Sacramento is the capital of the American state of California.
It ekes out its obscure existence alongside the greats of San
Francisco and Los Angeles, as this travel guide shows.
Located in the southern part of the Sacramento Valley at the
confluence of the American River and the Sacramento River, many
tourists on their way from the Bay Area to the Sierra Nevada
know Sacramento almost only by driving past.
But
Sacramento is a shame and offers more than just the seat of
government of ex-governor Arnie Schwarzenegger. It has been the
capital of the well-known state since 1854.
Numerous
green areas and parks invite you to linger and stroll,
historical buildings and squares offer information from past
centuries, huge shopping malls satisfy the desire to buy.
Bridges
Tower Bridge (railway lift bridge). Sacramento's Tower
Bridge is definitely worth a visit to the city. It is a beautiful
architectural building and overlooks the Sacramento River.
Museums
California State Railroad Museum. A Dorado for railway fans
or those who want to become one. Located on the edge of 'Old
Sacramento', it is open daily from 10am to 5pm except Thanksgiving,
Christmas and New Years Day.
Old Sacramento State Historic Park. Old
Town Sacramento. Located west of the US Capitol between Interstate 5 and
the Sacramento River, Old Sac offers a glimpse into 19th-century
America.
Sutter's Fort. Sutter's Fort, located between K and L
Streets and 26th and 28th Streets, was built by Johann August Sutter in
1839. The two-story adobe-style main building was completed between 1841
and 1843 and is the only original building in this rebuilt and renovated
complex. The State Historic Park is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. For visits from Monday
to Saturday it is advisable to have enough quarters ready for the
parking meters. Parking is free on Sundays
Parks
Sacramento is a green city. In addition to numerous green areas and
parks, many streets in the inner city area are lined with trees, so that
one occasionally has the impression of driving through avenues.
As is almost usual in the USA, the green areas and parks are mostly very
clean and well-kept.
State Capitol Park Downtown, behind the
Capitol between L and N Streets.
William Land Park, between Freeport
Blvd. and Interstate 5 Sutterville Road exit. There is also the
Sacramento Zoo (small but nice).
There are also extensive green
spaces along the American River.
Sacramento Jazz Jubilee. Sacramento Jazz Jubilee is the largest and most important Jazz Festival in the United States. It takes place every year on the weekend of the Memorial Day.
By plane
Sacramento International Airport offers connections to
and from numerous states in the USA (including Hawaii) and Mexico. It is
about 15 km northwest of downtown. Yolobus Route 42 offers an
inexpensive bus transfer.
By train
The Amtrak station is
located at 401 I Street. For timetable information see.
By bus
The Greyhound Bus Station is at 715 L Street. For timetable information
see.
In the street
Sacramento is located at the intersection
of Interstate 5 and Interstate 80, as well as Highways 50 and 99.
San Francisco 87 miles
South Lake Tahoe 105 miles
Reno 135
miles
Los Angeles 384 miles
Yosemite National Park 167 miles
Sacramento, California's capital city, boasts a storied past rooted
in the Gold Rush era, frontier violence, epidemics, and rapid
urbanization. This history has spawned numerous haunted legends, often
tied to tragic deaths, unsolved murders, and restless spirits. Many of
these tales center on historic sites, cemeteries, and old buildings
where paranormal activity is reported. Additionally, the region features
abandoned places—derelict structures, former military bases, and
forgotten industrial sites—that evoke a sense of eerie desolation,
sometimes overlapping with ghostly lore. Below, I'll delve into some of
the most prominent haunted legends and abandoned spots, drawing from
historical accounts and reported experiences.
Haunted Legends in
Sacramento
Sacramento's haunted reputation stems from its
19th-century hardships, including floods, cholera outbreaks, tong wars,
and executions. Ghost tours, paranormal investigations, and eyewitness
reports keep these stories alive.
