the PBS KVIE building, there is also an extension of San Francisco's Golden Gate University.
Public schools
Several public school districts serve Sacramento. Sacramento City Unified School District serves most of Sacramento. Other portions are served by the Center Unified School District, Natomas Unified School District, San Juan Unified School District, Grant Joint Union High School District, Rio Linda Union School District, North Sacramento Elementary School District, Del Paso Heights School District, and Robla School District.
The Valley Hi/North Laguna area is served by the Elk Grove Unified School District, despite being in the city limits of Sacramento and not in Elk Grove.
Private schools
Shalom School is the only Jewish day school in Sacramento.
Continuing an educational history that began in the Sacramento region at the time of the Gold Rush, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento operates 1 diocesan high school within the city and surrounding suburbs, St. Francis High School. Various Roman Catholic religious congregations operate four additional Catholic "private" (i.e., non-diocesan) high schools in the city and suburbs: Loretto High School (sponsored by the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary), Christian Brothers High School (sponsored by the Brothers of Christian Schools), Jesuit High School (the Society of Jesus, or "Jesuits"), and, as of the Fall of 2006, Cristo Rey High School Sacramento (co-sponsored by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, the Sisters of Mercy, and the Jesuits). Sacramento is one of 12 cities in the United States with a Cristo Rey Network High School, the first of which was founded by the Jesuits in Chicago in 1996 on a reduced tuition model designed to be accessible to those otherwise unable to afford conventionally-priced private education.
Additionally within the city and surrounding suburbs are 30 "parochial" schools - i.e., schools attached to a parish. These range from the oldest still operating, St. Francis of Assisi Grammar School (1895), to the newest, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (2000), to the recently consolidated, John Paul II School (2005), combining All Hallows (1948) and St. Peter (1955) Schools at the All Hallows Parish site.
In 1857, almost immediately upon their arrival from Ireland, the Sisters of Mercy opened the first school of any kind in Sacramento. Open to all regardless of religious denomination, St. Joseph Academy continued operation through the late 1960s. The final school site is now a city of Sacramento parking garage. The "St. Joseph Garage" honors the name of the school that marked the arrival of formal education in Sacramento.
While Catholic institutions still dominate the independent school scene in the Sacramento area, in 1964, Sacramento Country Day School opened and offered Sacramentans an independent school that is affiliated with the California Association of Independent Schools. SCDS has grown to its present day status as a learning community for students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.
There is one Islamic school in Sacramento, founded in 1998.
Culture and Arts
Reconstruction of California's first permanent theatre, the Eagle Theatre
The primary newspaper is ''The Sacramento Bee'', founded in 1857 by James McClatchy. Its rival, the ''Sacramento Union'', started publishing six years earlier in 1851. It closed its doors in 1994. Writer and journalist Mark Twain wrote for the ''Union'' in 1866. In late 2004, a new ''Sacramento Union'' returned with bimonthly magazines and in May 2005 began monthly publication, but does not intend to return as a daily newspaper. In 2006, The McClatchy Company purchased Knight Ridder Inc. to become the second-largest newspaper publisher in the United States. The ''Sacramento Bee'' has won five Pulitzer Prizes in its history. It has won numerous other awards, including many for its progressive public service campaigns promoting free speech (the ''Bee'' often criticized government policy, and uncovered many scandals hurting Californians), anti-racism (the ''Bee'' supported the Union during the American Civil War and publicly denounced the Ku Klux Klan), worker's rights (the ''Bee'' has a strong history of supporting unionization), and environmental protection (leading numerous tree-planting campaigns and fighting against environmental destruction in the Sierra Nevada). A full list of recent major awards won by the Bee can be found here.
The Big Four Building in Old Sacramento
The oldest part of the town besides Sutter's Fort is Old Sacramento, which consists of cobbled streets and some historic buildings, some from the 1860s. Buildings have been preserved, restored or reconstructed, and the district is now a substantial tourist attraction, with rides on steam-hauled historic trains and paddle steamers.
The "Big Four Building", built in 1852, was home to the offices of Collis Huntington, Mark Hopkins, Leland Stanford, and Charles Crocker. The Central Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Railroad were founded there. The original building was destroyed in 1963 for the construction of Interstate 5, but was re-created using original elements in 1965. It is now a National Historic Landmark. Also of historic interest is the Eagle Theatre, a reconstruction of California's first permanent theatre in its original location.
'''Theatre Arts'''
The Community Center Theatre
The Wells Fargo Pavilion, Music Circus
Main Stage of the Sacramento Theatre Company
There are several major theatre venues for Sacramento. The Sacramento Convention Center governs both the Community Center Theatre and Memorial Auditorium. The Wells Fargo Pavilion is the most recent addition. It is built atop the old Music Circus tent foundations. Next to that, is the McClatchy Main stage, originally built as a television studio, it was renovated at the same time the pavilion was built. It is the smallest of the venues providing seating for only 300. The Sacramento Ballet, Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra and the Sacramento Opera perform at the Community Center Theatre.
