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Sacramento, California facts for kids

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"Sacramento" redirects here. For other uses, see Sacramento (disambiguation).
Quick facts for kids
Sacramento
State capital city
City skyline and the waterfront
Downtown Sacramento and the Sacramento River
California State Capitol
California State Capitol
Crocker Art Museum
Crocker Art Museum
Old Sacramento
Old Sacramento
Tower Bridge and the Sacramento Riverfront
Tower Bridge
California Supreme Court
California Supreme Court
Flag of Sacramento
Flag
 Official seal of Sacramento
Seal
Nickname(s): 
"Sactown", "Sac", "City of Trees", "River City", "Camellia City"
Motto(s): 
Urbs Indomita
(Latin for 'Indomitable City')
Country  United States
State  California
County Sacramento
Region Sacramento Valley
CSA Sacramento-Roseville
MSA Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade
Laid out December 1848
Incorporated February 27, 1850
Chartered 1920
Named for Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
Government
 • Type Council–Manager
 • Body Sacramento City Council
Area
 • City 99.77 sq mi (258.41 km2)
 • Land 97.68 sq mi (253.00 km2)
 • Water 2.09 sq mi (5.41 km2)  2.19%
Elevation
26 ft (8 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City 524,943
 • Rank 35th in the United States
6th in California
 • Density 5,374.11/sq mi (2,074.87/km2)
 • Urban
1,946,618 (US: 25th)
 • Urban density 4,163.2/sq mi (1,607.4/km2)
 • Metro
2,397,382 (US: 26th)
Demonym(s) Sacramentan
Time zone UTC−08:00 (PST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−07:00 (PDT)
ZIP Codes
94203–94209, 94211, 94229–94230, 94232, 94234–94237, 94239–94240, 94244–94245, 94247–94250, 94252, 94254, 94256–94259, 94261–94263, 94267–94269, 94271, 94273–94274, 94277–94280, 94282–94285, 94287–94291, 94293–94299, 95811–95838, 95840–95843, 95851–95853, 95860, 95864–95867, 95894, 95899
Area code 916 and 279
FIPS code 06-64000
GNIS feature IDs 1659564, 2411751
Website cityofsacramento.gov

Sacramento is the capital city of California. It is also the main city of Sacramento County. The city is located where the Sacramento River and American River meet in Northern California. In 2020, Sacramento had a population of over 524,000 people. This makes it the sixth-largest city in California.

Sacramento is home to the California Legislature and the Governor of California. It is also a major center for culture and business in the Greater Sacramento area. This larger area had a population of over 2.6 million people in 2020.

Before Spanish explorers arrived, Native American tribes like the Nisenan and Maidu lived here. In 1808, a Spanish explorer named the Sacramento River. Later, in 1839, a Swiss-born Mexican citizen named John Sutter started a settlement called Sutter's Fort. After California became part of the United States, Sacramento was officially made a city in 1850. It became the permanent state capital in 1854.

Sacramento is one of the fastest-growing big cities in California. It is an important political center and a hub for education. It is home to California State University, Sacramento and has close ties to University of California, Davis. The city is also a big center for healthcare. Many people visit Sacramento each year to see its museums and historic sites.

Sacramento's History

Sacramento has a rich history, from its early Native American roots to becoming California's capital.

Early Native American Life

For thousands of years, Native American tribes lived in the Sacramento area. These included the Nisenan, Modoc, and Plains Miwok people. They ate acorns from oak trees and gathered fruits, seeds, and roots.

Spanish Explorers Arrive

In 1808, a Spanish explorer named Gabriel Moraga explored the Sacramento Valley. He named the Sacramento River after a religious term, "Most Holy Sacrament."

Mexican Settlement and John Sutter

Sutterfort (cropped)
In 1839, John Augustus Sutter established Sutter's Fort. He called it New Helvetia.

In 1839, John Sutter Sr. arrived in the area. He received a large land grant from Mexico. He built Sutter's Fort, a big adobe structure with tall, thick walls. Sutter called his settlement New Helvetia, which means "New Switzerland." His colony grew as more pioneers came west. Sutter's Fort became a popular stop for travelers. In 1847, Sutter started the agriculture industry in the Sacramento Valley by planting fruit trees.

The Gold Rush and City Growth

Sacramento california 1849
Sacramento in 1849, during the California Gold Rush.

