Vacaville

by The Linguist

 

Vacaville is a city located in Solano County in northern California, nestled between the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento Valley regions. With a population of over 100,000 residents, Vacaville has grown rapidly over the past few decades and become an important suburb and bedroom community for the nearby larger cities.

Population

According to the latest census data, Vacaville has a population of 101,833 as of 2021, making it the third largest city in Solano County. The city saw rapid growth between 1970 and 2010, with the population nearly quadrupling during that time. Many factors have driven Vacaville’s population boom, including affordable housing prices compared to the Bay Area, proximity to jobs and urban centers, and a high quality of life.

In terms of demographics, Vacaville has become increasingly diverse. In the 1970s, the city was over 95% white. Today, the population is much more mixed – 65% white, 18% Hispanic/Latino, 7% Asian, 5% African American and 5% other races as of the 2020 census.

Economy and Major Employers

The economy of Vacaville is driven by a mix of industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, retail and more. Some of the major employers in Vacaville include:

  • Genentech – biotechnology company
  • Jelly Belly – candy manufacturer
  • NorthBay Healthcare – hospital system
  • Pacific Gas & Electric – utility company
  • Safari West – African wildlife preserve
  • Schools – Vacaville Unified School District, Solano Community College
  • Solar companies – SunPower, GoGreenSolar
  • Travis Air Force Base
  • Vacaville Premium Outlets – shopping mall
  • Walmart distribution center

Healthcare is a major part of Vacaville’s economy, driven by NorthBay Healthcare which operates hospitals and medical centers in the city. NorthBay is the city’s largest private sector employer. Manufacturing is another important industry, with major companies like Genentech, Jelly Belly and others providing thousands of local jobs. Vacaville also has a large retail and service economy, boosted by the presence of the Vacaville Premium Outlets.

Landmarks

Some of the most famous landmarks and points of interest in Vacaville include:

  • Nut Tree Airport – historic general aviation airport, formerly home to the Nut Tree complex.
  • Nut Tree – former roadside attraction with restaurants, shops, train rides and more.
  • Rockville Hills Regional Park – large nature preserve with hiking trails.
  • Lagoon Valley Park – popular recreation area with a lake, trails and amusement park rides.
  • Vacaville Premium Outlets – large outlet shopping mall with over 120 stores.
  • Pennington Acres – upscale neighborhood with homes designed in the early 20th century style.

These landmarks and parks showcase Vacaville’s natural beauty, historic and architectural heritage, and evolution into an important retail destination for the region.

Tourism

Although not as large of a tourism destination as some other California cities, Vacaville does attract visitors thanks to its proximity to popular wine country regions like Napa and Sonoma. Some specific attractions bring in tourists, including:

  • Vacaville Premium Outlets – popular outlet mall drawing shoppers from around Northern California.
  • Jelly Belly Factory Tours – offers tours of the famous jelly bean factory.
  • Nut Tree Plaza – site of the historic Nut Tree roadside attraction.
  • Lake Solano Park – camping, boating, hiking and more along a reservoir.
  • Scandia Family Fun Center – amusement park with mini golf, rides, arcade and more.
  • Nearby wineries – easy access to Napa and Sonoma Valley wine regions.

Vacaville also benefits from tourism related to visitors stopping over on the way to lake Tahoe resorts and other destinations, as Interstate-80 runs directly through the city.

To learn more about tourism opportunities in Vacaville, visit the Visit Vacaville website run by the city’s convention and visitors bureau.

Local Government

Vacaville has a council-manager form of government. The city council consists of a directly elected mayor and four council members, who pass legislation and appoint a city manager to oversee day-to-day operations. The current mayor is Ron Rowlett, who has served since 2018.

Some of the services provided by the city government include:

  • Police department
  • Fire department
  • Public works
  • Water and sewer
  • Public transportation
  • Library
  • Parks and recreation

To learn more about Vacaville’s local government, visit the city’s website. City council meetings are open to the public.

Education

Public education in Vacaville is provided by the Vacaville Unified School District, which operates 15 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 3 high schools. According to data, the district had an enrollment of nearly 30,000 K-12 students for the 2021-2022 school year. The three main public high schools are Vacaville High School, Will C. Woods High School, and Vacaville Christian High School.

Higher education options include Solano Community College, part of the California community college system. The nearest California State University is California State University, Sacramento. The city is also reasonably close to major universities in the Bay Area like UC Berkeley and Stanford.

Sports and Recreation

As a growing community, Vacaville offers many parks, trails, sports leagues and teams for residents to enjoy. Some of the most popular sports and recreation options include:

  • Vacaville Youth Sports Leagues – offers baseball, softball, soccer, football and more.
  • Lagoon Valley Park – amusement park with mini golf, batting cages, go karts and more.
  • Rockville Hills Regional Park – large nature preserve with hiking, biking and horse trails.
  • Solano Land Trust – conservation group preserving open space and trails.
  • Vacaville Skating Center – ice skating and roller skating facility.
  • Vacaville Bulldogs – semi-pro football team in the Valley league.
  • Travis Air Force Base teams – baseball, basketball, football and more.

Outdoor recreation like hiking, biking, golf and water sports on nearby Lake Berryessa are also popular. To learn more about sports and recreation in Vacaville, visit the Vacaville Recreation Department Facebook page.