Sacramento Historic City
Cemetery (1000 Broadway): Established in 1849, this 44-acre
Victorian-era cemetery is one of the city's most haunted sites, housing
over 25,000 graves of pioneers, politicians, and victims of epidemics
and violence. Legends include the giggling ghost of May Woolsey, a young
girl who died in 1878 from encephalitis caused by a mosquito bite.
Visitors report hearing her laughter near her headstone, where toys and
trinkets are often left as offerings. Other tales involve Jacob Kline,
shot in 1886 by his pregnant ex-fiancée Josephine Wiezel in what is now
Cesar Chavez Plaza—she was acquitted due to beliefs about
pregnancy-induced insanity. Their son later committed a murder in 1917.
Alice Curtis's 1902 death, officially a suicide but suspected foul play,
adds to the unrest. Paranormal enthusiasts describe peaceful yet
restless spirits, with tours like "A Dozen Ways to Die" highlighting
these mysteries. The site features ornate headstones, mausoleums, and
statues, making it a garden-like yet spooky landmark.
Old
Sacramento Underground Tunnels and Historic District: Beneath the raised
streets of Old Sacramento lies a network of abandoned tunnels and
basements, built after devastating 19th-century floods that submerged
the original city level. These were once bustling with commerce but shut
down due to structural instability and further flooding. Legends abound
of paranormal energies, including voices calling names like "Susan" or
"Ellen" (though no such tour guides exist), and an "angry man" heard
arguing with a child. The area ties into broader haunted history, with
reports from underground tours of furniture moving and glass breaking in
places like River City Saloon (916 2nd Street), a former hospital during
the 1850 cholera epidemic that claimed up to 1,000 lives—some bodies may
still lie beneath nearby streets. Fanny Ann's Saloon in the district is
said to host the apparition of a woman's lower half in a Victorian skirt
ascending stairs, while the Sacramento Visitor Center (a former Supreme
Court building) experiences inexplicable electrical glitches. Paranormal
investigations by the Sacramento History Museum explore these spots,
revealing unsettling histories of disease and disaster.
Dorothea
Puente House (1426 F Street): This unassuming Victorian boarding house
became infamous in the 1980s as the site of serial killings by Dorothea
Puente, who murdered at least seven elderly tenants for their Social
Security checks, burying them in the backyard. Though not "abandoned,"
its dark legacy fuels legends of residual hauntings, with some reporting
uneasy feelings or shadows. Documentaries and TV shows amplify its
notoriety, but locals note it's more a site of true crime than active
ghosts.
Delta Region (Locke and Walnut Grove): About 30 miles
south of Sacramento, the historic Chinese immigrant town of Locke
features leaning, derelict buildings from the early 1900s, including
former gambling halls and opium dens. Legends stem from the Highbinder
War (1901–1920s), a violent tong feud involving hatchet men, ambushes,
and murders—like the 1901 killing of Ah Mew in Walnut Grove or the 1902
shootings near levees. Though not explicitly ghostly, the "carnival of
blood" history leads to reports of uneasy presences in abandoned
structures. Locke, a National Historic Landmark rebuilt after a 1915
fire, is often investigated for paranormal activity tied to spilled
blood.
Other Notable Legends:
Sutter Middle School: Built on
the former New Helvetia Cemetery; when graves were relocated in the
early 1900s, some bodies and headstones were left behind, leading to
disturbing discoveries and reports of unrest.
Vernon-Brannan House:
An unoccupied historic home with a "friendly spirit" that whispers
"excuse me" on stairs, alongside negative energies.
Sacramento
Theatre Company: Haunted by "Pinky," a mischievous vaudeville director
from the 1920s–1930s, and Eleanor McClatchy; reports include physical
apparitions and pranks.
Dyer Lane (near Roseville): A rural road with
tales of vanishing helpful apparitions, KKK meetings, and a murdered
police officer in the 1950s; often dumped with trash, adding to its
creepy aura.
State Library Buildings and K Street Record Store:
Ghosts include a Victorian lady named Sarah in a former basement (now a
bookstore), who moves objects and calls names.
