Davis, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Davis, California
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 .JPG) .JPG)  Top: Davis Station (left) and Downtown (right); bottom: University of California, Davis
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| Anthem: The Davis Song | |||
Location of Davis in Yolo County, California
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 Davis, California
Location in California
Davis, California
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | California | ||
| County | Yolo | ||
| Rail depot | 1868 | ||
| Incorporated | March 28, 1917 | ||
| Named for | Jerome C. Davis | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 10.01 sq mi (25.92 km2) | ||
| • Land | 9.97 sq mi (25.83 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.09 km2) 0.32% | ||
| Elevation | 52 ft (16 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 66,850 | ||
| • Density | 6,703.77/sq mi (2,588.44/km2) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Davisite | ||
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) | ||
| ZIP Codes |
95616–95618
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| Area code | 530 | ||
| FIPS code | 06-18100 | ||
| GNIS feature IDs | 277498, 2410296 | ||
| Official flower Lupinus microcarpus var. densiflorus 'Ed Gedling' (Golden lupine) | |||
Davis is a city in Yolo County, California, United States. It's famous for being the "biking capital of America" because so many people ride bikes there! In 2020, about 66,850 people lived in Davis. It's also home to a big university, the University of California, Davis, which had over 40,000 students in 2023.
Contents
History of Davis
Davis is built on land that was once home to the Patwin people, a Native American tribe. Later, in 1868, a train station was built here for the Southern Pacific Railroad. It was named Davisville after Jerome C. Davis, a local farmer. In 1907, the name was shortened to "Davis." The city officially became a town on March 28, 1917.
Davis has always been important for farming and agriculture. In 1905, the state chose Davis as the place for the University of California's University Farm. This farm opened in 1908 and later grew into the University of California, Davis in 1959. Today, the university is a major part of the city.
Geography and Climate
Where is Davis Located?
Davis is in Yolo County, California, in the Sacramento Valley. It's about 11 miles (18 km) west of Sacramento and 70 miles (113 km) northeast of San Francisco. Major highways like Interstate 80 and State Route 113 meet here. The city is very flat, which is perfect for bicycling!
Davis Weather and Seasons
Davis has a Mediterranean climate, which means it has warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters.
- Summer: Days are hot, usually between 85 and 105°F (29–41°C). But evenings cool down nicely, often below 70°F (21°C), thanks to a breeze from the Pacific Ocean.
- Winter: Afternoons are usually between 45 and 65°F (7–18°C). Nights can drop to about 35–40°F (2–4°C), sometimes even freezing.
- Fog: In late fall and winter, a thick ground fog called tule fog can appear. It can make it very hard to see.
- Rain: Most of the rain falls from mid-November to mid-March. Summers are usually very dry.
The highest temperature ever recorded was 116°F (47°C) in July 1925, and the lowest was 12°F (−11°C) in December 1932.
| Climate data for Davis, California, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 88 (31) |
90 (32) |
92 (33) |
98 (37) |
108 (42) |
115 (46) |
116 (47) |
114 (46) |
116 (47) |
105 (41) |
90 (32) |
88 (31) |
116 (47) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 65.4 (18.6) |
71.4 (21.9) |
79.3 (26.3) |
88.2 (31.2) |
96.1 (35.6) |
103.1 (39.5) |
105.3 (40.7) |
104.8 (40.4) |
102.2 (39.0) |
93.8 (34.3) |
79.2 (26.2) |
66.0 (18.9) |
107.2 (41.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 55.5 (13.1) |
60.7 (15.9) |
66.3 (19.1) |
72.5 (22.5) |
81.1 (27.3) |
88.6 (31.4) |
93.3 (34.1) |
92.8 (33.8) |
89.8 (32.1) |
79.9 (26.6) |
65.4 (18.6) |
56.0 (13.3) |
75.2 (24.0) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 46.9 (8.3) |
50.9 (10.5) |
55.1 (12.8) |
59.6 (15.3) |
66.3 (19.1) |
72.2 (22.3) |
75.3 (24.1) |
74.6 (23.7) |
72.3 (22.4) |
64.7 (18.2) |
54.0 (12.2) |
47.0 (8.3) |
61.6 (16.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 38.4 (3.6) |
41.0 (5.0) |
43.9 (6.6) |
46.6 (8.1) |
51.6 (10.9) |
55.8 (13.2) |
57.3 (14.1) |
56.3 (13.5) |
54.8 (12.7) |
49.6 (9.8) |
42.5 (5.8) |
37.9 (3.3) |
48.0 (8.9) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 29.2 (−1.6) |
31.6 (−0.2) |
34.5 (1.4) |
36.9 (2.7) |
43.0 (6.1) |
47.5 (8.6) |
50.8 (10.4) |
50.1 (10.1) |
46.6 (8.1) |
40.2 (4.6) |
31.9 (−0.1) |
28.2 (−2.1) |
26.4 (−3.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 16 (−9) |
21 (−6) |
26 (−3) |
25 (−4) |
32 (0) |
34 (1) |
37 (3) |
37 (3) |
35 (2) |
26 (−3) |
20 (−7) |
12 (−11) |
12 (−11) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.02 (102) |
3.90 (99) |
2.70 (69) |
1.15 (29) |
0.73 (19) |
0.25 (6.4) |
0.01 (0.25) |
0.04 (1.0) |
0.09 (2.3) |
0.75 (19) |
1.78 (45) |
3.74 (95) |
19.16 (486.95) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 12.3 | 10.4 | 8.8 | 5.0 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 6.9 | 11.2 | 63.2 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
Davis Neighborhoods
Davis is divided into different areas by highways and train tracks. Some of the main areas include:
- Central Davis: This area is north of Fifth Street and Russell Boulevard.