There are several Theatre companies with professional stature. California Musical Theatre and its Summer stock theatre, Music Circus bring many directors and performers from New York and the Los Angeles area to work and perform in their productions at the Wells Fargo Pavilion. During the fall, winter and spring seasons Broadway Sacramento brings bus and truck tours to the Convention Center Theatre. The Sacramento Theatre Company provides non-musical productions of high quality as an Equity House Theatre, performing in the McClatchy Main stage. At the [B Street Theatre], smaller and more intimate professional productions are performed as well as a children's theatre. The Sacramento Shakespeare Festival provides entertainment under the stars every summer in William Land Park.
The Sacramento area has one of the largest collection of smaller Community Theatres in California. Some of these include, the 24th Street Theatre, River City Theatre Company, Runaway Stage Productions and the historic Eagle Theatre. These theatres all compete annually for the Elly Awards overseen by The Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance or SARTA.
On Wednesday June 13th 2007 a new studio for the performing arts was announced to be built along side the Sacramento Theatre company and the Wells Fargo Pavilion. The new multi million dollar complex will be named "The E. Claire Raley Studios for the Performing Arts" and will provide rehearsal space for 4 of the regions principal arts groups, the Sacramento Ballet, California Musical Theatre, Sacramento Opera and the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra, centralizing most of the city's Arts organizations.
'''Visual Arts'''
The Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission is an organization which was established as the Sacramento arts council in 1977 to provide several arts programs for the city. These include Art in Public Places, Arts Education, Grants and Cultural Programs, Poet Laureate Program, Arts Stabilization Programs and Other Resources and opportunities.
Sacramento Second Saturday Art Walk is a program of local art galleries that stay open into the late evenings every second Saturday of each month providing a unique experience for the local population as well as tourists to view original art and meet the artists themselves.
'''Museums'''
The Crocker Art Museum
Sacramento has several major museums. The Crocker Art Museum, the oldest public art museum west of the Mississippi River is one of the finest. On July 26th, 2007 the Museum broke ground for an expansion that will more than triple the buildings floor space. The Modern architecture will be much different from the Victorian style building it is added to. Construction is to be completed by 2010.
Also of interest is the Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park, a large Victorian Mansion which was home to 13 of California's Governors. The Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park, which was completely restored in 2006, serves as the State’s official address for diplomatic and business receptions. Guided public tours are available. The California Museum for History, Women, and the Arts, home of the California Hall of Fame, is a cultural destination dedicated to telling the rich history of California and its unique influence on the world of ideas, innovation, art and culture. The Museum educates tens of thousands of school children through inspiring programs, sharing with world visitors California's rich art, history and cultural legacy through dynamic exhibits, and serving as a public forum and international meeting place. The California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento has historical exhibits and live steam locomotives that patrons may ride.
'''Music'''
The area is home to many local rock bands that aspire to bigger things. Many have broken through to mainstream popularity. Each year the city hosts the Sammies, the Sacramento Music Awards. Sacramento also has a reputation as a center for Dixieland jazz, because of the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee which is held every Memorial Day weekend. Events and performances are held in multiple locations throughout the city. Each year thousands of jazz fans from all over the world visit for this one weekend. Sacramento is also home to the Sacramento French Film Festival, a cultural event held every year in July that features U.S. premiers of French films and classic masterpieces of French cinema. In addition, Sacramento is home to the Trash Film Orgy, a summer film festival celebrating the absurd, B-movies, horror, monster, exploitation.
Classical music is widely available in usual and unusual venues. The Sacramento Philharmonic, the Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra, and the Camellia Symphony each present a full season of concerts. Two local churches feature unusually sophisticated classical music programs. Sacred Heart Church, located in affluent East Sacramento, is host to Schola Cantorum, an ensemble chorus that features a full season of performances, while also participating at Sunday liturgies at Sacred Heart. All Hallows Church, serving working class south-central Sacramento, is host to the nation's only parish-based full symphony orchestra, which presents a full range of performances each season. Sections of the orchestra also perform at significant parish school events, and orchestra members teach a complete curriculum of choral music at the inner-city school. The parish also features periodic individual recitals, including on its Yamaha Concert Grand Piano and Italian-built Viscount Digital Pipe Organ, one of only nine four-manual Viscounts in the world. All Hallows promotes its vast music programs around the theme "Transforming the Inner-city Through the Beauty of Art."
