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Sacramento, CA

Sacramento, CA

Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers in Northern California's Sacramento Valley, Sacramento's 2020 population of 465,943 makes it the fourth-most populous city in Northern California, sixth-most populous city in the state, and the ninth-most populous state capital in the United States. Sacramento is the seat of the California Legislature and the Governor of California.

Sacramento is also the cultural and economic core of the Greater Sacramento area, which at the 2020 census had a population of 2,680,831, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in California.

Before the arrival of the Spanish, the area was inhabited by the Nisenan, Maidu, and other indigenous peoples of California. Spanish cavalryman Gabriel Moraga surveyed and named the Río del Santísimo Sacramento (Sacramento River) in 1808, after the Blessed Sacrament. In 1839, Juan Bautista Alvarado, Mexican governor of Alta California, granted the responsibility of colonizing the Sacramento Valley to Swiss-born Mexican citizen John Augustus Sutter, who subsequently established Sutter's Fort and the settlement at the Rancho Nueva Helvetia. Following the American Conquest of California and the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, the waterfront developed by Sutter began to be developed and incorporated in 1850 as the City of Sacramento. In 1852, the city offered its county courthouse to the state of California to house the state legislature, resulting in the city becoming the permanent state capital in 1854 and ushering in the construction of a new state capitol building which was finished in 1874.

Nisenan (Southern Maidu), Modoc, and Plains Miwok Native Americans lived in the area for perhaps thousands of years. Unlike the settlers who eventually made Sacramento their home, these Native Americans left little evidence of their existence. 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.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers 100.1 square miles (259 km2). 97.81% of it is land, and 2.19% of it is water.

Depth to groundwater is typically about 30 feet (9 m). Much of the land to the west of the city (in Yolo County) is permanently reserved for a vast flood control basin (the Yolo Bypass), due to the city's historical vulnerability to floods. As a result, the contiguous urban area sprawls only four miles (6.4 km) west of downtown (as West Sacramento, California) but 30 miles (48 km) northeast and east, into the Sierra Nevada foothills, and 10 miles (16 km) to the south into valley farmland.

The city is at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River. It has a deep-water port connected to the San Francisco Bay by a channel through the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta. It is the shipping and rail center for the Sacramento Valley.

Health and wellness are paramount in Sacramento, with the city offering various amenities and services to support the well-being of its residents. The One Community Health stands as a cornerstone in providing comprehensive healthcare services to the community. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs the Sacramento Parks and Recreation Department offers. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include Anytime Fitness, P2O Hot Pilates & Fitness, and Sport Courts Fitness. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Sacramento, such as the Sacramento River Trail and North Natomas Loop. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

Top sites in Sacramento, CA are California State Capitol Museum, Crocker Art Museum, and California State Railroad Museum.

Population: 526,384 (2023). Area code: 916. Zip code: 94203. Elevation: 26 ft (8 m). Area: 99.77 sq mi (258.41 km2). 

FAQ

Is Sacramento, CA a good place to live?

If you’ve decided to move to The Golden State, Sacramento could be the perfect fit for you, as it’s been ranked as one of the best cities to live in California! Sacto is a budget-friendly city with a cost of living that is 22% lower than the California average and 85% lower than neighboring San Francisco. A major factor is River City’s cost of housing, which is significantly lower than most other cities in the state—like San Francisco, for instance, which offers housing 321% more expensive than Sac. If you’re planning to buy a home in Sacramento, the median sales price is relatively low at about $482,250. And if you’re thinking of renting in Sacramento, the average rental price is around $1,850. To sweeten the pot, lower costs on utilities and groceries provide additional savings for Sacramento residents.

Is Sacramento, CA cheap or expensive?

The cost of living in Sacramento, CA is 13% lower than the state average and 20% higher than the national average. Sacramento, CA housing is 41% more expensive than the U.S. average, while utilities are about 13% pricier. When it comes to necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 9% more in Sacramento, CA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 9% more.

What is Sacramento, CA best known for?

Sacramento has long been known as the "City of Trees" owing to its abundant urban forest. The city has more trees per capita than any other city in the world. The first recorded use of the term was in 1855, and it was popular by the early 20th century. It was not always so: it was at first called the "City of Plains" because of the lack of trees, but soon afterward there were cottonwood trees planted, and eucalyptus varieties were imported to dry out swampland. Later, locust trees, and willows were planted along streets, then elms, then palm trees, then fruit trees in the late 1910s. It was the first US city to be designated a City of Trees by the Arbor Day Foundation in 1978.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Sacramento

One Community Health 

Sacramento Parks and Recreation Department 

Anytime Fitness

P2O Hot Pilates & Fitness 

Sport Courts Fitness

Sacramento River Trail 

North Natomas Loop

California State Capitol Museum

Crocker Art Museum

California State Railroad Museum

Extra Space

RentCafe
 

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