Sacramento is the capital of the U.S. state of California, and the county seat of Sacramento County. Located along the Sacramento River and just south of the American River's confluence in California's expansive Central Valley, it is the seventh-largest city in California. With a 2007 estimated population of 460,242, it is also California's 2nd largest inland city. Sacramento is the core cultural and economic center of its four-county metropolitan area (El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo counties) with a combined population of 2,136,604. The Sacramento Metropolitan Area is the largest in the Central Valley, and is the fourth-largest in California, behind the Greater Los Angeles Area, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the San Diego area. Greater Sacramento has been cited as one of the five "most livable" regions in America in 2004, and the city was cited by Time magazine as America's most integrated in 2002.
Sacramento became a city due to the efforts of John Sutter, a Swiss immigrant, and James W. Marshall. Sacramento grew faster due to the protection of Sutter's Fort, which was established by Sutter in 1839. During the California Gold Rush, Sacramento was a major distribution point, a commercial and agricultural center, and a terminus for wagon trains, stagecoaches, riverboats, the telegraph, the Pony Express, and the First Transcontinental Railroad.
California State University, Sacramento, more commonly known as Sacramento State or Sac State, is the major local university. It is one of the 23 campuses of the California State University system. In addition, the University of California, Davis is located in nearby Davis, just west of the capital.
Sacramento International Airport (SMF)is your gateway to Northern California destinations and major cities across the U.S., and the world. Service is available from 13 major carriers and one commuter airline. Open 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.
Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT) operates 97 bus routes and 37.4 miles of light rail covering a 418 square-mile service area. Buses and light rail run 365 days a year using 76 light rail vehicles, 256 buses powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) and 16 shuttle vans. Buses operate daily from 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. every 15 to 75 minutes, depending on the route. Light rail trains begin operation at 4:30 a.m. with service every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes in the evening. The Blue Line trains run until 1 a.m. and the Gold Line to Folsom runs until 7 p.m.
Yellow Cab Co. of Sacramento is the oldest and largest cab company in the Sacramento area. The locally owned company opened for business in 1917. It has operated under present management since 1951.
SuperShuttle is the premier shared-ride airport transportation service in the United States, providing door-to-door service for over 8 million passengers per year. Currently, SuperShuttle provides service to and from 28 major airports in 23 cities and has approximately 1,200 distinctive blue and yellow vans on the road.
THINGS TO DO
Old Sacramento: The unique 28-acre National Historic Landmark District and State Historic Park is located along the beautiful Sacramento River. Bustling with activity, the district is alive with shopping, dining, entertainment, historical attractions and world-renowned museums set within the time of the California Gold Rush and the Transcontinental Railroad.
Sacramento Museum Guide: Sacramento’s Gold Rush history is one of adventure, ambition, and hard work—as the city’s numerous state-of-the-art museums and historic sites illustrate. From the heritage of California’s earliest inhabitants, to the exciting times of the Gold Rush and beyond, Sacramento has played a central role in Northern California’s growth and development. Today, as the capital city of the nation’s most populous state, Sacramento continues to pioneer in cutting-edge progress while remembering its past.
Downtown Sacramento Partnership: The mission of the DSP is to establish downtown Sacramento as the vibrant arts, entertainment, business and cultural destination of the Greater Sacramento Region through effective public-private collaboration for the benefit of residents, visitors and investors. Maps and guides can also be downloaded off their site.
Midtown Grid: The central hub for local businesses and cultural resources of the Sacramento City
FOOD
OpenTable.com: Get tips and info on great food spots in Sacramento
TAKE A DAY TRIP
Lake Tahoe: Your first glimpse of Lake Tahoe is one you'll never forget; crystal blue waters, perfect sandy beaches surrounded by a spectacular alpine forest. What secrets does this view hold?
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historical Park : James W. Marshall discovered gold in 1848 on the South Fork of the American River in the valley the Nisenan Indians knew as Cullumah. This event led to the greatest mass movement of people in the Western Hemisphere and was the spark that ignited the spectacular growth of the West during the ensuing decades. The gold discovery site, located in the still visible tailrace of Sutter's sawmill, in present day Coloma California, is one of the most significant historic sites in the nation.