Abandoned Places
in Sacramento
Sacramento's abandoned sites often reflect its
industrial, military, and commercial past, with some carrying haunted
undertones due to isolation or tragic histories. Urban explorers note
these spots for photography, but many are on private property or
restricted—always respect laws and safety.
Mather Air Force Base:
Decommissioned in 1993, this former U.S. Air Force installation
southeast of Sacramento spans thousands of acres with boarded-up
barracks, hangars, and runways. Once a key training site, it was left
abandoned due to budget cuts; plans for low-income housing have stalled.
Reports of eerie silence and occasional vandalism add to its forsaken
feel, though no major haunted legends are tied to it.
Old
Sacramento Rail Yards: In downtown, this vast former rail hub features
rusty tracks, derelict warehouses, and graffiti-covered structures. Once
central to the transcontinental railroad, it's now a fenced-off time
capsule of industrial decay, ideal for photography but on private
property.
McClellan Air Force Base: Closed in 2001, parts of this
northern Sacramento base remain abandoned amid partial redevelopment.
Hangars, offices, and housing stand empty, with high repurposing costs
leaving them in limbo. Similar to Mather, it evokes post-Cold War
abandonment without strong ghostly ties.
Riverfront Warehouses
and Freeport Shipyards: Along the Sacramento River, these weathered
industrial relics—once vital for commerce and shipbuilding—now sit
dilapidated, battered by time and elements. They represent the city's
fading maritime era.
Other Abandoned Spots:
Downtown Plaza
Mall: A once-vibrant shopping center now echoing with urban decay,
symbolizing shifting retail landscapes.
Historic Homes in Oak Park:
Scattered abandoned Victorian houses with creaky floors and overgrown
yards, preserving glimpses of early Sacramento life.
Old California
State Fairgrounds: Former fair site, now quiet but laden with nostalgic
memories of crowds and events.
Jazz Age Dance Halls on Terrific
Street: Relics of Sacramento's roaring entertainment district, left
silent.
Sacramento Valley Station: An old train depot, abandoned in
the age of modern travel.
Nearby ghost towns like those in Gold
Country (e.g., Placerville, Auburn) add to the region's abandoned
allure, though they're outside Sacramento proper. For those intrigued,
guided tours or historical societies offer safe ways to explore—urban
exploration can be dangerous due to instability, trespassing risks, or
environmental hazards.
Shop 'till you drop is also the motto in Sacramento. In addition to
the obligatory huge shopping malls, the small shops in the Capitol area
are also worth a visit.
Arden Fair Mall, 1689 Arden Way off I-80
Arden Way exit.
Downtown Plaza Shopping Center at 547 L Street
between Old Sacramento and Capitol.
Roseville Galleria. Approximately
23 miles northeast of downtown Sacramento, easily accessible off I-80
(Exit Eureka Rd).
Fry's Electronics, 4100 Northgate Blvd., I-80 exit
Northgate Blvd. computers and electronics.
Best Western Expo Inn, 1413 Howe Avenue. Tel.: +1 916 922-9833, +1
800 643-4422 (gebührenfrei), Fax: +1 916 922-3384.
Best Western John
Jay Inn, 15 Massie Ct. Tel.: +1 916 689-4425, Fax: +1 916 689-8045.
Best Western Sandman Motel, 236 Jibboom Street. Tel.: +1 916 443-6515,
Fax: +1 916 443-8346.
Best Western Sutter House, 1100 H Street.
Tel.: +1 916 441-1314, Fax: +1 916 441-5961.
Courtyard Sacramento
Airport Natomas, 2101 River Plaza Drive. Tel.: +1 916 922-1120, Fax: +1
916 922-1872.
Courtyard Sacramento Cal Expo, 1781 Tribute Road.
Tel.: +1 916 929-7900, Fax: +1 916 920-9319.
Courtyard Sacramento
Midtown, 4422 Y Street. Tel.: +1 916 455-6800, +1 800 321-2211
(Toll-free), Fax: +1 916 669-1031.