- Downtown Davis: This is the city center, with numbered and lettered streets.
- East Davis: This area includes neighborhoods like Mace Ranch and Wildhorse.
- North Davis: This area is north of Covell Boulevard.
- South Davis: This area is south of Interstate 80.
- West Davis: This area is west of State Route 113. It includes the eco-friendly Village Homes development, known for its solar-powered houses.
The University of California, Davis campus is located next to the city.
Protecting the Environment
Davis cares a lot about the environment.
- In 1973, the city started planning for energy saving. New buildings had to be energy efficient.
- In 1984, Davis declared itself a nuclear-free zone.
- In 1998, the city passed a "Dark Skies" rule to reduce light pollution at night.
- Since 2013, Davis has been part of the "Cool Roof" program. This means new roofs must be light-colored to reflect sunlight and help keep the city cooler.
People and Population
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 441 | — | |
| 1890 | 547 | 24.0% | |
| 1920 | 939 | — | |
| 1930 | 1,243 | 32.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,672 | 34.5% | |
| 1950 | 3,554 | 112.6% | |
| 1960 | 8,910 | 150.7% | |
| 1970 | 23,488 | 163.6% | |
| 1980 | 36,640 | 56.0% | |
| 1990 | 46,209 | 26.1% | |
| 2000 | 60,308 | 30.5% | |
| 2010 | 65,622 | 8.8% | |
| 2020 | 66,850 | 1.9% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 65,054 | −0.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Davis is part of the larger Sacramento metropolitan area.
Population in 2020
In 2020, Davis had 66,850 people. The population was made up of:
- 53.6% White
- 2.3% Black
- 13.8% Hispanic or Latino
- 23.3% Asian
- 1.1% Native American
- 9.6% people of two or more races
Population in 2010
In 2010, Davis had 65,622 people. About 64.9% were White, 2.3% African American, and 21.9% Asian. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 12.5% of the population.
Most people in Davis live in homes, with about 96.8% living in households. The average household had about 2.55 people. Many students from the university live in the city, even though the campus itself is not officially part of the city limits.
Economy and Jobs
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The biggest employer in Davis is the University of California, Davis. Many other jobs are in education, healthcare, and local businesses.
Top Employers in Davis
Here are some of the largest employers in Davis:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California, Davis | 25,227 |
| 2 | Davis Joint Unified School District | 1,120 |
| 3 | Sutter Health | 505 |
| 4 | City of Davis | 341 (full-time) |
| 5 | Nugget Markets | 265 |
| 6 | Unitrans | 260 |
| 7 | Safeway | 188 |
| 8 | Courtyard Healthcare Center | 162 |
| 9 | University Retirement Community | 160 |
| 10 | Davis Food Co-op | 117 |
Bicycling in Davis
Bicycling is super popular in Davis, especially for students and kids. In 2010, Davis became home to the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame.
The city has worked hard to make bicycling easy and safe. In the 1960s, people voted for leaders who supported bikes. Now, Davis has many bike lanes, bike paths, and special crossings just for bikes. The flat land and good weather make it even better for riding.
In 2005, Davis was recognized as the first "Platinum Level" city in the U.S. for being so bike-friendly. Even though fewer people were biking to work for a while, the city is still working to encourage more cycling. For example, in 2016, a main road called Fifth Street was changed to have more bike lanes.
The UC Davis "Cal Aggie Cycling" Team has won national road cycling competitions many times. In 2007, UC Davis also held a huge bicycle parade with 822 bikes, setting a record!
Fun Things to See and Do
Whole Earth Festival
The Whole Earth Festival (WEF) is a fun event held every Mother's Day weekend. It features bands, speakers, and workshops. UC Davis students organize the entire festival.
