Sacramento, CA

The capital of California and the seat of Sacramento County, Sacramento is located in California's Central Valley. The city, once a hub for Pony Express riders and riverboats, rose to prominence due to its strategic location at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers. It still operates as a transportation hub for agricultural products coming out of the Central Valley.

• Sacramento proper has 460,000 people, and metropolitan Sacramento, which includes El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo Counties, has a population of 2.1 million.
• In 2002, the Harvard Civil Rights Project rated Sacramento the most racially integrated city in the country.
• The city is diverse: its residents are 40 percent white, 22 percent Latino, 15 percent black, and 17 percent Asian.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Downtown Sacramento sits on the banks of the American river, with its historic wharves, warehouses and saloons preserved as the Old Sacramento district. Moving inland, downtown changes to shiny office towers and high rise residences. The State Capitol is east of downtown, surrounded by park land. The Fabulous Forties area in East Sacramento is a collection of grand old houses in eclectic styles; Ronald Reagan lived here during his governorship.

Sacramento is divided into four areas: central/eastern, southwestern, southeastern, and north of the American River.

Central and Eastern Sacramento neighborhoods include:

• Alkali Flat
• Boulevard Park
• Dos Rios Triangle
• Downtown
• New Era Park
• Newton Booth
• Old Sacramento
• Poverty Ridge
• Richmond Grove
• Sierra Oaks
• Southside Park

Southwestern neighborhoods include:

• Airport
• Freeport Manor
• Golf Course Terrace
• Greenhaven
• Curtis Park
• Hollywood Park
• Land Park
• Little Pocket
• Mangan Park
• Meadowview
• Z'Berg Park

Southeastern Sacramento neighborhoods include:

• Alhambra Triangle
• Avondale
• Carleton Tract
• Curtis Park
• Fruitridge Manor
• Granite Regional Park
• Lawrence Park
• North City Farms
• South City Farms
• Woodbine

North of the American River neighborhoods include:

• Natomas (north, south, west)
• Valley View Acres
• Gardenland
• Terrace Manor
• Hagginwood
• Del Paso Heights
• Robla
• McClellan Heights West
• Ben Ali
• Swanston Estates

GETTING AROUND

• A regional bus and light rail system connects Sacramento to its collar communities in far-flung counties.
• The city has a network of bike lanes, and many workers commute downtown on their bikes. A popular bike path runs along the American River Parkway.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

• The state and county governments are major employers in Sacramento, providing 25 percent of the jobs in the city.
• Sacramento also has sizeable aerospace, manufacturing, and electronics industries.

EDUCATION

Sacramento is home to several colleges and universities, including:

• California State University, Sacramento: This four-year public university is a low-cost option for people in the region. About 29,000 students are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs in education, business administration, engineering, natural science, and liberal arts.
• American River College: This two-year community college serves about 35,000 full- and part-time students. It offers associate degrees.
• Sacramento City College: SCC is a two-year community college that has 22,000 full-time and part-time students.
• Cosumnes River College: This two-year community college enrolls about 11,000 students.

BEST BETS

• Crocker Art Museum: This museum is the oldest continuously operated art museum west of the Mississippi River. The museum's collection includes pieces by California artists as well as masters like Rembrandt and Francois Boucher. The Crocker also has a collection of Indian and Persian miniatures. The museum is housed in a Victorian mansion in downtown Sacramento.
• Sacramento Theatre Company: This professional theater company was established in 1942 to entertain soldiers during World War II.
• California Museum: Located in the State Archives Building near the Capitol building, this museum chronicles the movers and shakers in California history. The museum has had exhibits on the internment of the Japanese during World War II, treasures from William Randolph Hearst's castle, and the experiences of Latinas in the state. The museum also has space for performances and events.
• Sutter's Fort State Historic Park and the California State Indian Museum: Sutter's Fort and the California State Indian Museum share a location in downtown Sacramento. The museum, which is dedicated to the history of the Native people of California, has exhibits of cultural artifacts, including basketry, beadwork, and clothing. Sutter's Fort was a pioneer outpost famous for sending help to the notorious Donner Party. An original fort building is available for tours.

SPORTS TEAMS

• Sacramento has two professional basketball teams, the Sacramento Kings (NBA) and the Sacramento Monarchs (WNBA). Both teams play at the Arco Arena.
• Sacramento also has two minor-league baseball teams, the Sacramento Solons and the Sacramento River Cats.

LOCAL MEDIA

Sacramento is home to several newspapers, including:

• Sacramento Bee
• Sacramento Union
• Sacramento News & Review

The city also has some local magazines, including:

• Sactown
• Sacramento
• Sacramento Parent
• Comstock's Magazine