Fairfield Inn & Suites Sacramento
Airport Natomas, 2730 El Centro Road. Tel.: +1 916 923-7472, Fax: +1 916
923-7482.
Fairfield Inn Sacramento Cal Expo, 1780 Tribute Road.
Tel.: +1 916 920-5300, Fax: +1 916 920-9319.
Hawthorne Suites, 321
Bercut Drive. Tel.: +1 916 441-1200, Fax: +1 916 319-7093.
Holiday
Inn, 5321 Date Ave. Tel.: +1 916 338-5800.
Holiday Inn, 300 J
Street. Tel.: +1 916 446-0100.
Holiday Inn Express, 728 Sixteenth
Street. Tel.: +1 916 444-4436.
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites,
2981 Advantage Way. Tel.: +1 916 928-9400.
Motel 6 Sacamento South,
7407 Elsie Avenue. Tel.: +1 916 689-6555, Fax: +1 916 689-6495.
Motel 6 Sacramento Central, 7850 College Town Drive. Tel.: +1 916
383-8110, Fax: +1 916 386-0971.
Motel 6 Sacramento Downtown, 1415
30th Street. Tel.: +1 916 457-0777, Fax: +1 916 454-9814.
Motel 6
Sacramento North, 5110 Interstate Avenue. Tel.: +1 916 331-8100, Fax: +1
916 339-2241.
Motel 6 Sacramento Southwest, 7780 Stockton Boulevard.
Tel.: +1 916 689-9141, Fax: +1 916 689-7340.
Motel 6 Sacramento-Old
Sacramento North, 227 Jibboom Street. Tel.: +1 916 441-0733, Fax: +1 916
446-5941.
Residence Inn Sacramento Airport Natomas, 2410 West El
Camino Avenue. Tel.: +1 916 649-1300, Fax: +1 916 649-1395.
Residence Inn Sacramento Cal Expo, 1530 Howe Avenue. Tel.: +1 916
920-9111, +1 800 218-7214 (gebührenfrei), Fax: +1 916 921-5664.
SpringHill Suites Sacramento Airport Natomas, 2555 Venture Oaks Way.
Tel.: +1 916 925-2280, Fax: +1 916 925-2290.
Suites Sacramento Cal
Expo, 1786 Tribute Road. Tel.: +1 916 920-5400, Fax: +1 916 920-5411.
Pre-Colonial Period
The region that would become Sacramento was
inhabited for thousands of years by indigenous peoples, primarily the
Nisenan (a branch of the Southern Maidu), along with the Modoc and
Plains Miwok tribes. These groups lived as hunter-gatherers, sustaining
themselves on acorns from local oak trees, seasonal fruits, bulbs,
seeds, roots, and fish from the Sacramento and American Rivers. Their
presence left little archaeological evidence until the arrival of
European explorers, as they maintained a low-impact lifestyle in the
fertile Sacramento Valley.
Early European Exploration and
Spanish/Mexican Era (1808–1848)
European contact began in 1808 when
Spanish explorer Gabriel Moraga entered the Sacramento Valley and named
the main river Río del Santísimo Sacramento, after the Catholic
Eucharist's Blessed Sacrament. Moraga's expedition praised the valley's
lush landscapes, but earlier explorers like Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo
(1542), Sir Francis Drake, and Sebastián Vizcaíno had only skirted the
California coast without venturing inland. In the mid-18th century,
figures such as Juan Bautista de Anza and Pedro Fages briefly surveyed
the area but dismissed it for colonization due to its perceived
inhospitability.
Following Mexico's independence from Spain in 1821,
the region remained largely uncolonized. In 1839, Swiss immigrant John
Augustus Sutter, a Mexican citizen, received a land grant from Governor
Juan Bautista Alvarado to establish Nueva Helvetia (New Switzerland).