In 1848, gold was discovered near Sutter's Fort. This started the California Gold Rush. Thousands of gold-seekers came to the area. This made it hard for Sutter to manage his land.

In December 1848, John Sutter Jr., with Samuel Brannan, started planning the City of Sacramento. This new city was located south of his father's settlement. It was named "Sacramento City" after the river. Sacramento quickly became a successful trading center.

Sacramento became an official city on February 27, 1850. It is the oldest incorporated city in California.

Challenges and Rebuilding

Sacramento faced many challenges in its early years.

  • In 1850, a big flood almost destroyed the city.
  • A cholera outbreak killed many residents.
  • In 1852, a large fire burned most of the city's buildings.

Despite these problems, the city grew fast. Its location near the gold fields was very important.

Becoming the State Capital

'Sacramento Railroad Station' by William Hahn
An 1874 painting of a Sacramento railway station.

The California State Legislature moved to Sacramento in 1854. Before this, the capital had been in other cities like San Jose and Vallejo. In 1879, Sacramento was officially named the permanent state capital.

Construction of the California State Capitol building began in 1860 and finished in 1874.

Construction of the California Capitol in 1868
The California State Capitol, built between 1860 and 1874, shown here under construction in 1868.

Sacramento became the western end of the Pony Express. It also became a major stop for the first First transcontinental railroad. The Sacramento and American rivers were key to the city's success.

From 1862 to the mid-1870s, Sacramento raised the level of its downtown streets. They built brick walls and filled them with dirt. This created underground spaces. You can still see parts of the "Sacramento Underground" today.

Modern Sacramento

Tower Bridge Sacramento edit
Built in 1935, Tower Bridge connects Sacramento to West Sacramento.

Sacramento has continued to grow over the years. In 1964, the city of North Sacramento joined with Sacramento. This greatly increased its population.

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) provides electricity to the area. SMUD is a leader in clean energy, like solar power.

After World War II, many Japanese Americans who had been moved from their homes temporarily lived in Sacramento. The city has continued to grow and welcome new residents.

In 2016, the Golden 1 Center arena opened in downtown Sacramento. It is home to the Sacramento Kings basketball team.

Sacramento's Geography

Sacramento covers about 100 square miles. Most of it is land, with a small amount of water.

Rivers and Flood Control

The city is located where the Sacramento River and American River meet. It has a deep-water port that connects to the San Francisco Bay. This port is important for shipping goods.

Much of the land west of the city is a large flood control area called the Yolo Bypass. This helps protect Sacramento from floods.

The City of Trees

Sacramento International Airport 5
Aerial view of Central Sacramento and the Sacramento River.

Sacramento is known as the "City of Trees" because it has so many trees. It has more trees per person than almost any other city in the world. The city was first called the "City of Plains" because it had few trees. But soon, many trees were planted, including cottonwoods and eucalyptus.

In 1978, Sacramento was the first U.S. city to be called a "City of Trees" by the Arbor Day Foundation. A project called Treepedia ranked Sacramento as the greenest city in the U.S. and third globally.

City Areas and Neighborhoods

Panoramic view of downtown Sacramento from West Sacramento.

Sacramento has many different neighborhoods. They are grouped into four main areas. Some well-known neighborhoods include:

  • Downtown Sacramento: This area has city hall, the main library, and historic K Street.
  • East Sacramento: Known for McKinley Park and the "Fabulous Forties" area with large, unique homes.
  • Old Sacramento: This is the oldest part of the city. It has cobbled streets and historic buildings from the 1850s and 1860s. It's a popular tourist spot with train rides and horse-drawn carriages.

Capitol Mall

Capitol Mall connects West Sacramento and Downtown Sacramento. It features landmarks like the Tower Bridge and the California State Capitol Building. It is also a business district with tall buildings.

Downtown Commons

This is a newer area that opened in 2016. It includes the Golden 1 Center, a hotel, shops, and restaurants.

Historic Chinatown

Sacramento once had a lively Chinatown on "I" Street. Many Chinese people came to California during the Gold Rush. Today, a small Chinatown mall and a museum remember this history.

Sacramento's Climate

American River at Sunrise Park, June 1974 (26251615404)
The American River is popular for kayaking and recreational boating.

Sacramento has hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Most of the rain falls from November to April. Summer heat is often cooled by a "delta breeze" from the San Francisco Bay. This breeze makes nights cooler.

Fog is common in December and January. This "Tule fog" can be very thick, making it hard to see. Snowfall is rare in Sacramento because the city is close to sea level.

