Sacramento

by The Linguist

Sacramento, California

Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the seat and largest city of Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers in Northern California’s Sacramento Valley, Sacramento’s estimated population as of 2021 was 524,943, making it the sixth-largest city in California and the 36th largest city in the United States.

History

Sacramento was founded in 1848 by John Sutter. He named the new settlement after the Sacramento River, which forms its western border. In 1849, after gold was discovered in the region, Sacramento became a boom town luring in migrants making their way to the gold fields of the Sierra Nevada foothills. Sacramento was officially incorporated as a city on February 27, 1850. It served as the capital of California from 1854 until 1879 when the capital was moved to San Francisco, and then moved back to Sacramento in 1880 where it has remained ever since.

For more on the history of Sacramento, visit the Sacramento History Wikipedia page.

Geography and Population

Sacramento covers about 99.2 square miles near the north end of California’s expansive Central Valley, about 90 miles northeast of San Francisco and 45 miles south of the California state capital of Sacramento. Sacramento is the core cultural and economic center of the Sacramento metropolitan area which had an estimated population of 2,375,380 as of 2021.

As of 2021, Sacramento had an estimated population of 524,943 making it the 6th most populous city in California. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 46.1% White, 15.3% Asian, 13.5% African American, 13.2% from some other race, 5.2% from two or more races, 4.4% Native American, and 2.3% Pacific Islander.

For more demographic details visit the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts page on Sacramento.

Economy

As the state capital of California and a major transportation hub, government jobs are a major component of Sacramento’s economy. Other major industries and employers in Sacramento include healthcare, education, food manufacturing, insurance, and technology. Some of the largest companies headquartered in Sacramento include Sutter Health, Blue Diamond Growers, The Money Store, and SMUD.

In 2020, the top employers in Sacramento were:

  • State of California (57,518 employees)
  • UC Davis Health (14,306 employees)
  • Sacramento County (12,585 employees)
  • Kaiser Permanente (9,611 employees)
  • Intel Corporation (6,790 employees)

For more details on Sacramento’s economy visit the Sacramento Economic Development page.

Attractions and Landmarks

Some of the top attractions and landmarks in Sacramento include:

  • California State Capitol – Home of the California State Legislature, the Capitol is a historic landmark featuring a beautiful park and gardens. Address: 1315 10th St, Sacramento, CA 95814. Phone: (916) 324-0333. Wikipedia page.
  • Old Sacramento State Historic Park – Historic district along the rivers featuring museums, shops, restaurants and other attractions. Old Sacramento website.
  • Crocker Art Museum – Art museum featuring a renowned collection of Californian art. 216 O St, Sacramento, CA 95814. Phone: (916) 808-7000. Museum website.
  • Sacramento Zoo – Zoo featuring over 500 animals. 3930 W Land Park Dr, Sacramento, CA 95822. Phone: (916) 808-5888. Zoo website.
  • California State Railroad Museum – Museum dedicated to preserving railroad history. 111 I St, Sacramento, CA 95814. Phone: (916) 323-9280. Museum website.
  • Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park – Historical fort that was central to Sacramento’s founding. 2701 L St, Sacramento, CA 95816. Phone: (916) 445-4422.
    Wikipedia page.

Some other major landmarks and their GPS coordinates:

  • Golden 1 Center (601 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814) – 38.5798° N, 121.5008° W
  • California State Capitol (1315 10th St, Sacramento, CA 95814) – 38.580593, -121.490494
  • Tower Bridge (50 S Front St Sacramento, CA 95814) – 38.591412, -121.517302

Public Transportation

Public transportation in Sacramento is provided primarily by the Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT). SacRT operates over 70 bus and light rail routes as well as ADA paratransit service and neighborhood shuttle service. Fares are $2.50 for a single ride, with discounted rates available.

For SacRT routes, schedules, and trip planning visit the SacRT website or call 916-321-BUSS (2877).

School Districts

There are several public school districts serving students in Sacramento:

  • Sacramento City Unified School District – 5735 47th Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95824. Phone: (916) 643-7400. Website.
  • San Juan Unified School District – 3738 Walnut Ave, Carmichael, CA 95608. Phone: (916) 971-7700. Website.
  • Elk Grove Unified School District – 9510 Elk Grove-Florin Road, Elk Grove, CA 95624. Phone: (916) 686-7700. Website.
  • Twin Rivers Unified School District – 5115 Dudley Blvd, McClellan, CA 95652. Phone: (916) 566-1600. Website.

There are also many private and charter schools in the Sacramento area.

Local Resources

Here are some other useful local resources in Sacramento:

  • Sacramento Public Library – 828 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. Phone: (916) 264-2920. Website.
  • Sacramento County – 700 H Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. Phone: (916) 874-6141. Website.
  • Visit Sacramento (Convention & Visitors Bureau) – 1608 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. Phone: (916) 808-7777. Website.
  • Sacramento Kings (NBA Basketball Team) – 500 David J Stern Walk, Sacramento, CA 95814. Phone: (916) 928-3629. Website.
  • Sacramento Republic FC (Soccer Team) – 1400 Broadway, Suite 31 Sacramento, CA 95818. Phone: (916) 307-6100. Website.
  • City of Sacramento Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/CityofSacramento

Map of Sacramento