Sutter built Sutter's Fort in 1840, a massive adobe structure with high
walls that served as a trading post and agricultural hub. He employed
both European settlers and local Native Americans, amassing orchards,
cattle herds, and a private army. By 1841, Sutter had expanded his
holdings through additional grants, including the Sobrante Grant,
totaling over 130,000 acres. His colony became a refuge for immigrants,
including survivors of the Donner Party in 1847. However, Sutter's
authoritarian rule and involvement in Mexican politics, such as
supporting Governor Manuel Micheltorena during a 1845 coup, led to brief
imprisonment and growing suspicions. The 1846 Bear Flag Revolt and the
Mexican-American War shifted control to the United States via the 1848
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
Gold Rush and Founding of the City
(1848–1850)
The discovery of gold by James W. Marshall at Sutter's
Mill in Coloma on January 24, 1848, ignited the California Gold Rush,
transforming the region. Thousands of prospectors, known as
Forty-Niners, flooded into the area, overwhelming Sutter's operations by
slaughtering his livestock, displacing Native workers, and squatting on
his land. Sutter's empire crumbled under debt and chaos, leading him to
retire to Hock Farm while his son, John Augustus Sutter Jr., managed
affairs.
In late 1848, Sutter Jr. and entrepreneur Samuel Brannan
platted the City of Sacramento two miles south of the fort, near the
confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers, despite Sutter Sr.'s
opposition. Named after the river, the city was designed on a grid
system with numbered and lettered streets. It quickly became a boomtown,
serving as a supply hub for miners. The first church (Methodist
Episcopal) was established in 1849, followed by Catholic and Jewish
congregations. The Placer Times newspaper and Eagle Theatre also opened
that year. Sacramento was incorporated on February 27, 1850, as
California's oldest incorporated city. Early governance included public
transportation and street maintenance, but the city faced immediate
challenges like flooding and fires.
Early Challenges and Growth
(1850–1860)
Sacramento's early years were marked by disasters. A
devastating flood in January 1850 submerged the city, prompting the
construction of levees under the leadership of the first mayor, Hardin
Bigelow. Fires in April and November 1850 led to the formation of the
state's first fire company. A cholera epidemic in late 1850 killed up to
1,000 residents (including Bigelow), causing mass exodus and the
creation of mass graves. Squatters' rights disputes escalated into the
1850 Squatters' Riot, resulting in deaths and the brief formation of a
Vigilance Committee in 1851.
The "Great Conflagration" fire of
November 1852 destroyed over 80% of the city, but it was rapidly rebuilt
with brick structures. Another fire in 1854 razed 12 blocks. Despite
these setbacks, Sacramento grew to 10,000 residents by the early 1850s,
diversifying into commerce, law, and agriculture. It became California's
permanent capital in 1854 after brief stints in San Jose, Vallejo, and
Benicia. The state legislature met in the county courthouse initially,
and construction of the California State Capitol (in Classical Revival
style) began in 1860, completing in 1874. The Sacramento Valley
Railroad, chartered in 1852, connected the city to Folsom by 1856,
laying groundwork for larger rail projects.
Civil War, Railroads,
and Industrial Expansion (1861–1900)
During the Civil War, Sacramento
remained staunchly Unionist, forming volunteer defenses. The Pony
Express terminated here from 1860 to 1861, replaced by the
transcontinental telegraph. The Great Flood of 1861–1862, the worst in
state history, inundated the city, with Governor Leland Stanford rowed
to his inauguration. In response, downtown streets were raised 9–20 feet
between 1863 and 1873 using brick walls and fill dirt, creating the
underground tunnels now known as Sacramento Underground.
Theodore
Judah and the "Big Four" (Leland Stanford, Collis P. Huntington, Charles
Crocker, and Mark Hopkins) founded the Central Pacific Railroad in 1861,
breaking ground in Sacramento in 1863 as the western terminus of the
First Transcontinental Railroad, completed in 1869. This spurred
economic growth through rail yards and river commerce. Agriculture
shifted from wheat to fruit with refrigeration in the 1870s, though the
1882 Chinese Exclusion Act limited labor. Immigration from Europe, Asia,
and Latin America diversified the population. Education advanced with
Sacramento High School (1856) and integrated schools by 1894. The 1879
Constitutional Convention solidified Sacramento as the capital.
