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Area Facts
The city's history began in 1839 when Johann Augustus Sutter settled at the confluence of the American and Sacramento Rivers after having received a 48,000-acre land grant from the Mexican Governor Alvarado who was then in charge of running California. Gold was discovered in 1848 just thirty miles east of Sacramento. The rest is history! The news of the discovery spread like wild-fire around the globe and fortune hunters came by the thousands from all corners of the world to California—Sacramento to be precise. California became a state in 1850 and Sacramento its capital four years later.
The city has been on the move ever since and is now one of the fastest growing regions in the United States.
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Location: |
Sacramento is located 90 miles northeast of San Francisco, 383 miles north of Los Angeles. Elevation: 17 feet. |
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Area Code: |
916 |
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Population: |
460,000 in the city and nearly 2 million in the metropolitan area, which consists of Sacramento and parts of Yolo, Placer and El Dorado, Sutter and Yuba counties. |
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Climate: |
Mediterranean. Sacramento enjoys mild year-round temperatures. Summers are dry with little humidity and an abundance of sunshine. Be prepared for cool, sometimes rainy days in December, January and February. Prevailing Winds: Average Temperature in January: Average Temperature in July: Prevailing Winds: |
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Transportation: |
The city is easily accessible from all directions. Interstate 80 and US Highway 50 run east/west; Interstate 5 and US Highway 99 run north/south. Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is served by virtually all major airlines with 150+ flights per day. Non-stop and direct flights from 52 cities, including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis, and St. Louis to name a few. |
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Culture: |
Sacramento is home to professional ballet, opera and theatre companies. |
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Entertainment: |
Performing arts, music, theaters and galleries galore. Sacramento is home to over 32 theaters, galleries and museums. Night time entertainment range from quiet piano bars to folk and pop ensembles, and from country western to rock and roll. |
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Government: |
Sacramento is the capital of California where Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is often spotted around town. The city has eight council districts and the county of Sacramento has a board of five supervisors. |
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Taxes: |
7.75% sales tax; 12% hotel tax. |
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Shopping: |
Nine traditional shopping malls and hundred of boutiques and one-of-a-kind shops offer something for everyone. Key shopping malls include: Town and Country Village, the oldest shopping center in Sacramento. Arden Fair, home to 165 specialty shops, restaurants, a multi-screen cinema and a food court. Westfield Downtown Plaza, with over 100 specialty shops and eateries. Pavilions provides cosmopolitan shopping and dining in a village atmosphere. Folsom Premium Outlets have more than 80 stores. |
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Recreation: |
In a city bound by two rivers, the American and the Sacramento, water recreation tops the list for outdoor activities: Salmon and steelhead fishing, river rafting, boating. All can be done on the 1000 miles of waterways around Sacramento and the Delta. Nearby Folsom Lake and Lake Natoma offer sailing and windsurfing. Sacramento municipal golf courses provide the surrounding community with 540 acres of quality fairways and greens. More than 120 city parks encompassing over 2,000 acres provide outstanding natural and developed parklands. Professional sports are represented by the Sacramento Kings of the NBA, the Sacramento Monarchs of the WNBA and the Sacramento River Cats, a Triple-A baseball team. |
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Annual Events: |
Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, California State Fair, California International Marathon, Waterfront Festival, Free Museum Day, Grape Escape, Gold Rush Days, Juneteenth, Festival de la Familia, Pacific Rim Street Festival, New Year's Eve Sky Concert. |