Sacramento is known for being very sunny, especially from May through August. July is one of the sunniest months in the world here.

Sacramento's People

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1850 6,820 —
1860 13,785 102.1%
1870 16,283 18.1%
1880 21,420 31.5%
1890 26,386 23.2%
1900 29,282 11.0%
1910 44,696 52.6%
1920 65,908 47.5%
1930 93,750 42.2%
1940 105,958 13.0%
1950 137,572 29.8%
1960 191,667 39.3%
1970 257,105 34.1%
1980 275,741 7.2%
1990 369,365 34.0%
2000 407,018 10.2%
2010 466,488 14.6%
2020 524,943 12.5%
2023 (est.) 526,385 12.8%
U.S. Decennial Census
2010–2020

Sacramento is known as one of "America's Most Diverse Cities." People from many different backgrounds live here. This makes Sacramento a very interesting place with many cultures.

The city has a mix of people from various ethnic groups. Many different languages are spoken in Sacramento.

Sacramento's Economy

Californiastatecapitol
The California State Capitol is the seat of the Government of California.

Sacramento's economy has always been strongly linked to the state and federal governments. Many people work for the government here.

However, Sacramento's economy is now growing in other areas too. These include healthcare, manufacturing, and technology. Many companies have their headquarters or offices in Sacramento.

The Port of Sacramento is a deep-water port that helps with trade. It was very important during the Vietnam War for sending military supplies.

Major Employers

Some of the largest employers in Sacramento County include:

  • State of California
  • UC Davis Health
  • Sacramento County
  • Kaiser Permanente
  • U.S. Government
  • Sutter Health
  • Intel

Sacramento's Culture

Sacramento has a lively arts and culture scene.

Museums to Explore

Crocker Museum entrance (cropped)
The Crocker Art Museum is the oldest public art museum in the Western United States.

Sacramento has many museums. The Crocker Art Museum is the oldest public art museum west of the Mississippi River. It has a very large art collection.

Other interesting museums include:

Every year, Sacramento has a Museum Day. On this day, many museums offer free admission.

Performing Arts

Sacramento Memorial Auditorium joins the LightSactoBlue campaign
Sacramento Memorial Auditorium hosts the Sacramento Ballet and the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra.

Sacramento has many places for performing arts. The Sacramento Ballet, Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra, and Sacramento Opera perform at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center.

There are also several theaters, including:

  • The Wells Fargo Pavilion: Hosts Broadway shows and musicals.
  • The Eagle Theatre: A reconstruction of California's oldest permanent theater.
  • The Sophia Tsakopoulos Center for the Arts: A newer venue for plays and performances.

Visual Arts

Church of Scientology Sacramento, California
The Spanish Colonial Revival style Ramona Building, built in 1930.

The Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission supports many art programs. Sacramento also has a "Second Saturday Art Walk" where local art galleries stay open late.

The Wide Open Walls Festival brings artists from around the world to create murals across the city. Sacramento is home to the Latino Center of Art and Culture, which supports Latino artists.

Music Scene

Tower Theater (50216124686)
The Tower Theatre, where Tower Records was founded.

Sacramento has a diverse music scene. Tower Records, a famous music store, started here. The city hosts the Sammies, which are the Sacramento Music Awards.

Sacramento is also known for Dixieland jazz. Many rock, hardcore, and metal bands come from the Sacramento area. The city hosts the Aftershock Festival, a large music event with famous bands.

Delicious Food

The Old Tavern (Sacramento, CA)
The Old Tavern, built in the 1850s.

Sacramento is called "America's Farm-to-Fork Capital." This means many restaurants get their food directly from local farms. The city has an annual Farm-to-Fork festival to celebrate this.

The city also has a growing craft beer scene with many local breweries. Sacramento is also known for its good coffee shops.

Sports in Sacramento

G1C Interior
A Sacramento Kings game at Golden 1 Center in Downtown.

Sacramento is home to the Sacramento Kings, a professional basketball team in the National Basketball Association. The Kings moved to Sacramento in 1985. The city worked hard to keep the team in Sacramento in 2013.

The Sacramento Republic FC is a professional soccer team. They won their league championship in their first season.

City Skyline Raley Field
View from Sutter Health Park, home of the Sacramento River Cats.

The Sacramento River Cats are a minor league baseball team. They play at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. The Athletics baseball team will temporarily play here from 2025 to 2027.