Progressive Era, World War I, and Prohibition (1901–1930)
The early
20th century brought modernization, with automobiles arriving in 1900
and the first dealership in 1903, reducing dependence on steamboats and
rails. Progressive mayor George H. Clark (1907) ended gambling and
reformed the city charter for equitable wards, challenging the Southern
Pacific Railroad's influence. Women's suffrage passed in 1911, and
annexations expanded the city, including East Sacramento and Oak Park.
World War I saw nearly 4,000 Sacramentans serve, with anti-German
sentiment leading to cultural shifts. A 1917 bombing at the governor's
mansion targeted labor radicals. Post-war, President Woodrow Wilson
visited in 1919 to promote the League of Nations. Mather Air Force Base
opened in 1918, boosting aviation. The 1920 charter established a city
manager system under Clyde Seavey, curbing corruption. Prohibition
(1920–1933) closed vineyards but fostered speakeasies in slums like the
West End. The Ku Klux Klan gained traction in the 1920s, targeting
minorities, but was dismantled by reformers. Infrastructure improved
with paved roads, buses, and water filtration (1923). The Sacramento
Municipal Utility District (SMUD) was voter-approved in 1923, becoming a
major public utility by 1946. Sacramento City College was founded in
1916.
Great Depression, World War II, and Post-War Boom
(1931–1970s)
The Great Depression left 15,000 unemployed by 1932,
hitting canning and agriculture hard. Hoovervilles emerged, and relief
efforts included New Deal programs like the WPA, which built the Tower
Bridge (1935) and highways. Military bases like McClellan AFB (1936) and
Sacramento Army Depot (1942) stimulated the economy.
World War II
brought blackouts, rationing, and Japanese American internment under
Executive Order 9066. The Sacramento Assembly Center (Walerga) housed
thousands from May to June 1942 before transfers to camps like Tule
Lake; the site later became Camp Kohler, destroyed by fire in 1947.
Post-war, California State University, Sacramento was established in
1947. The Port of Sacramento opened in 1949 (operational by 1963).
Annexations included North Sacramento (1964) and Natomas (1970s–1990s).
Cesar Chavez's United Farm Workers march ended in Sacramento in 1966,
leading to a park named in his honor. Ronald Reagan served as governor
from 1967, the last to reside permanently in the city. A 1980 flood and
immigration from Asia and Latin America fueled growth.
Modern Era
(1980s–Present)
The 1980s–1990s saw military base closures:
Sacramento Army Depot (1995), Mather AFB (1993), and McClellan AFB
(2001). The Sacramento Kings NBA team relocated to the city in 1985,
nearly moving to Seattle in 2013 but staying with the Golden 1 Center
opening in 2016. A 1985 bombing killed Hugh Scrutton, linked to the
Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski in 1996.
Suburban expansion continued in
areas like Elk Grove and Folsom. SMUD emphasized clean energy, leading
in solar adoption. Sports teams like the Sacramento Republic FC (soccer)
and River Cats (minor league baseball) added to the cultural scene. A
mass shooting in downtown Sacramento on April 3, 2022, killed six and
injured twelve, highlighting gun violence issues. As of 2025, Sacramento
remains a growing hub for technology, government, and agriculture, with
ongoing developments like Gold Rush Park and a focus on sustainable
urban planning amid population influx from the Bay Area.
Sacramento, the capital city of California and the county seat of Sacramento County, is situated in Northern California at the coordinates 38°34′54″N 121°29′40″W. It lies at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River within the expansive Sacramento Valley, which forms part of the larger Central Valley of California. This strategic positioning has historically made it a vital transportation and economic hub, serving as a key shipping and rail center for the surrounding agricultural region.