Sports and recreation
Raley Field, home of the Sacramento River Cats
ARCO Arena is home to two professional level basketball teams: the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association and the Sacramento Monarchs of the Women's National Basketball Association. The Kings came to Sacramento from Kansas City in 1985, and the Monarchs are one of the eight founding members of the WNBA, which started in 1997. The Monarchs won the WNBA Championship in 2005 to become the first major, professional sports team in Sacramento to do so.
The Sacramento Solons, a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League, played in Sacramento during several periods (1903, 1905, 1909-1914, 1918-1960, 1974-1976), mostly at Edmonds Field. In 2000, AAA minor league baseball returned to Sacramento with the Sacramento River Cats, an affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. The River Cats play in the recently constructed Raley Field.
Several smaller leagues have and continue to be in Sacramento. The Sacramento Heatwave of the American Basketball Association currently plays at Cosumnes River College. In the past, the city hosted two professional football teams, the Sacramento Surge of the World League of American Football and the Sacramento Gold Miners of the Canadian Football League. Sacramento was also home to an indoor soccer team, the Sacramento Knights of the Continental Indoor Soccer League (later called the World Indoor Soccer League). The Sacramento XSV (pronounced "excessive") of the National Professional Paintball League are based in Sacramento.
View of the city skyline from Raley Field
Sacramento has frequently hosted the NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship as well as the 1st and 2nd rounds of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. The Sacramento Mile is a national flat-track motorcycle racing event.
Sacramento also hosts some recreational facilities and events. The Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, that runs between Old Sacramento and Folsom Lake, attracts cyclists and equestrians from across the State. The California State Fair is held in Sacramento each year at the end of the summer, ending on Labor Day. Over one million people attended this fair in 2001. Sacramento residents play softball more than any city except Detroit, Michigan.
Among other activities in Sacramento is Discovery Park, a park studded with stands of mature trees and grasslands, this park where the American River flows into the Sacramento River, its a destination for fisherman and travelers alike.
| Club | League | Sport | Venue | Established | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento Kings | NBA | Basketball | ARCO Arena | 1945 (1985) | 1 NBA Title And 1 NBL Title (as Rochester Royals) |
| Sacramento Monarchs | WNBA | Basketball | ARCO Arena | 1997 | 1 WNBA Championship |
| Sacramento River Cats | PCL | Baseball | Raley Field | 1978 (2000) | 2 League Titles |
| Sacramento Capitals | WTT | Tennis | Allstate Stadium | 1987 | 5 Championships |
| Sacramento Heatwave | ABA | Basketball | Cosumnes River College | 2003 | |
| Sacramento Knights | NPSL | Soccer | Cosumnes River College | 2003 | 1 Championship |
| Sacramento Sirens | IWFL | Football | Foothill High School | 2001 | 1 WAFL Title, 3 IWFL Titles |
| F.C. Sacramento Pride | WPSL | Soccer | Lincoln High School | 1995 |
Notable residents
Notable people with ties to Sacramento include designer architech Ray Eames, painter Wayne Thiebaud, photographer Michael Williamson, philosopher Cornel West, astronaut Stephen Robinson, U.S. Supreme Court justice Anthony Kennedy, actress Milla Jovovich, and writer Joan Didion. In addition to Huntington, Hopkins, Stanford, and Crocker, the city's more successful entrepreneurs have included Russ Solomon (Tower Records) and Sherwood "Shakey" Johnson (Shakey's Pizza). REELRADIO founder and webmaster Richard W Irwin aka "Uncle Ricky" Actors, singers, rap artists, bands, and other performers with ties to the city can be found under Sacramento entertainers. For sports figures with ties to Sacramento see Sacramento sports figures.
Transportation
Amtrak service
Amtrak's Sacramento Valley Rail Station serves as the city's main train gateway.
Amtrak provides passenger rail service to the city of Sacramento. The Sacramento Valley Rail Station is located on the corner of 5th and I streets near the historic Old Town Sacramento and as of April, 2007, is currently undergoing extensive renovations. The station also serves as an RT light rail terminus.
Amtrak California operates the Capitol Corridor, a multiple-frequency service providing service from the capital city to its northeastern suburbs and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Sacramento is also the northern terminus of the Amtrak San Joaquins route which provide direct multiple-frequency passenger rail service to California's Central Valley as far as Bakersfield; Thruway Motorcoach connections are available from the trains at Bakersfield to Southern California and Southern Nevada.
Sacramento is also a stop along Amtrak's Coast Starlight route which provides scenic service to Seattle via Klamath Falls and Portland to the north and to Los Angeles via San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara to the south.
Amtrak's California Zephyr also serves Sacramento daily and provides service to the east serving Reno, Salt Lake, Denver, Omaha, Chicago and intermediate cities.
