Sacramento, California: California’s Forgotten City
A Profile of the Most Populous State’s Capital City
Personal Connection to the City
The topic of this city is very near and dear to me. This is my hometown and birthplace and I lived in this wonderful city for 34 years. I have a ton of fond memories here, and it is still the city with the nicest weather that I’ve ever lived in.
I find it funny that most people around the country assume that when someone says that they are from California, the question is naturally, “From which city?”. They mostly assume a more popular and populous city like Los Angeles, San Francisco, or San Diego.
Sacramento?
When I’ve responded with Sacramento, people either ask where that is or had no idea the city existed. Sacramentans are used to this by now. The city is the sixth-largest in California and the 36th largest city in the country. And, yes, Sacramento is the capital of California. It’s not San Francisco or Los Angeles no matter how many times I see the look of disbelief on people’s faces when they realize that.
Population and Area Quick Facts
Sacramento may not be as big as the other more popular cities in the state but it still boasted a city population of 525,398 as of the 2020 census. In the metropolitan area of Sacramento that includes cities like Elk Grove, West Sacramento, Roseville, and Folsom, the population increases to 2,397,382. When the metro population is ranked among the top in the country, it comes in at 26th in the country and the total MSA population jumps to 5th from 6th in the state of California.
The land area of Sacramento is 97.7 square miles, and the population density is around 5,376 people per square mile. For comparison, Chicago is 234 square miles, so the city is roughly 42% the size of Chicago.
Diversity
Sacramento is notable for being a very culturally diverse city. The high school I attended in the county was one of the most diverse in my entire school district. The demographics of Sacramento roughly work out to 46% White, 19% Asian, 13% Black, 12% Other Races, 7% Two or More, 2% Pacific Islander, and roughly 1% Native American. Also, Sacramento’s LGBTQ+ population is one of the highest in California at roughly 10%.
Brief History
The city was first founded by Spanish explorer Gabriel Moraga in the early 1800s. It was established as an early trading post in 1839. In 1848, when gold was discovered, the population exploded. The city since it was on two rivers and was low to sea level flooded many times in its early days. The old part of town known today as Old Sacramento also experienced fire but despite the obstacles, the population increased to about 10,000 people by the 1850s.
Recent History
Two major base closures in the last three decades affected Sacramento. First, there was Mather Air Force Base, then McClellan. This certainly affected the local economy. Also, drought and declining agriculture in the region also hit the area. Despite the area seeing an economic downturn, the population still grew significantly in the 2000s and 2010s.
Places to See While In Sacramento
- Sutter’s Fort Historical Park
- California State Capitol
- Tower Bridge
- Golden 1 Center
- Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
- Crocker Art Museum
- Old Sacramento
Brief Synopsis of Each Landmark
I would include places to eat here but you really can’t go wrong with food in Sacramento. Because Sacramento is such a diverse city, the cuisine is reflective of that. If you want to do a day tour of the city, you can start in Old Sacramento, the site where the city originally started. There are many different museums and old-time buildings standing there.
Then a few blocks south of Old Sacramento, you have the Crocker Art Museum. It’s a fabulous museum and there’s a lot of great art year-round. As you’re making this walk, to your right, you’ll see the Tower Bridge, right next to Old Sacramento on the Sacramento River.
To your left, you might also happen to get a peek at the State Capitol in the distance. The Golden One Center is just east of Old Sacramento and is the home of the Sacramento Kings NBA franchise and many live events year round.
Just a couple of light rail stops away from the Golden 1 Center is the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Sacramento’s tallest and most historically significant Catholic Church.
Finally, just a ten to fifteen-minute bus ride away across downtown, you have Sutter’s Fort Historical Park. You can learn more about the Gold Rush there. There’s a lot to do if you want to take a day trip.