The topography of Sacramento is characterized by the flat valley floor typical of the Sacramento Valley, with minimal natural elevation changes across the urban area. The city's elevation averages 26 feet (7.9 meters) above sea level, contributing to its vulnerability to flooding. To the east, the landscape gradually rises toward the Sierra Nevada foothills, extending about 30 miles from downtown, while to the south, it transitions into vast valley farmland over approximately 10 miles. Westward expansion is limited to about four miles due to the Yolo Bypass, a massive flood control basin in adjacent Yolo County that prevents contiguous urban development. This setup creates a semi-contained urban footprint, blending cityscapes with rural and natural elements.
Sacramento's landforms are predominantly influenced by its river valley setting, featuring alluvial plains formed by sediment deposits from the converging rivers. The area includes a mix of urban development, agricultural lands, and preserved natural zones. Notable is the deep-water channel system that connects the city to the San Francisco Bay via the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, facilitating maritime trade. Groundwater levels are relatively shallow, typically around 30 feet (9 meters) below the surface, which supports local aquifers but also heightens flood risks during heavy rains. The overall flatness of the valley floor contrasts with the more rugged foothills to the east, creating a transitional zone where urban sprawl meets higher terrain.
At the heart of Sacramento's geography are its two major rivers: the Sacramento River, the largest in California, and the American River, which merge in the city. This confluence not only defines the city's layout but also supports a deep-water port that links to the broader Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta and ultimately to the Pacific Ocean through San Francisco Bay. The rivers provide essential water resources, recreational opportunities such as kayaking and boating on the American River, and ecological habitats. However, they also pose significant flood hazards, historically leading to events like the Great Flood of 1862. The Yolo Bypass, a engineered floodway west of the city, diverts excess water during high-flow periods, protecting urban areas by channeling it southward.
Sacramento experiences a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen classification Csa), marked by hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The annual mean temperature is approximately 61.8°F (16.6°C), with July being the warmest month at 75.9°F (24.4°C) and December the coolest at 47.3°F (8.5°C). Summers are long and arid, moderated by the "delta breeze"—cool air funneled from the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta—which drops nighttime temperatures significantly. Winters bring moderate rainfall, averaging 18.14 inches (461 mm) annually, concentrated between November and April, with about 58 rainy days per year. Precipitation can vary widely, from as low as 5.81 inches (148 mm) in dry years to 33.44 inches (849 mm) in wet ones. Dense tule fog is common in December and January, often reducing visibility to near zero and creating hazardous conditions. Snow is extremely rare in downtown, with only three notable accumulations since 1900, the last in 1976. Temperature extremes have ranged from 18°F (−7.8°C) in December 1990 to a record high of 116°F (46.7°C) in September 2022. Sacramento ranks as the second most flood-prone city in the U.S. after New Orleans, and it enjoys exceptional sunshine, being the sunniest place on Earth from June to September, with July averaging 98% of possible sunshine (14 hours and 12 minutes daily).
The Sacramento Valley envelops the city to the north and south, dominated by fertile agricultural lands that produce a significant portion of California's crops. To the east and northeast, the terrain ascends into the Sierra Nevada foothills over 30 miles, offering a gateway to mountainous regions. Westward, across the Sacramento River, lies West Sacramento in Yolo County, separated by the Yolo Bypass—a critical flood control feature that reserves vast tracts of land for water diversion, effectively capping urban growth in that direction. Southward, the city borders expansive farmlands extending 10 miles before blending into the delta region. This surrounding mosaic of valleys, rivers, and foothills positions Sacramento as a central node in Northern California's geography, influencing its role in agriculture, transportation, and environmental management.
One of Sacramento's most distinctive features is its extensive urban forest, earning it the nickname "City of Trees." It boasts more trees per capita than any other city worldwide and the highest tree canopy coverage among major U.S. cities, according to studies like Treepedia (ranking third globally after Vancouver and Singapore). Species include London plane trees, cottonwoods, eucalyptus, locusts, willows, elms, palms, and various fruit trees, many planted in the 19th century. The city was the first in the U.S. to be designated a "City of Trees" by the Arbor Day Foundation in 1978. Additionally, the engineered elements like the deep-water port and Yolo Bypass highlight human adaptations to the natural geography, balancing development with flood mitigation in this river-dominated valley.