The Sacramento Valley Rail Station also provides numerous Thruway Motorcoach routes. One route serves the cities of Marysville, Oroville, Chico, Corning, Red Bluff and Redding with additional service to Yreka and even Medford, Oregon. A second serves the cities of Roseville, Rocklin, Auburn, Colfax, Truckee, Reno and Sparks. The third and final thruway motorcoach route serves Placerville, Lake Tahoe, Stateline Casinos, and Carson City, Nevada. Each of these routes provides multiple frequencies each day.
On March 15, 2007 around 5:40 p.m. a rail trestle along the American River set fire and left an Amtrak train stuck on the track for over 5 hours until Amtrak buses arrived to help the stranded travlers.
Other transportation options
An RT light rail train pulling into Cathedral Square.
Sacramento Regional Transit's bus and light-rail system provides service within the city and nearby suburbs. Light-rail lines have recently been expanded east as far as the city of Folsom. Sacramento's light rail system goes to the Sacramento Valley Rail Station, Meadowview RD. in south Sacramento and north to Watt/I-80 where I-80 and Business 80 meet.
The Sacramento International Airport handles flights to and from various United States destinations (including Hawaii) as well as Mexico and Canada.
The Sacramento region is served by freeways (notably I-5, I-80, Business Loop 80 (Capital City Freeway), U.S. Highway 50, and Hwy 99). No new freeways have been built since the mid 1970s, despite a near-doubling of population in the metropolitan area since that time. Some Sacramento neighborhoods, particularly the central downtown and midtown areas, are pedestrian friendly. And as a result of litigation, Sacramento has undertaken to make all city facilities and sidewalks wheelchair accessible. In an effort to preserve its urban neighborhoods, Sacramento has constructed traffic-calming obstacles in several areas.
Sister cities
Sacramento has seven sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:[9]
★ Valencia, Spain
★ Chişinău, Moldova
★ Hamilton, New Zealand
★ Jinan, China
★ Liestal, Switzerland
★ Manila, Philippines
★ Matsuyama, Japan
★ Yongsan-gu, South Korea
Media
Television
| Channel | Call Sign | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | KCRA-TV | NBC |
| 13 | KOVR | CBS |
| 40 | KTXL | FOX |
| 58 | KQCA | My Network |
| 19 | KUVS-TV | Univision |
| 6 | KVIE | PBS |
| 31 | KMAX-TV | CW |
| 10 | KXTV | ABC |
| 29 | KSPX | ION Media Networks |
Sacramento Newspapers
★ Sacramento Bee - Website
★ Sacramento Union - Website
★ Sacramento News & Review - Website
★ Sacramento State Hornet - University Newspaper - Website
Metropolitan Newspapers
★ Carmichael Times - Website
★ Elk Grove Citizen - Website
★ Folsom Telegraph - Website
★ Roseville Press Tribune - Website
Magazines
★ Sactown Magazine - Your Guide to Modern Sacramento. - Website
★ Sacramento Magazine - Website
★ Prosper Magazine - Website
★ Comstock's Magazine - Website
Radio
See also: List of radio stations in Sacramento
See also
★ List of foreign consulates in Sacramento
★ List of mayors of Sacramento
★ C. M. Goethe Arboretum
References
1. America's Most Livable: Greater Sacramento. America's Most Livable Communities. Retrieved on 2007-06-14.
2. The Big Apple: Big Tomato
3. Tree City USA at arborday.org
4. City of Sacramento Municipal Homepage
5. Sacramento: Indomitable City, , Steven M., Avella, Arcadia Publishing, 2003, ISBN 0-738-52444-1
6. Sacramento Weather. U.S. Travel Weather. Retrieved on 2007-06-15.
7. Stodghill, Ron; Bower, Amanda (2002-08-25). Welcome to America's Most Diverse City. ''Time''. Retrieved on 2007-06-15.
8. The Geography of U.S. Diversity (PDF). United States Census. Retrieved on 2007-06-15.
9. Online Directory: California, USA
External links
★ Sacramento Wiki - People's Guide to Sacramento
★ Official city website
★ Official tourism website from the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau
★ Sacramento Metro Chamber Of Commerce
★ Sactown Magazine - Official Web site
★ Sacramento History Online - Historic Sacaramento Photo and Document Archive
★ Old Sacramento - Official website
★ Sacramento Public Library
★ Sacramento Forums
★ Historic Stereoviews of 19th Century Sacramento, from the Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
★ Sacramento Freeway History, from cahighways.org
★ Sacramento Pictures
★ America's Most Livable: Greater Sacramento
★ Time Magazine 9/2/02: 'Where Everyone's a Minority'
★ Big Tomato Press - Official Website
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