Sacramento has also hosted major college sports events, like NCAA track and field championships. The California International Marathon is a popular race held here each year.

Parks and Recreation

Capitol Mall Sacramento,CA
The Capitol Mall is a major parkway leading to the California State Capitol.

Sacramento has a large park system with over 5,000 acres of parkland. It is ranked as one of the best park systems among large U.S. cities.

Some popular parks include:

  • Capitol Park: A 40-acre park around the California State Capitol with many types of trees and memorials.
  • American River Parkway: Spans 23 miles along the American River, popular for cycling and horseback riding.
  • William Land Park: Home to several key attractions.

William Land Park Attractions

William Land Park has:

  • The Sacramento Zoo: Home to over 400 animals.
  • Funderland: A small amusement park with rides.
  • Fairytale Town: A park based on fairy tales, popular with young children.

The California State Fair is held in Sacramento each year. It attracts over a million visitors. The Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail is a bike path that runs along the American River.

Sacramento also has several casinos and card rooms.

Education in Sacramento

Sac State Library Quad
California State University, Sacramento is one of the best-ranked on the West Coast.

Sacramento offers many educational opportunities, from universities to community colleges.

Colleges and Universities

  • California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State): A large public university with thousands of students. Its mascot is the hornet.
  • UC Davis: While its main campus is in nearby Davis, it has a graduate center and medical center in Sacramento.
  • Los Rios Community College District: Includes several two-year colleges like American River College and Sacramento City College.
  • University of the Pacific: Has a campus in Sacramento that includes the McGeorge School of Law.

Schools for Kids

C.K. McClatchy High School
The historic McClatchy High School.

The Sacramento area is served by several public school districts. These include the Sacramento City Unified School District and Natomas Unified School District.

There are also many private schools in Sacramento, including religious schools. Sacramento Country Day School offers education from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade.

Public Libraries

The Sacramento Public Library system has 28 branches throughout the greater Sacramento area.

Sacramento's Media

US Bank Plaza (Sacramento, California)
Park Tower, Downtown Sacramento.

Sacramento has several magazines and newspapers.

  • The Sacramento Bee: The main newspaper, founded in 1857. It has won many awards for its reporting.
  • Sacramento Business Journal
  • Sacramento News & Review

Getting Around Sacramento

The Tower Bridge 2017-02-23 (33055244176)
Tower Bridge connects Sacramento to West Sacramento.

Sacramento is easy to get around, especially by car, but also by bike and public transport.

Roads and Highways

Several major highways serve Sacramento:

  • Interstate 80 (I-80): Connects Sacramento to San Francisco in the west and Reno, Nevada, in the east.
  • U.S. Highway 50: Heads east towards South Lake Tahoe.
  • Interstate 5 (I-5): Runs north to Redding and south towards Los Angeles.

Many neighborhoods in Sacramento are great for biking. The city has also made sidewalks more accessible for wheelchairs.

Train Services

Sacramento Valley Station (cropped2)
The historic Sacramento Valley Rail Station.

Amtrak provides train service to Sacramento. The Sacramento Valley Rail Station is a busy train station.

You can take trains like the Capitol Corridor to the San Francisco Bay Area. The San Joaquins route goes through California's Central Valley. The Coast Starlight offers scenic trips to Seattle and Los Angeles. The California Zephyr goes east to cities like Reno and Chicago.

Airport

Sacramento Airport, Sacramento, California LCCN2013633188
Sacramento International Airport.

Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is about 10 miles northwest of downtown. It has flights to many U.S. cities, Mexico, and Canada. It served over 13 million passengers in 2019. The airport is known for a large red rabbit sculpture called "Leap."

Public Transportation

Sacramento CAF-built LRV 228 on K St at 7th Ave in 2006
The SacRT light rail.

The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) provides bus and light-rail services. It is one of the busiest light-rail systems in the U.S. The light-rail system has three lines and 54 stations.

Bicycling is very popular in Sacramento due to its mild climate and flat land. Many people bike to work. Sacramento is a "Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Community."

Ride-share companies also offer electric scooters and bikes for rent in downtown Sacramento.

Sister Cities

Stanford Mansion (Sacramento, California)
Leland Stanford Mansion is the official reception center for the Californian government.

Sacramento has 14 sister cities around the world. These partnerships help build friendships and understanding between different cultures.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Sacramento (California) para niños

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