As of the 2000 census, there were 407,018 people, 154,581 households,
and 91,202 families residing in the county. The population density was
1617.4 people per km². In 2000 there were 163,957 housing units with a
density of 651 per km². The demographics of the county were 48.3% white,
15.5% African American, 1.03% American Indian, 16.3% Asian, 0.09%
Pacific Islander, 11.0% other races, and 6.04% of two or more races.
21.06% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino origin of any race.
According to the Census Bureau in 2000 the median household income
in the town was $37,049, and the median family income was $42,051. Men
had a median income of $35,946 compared to $31,318 for women. The per
capita income for the town was $18,721. About 15.3% of the population
were below the poverty line.
The 2010 United States Census
reported that Sacramento had a population of 466,488. The population
density was 1799.2 inhabitants/km². Sacramento's racial distribution was
210,006 (45.0%), White, 80,005 (16.6%), African American, 85,503
(17.8%), Asian (Chinese 4.2%, Hmong 3.3%, 2 .8% Filipinos, 1.6% Indians,
Vietnamese 1.4%, 1.2% Laos, Japan 1.2%, 0.3% Pakistanis, 0.3% Koreans,
Thais 0.3%, 0, 2% Cambodian), 6,655 (1.4%), Pacific Islander (0.6% Fiji,
Tonga 0.2%, 0.2% Samoa), 5,291 (1.1%) Native American , 57,573 (12.3%)
from other races, and 33,125 (7.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or
Latino of any race was 125,276 people (26.9%), 22.6% of the population
of Sacramento is Mexican, 0.7% from Puerto Rico, 0.5% Salvadoran, 0.2%
in Guatemala and Nicaragua 0.2% [34] non-Hispanic whites were 34.5%. of
the population in 2010, compared to 71.4% in 1970.
The Census
reported that 458,174 people (98.2% of the population) lived in
households, 4,268 (0.9%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters,
and 4,046 (0.9%) were institutionalized. Furthermore, with the recent
real estate crisis there have been no changes in these numbers.
In 2010 there were 174,624 houses of which 57,870 (33.1%) had children
living in them, 65,556 (37.5%) were heterosexual married couples living
together, 27,640 (15.8%) had a female head of household with no husband
present, 10,534 (6.0%) had a male head of household, with no wife
present. There were 13,234 (7.6%) heterosexual unmarried couples, and
2,498 (1.4%) homosexual marriages. 53,342 households (30.5%) were
composed of individuals and 14,926 (8.5%) had someone living over the
age of 65. The average number of occupants per home was 2.62. There were
103,730 families (59.4% of households), the average family size was
3.37.
For every 100 women there are 94.9 men. For every 100 women
age 18 and over, there were 92.2 men.
Main highways
The Sacramento metropolitan region is served by I-5,
I-80, Business 80 (Capital City Freeway), U.S. Route 50 (El Dorado
Freeway), State Route 99, State Route 160 (Downtown Sacramento) and
State Route 65. It is also served by the Amtrak train.
Some
Sacramento neighborhoods, such as Downtown Sacramento and Midtown
Sacramento, have as many bike lanes as does the rest of the region. As a
result of the litigation, Sacramento has had to make the city accessible
to people with disabilities.
The Sacramento City Unified School District operates public schools.
Sacramento State University is part of California State University
and has more than 200,000 students
The confusion that many Americans have between Sacramento and the populous Californian city of San Francisco has frequently been parodied in literature, film and series. An example of this is episode 22 of season 7 of the series Two and a Half Men (titled «"This is not going to end well"»), in which Charlie (Charlie Sheen) argues with his nephew Jake (Angus Jones) about which is the correct capital of the state of California, since the latter was convinced that it was San Francisco. In fact, in 1862 the capital of California was temporarily moved to San Francisco, due to strong floods that affected Sacramento.