Celebrate Davis
Celebrate Davis is a free yearly festival put on by the Davis Chamber of Commerce. You can find booths from local businesses, listen to live music, enjoy food, and try activities like rock climbing. It ends with fireworks after dark. Many people ride their bikes and use the free bike parking.
Picnic Day at UC Davis
Picnic Day is a huge annual event at the University of California, Davis. It happens every third Saturday in April and is the largest student-run event in the U.S. It starts with a parade featuring the UC Davis band and goes through campus and downtown. There are over 150 free events and more than 50,000 people attend! Highlights include Dachshund dog races (called the Doxie Derby), a Chemistry Magic Show, and sheep dog trials.
Davis Transmedia Art Walk
The Davis Transmedia Art Walk is a free, self-guided tour of public art in downtown Davis and on the UC Davis campus. It includes 23 murals, 16 sculptures, and many galleries. You can get a map to guide you. Each art piece has a special chip that lets you use your phone to learn more about it and even leave comments!
Manetti Shrem Museum of Art
The Manetti Shrem Museum of Art is on the UC Davis campus. It opened in 2016 and shows amazing art, including works by famous artists like Wayne Thiebaud. The museum building itself is very cool, with a huge "Grand Canopy" roof. It's free to visit and often has lectures and art activities for all ages.
Mondavi Center
The Mondavi Center is a large theater on the UC Davis campus. It hosts many world-class shows and performers, like famous musicians. People from all over the area come to watch shows here.
UC Davis Arboretum
The UC Davis Arboretum is a beautiful outdoor park with many different plants and trees from all over the world. You can see collections of oak trees and native plants, and even a small redwood grove. A small stream runs through it where you might spot herons, kingfishers, and many ducks. They often have tours for school children.
The Domes
The Domes, also known as Baggins End Innovative Housing, is a unique student housing community on the UC Davis campus. It was built in 1972 and has 14 dome-shaped houses made of fiberglass. It's a special place where students live together and manage their own community. It's also an early example of the "tiny house movement" that is popular today.
Davis Farmers Market
The Davis Farmers Market is held every Wednesday evening and Saturday morning. You can buy fresh fruits, vegetables, baked goods, and crafts directly from local farmers and artists. From April to October, the market also has "Picnic in the Park" with live music and food from different restaurants.
Local Media
Davis has its own newspaper, The Davis Enterprise, which started in 1897. UC Davis also has a student newspaper called The California Aggie. There are also community radio stations, KDVS and KDRT. Davis is also home to DavisWiki, which is the world's largest English-language local wiki.
Toad Tunnel
Davis has a special Toad Tunnel! It's a wildlife crossing built in 1995. People were worried about toads getting hit by cars when crossing a road that replaced their old path to a reservoir. So, they built a small tunnel under the Pole Line Road overpass. The tunnel is about 21 inches (53 cm) wide and 18 inches (46 cm) high, helping the toads cross safely.
Education in Davis
University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis, or UC Davis, is a big university that has a major impact on the city. In Fall 2019, it had 38,369 students.
D-Q University
D-Q University, also known as Deganawidah-Quetzalcoatl University, was a two-year college located west of Davis. It focused on Native American heritage and traditions. It closed in 2005. Some tribal members prefer that the full name not be used, and it should be called D-Q University.
Other Colleges
A branch of Sacramento City College is also located in Davis, in an area built by UC Davis for students and staff.
Public Schools in Davis
The public schools in Davis are managed by the Davis Joint Unified School District.
- There are nine public elementary schools.
- There are four public junior high schools (grades 7-9).
- There is one main high school, Davis Senior High School, and two alternative high schools.
- Cesar Chavez Elementary is a Spanish immersion school.
Private Schools in Davis
- Davis Waldorf School (Pre-K–8)
- Peregrine School (Pre-K–6)
Notable People from Davis
Many interesting people have lived in Davis! Here are a few:
- Peter S. Beagle, author of The Last Unicorn
- Cathy Carr, Olympic swimmer
- Josh Davis, a famous musician
- Karen Joy Fowler, author
- Michael Franti, musician
- Carol Greider, a molecular biologist who won a Nobel Prize
- Nyjah Huston, professional skateboarder
- Hasan Minhaj, comedian
- Gabe Newell, co-founder of the video game company Valve
- Kim Stanley Robinson, science-fiction author
- Stephen Robinson, astronaut
- Dave Scott, a triathlete who won the Ironman Triathlon six times
- Andrew Weir, author of The Martian
- Martin Yan, cooking show host
Sister Cities
Davis has "sister cities" around the world. These are cities that partner with Davis to share culture and understanding:
Images for kids
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The UC Davis Arboretum
See also
In Spanish: Davis (California) para niños
